You know how much I love pairing fun activities with great books, and I’ve got another one for you today! Earlier this week, I shared a new Literacy Snack Idea featuring the book Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat. We’re keeping the fun going with the same story, and today I’m excited to share a set of FREE Halloween Alphabet Cards that go perfectly with the book!

Hands-on alphabet games are an excellent way to help young learners build letter recognition and confidence! These alphabet cards are the perfect size for students to hold, move around, and interact with as they learn. The fun design that goes along with the book makes them extra engaging – turning letter practice into a fun, active learning experience for your little ones!

There are so many fun and hands-on ways to use these free printable alphabet cards with your little learners! Keep reading to find 10 engaging alphabet activities that are perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or literacy centers. These ideas make letter recognition and phonics practice playful and interactive. When you’re ready, you can download the alphabet cards for free at the end of this post – just click the big green box that says “Click Here to Download.”

10 Fun Alphabet Activities to Go With Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat

Alphabet Tree Match-Up
Create a paper tree on the wall or use a small classroom tree. Have students “trick-or-treat” for letter cards and then match each one to the same letter on the tree.

Letter Hunt Trick or Treat
Hide the alphabet cards around the room or playground. Give each student a small pumpkin bucket to collect letters as they “go trick-or-treating” for the alphabet.

Name Building Fun
Have students use the letter cards to spell their names or their friends’ names. This helps with letter recognition and beginning sound awareness.

Tricka Treat Letter Match
Place the alphabet cards in small treat bags or plastic pumpkins. When students pick a letter, they can name it, say its sound, or find something in the room that begins with that letter.

Uppercase and Lowercase Match
Print two sets of cards – one uppercase, one lowercase. Students can match the pairs or play a simple memory game.

Sound Sort
Place a few picture cards or small objects on a tray. Students draw a letter card and match it to the item that starts with that sound.

Pumpkin Letter Race
Spread the letter cards around the floor. Call out a letter or sound, and have students race to find the matching card.

Alphabet Sensory Bin
Add the letter cards; you’ll want to be sure to laminate them for this game, to a bin filled with rice, beans, or shredded paper. Students can dig to find a letter, name it, and say its sound. Add some fun Halloween items to the bin as well.

Spell a Spooky Word
Use simple Halloween words like bat, cat, or boo. Students use the letter cards to build each word – a perfect mix of literacy and seasonal fun!

Alphabet Line-Up
Challenge students to put the alphabet cards in order from A to Z. For extra fun, have them sing the ABC song as they go!

Want more ways to make the most of your alphabet cards? I’ve put together 10 additional activities that pair perfectly with the Halloween alphabet cards that I have shared in the past.

You can check them out here.

Click the green box below to download the Free Halloween Alphabet Cards!

These alphabet activities are such a fun way to bring Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat to life and build important letter recognition and phonics skills at the same time! Your little learners will love using the free printable alphabet cards in all sorts of hands-on ways, from literacy centers to small groups or even at home.

Don’t forget to grab your free set of alphabet cards by clicking the big green box above! And if you love pairing books with playful learning, be sure to check out all of my weekly Literacy Snack Ideas here for even more book-based activities, free printables, and snack fun!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Halloween Alphabet Cards appeared first on Primary Playground.

Summer is a fantastic time to visit the library with your kids! Visiting the library introduces kids to a lifelong learning resource. It helps children view it as a valuable tool for learning, creativity, and exploration throughout their lives. Today, I have a fun Library Scavenger Hunt Free Printable to take along on your next visit to the library for your kids to do to learn about what is available at the library.

There are so many great benefits of the library for children.

1. It helps foster a love for reading.

Exposure to a wide variety of books helps children develop a love of reading from an early age. Story time sessions and reading aloud build excitement around books and stories.

2. It encourages language and literacy development.

Listening to stories, seeing printed words, and engaging in conversation at the library enhance vocabulary and comprehension. The library gives them access to age-appropriate books, supports phonemic awareness, and early literacy skills.

3. It builds routine and structure.

Regular library visits foster positive habits and routines that promote learning and exploration.

4. It helps support cognitive and social-emotional development.

Participating in group activities like story time or craft sessions builds social skills. Kids will learn to listen, take turns, and interact with peers in a shared space.

5. It gives access to diverse resources.

Libraries offer more than books: puzzles, games, educational toys, music, audiobooks, and digital resources enrich learning in multiple formats.

6. Libraries spark curiosity and imagination.

Exposure to new topics, cultures, and ideas through books and programs encourages curiosity and creative thinking. Often, libraries have areas to inspire imagination by playing with blocks, food, trains, etc.

7. It promotes parent-child bonding.

Shared experiences like reading together or exploring the children’s section strengthen the parent-child relationship.

8. Libraries are a free and inclusive educational environment.

Libraries are free, accessible to all, and offer inclusive programming for children with diverse needs and backgrounds. Our library has even started to print on our receipts how much money we have saved each visit by checking out the items from the library instead of purchasing them.

9. The library teaches responsibility and independence.

Borrowing books teaches children about responsibility, caring for, and returning items on time. Older children can learn how to navigate the library and make their own book selections.

10. Introduces a Lifelong Learning Resource

Early familiarity with the library helps children view it as a valuable tool for learning, creativity, and exploration throughout their lives.

To help get children familiar with the library and what they have to offer, I’ve created this fun Library Scavenger Hunt. They can find all of the items and cross off each box as they do.

How To Use the Library Scavenger Hunt

Before going into the library, review basic library rules with your kids:

• We use a quiet, indoor voice. 
• We use walking feet.
• We do not play games inside the library.
• If you remove a book from the shelf, put it on the reshelving cart.
• Be gentle with the books.

To Play

• Print out the library scavenger hunt sheets. You will want one per child. If the children are younger, you’ll want to do this as a family. If there are older kids, you can send them off to do it on their own.
• Each child will need a pencil so they can mark off each square that they find. 
• Head out to start exploring the library and find and marking off items as the children find them.
• After the items have been found, you may want to encourage the kids to check out one of the books that they found to learn more about it. They may discover a new type of book that they love this way. 

I’ve made the printable library scavenger hunt available in both color and black and white.

You can download the Library Scavenger Hunt Free Printable by clicking the green box below.

I hope you and your kids enjoy doing this fun Library Scavenger Hunt Free Printable together at your library during your next visit!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Library Scavenger Hunt Free Printable appeared first on Primary Playground.

The end of the school year can be such a mix of emotions. Some kids are super excited to finish the school year, to do fun activities, and to have more time with family. Some kids may be sad, They’ll miss their teacher and classmates. They may feel emotional about leaving a familiar routine or classroom. And some may be anxious or nervous. They’re unsure about what the next grade will be like. Change can feel scary, especially if they don’t know their next teacher or classmates yet.

I’ve gathered my favorite books for the end of the school year, so hopefully you can find a few that you’d like to share with your class during the last couple of weeks of school that cover a lot of the feelings that they may have about the end of the school year.

Books for the End of the School Year

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School 

Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, the class is invited to reflect back on memories made, connections formed, and challenges met. The letter expresses how proud their teacher is of them, and how much they will be missed. Students will also leave on that last day knowing that their teacher is cheering them on for all of the exciting things to come in the future.

Last Day Blues

What do teachers do for summer vacation? 

Mrs. Hartwell’s students worry that their teacher will miss them while they are gone for the summer. The class comes up with a way to make sure Mrs. Hartwell won’t be too sad. But Mrs. Hartwell and the other teachers have some plans of their own.

The Smart Cookie

This cookie has never felt like a smart cookie no matter how hard she tries, especially in comparison to all the clever cupcakes and brilliant rolls in the bakery. Will a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of confidence be enough to help her learn that perfect scores and having all the answers aren’t the only ingredients for intelligence?

A great book to acknowledge how much your students have learned this year!

I also have a fun FREE printable smart cookie hat that you can have your students make after you read the book! You can grab that here.

And a snack idea along with a free printable to go along with the book here.

I Wish You More

“I Wish You More” is a collection of sweet, opposites-based wishes shared from one person to another—possibly a parent, teacher, or friend to a child. Each page offers a new wish that’s full of optimism, kindness, and love. The phrases are simple but deeply meaningful.

The Night Before Summer Vacation

This fun, rhyming picture book is a playful take on The Night Before Christmas, but instead of getting ready for Santa, a family is getting ready for their big summer trip!

The story follows a young girl as she and her family pack for their vacation. Chaos and excitement take over the night before they leave—there are sleeping bags to roll, swimsuits to pack, and even the family dog tries to sneak into the luggage!

Of course, just like in real life, something goes hilariously wrong… they accidentally leave something important behind! But in the end, they fix the problem and finally hit the road, ready for a summer full of adventure.

I Am Glad I Was Your Teacher

This is a s a heartfelt picture book that serves as a loving farewell from a teacher to their students. It’s written in a gentle, poetic voice, celebrating all the little moments shared throughout the school year—learning, laughing, growing, and even the tough stuff.

The teacher expresses how proud and grateful they are to have taught the student, recognizing how special each child is. It’s emotional, uplifting, and full of appreciation for the unique bond between teacher and student.

Our Tree Named Steve

Our Tree Named Steve is a touching story told through a letter from a father to his children, remembering a special tree—Steve—that stood in their yard. Steve wasn’t just a tree; he was part of the family’s everyday life and memories. From swinging on him to picnicking under him, Steve quietly watched the family grow. When a storm knocks Steve down, the family is sad, but they’ll always treasure the love and memories they shared with him.

This one will definitely make you tear up at the end!

Memory Jars

Memory Jars is about a young girl named Freda who loves eating her grandma’s homemade preserved blueberries. When she finds out that preserving fruit helps it last forever, she has an idea: why stop at blueberries?

Freda decides to start preserving everything she loves so she can keep it forever—her favorite cookies, special moments, even her best friend! She starts filling jars with all kinds of memories and things she doesn’t want to lose.

But as her collection grows, she begins to realize that maybe some things are special because they don’t last forever. In the end, Freda learns an important lesson about holding on to memories without trying to freeze time.

No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teachers Dirty Looks

It’s the last day of school!

Gilbert is excited about summer vacation. First, there’s a class party, and Mrs. Byrd will give out the end-of-the-year awards. But will Gilbert even get one? Patty’s the best speller. Philip’s the best reader. What is Gilbert best at?

Miss Maple’s Seeds

What happens to seeds that don’t sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them. Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths by which they might find their new homes. And come spring, she sends them off to take root out in the wide world and to sprout into the wonderful plants she knows they’ll become. 

Weslandia

Now that school is over, Wesley needs a summer project. He’s learned that each civilization needs a staple food crop, so he decides to sow a garden and start his own — civilization, that is. He turns over a plot of earth, and plants begin to grow. They soon tower above him and bear a curious-looking fruit. As Wesley experiments, he finds that the plant will provide food, clothing, shelter, and even recreation. It isn’t long before his neighbors and classmates develop more than an idle curiosity about Wesley — and exactly how he is spending his summer vacation.

A Fine, Fine School

In the book, the principal  loves his school. He thinks it’s a “fine, fine school” with wonderful teachers, terrific students, and a lot of learning going on. He loves school so much that one day, he decides… there should be school on Saturdays!

Then he adds Sundays!
And then holidays!
And even summer vacation!

But as the school days pile up, one student, Tillie, starts to notice something important: with so much school, kids no longer have time to play, explore, or spend time with their families—or even teach their younger siblings things outside of class. So she bravely tells the principal.

And guess what? The principal listens! He realizes that learning happens in many ways, not just in classrooms, and decides to go back to regular school days. Everyone celebrates, and the school is still a fine, fine school—just with a better balance.

Mrs. Spritzer’s Garden

This is a gentle story about a caring teacher who tends to her “garden”—which is really her classroom full of students. Each year, she receives a new batch of “seeds” from the principal, and just like a gardener, she nurtures each one with love, patience, and care.

Some students grow quickly, others take more time, and each one blooms in their own special way. The story beautifully compares teaching to gardening, showing how important it is to help every child grow at their own pace.

Hope Is A Rainbow

Hope Is a Rainbow is a heartwarming picture book that explores the many shapes and feelings of hope. The story guides readers through moments of kindness, courage, joy, and love — showing how hope can shine through even in tough times.

Each page describes hope as something you can see, feel, and share—like a rainbow after a storm, a hug from a friend, or a dream you believe in. The message is simple but powerful: hope is always there, especially when we choose to look for it.

And Then Comes Summer

This book celebrates all the little signs that summer is approaching. With each page, the book paints a picture of the transition from school year to summer fun — from switching out boots for flip-flops, to hearing the jingle of the ice cream truck, to long bike rides and firefly-filled nights. A great read to transition from the end of the school year to summer.

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer

A child takes a walk through nature, observing all the signs that spring is coming to an end and summer is beginning. As they wander through fields, forests, and neighborhoods, they greet the changing world around them, saying goodbye to cool breezes, blooming flowers, and migrating birds, and hello to warmer winds, growing vegetables, and buzzing bees. Each page highlights how plants, animals, and weather shift as one season fades and another begins.

If You Ever Want To Bring A Piano To The Beach, Don’t!

If your mom says to get ready to play at the beach, she means with a boat, a Frisbee, or a shovel. She is NOT talking about the piano. But Magnolia is a little girl with a big idea, determination, and one very heavy upright piano that, she insists, she needs to take with her. What’s the worst that can happen? In a riotous series of mishaps, Magnolia quickly learns that- not surprisingly–a piano doesn’t mix well with sand, sun, and seagulls!

I Knew You Could!

I Knew You Could! is an encouraging, rhyming picture book told by a wise little train. It offers heartfelt advice about life’s journey — the ups, the downs, the turns, and the choices we all face. With each page, the train reminds readers that they are strong, capable, and never alone.

Be You!

Be You! is a bright and inspiring picture book that encourages kids to embrace who they are and who they are becoming. Each page shares a powerful message—like “Be curious,” “Be brave,” and “Be your own work of art.” It celebrates individuality, creativity, and the beauty of being yourself.

Lizzie and the Last Day of School

Lizzie’s Last Day of School follows a young girl on her final day of first grade. She feels excited for summer but also a little sad to leave behind her classroom, teacher, and daily routine. Throughout the day, Lizzie reflects on all the things she’s learned and the fun she’s had. As a surprise, she leaves a special gift for her teacher—showing just how much the year meant to her.

Do Not Bring Your Dragon To The Last Day of School

In this hilarious story, kids are warned not to bring their dragons to the last day of school—because things might get a little wild! From disrupting classroom routines to causing chaos at the farewell party, dragons are just too big and fiery for such a special (and emotional) day. The book is full of silly rhymes, big laughs, and a sweet message about celebrating the end of the school year in the right way.

Hopefully you have been inspired with some new picture books to share with your class the last couple of weeks before the school year ends. Do you have any other favorites that you like to read to your class? Share with us below in the comments!

See you next time,

Jenette

The post Books for the End of the School Year appeared first on Primary Playground.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15- October 15th each year. Today I’m sharing some fun Activities To Teach About Hispanic Heritage Month! in the classroom!

Teaching about Hispanic Heritage Month in the classroom can be a great opportunity to celebrate diversity and introduce young children to different cultures. Below are some fun and engaging ideas and activities.

Read-Alouds

Books are always a favorite way to introduce new concepts to young learners.

Below are some of my favorites to read aloud.

Pepe and the Parade by Tracey Kyle.

In this book, you follow Pepe as he attends his first Hispanic Day parade. With new food to taste, music to dance to, and a parade to watch, Pepe couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and share his Hispanic heritage. Many of Pepe’s friends also attend the festival, celebrating their own Hispanic ties. Mexican, Dominican, Panamanian, Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Chilean, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Cuban cultures are all represented in the parade.

The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos: A Bilingual Celebration by Bob Barner

This book follows two children as they celebrate their ancestors in this bilingual introduction to el Día de los Muertos— the Day of the Dead!

They prepare offerings of flowers, sugar skulls, and special bread, and make delicious foods to eat and share.  By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the festivities. After hours of singing, dancing, and reminiscing, it’s time for bed.  

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina

Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. While they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English, and Mia learns some Spanish, too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn enough words to tell Mia her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better. 

Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca Gomez

Clever Federico outsmarts el lobo in this fresh and funny Mexican-American take on Little Red Riding Hood.

With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo…

Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa.

I also have a literacy snack idea and a free printable to go along with this book. You can find that here.

Tortillas Are Round A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong 

I love this book because it shows all of the different shapes in real-world examples The book has 1 to 3 pages about each shape and has illustrations showing the shape in real life.  A great teaching tool!

These are just the tip of the iceberg of great read-aloud for Hispanic Heritage Month. Encourage your students to share what they know about the cultures represented in the stories too!

Art Activities

• Make cultural art! Introduce the students to traditional crafts like papel picado (cut paper! They will be sure to recognize these beautiful decorations from the movie Coco. Below is a fantastic printable and tutorial from Art Projects for Kids so you can make them with your class. They would look amazing all strung together to decorate the classroom!

• Another fun option would be to make fiesta flowers. These are another fun and easy project the kids can make and they would be another great addition to decorate the classroom! Below is a great tutorial on how to make them.

• Flag Crafts: Have students create flags from different Hispanic countries using colored paper and markers You could have the students work together to create different flags and then display them around the classroom.
• Pinatas are another great craft to make. You could make them out of paper towel rolls or make them on paper like in the tutorial below.

Music and Dance

• Music: Play traditional Hispanic music and have a dance party! Songs like “La Bamba” or mariachi music can be fun!

Here’s a fun video of a mariachi playing some music from the movie Coco that your students may recognize.

Here’s a fun song that captures the Hispanic culture of many different areas.

• Dance: Teach your students simple dances like salsa, the Mexican hat dance, or folk dances from various countries.

Here’s a fun video that teaches a few salsa dancing steps in just a few minutes.

Food Tasting

Sample Dishes:  Have a food-tasting party with our class! Organize a simple tasting party with age-appropriate foods like:

• Tacos: Use soft tortillas with mild fillings (beans, cheese).
• Guacamole and Chips: Provide tortilla chips with a small serving of guacamole.
• Pico de Gallo Mix up all of the ingredients and taste test with some chips on the side.
• Flan or Churros: Offer small portions of these desserts.

 Talk about the flavors, colors, and textures of the food.

We have a great cooking class sequencing activity set that would be great to go alongside making tacos in the classroom. You can check that out here.

Guest Speakers

Invite Family or Friends: If you have parents or community members who can share their experiences or cultural traditions, invite them to speak to the class. E

Celebrate Diversity: Encourage kids to share their own backgrounds and family traditions. This promotes understanding and respect for all cultures.

Language Activities

• Basic Spanish: Teach them some basic Spanish words and phrases. Use fun flashcards or songs to make it interactive.
• Bilingual Books: Incorporate books that are available in both English and Spanish.

Community Connection

• Local Celebrations: Research local events or festivals related to Hispanic Heritage Month and consider a field trip if possible.

Create a Display

• Classroom Bulletin Board: Set up a bulletin board to showcase what the class has learned. Include drawings, facts, and photos. This would be a great place to display the festive flowers or papel picado that your class has made.

By integrating these activities, you’ll create a rich and meaningful experience that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month while fostering a sense of community and respect for diversity in your classroom. I hope that you can take away a few new ideas with you to add to your classroom to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Activities To Teach About Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Primary Playground.

Spring is in the air and today I’m sharing with you my favorite books to read in springtime! I have 20 different books with a lot of variety so keep reading for The Best Spring Read-Alouds!

Spring is a such a fun time for picture books. There are so many great themes from insects, birds, eggs, new beginnings, and flowers. There are so many fun activities that can be done alongside all of the books below. I’ll add in some of them below too!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The Best Spring Read-Alouds

Hurray For Spring

The story follows a young boy as he sings in the rain, observes animals and insects, plants a garden, and plays with his friends outdoors. Though the text is short, it poetically captures the essence of spring. The pictures are bright and fun.

We Are Growing!

This book shows blades of grass, characters, of all shapes and sizes, growing. They grow all in their own unique way, and speed!  Lessons behind the story is really of great growth; acceptance of each other as one is and everyone is special in their way. 

Ribbit!

This is a wonderful book about friendship.  It teaches kids that friends can look different than you and that is ok. The story is constructed very simply and it is easy for kids to follow. The illustrations are engaging and funny and they are opportunities to make lots of voices due to the ongoing conversation in the book. 

The Very Lazy Ladybug

 The bright large pictures depict the journey of the lazy ladybug trying to find a good place to sleep. Children love identifying animals, acting the story and the very fun ending.  This is a great book for action movement as well. The children get to make the motions of all the animals, jumping like a kangaroo, swinging like a monkey, etc. It also teaches great action words like bounded, padded, swam, swung, ambled, plodded, and walked.

If you are doing a unit on ladybugs, I have a whole post of some of the fun activities we like to do. You can check it out here.

The Odd Egg

This book is so creative and suspensive with the illustrations. Duck doesn’t have an egg like the other birds. She finds an egg that looks very different. Duck looks after the egg, even after all the other bird’s eggs hatch. Finally duck’s egg hatches and gives everyone a surprise. Dont forget the “quack” at the back of the book when you flip the book over! It’s open to interpretation and REALLY gets the kids talking about what it means to them! 

Plant he Tiny Seed

Great introductory read to plant life cycle. Each page has something to do like tap the seeds or clap for rain to make the book interactive.

Our How To Grow a Plant sequencing activities pack would make a great companion to go along with this book! You can grab it here.

Don’t Touch That Flower!

This is a sequel to The Leaf Thief. These books are so much fun and teach great lessons too about patience and curiosity and of course about the natural world. It’s an adorable book with an engaging story and illustrations. 

The Very Impatient Caterpillar

This book tells a story about a caterpillar that is going through the butterfly cycle. Super silly and fun! You’ll get lots of laughs with this one!

If you’re teaching out butterflies this spring, here are some of our favorite butterfly activities!

Can I Tell You A Secret?

While this story teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of sharing your fears with friends and family, it does so in a way that includes a big dose of humor, making it not seem like a lesson at all. Kids think it’s pretty funny that a frog is afraid of water, and they can all identify with his concerns over telling his parents.

Too Many Carrots

This is such a cute story. The illustrations are fantastic , and it has a great message about sharing with friends.

The Very Busy Spider

Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done, she is able to show everyone that not only is her creation quite beautiful, it is also quite useful!

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with this book that you can find here.

The Perfect Nest

This book has a cute storyline, when read aloud, it affords the opportunity to use different voices and accents, and it holds a child’s attention. The chicken (Spanish), duck (French) and goose (Southern US)) all have catch phrases that allow for funny voices during a read aloud. 

Good Morning Grizzle Grump!

The illustrations are superb with plenty for the eyes to consume including finding the little fuzzy moss guy in every scene along with perfectly crafted expressions and adventurous terrains. The writing is funny, engaging, touching on all the senses.The kids love making Grizzle Grump voices and faces to go along with the moments in the book. The illustration style really fits the tone and adds to the humor.

I have a fun literacy snack and printable to go along with the book for FREE that you can find here.

Duck! Rabbit!

This book is so simple, but so good. A great jumping off point to teach about persuasive writing, opinion writing and multiple meanings. The kids absolutely love this book!

Kite Day

On a windy spring day, Bear sniffs the air.  Could it be. . . Kite day? Bear and his friend Mole build a kite of their own. But when the storm gets too strong, the kite snaps and lands in a tree. Not all is lost though, as the kite is stuck in the tree it protects a nest full of birds from the rain. This is a fun book for spring and to go with your weather unit. Making kites with your class is always a favorite to go with the book too!

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with the book that you can grab here.

In the Small, Small Pond

A child explores the wonders and lives of small animals and insects living around a freshwater pond. It also shares some lesser-known pond creatures (muskrat, heron, etc.) There are a ton of great extension projects to go along with this book, make a small pond bulletin board, turn it into a sensory bin, so many fun options!

When Spring Comes

The book teaches about spring in a simple and engaging way.  The wording is short and simple. The pictures are colorful and interesting without being overly busy which makes it easy to use them as discussion pieces while learning about spring time.

I have a fun literacy snack and FREE printable to go along with the book that you can find here.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Classic that everyone knows, but is a fantastic read for spring. Follow the caterpillar as he transforms into a beautiful butterfly!

I have a fun FREE printable hat for you students to make to go along with this book that you can get here.

Spring Is Here!

Mole discovers it is spring and rushes to wake his hibernating friend, bear. But bear won’t get up. So mole rushes around to milk the cow, churn the butter, etc. and shows up next to Bear’s bed with a plate of pancakes for his friend. Bear wakes up when he smells the pancakes, but Mole falls fast asleep from the exhaustion of waking his friend. It’s hilarious! There’s lots of sound words in this book which makes for a fun second read with the kids helping!

The Grouchy Ladybug

This is a great book that you are able to discuss how the grouchy ladybug made the children feel and help them understand their feelings towards others. The book can help tap into emotional social skills in younger children.

I have a fun literacy snack idea and FREE printable to go along with this book as well that you can find here.

Do you have any other favorite read-aloud that you love for spring? Share with us in the comments below!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post The Best Spring Read-Alouds appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Who doesn’t love a fun hat? You know that I am obsessed with them. They make learning about different topics more fun! I LOVE making activities to go along with books, so today I have a fun Bear Hunt Printable Hat for you that you can print off for FREE to go along with the book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!

Last week I shared a snack idea and a printable to go along with the book. And this week I thought it would be fun to add a hat for them to wear during the story! This is a great book that you can really get into it with your students by either singing the book, and or doing hand motions. This hat will just take it to the next level for you kiddos!

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Here’s a fun video of the author going through the motions of the book. There are a bunch of different takes on the book and the motions, just make your own and have fun!

Bear Hunt Hat

The bear hunt printable hat is two pages. The front of the hat has a bear and binoculars to color. And on the back of the hat, there is the different obstacles that the family comes across on their bear hunt. This will help them recall and retell the story. You can have your students color the hat either before or after you read the story.

Lasty, they’ll need to cut out the hat and will need help stapling the back back onto the front of the hat. I also included an extra blank back strap incase you need to make the hat larger.

Click the green box below to download the Free Printable Bear Hunt Hat.

This hat would be great for the classroom, summer camp, library activities, or even Girl Scout or Boy Scout meetings!

If you’re looking for more fun hats to go with stories, you’ll want to check out our caterpillar hat, and our mouse hat!

Do you have any other favorite books or stories that you’d like to see a hat for? Let us know in the comments below! See you next time!

Jenette

The post Bear Hunt Printable Hat appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

July means Shark Week is coming so I wanted to share a fun Literacy Snack Shark Read Aloud today.

This week, we are reading, I’m Getting A Shark! by Brady Smith. A girl overhears her mom and dad talking about her getting a shark for her birthday. Throughout the book, she wonders what type of shark it will be. Her pet dog helps give facts about the different sharks throughout the story. In the end, she ends up getting an adoption certificate to save a shark for her birthday.

For our snack this week, we’ll be making our very own shark!

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Snack Idea

Ingredients you’ll need for each student

• 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup instant vanilla pudding or a vanilla pudding cup
• Blue food coloring
• A quarter of an Oreo cookie (you’ll want to have these cut into quarter and ready to go)
• A spoon
• Small plastic cup (9 oz is a good size)

If you’ll be using the instant pudding, the 3.4 oz box makes 5 servings. Add a drop or two of blue food coloring ahead of time to make the snack assembly quick and easy. If you are using a vanilla pudding cup, I suggest you hellp add the drop of blue food coloring in the cup and let them mix it up. They can then add it to their snack.

To Assemble

To make the shark snack, the students will first add the graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of the cup as the sand layer. Next, they’ll add the vanilla pudding as the water. Last, the students wil add their Oreo in the water as the shark fin. Isn’t it cute?!

Free Printable

While your students are enjoying their shark pudding snack, I made a printable for them to work on. They will draw and write about something new they learned about sharks from the book.

You can download the Literacy Snack Shark Read Aloud free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

If you’re looking for some more fun shark books, I gathered all of my favorite shark read-alouds here. The shark snack we made today would go perfectly with any of these books as well!

I hope you little learners enjoy this fun shark read-aloud and making these shark snacks!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Shark Read Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

Summer is such a fun time to learn about sharks. There are so many great activities to go along with a shark or ocean unit. You know how much I love my read-alouds so today, I’m sharing with you The Best Shark Read-Alouds.

Sharks are always such a fun topic to learn about and explore. There are so many fun activities that can be done alongside all of the books below. They would also be a perfect addition to Shark Week that happens each July.

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this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The Best Shark Read-Alouds

Smiley Shark

This is a cute book in which Smiley Shark just wants to make friends but whenever he smiled at anyone they always swim away from him. He ends up saving the day in the end with his big toothy grin.

What If We Had A Pet Shark?

This is a simple and fun rhyming book. The author does a great job of grabbing your attention from the beginning because it is silly and so imaginative. It’s about a girl who ponders an animal, then finds an answer that rhymes with the type of animal.

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist

In this book, we get a glimpse into the world of a brave woman who defied society’s expectations of what she should be, what she should do, and what she should focus on.

She followed her passion and persevered toward her goals. It is because of her that we have learned more about the world of sharks and other ocean creatures. The illustrations are beautiful & the story is inspiring.

I’m A Shark

This is a silly book about everyone being afraid of the big awesome shark, but you find out that the shark is afraid of spiders. This is a fun and silly read-aloud for the kiddos.

There Was an Old Mermaid Who Swallowed a Shark! 

This is another silly adventure of the Old Lady Who Swallowed things. This time she swallowed a shark and other items in the ocean. There are some fun facts spread throughout the books as well.

I Am The Shark

This is a fun book that has a ton of different types of sharks arguing about which shark is the biggest, smallest, smartest, etc It’s a great book that shares a bunch of the different types of sharks and facts about them.

This shark craft with writing prompts would be a fun extension project with many of these shark books! They turn out so cute!

Clark The Shark

This book is filled with fun rhythm and rhyme. Clark the Shark is a bit overwhelming at school with his classmates. It’s a great book to help teach about impulse control

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever―or Snack Time?

This is a funny story about a shark and a minnow that are best friends. The fish goes to school and learns all about sharks being mean and dangerous. The shark tries to surprise and do nice things for his friend but the fish is scared of him now. In the end, the shark saves the minnow and all of his classmates and they find that he really isn’t so scary.

I’m Getting A Shark!

A girl overhears her mom and dad talking about her getting a shark for her birthday. Throughout the book, she wonders what type of shark it will be. Her pet dog helps gives facts about the different sharks throughout the story. In the end, she ends up getting an adoption certificate to save a shark for her birthday.

Gilbert The Great

Almost every child knows what it’s like to move or to have a friend move away. Ever since Gilbert the Great White Shark was a tiny pup, Raymond the Remora stuck to him like glue. Then, one day, Gilbert wakes to find his friend has left town to live somewhere new. Nothing can console Gilbert. Then he meets disconsolate remora who has lost her shark. “I’d love to stick around with you,” she says. And that is the start of a beautiful new friendship.

Do you have any other fun shark books that you would add? I hope that you’ve found a few new ones to share with your little learners.

See you next time!

Jenette

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Spring is such a great time to study butterflies. There are so many great activities to go along with a butterfly unit. You know how much I love my read-aloud so today, I’m sharing with you The Best Butterfly Read-Alouds.

Butterflies are such a fun topic to learn about and explore. There are so many fun activities that can be done alongside all of the books below.

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this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The Best Butterfly Read-Alouds

The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies by Kay Barnham 

This is a fantastic book that takes the students along on the journey of the butterflies life cycle. The book shares many butterfly facts for little learners and has great illustrations.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This classic is always a favorite. It follows the caterpillar from eating through a bunch of foods to him turning into a beautiful butterfly.

We have a bunch of great activities to go along with this book too. From a printable caterpillar hat, to a fun snack idea to make and a free printable to go along with the book that you can find here.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope

This book is about a caterpillar that all she knows is that she needs to go to Mexico! It follows her on her journey to Mexico to eventually become a beautiful Monarch butterfly.

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin

This counting book shows ten little caterpillars doing different things on their way to becoming a butterfly.

These Caterpillar Counting Mats would be a great companion to this book. You can check them out here.

A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston

The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. Some of the words are written in cursive and others are in print. Each page has a subject such as ” butterflies are creative” and then includes 2-4 fact sentences.

From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heilingman

This is a great book about a caterpillar that comes to a classroom. The students get to learn all about metamorphosis and watch the caterpillar change into a butterfly in their classroom.

Our butterfly life cycle hats would be a fun addition to this book along with many other. You can check it out here.

Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer 

 This is a wonderful story about the amazing journey that monarch butterflies make from Canada to Mexico. It has vibrant colors and beautiful illustrations and a rhyming flow of both English and Spanish.

Butterflies Are Pretty….. Gross by Rosemary Mosco

This book is FABULOUS, filled with real-life facts about butterflies in a hilarious, gross-out, pun-filled story accompanied by beautifully illustrated pages. 

Pipsie Nature Detective – The Disappearing Caterpillar by Rick DeDonato

This is a fun detective book. It is educational in a fun, engaging way. It teaches children that nature science is interesting, gathering facts to come to conclusions is exciting, and learning new things is rewarding. It encourages intelligence, tenacity, and the importance of friendship and teamwork.

This is one of the books we use as part of our butterfly book study. Filled with butterfly activities and centers. You can learn more about that here.

Butterfly Yoga by Jodi Norton

This is a great book to use as a brain break during your butterfly unit. It takes students through a series of yoga poses corresponding to the life cycle of a butterfly.

The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach

The kids love this noisy, desperately impatient caterpillar and his over-excited voice, not knowing they were also really learning about the life cycle of butterflies.  This is a favorite for sure.

The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach

The Little Butterfly That Could is a great companion to The Very Impatient Caterpillar. Just as funny as the first and the kids are sure to love it.

Goodnight, Butterfly by Ross Burach

There is a third book coming out this summer too! Make sure to pre-order this one.

A Butterfly’s Life by Ellen Lawrence

This is a great book that follows a boy on his journey to learn about monarch butterflies. This book is filled with great real photos of the life cycle.

This book would be a great addition to our Butterfly Activities which is filled with math, science, and literacy activities. You can check it out here.

Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay

In this book, a girl moves to a new town. She finds a place called butterfly park, but there are no butterflies. She’s determined to lure butterflies in and the girl inspires her whole town to help.

These catching butterflies counting mats would be a fun addition to this book too. You can grab the counting mats here.

Moth and Butterfly, Ta Da! by Dev Petty

This is a great book about a moth and a butterfly that introduces metamorphosis. It also celebrates the differences between moths and butterflies and shows how the best friendships adapt to even really big changes.

Save The Butterflies by Bethany Stahl

We love the book, Save The Bees and this one too doesn’t disappoint!  This is a story of Holly, a butterfly, Cho, and her dad, who work together to discover how people can help plant a butterfly garden as well as raise and release butterflies!

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison

This is another one of my butterfly favorites. Poor Velma—people can barely remember her name. But all that changes on a class trip to the magnificent Butterfly Conservatory—a place neither of her sisters has ever been. When a monarch roosts on Velma’s finger and won’t budge for days . . . well, no one will forget Velma ever again.

I have a fun literacy snack idea and a free printable to go along with this book too that you can find here.

Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story by Elisa Kleven

This is a beautiful story that shares acts about glasswing butterflies and pollination.

Butterflies Belong Here by Deborah Hopkinson

This book is about the real change children can make in conservation and advocacy—in this case, focusing on beautiful monarch butterflies

Ten For Me by Barbara Mariconda

This is a great book to use to incorporate math into your butterfly unit. The book is a fun read-aloud where two friends take off on a butterfly hunt, only to find themselves tangled in a mathematics net! Rose, and her friend Ed race to see who can catch the most butterflies on this addition adventure. How many in all? Let s add them again! shout the butterfly hunters. Who will win? Ten for Me makes math fun, easy, and entertaining while adding a touch of the natural world into cross-curricular education.

I have a fun math creativity to go along with this book that you can grab for FREE here.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert  

This is a quick read-aloud but has beautiful, colorful pictures. In the end, there are several pictures of different types of butterflies along with a diagram of the parts of a butterfly. They are a nice reference when teaching these things during your butterfly unit.

This butterfly craft with writing prompts is perfect to go along with any of these wonderful books that I’ve shared. You can grab the craft here.

And the last book I’m going to share with you today is not necessarily a “butterfly book” but it is about an entomologist. This book would be a great addition to any insect study you were doing. The book does touch on moths and butterflies though.

Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner by Janice N. Harrington 

Charles Henry Turner never stopped wondering and asking questions. This is a wonderful book about him always continuing to ask more questions which eventually lead him to being a biologist.

And if you’re looking for even more ideas for your butterfly unit, I share some more great ideas in this blog post here, Teaching About Butterflies In The Classroom.

Do you have any other favorite butterfly read alouds that you would add to our list?

See you next time!

jenette

The post The Best Butterfly Read-Alouds appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The leaves are chaning colors, the morning air is crisp, you know what that means, autumn is here! This week, we have a Literacy Snack Autumn Leaves Read-Aloud. We are reading, The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming.

A worried squirrel thinks that SOMEONE is stealing his tree’s leaves. HIS leaves! Even though his friend Bird tries to help him, Squirrel doesn’t seem to understand the changes that the fall season brings like leaves changing color and wind blowing them off the trees.

It’s funny and illuminating — and will spark helpful discussions about the characteristics of fall– with a hint of a winter surprise at the end.

For our snack this week to go along with the book, we are making our own fall trees.

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Snack idea

Each student will need

• 1 large pretzel rod
• 6 prestzel sticks
• a handful of Fruit Loops

To Assemble

To make the fall tree snack, have your students start with the large pretzel rod as the trunk of their tree. Next, have them add the pretzel sticks as the branchess of the tree. Last, they can add on the cereal as the fall colored leaves.

Free Printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their fall tree snack. They will get to draw and write about who the leaf theif is and also what their favorite thing to do with leaves is.

Click the green box below to download the Literacy Snack Autumn Leaves Read-Aloud free printable from my TpT store.

If you’re looking for more fun activities for fall, your students will love getting outdoors to do this Autumn scavenger hunt.

You can find all of the other scavenger hunts I’ve shared here. And if you would like the printable version, you can find that here.

I hope your students enjoy making their fall trees and this silly story!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Autumn Leaves Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

This week’s literacy snack read-aloud is a great one that would work any time of the year. It would also be a great one for the first month of school as a read-aloud about the importance of inclusivity, open-mindedness, diversity. We are reading, The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah.

In this book, two friends love doing everything together and always eat lunch together.  Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus-but what’s that between friends? It turns out, a lot A food fight ends up breaking out and in the end, the girls are able to work things out and try each other’s sandwiches which they both end up loving!

This is incredibly relatable for children, as we’ve all experienced times when people thought our choices were “yucky” or “gross,” or when we’ve thought the same about others.  This is a great book to use as a springboard for many class discussions.

For our snack idea today, we’re making sandwiches to go along with the story.

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snack idea

For this week’s snack, we’re taking inspiration from the end of the book where they created a sandwich event for their entire school. You can do this a couple of different ways with your class.

• Simply have each student bring in a sandwich of their own to enjoy eating as a class together. You can talk about all of the different kinds of sandwiches that were brought in.
• Another option is for you to make 3 or 4 different sandwiches. Cut each one into quarters and let each student taste all 3 or 4 types of sandwiches.

free printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their sandwich snack. They will get to draw and write about what type of sandwich is their favorite.

You can download the Literacy Snack Sandwich Swap Read-Aloud free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

If you are looking for another great read-aloud about diversity, you might want to check out another book called Yoko. You can read about the book and get the snack idea and free printable to go along with this book too here.

I hope your students enjoy this Literacy Snack Sandwich Swap Read-Aloud!

Do you have any favorite books you like to read about diversity or inclusiveness? Share with us below!

See you next time!

jenette

The post Literacy Snack Sandwich Swap Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

Are you looking for some great picture books about camping? How about a camping theme day?! I’m sharing The Best Camping Read-Alouds with you today!

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this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq 

In this book, an immigrant family embarks on their first camping trip in the Midwest. After a not-so-great week at school, Fatima is excited to go on her first camping trip.

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they find their way out of this slippery situation?

It’s a fun book with a lot of adventure that keeps the students engaged.

We have a fun literacy snack idea and free printable to go along with the book too! You can check it out here. The snack would work for any of these books too!

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Ernestine has never been camping before, but she’s sure it will be lots of fun . . . won’t it? This is a great story about a girl’s first experience with the great outdoors. This has become one of my favorite books!

In the book, Ernestine gets to make her very first s’more. Here is a great hands-on sequencing activity that you can tie into the book! Click here to check it out now.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watt 

Scaredy Squirrel is cool with camping . . . as long as he can do it from his couch! Who wants to deal with mosquitos, dirt, and wild animals when he can experience nature on his brand-new TV?

Luckily, Scaredy’s always got a plan. And he doesn’t realize he might just explore the great outdoors along the way.

Your little learners will see Scaredy face his fears in the silliest of ways, they gain perspective and courage, empowering them to tackle their own worries with a big smile.

When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs

This is a wonderful calm book and relaxing book that takes you on a journey on a typical day of camping with a family. From swimming in the chilly lake, picking berries, taking a hike, to catching a fish for dinner,

While you’re reading your camping books, it’s the perfect time for your little learners to enjoy a s’more snack!

Click here to grab the free printable bag toppers and get the recipe for our s’mores snack!

Llama Llama Loves Camping by Anna Dewdney

In this book, Llama Llama and his friends go on a camping trip. Euclid is not so sure he’s going to have a good time when he realizes he won’t be able to use any fancy gadgets. This is a great book to help some of those kiddos that maybe enjoy a bit too much screen time realize there is more to life than a screen.

Oliver and Hope’s Adventure Under the Stars by Meg Cadts 

In this book, the friends spend the night discovering the beauty of Mother Nature and playing silly games that make the shadows a little less scary and the camping adventure a whole lot more fun.

The detailed illustrations allow your little learners to take a front-row seat with these friends around the campfire, have some fun, and be inspired by their limitless imagination. 

Our camping counting mats would go perfectly with this book too! Little learners can practice counting and number sense by counting stars in the night sky. Click here to check it out now.

Curious George Goes Camping by Margret Rey

Curious George books are always entertaining. Follow the mischievous monkey on a silly chain of events that will keep your little learners giggling.

Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

The inside of a tent is cozy by what is going on outside? This book using a flashlight beam to reveal that there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it.

Gather Round by David Covell

 A girl and her father build a campfire together to keep the cold at bay. But as they welcome passing travelers – from musicians to animals – they create a community, fostered by a crackling fire and its comforting warmth.

And after reading some or all of these camping stories, your little learners will have learned a bunch of new vocabulary words. Our camping bingo is a fun way to go back and review a bunch of the new items and vocabulary they may have learned! Click here to check it out now.

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Do you have any other fun camping books that you would add to our list? Let us know below in the comments!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post The Best Camping Read-Alouds appeared first on Primary Playground.

I don’t know about you, but my favorite dessert is cookies! I’ve gathered The Best Cookie Read-Alouds for you to share with your class. These would be a great addition to an end-of-the-year cookie-themed day! We have some great activities to go along with many of these books too!

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this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The Best Cookie Read-Alouds

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat and Mo Willems

Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? There are only three cookies . . . and four of them! They need to act fast before nervous Hippo breaks all the cookies into crumbs!

This is a super silly book just like their friends Elephant and Piggie.

The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie by Jamie Rix 

This hilarious picture book reminds readers that being polite can go a long way!

There is one chocolate chip cookie left–and Jack is ready to eat it! But then his mom reminds him of his manners. He must offer the cookie to EVERYONE else first. So Jack offers it to all sorts of people–he even goes to space and offers it to an alien! This is fun to read aloud with lots of expressions, has an enjoyable ending, and some extra humor to discover in the pictures too.

Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington

Mr. Cookie Baker’s cookies are a neighborhood favorite. From mixing the dough to decoring the shapes after they come out of the oven, this book follows all the steps that Mr. Cookie Baker takes to make his sweet cookies.

The book even shares 4 great cookie recipes in the back that you can make.

Our Cooking Class How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies would be a perfect hands-on activity to go along with this book. In this pack, the students are learning writing, sequencing, retelling, life skills, and much more. It’s a great hands-on activity to get the students excited to learn. Click here to check it out now.

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

This is a great read-aloud picture book about friendship, sharing, and cookies that can also be used to introduce basic math concepts to young children.

We read The Doorbell Rang as one of our literacy snacks too. You can check out the snack idea and grab the FREE printable to go along with the book here.

The Duckling Gets A Cookie1? by Mo Willems

Our favorite pigeon is back again in this silly book. The Duckling asks for a cookie — and gets one! Do you think the Pigeon is happy about that?

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff

If a hungry little mouse shows up on your doorstep, you might want to give him a cookie. And if you give him a cookie, he’ll ask for a glass of milk. He’ll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn’t have a milk mustache, and then he’ll ask for a pair of scissors to give himself a trim….one of our favorite cookie books of course!

We have a ton of fun ideas to go along with this book too. Click here to check out this adorable free hat to make to go along with the book.

Or practice counting with these Milk and Cookies Counting Mats.

We have even more ideas to go along with this book too!

• Mouse Craft With Writing Prompts
• Real and Nonsense Milk and Cookies Word Sort
• Free Printable Cookie Counting Puzzles

Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon

It’s easy to take a cookie out of the cookie jar, just reach in, But how does it get there in the first place? It’s more complicated than you might think. Someone has to grow the wheat, milk the cow, harvest the sugarcane-everyone has a special job to do to make that cookie possible. This book takes you on the journey of a cookie show how many hands work together so that one hand can take the cookie out of the cookie jar.

That’s all of The Best Cookie Read-Alouds we have today. Do you have any others that you would add to the list?

See you next time!

Jenette

The post The Best Cookie Read-Alouds appeared first on Primary Playground.

Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd. Books are such a fantastic way to teach and introduce little learners to new subjects. I’m sharing with you today, The Best Earth Day Read-Alouds.

Earth Day is such an important topic to learn about. There are so many fun activities that can be done alongside all of the books below. I’ve divided them up by books about the earth, recycling, trees, water, gardening – composting and beess.

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This article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

The Earth and Earth Day

Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard

On Earth Day, we find ways to help the Earth. Trina plants trees with her class. She forms an Earth Day club with her friends. What can you do to make every day Earth Day? Do your part to be a planet protector!

Earth Day–Hooray!  by Stuart J. Murphy

Earth Day is on the way, and Ryan, Luke, and Carly have a plan. If they manage to collect and recycle 5,000 aluminum cans, they can make enough money to buy some beautiful flowers for nearby Gilroy Park. CAN they do it? Counting the cans gives Ryan, Luke, and Carly—along with readers—a lesson in place value. And facts about recycling throughout the story will help readers understand how important it is to take care of the earth.

Earth Day Birthday! by Maureen Wright

In this fun read-aloud, it’s April 22, and Lion and his friends want to plant trees, recycle bottles, and have fun on Earth Day. But not Monkey. He wants to celebrate his birthday. Can he convince the other animals that it really is his birthday?  Students with birthday’s on holidays will especially relate to Monkey in this story.

My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan 

This is a beautiful book that has many die-cut pages that help celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.

Trash and Recycling

Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green

What if everybody threw away old bottles and newspapers, littering the world with glass and plastic and tin cans that should be recycled and made into new products? Mr. Jones is a teacher who sets a good example for kids by separating his trash for recycling. When he takes them on a class trip to a recycling plant they learn the value of recycling.

Recycling Is Fun by Charles Ghigna

Children learn that sorting recycling and giving new life to old things is not only good for the environment.  It is a whole lot of fun, too!

What Does It Mean to Be Green? by Rana DiOrio

In this book, a young boy and girl discover amazing facts (like how our food travels an average of 1,500 miles to be on our plate!) and explore all the different ways they―and we―can help protect the Earth’s most precious resources to save the planet and live “green” lifestyles.

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole

This is a wordless book. I always love these books because you can fill in the narrative. This is not an “Earth Day” book perse but is a great read to understand the concept of reusing.

From a tall tree growing in the forest–to the checkout counter at the grocery store–one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy. And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is used and reused and reused again.

What A Waste by Jess French

This book is not so much a read-aloud but I didn’t want to leave it out because it’s a great book. It is a lively kid’s educational book with fabulous illustrations and fun facts about the world broken into easy-to-digest bite-sized bits. Each page can be looked at in short bursts or longer reads for more detail when talking about specific topics.

Here’s a free Earth Day Word Search for your students to do to review a lot of the vocabulary they have learned throughout these books.

Trees

Curious George Plants a Tree by H. A. Rey

When George finds out that the science museum is planning a “Green Day” dedicated to recycling and planting trees, he is curious and wants to help out! But then George begins to recycle things around town that aren’t quite ready for the recycling bin, and he gets into a jam. Thankfully, George isn’t the only one who wants to help—the whole community can’t wait to lend a hand! 

Trees Make Perfect Pets by Paul Czajak

Abigail is determined to get the perfect pet.

So she chooses Fido. He keeps her cool from the sun, stays where she tells him, and even gives her air to breathe. That’s because Fido is a tree!

But not everyone thinks having a tree as a pet is a good idea, though, especially when Fido starts to grow. Will Abigail be able to keep her perfect pet?

Zonia’s Rain Forest  by Juana Martinez-Neal 

Zonia’s home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning, she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer? How will we all answer?

The Magic and Mystery Of Trees by Jen Green

This book is not so much a read-aloud but I didn’t want to leave it out. In this book, kids will discover how trees communicate and warn each other of predators, how they nurture their networks, record the past, and anticipate the future to ensure their survival. There’s so much more to trees than meets the eye. 

There are some particularly good pages near the end of the book that would be great to share in regards to Earth Day. From the trees and the plant, the water cycle, trees that are at risk, and helping trees.

Water

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

This book is inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.

Rocket Says Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon

Rocket is off to the islands to visit her grandparents. Her family loves nothing better than to beach comb and surf together…but the beach is clogged with trash! When she finds a turtle tangled in a net, Rocket decides that something must be done! Like a mini Greta Thunberg, our young activist’s enthusiasm brings everyone together…to clean up the beach and prevent plastics from spoiling nature. 

The Mess That We Made by Michelle Lord

The Mess That We Made explores the environmental impact of trash and plastic on the ocean and marine life, and it inspires kids to do their part to combat pollution. The first half of the book portrays the growing magnitude of the issue, and the second half rallies children and adults to make the necessary changes to save our oceans. 

Gardening – Composting – Bees

Anywhere Garden by Phyllis Root 

You might think a farm means fields, tractors, and a barnyard full of animals. But you can plant a farm anywhere you like! A box or a bucket, a boot or a pan — almost anything can be turned into a home for green, growing things. Windows, balconies, and front steps all make wonderful spots to start. 

Compost Stew By Mary McKenna Siddals

This book is a fun A to Z recipe of all kinds of different items that can be put into a compost pile.

If Bees Disappeared by Lily Williams 

What would happen if bees disappeared? Though bees are small, their importance is BIG. Today there are over 250,000 species of bees but all of them are in danger. Because of disease, pesticide exposure, lack of foraging habitats, and poor nutrition, entire honey bee hives are dying. This book explains how they are being harmed and ways that we can help.

Give Bees A Chance by Bethany Barton 

Give Bees a Chance is for anyone who doesn’t quite appreciate how extra special and important bees are to the world, and even to humankind! Besides making yummy honey, they help plants grow fruits and vegetables. And most bees wouldn’t hurt a fly (unless it was in self-defense!). 

If you’re looking for a fun way to review Earth Day vocabulary after reading a bunch of these books, we have our Earth Day bingo. You can check it out here.

I hope your students enjoy some of The Best Earth Day Read-Alouds. Do you have any other’s that you would add to our list?

See you next time!

Jenette

The post The Best Earth Day Read-Alouds appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

This week’s literacy snack bee read-aloud is a great one for spring to go with your spring-insect unit or can be used at the beginning of the school as a read-aloud about the importance of sharing. We are reading, The Very Greedy Bee by Steve Smallman.

In the book, the bee is very greedy and will not share his nectar with anyone! He finds the juiciest flowers, ends up eating too much, and gets stuck. He makes some friends that help him on his journey back home, and In the end, he shares all of his best honey with his new friends.

This is a great story that gives the opportunity to describe the character throughout the text. It helps the kids learn that they shouldn’t be greedy, to share and that sometimes you may need to ask for help from others.

For our snack this week, we’ll be making a bee!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

snack idea

supplies needed per student

1 Keebler Fudge Stripes Cookie

1 pretzel stick broke in half

2 pretzel twists

2 candy eyeballs

to assemble

To make the bee snack, have your students start with the cookie. Next, take the 2 pretzel twists and place them under the cookie a little bit to look like the wings. Take the 2 pretzel stick halves and add them to the top of the bee as the antennae. Last, add the eyes and he’s done! Isn’t he cute!

Another option instead of making the bee snack is to have your kids taste test, honey. Grab a box of Ritz Crackers and a bottle of honey from the store and give each student 2 crackers with some honey on each as a snack.

This would make a great opportunity to graph with your class the number of people who like honey and the number of people that do not. We have a fun page in our Bee Activities Pack that goes perfectly with this too!

free printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their bee snack. They will get to draw and write about how the bee acted at the beginning of the story and then how the bee acted at the end of the story.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

Another fun activity to go along with the book is our bee craft! They look adorable hanging on the bulletin board or in the hallway! Click here to check it out now.

To also go along with the bee theme, we have this fun free Honey Bee Sight Word Game that you can grab to help your students practice their sight words. You can hop over and grab that for free here.

I hope your students enjoy this Literacy Snack Bee Read-Aloud!

Do you have any favorite books you like to read about the bees or sharing? Share with us below!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Bee Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Learning about the weather is always fun! There are so many fun activities, hands-on activities, and experiments that can be done! Today, we have a Literacy Snack Weather Read-Aloud. We are reading, Miss Mingo Weathers The Storm by Jamie Harper.

In our read-aloud today, Miss Mingo takes her class on a field trip to the weather station. The class experiences all kinds of weather and crazy atmospheric changes throughout their trip!

This book is sprinkled with great weather and animal habitat facts too!

For our snack this week, we’ll be making rain clouds!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

snack idea

supplies needed per student

• Approx 6 blueberries
• Approx 25 mini marshmallows (or about a handful)

to assemble

To make the rain cloud, have the students use their mini marshmallows to create a cloud. After they have made their cloud, they can use their blueberries as raindrops falling from the cloud.

free printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their rain cloud snack. They will get to draw and write about their favorite type of weather.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

Another fun activity to go along with the book is our Umbrella Craft With Writing Prompts. They look great hanging on the bulletin board or in the hallways all spring long! Click here to check it out now.

And we also have our Weather Bingo. It’s a great way to review weather vocabulary while having some fun! Click here to grab it now.

I hope your students enjoy this Literacy Snack Weather Read-Aloud!

Do you have any favorite books you like to read about the weather? Share with us below!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Weather Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

Need a fun way to get your students reading each month instead of a reading log? Come try out our Free Printable April Reading Bingo!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

In this April Reading Bingo, your students will get to choose fun places and different ways to read, like reading in an empty bathtub and reading while eating a piece of fruit for a snack. There are even some spaces that give different types of book theme suggestions. (You can download the April Reading Bingo at the bottom of the post.)

This would be great to send home with your student on the first of the month along with your class newsletter. Have them return it at the end of the month completed for points or a trip to the treasure chest.

I’ve made reading bingos for each month of the school year as well. (August-May) So if your students enjoy this Free Printable April Reading Bingo, you can grab the whole school year here. Each month is full of different ideas and different book theme suggestions depending on the season or holidays.

You can grab the Monthly Reading Bingo here on TpT or directly from PrimaryPlayground here.

And if you need another reading bingo for the summer months, June and July, we have a Free Printable Summer Reading Bingo that you can grab here.

You can download the April Reading Bingo by clicking the green box below.

I have your kiddos have fun reading this month!

Jenette

The post Free Printable April Reading Bingo appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Spring is officially here, so for this week we’re focusing on birds and we are reading Nesting by Henry Cole for our Literacy Snack Robin’s Nest Read-Aloud.

In this black-and-white picture book highlighted with robin’s egg blue, the students will follow two robins as they build a nest with twigs and grass. The mother robin lays four beautiful blue eggs and keeps the eggs warm in the nest until they hatch into four baby robins.

The father robin protects the babies until they can fly on their own. The perils the babies encounter are many, including snakes and storms. The nest is always their safe place.

This book provides a great introduction to animal science concepts for young children.

For our snack this week, we’ll be making our own robin’s nest.

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

snack idea

supplies needed per student

• One rice crispy treat. You can make them yourself to bring in for the class if you are allowed, or you can purchase individually wrapped rice crispy treats. They also make full pre-packaged rice crispy sheets now that would work great for this too.
• 3 Mini Robin Egg candies

to assemble

To make the robin’s nest, have the students take their rice crispy treat and form it into a bowl or nest shape. Add the 3 robin’s eggs in the nest and you’re done! This snack is super easy peasy!

free printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their robin’s nest snack. They will get to draw and write about one thing that they learned about robins from the book.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

Another fun activity to go along with the book is our bird nest counting mats. Buy an extra bag of Robin Egg candies to use as the counters. (They’re my favorite Easter candy!)

If you are looking for some more great spring literacy snack read-alouds here are some of the ones we’ve shared.

When Spring Comes

The Tiny Seed

Kite Day

Worm Weather

Do you have any favorite books you like to read in spring? Share with us below!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Robin’s Nest Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Spring officially starts this weekend, so for this week, we are reading When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes for our Literacy Snack Spring Read-Aloud.

“Before spring comes, the trees are dark sticks, the grass is brown, and the ground is covered in snow. But if you wait, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink and shrink. Spring brings baby birds, sprouting seeds, rain and mud, and puddles. You can feel it and smell it and hear it. “

This book takes you along on the beautiful transformation that happens between winter and spring. And for our snack idea this week, we are making my favorite part of spring, a flower!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Snack Idea

Supplies Needed Per Student

-1 to 2 strawberries thinly sliced (depending on the size of the berries)

-approx 8 blueberries

-a thin slice of green apple

-2 spring lettuce leaves or spinach leaves

To Assemble

To make the flower, start by laying out the strawberries in a circle like the petals. Add the blueberries in the middle. Next, add the green apple slice as the stem. Last, add the lettuce as the leaves.

You could use many different types of different fruits for this activity if you want to change it up. For example, use orange slices as the flower petals and sliced grapes in the middle. Tons of possibilities!

Free Printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their flower snack. They will get to draw and write about their favorite thing to do in spring. Also about how they feel, what they smell, and what they see in the spring.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

We have another fun flower snack idea to go along with the book, The Tiny Seed. Click here to check that one out and grab the free printable to go along with the book.

And to help us welcome spring, we have our Spring Bingo which is perfect to play all season long. Click here to grab it now.

What are some of your other favorite books or ways to welcome spring?

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Spring Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Need a fun spring math-based craft for your bulletin board? We’ve got you covered with this Butterfly Spring Math Craftivity to go along with the book Ten For Me.

This is a great way to tie math into your butterfly unit, finishing up your addition unit on the different ways to make ten, or just as a fun spring math project.

Ten For Me is a fun read-aloud where two friends take off on a butterfly hunt, only to find themselves tangled in a mathematics net! Rose, and her friend Ed race to see who can catch the most butterflies on this addition adventure. How many in all? Let s add them again! shout the butterfly hunters. Who will win? Ten for Me makes math fun, easy, and entertaining while adding a touch of the natural world into cross-curricular education.

Several pages throughout the book have fantastic butterfly facts that you can share with your students too.

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Getting Started

Supplies needed

-A large piece of construction paper per student. We used blue to look like the sky but you could use whatever you have.

-Scissors

-Glue Stick

-Crayons

-Download and print the free printable, available at the bottom of the post

Butterfly Spring Math Craftivity

Using it as an addition activity

This works as a great hands-on math activity for the kiddos. You can use it as a center, or you could use it as a visual while reading the book aloud to the class or group.

You’ll simply print out the 2 pages that you can download at the bottom of this post for each student. Have them color the pictures and cut them out. They can use the butterflies to make ten different ways like in the book. Or you could create addition problems on index cards and have them complete them using the butterflies as counters to help.

Using them as a whole group, just print out and color one copy. You could even laminate it so it can be used over and over again. As you read the story, when each day’s butterfly totals are read, have a student create that addition problem. Have the class complete the new way to make ten each time.

Using it as a craft

My favorite is to use it as a math craft project to display in the classroom. Follow the same as above, print, color, and cut out the 2 pages. To make it into a craft, each student will need a large piece of construction paper. 

Before gluing everything down on the paper, have them start with the en butterflies. They can choose how many butterflies each Ed and Rose caught so that the number equals ten. Have them fill in the numbers on the rectangle word problem paper. They can then glue the butterflies on the sheet that matches their answer.

They look adorable all hanging up in the classroom! 

You can download the free printable Butterfly Spring Math Craftivity by clicking the green box below.

Do you have any other fun books you like to use when teaching addition? 

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Butterfly Spring Math Craftivity appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Spring is in the air and the days are beautiful outside! This week, we have a Literacy Snack Kite Read-Aloud that takes us outdoors. We are reading Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand.

On a windy spring day, Bear sniffs the air.  Could it be. . . Kite day? Bear and his friend Mole build a kite of their own. But when the storm gets too strong, the kite snaps and lands in a tree. Not all is lost though, as the kite is stuck in the tree it protects a nest full of birds from the rain.

This is a fun read-aloud for spring or is a great addition to your weather unit. For our snack this week, we’ll be making our very own kites!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Snack Idea

Supplies Needed Per Student

-Half of a graham cracker (so one square)

-Approx 12 M&M’s or Skittles

-1/2 of 1 piece of pull-n-peel licorice

-3 mini marshmallows (for this snack, I left the bag open overnight to let the marshmallows dry out a bit. It makes it easier for the kids to form them into the bows.)

To Assemble

To make the kite, start with laying out the square graham cracker and turning it so it looks like a diamond. Place the M&M’s or Skittles along the outer edges of the inside of the graham cracker. Next, add the licorice piece as the kite tail. Last, take the 3 mini marshmallows and pinch them in the middles to create the bows. Place them on top of the licorice tail as the bows. Cute as can be for their very own kite!

Free Printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their kite snack. They will get to draw and write about a time that they got to fly a kite. Or if they haven’t flown a kite before, they can draw and write about a kite they’d like to fly.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

We have a fun kite math activity that would go along with this book perfectly too! The kites look adorable hanging up around the classroom for spring. You can get all of the details and download the kite template for free here.

Do you have any other fun kite activities to go along with the book? Share with us below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Kite Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

There’s just something magical about rainbows! And March is always a fun time to learn about them! For today’s Literacy Snack Rainbow Read-Aloud, we are reading, A Rainbow Of My Own by Don Freeman.

In this book, a small boy uses his imagination to see what it would be like to have a rainbow of his own. In the end, he even gets a rainbow of his very own in his room made by the sun shining through his goldfish bowl.

This is a great book to discuss the students using their imaginations and would also be a great addition to your weather unit. For our snack today, we will be making a rainbow of our own from fruit!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Snack Idea

Supplies Needed

Plastic Punch Cups & Plastic Forks

Red Fruit- We used 2 strawberries per cup. You could also use raspberries or apples.

Orange Fruit- We used 2 canned peaches per cup. You could use orange slices or canned mandarin oranges too.

Yellow Fruit- We used about 1/3 of a banana for each cup. You could also use pineapple.

Green Fruit- We used 4 green grapes cut in half for each cup. You could also use kiwi fruit.

Blue Fruit- We used a small handful of blueberries in each cup.

Purple Fruit- We used about 6 blackberries in our cup. You could also use red/purple grapes.

To Assemble

This snack works best with your help or a volunteer’s help so you can be the one to add the appropriate amount of fruit to the cup. The students can help tell you what color to add next and you can talk about what kinds of fruits they are.

Free Printable

Do you teach your students the colors of the rainbow? One of my most favorite songs to help with this is from an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse every time I see a rainbow I still sing the song! Isn’t it just funny how things stick with you? I found it on YouTube you want to share it with their students.

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their rainbow fruit cup. They will get to draw and write about a time that they saw a rainbow.

You can download the free printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store by clicking the green box below.

We have a fun rainbow science experiment that would go along with this perfectly too! To make this rainbow in a jar, the students are exploring density by layering sugar water to make a rainbow. You can get the details of the experiment here.

We also have this fun Rainbow Tally Mark activity. These rainbow tally marks are a great, hands-on way to practice counting by 5’s, counting on and working on fine motor a bit as well! Rainbows always make me happy and are great to use all year long, or during your weather unit, St. Patrick’s Day, or spring in general. Check out the activity here.

Do you have any other fun rainbow books you like to read or activities to go along with the book? Share with us below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Rainbow Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

this article (and most) on primary playground, does contain affiliate links that we do earn a commission off of.  clicking these links does not cost you any extra but helps our website to keep great articles and freebies like this coming your way.

Today we have another Literacy Snack St. Patrick’s Day Read-Aloud to share with you! This week, we are reading, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Clover by Lucille Colandro.

The old lady is back in this book, this time swallowing a clover. Then she continues to swallow items to make the perfect rainbow to hide a pot of gold. It’s a fun rhyming read-aloud for St. Patrick’s Day.

To go along with the story, we are making our own rainbow snacks today!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Snack Idea

Supplies needed – each student needs

12-15 mini marshmallows

Fruit Loops cereal – 6 pieces of each color cereal

To Assemble

First, have your students create their cloud using their marshmallows. Next, have them use one color cereal at a time to create each arch of their rainbow and they’re done! Easy fun beautiful rainbow snack!

Free Printable

While your students are enjoying their rainbow snack, I made a free printable for them to work on. They get to recall all of the things in the story that the Old Lady swallowed and color them in. See if they can color the items in the order that they happened in the book to make it into a sequencing activity.

Click the green box below to download the Literacy Snack St. Patrick’s Day Read-Aloudfree printable from my TeachersPayTeachers store.

If you’re looking for another great Literacy Snack St. Patrick’s Day Read-Aloud, we also shared the book, Leprechaun On The Loose, and a fun trap idea that you can check out here.

In case you’re looking for even more St. Patrick’s Day fun, we have a scavenger hunt for you too!

You can find all of the other scavenger hunts we’ve shared here. And click here if you’re looking for a printable version.

And we have St. Patrick’s Day bingo too! It’s always a favorite! Click here to see It on TpT and click here for Primary Playground direct. 

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack St. Patrick’s Day Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

Read Across America Week is quickly approaching so I thought I’d share some fun Read Across America Week Ideas that you can use!

Read Across America Week is an annual event that is an initiative on reading creative by the National Education Association. … This motivational and awareness day calls all children and youth in every community across the United States to celebrate reading.  Read Across America week is usually the first week in March.

At some schools, the whole school participates in this week and has a whole fun literacy week or you can celebrate it in your own classroom or at home.

Read Across America Week Ideas

Take your reading outdoors.

• Take your class outside and find a nice shady area and have storytime outside. You can do the same at home. Find somewhere nice to sit outside, or maybe take a book to a park.

Book Scavenger Hunt

• This one can be done in the classroom or at home. Set out some books that you know have the items on the list and have your little learners look through the books for them. You can print off a picture of the hunt below or you can find the actual printable version of the book scavenger hunt here. We also have an extension page that the kids can fill in all of the items they found in the books that you can grab for free here.

Reading Buddies

• Get in touch with an older grade, 5th, and 6th work well for this, and have their class become reading buddies with yours. They can come and read to the younger kids and vice versa, the younger kids can read to the older kids. You can do the same at home, and put an older sibling together with a younger one and have them take turns reading to each other.

Reading Bingo

• Send this fun reading bingo home with your little learners to make reading even more fun! Have them bring it back completed to you for a small prize. You can grab the reading bingo for free here.

Have Guest Readers or Mystery Readers

• You could invite a local author in to read to the students. Have the principal stop in to read a book to the class or even invite a police officer! Tons of different options you could go with here. You could also invite mystery readers in. Give the class 3 clues to see if they can guess who the reader will be!

Do An Author Study

• Does your class have a favorite author? Some of our favorites to do author studies on are Eric Carle, Laura Numeroff, and James Dean. We have a bunch of activities that you could do along with the author study.

• Eric Carle:
  • Free Printable Caterpillar Hat
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar Literacy Snack
  • The Grouchy Ladybug Literacy Snack
  • A Very Busy Spider Literacy Snack
  • The Tiny See Literacy Snack
  • Pancakes! Pancakes! Literacy Snack
• Laura Numeroff
  • Cookie Counting Puzzles
  • Cookie Hat
  • If You Give A Moose A Muffin Literacy Snack
  • If You Give A Cat A Cupcake Literacy Snack
  • Donut Ten Frames
  • If You Give A Dog A Donut Literacy Snack
• James Dean
  • Cool Cat Awards
  • Pete The Cat I Love My White Shoes Literacy Snack
  • Pete The Cat Cupcake Subtraction Craftivity

Dress Up As Your Favorite Book Character Day

• Have your choose a book and dress up as one of the characters. The class can take turns guessing who everyone is dressed up as! For yourself, talk to your teammates about dressing up altogether to make it extra fun!

Host A Family Reading Campout

• Choose a night and invite the entire school out to a family reading campout. We have done this in our cafeteria. Set up several tents, make pretend campfires and have some teachers volunteer to come and read too! We also set up a reading craft area and gave out special s’more snacks!

Read With Flashlights

• Set aside some special reading time and read with flashlights! Something so small but makes it so fun! The kids love it!

Beary Good Reader Snack

• Here’s a fun snack to give to your beary good readers! You can put the crackers into a snack bag or you can find pre-packaged crackers that you can just attach the bag topper to as well! Click here to download it now.

Read Books That Promote Diversity And Inclusion.

• The Read Across America website has a fantastic calendar of book suggestions depending on that month’s theme. From foster inclusiveness exploring families and history to promoting respect. You can check out the calendar and book suggestions here.

Make A Literacy Snack

• Have you tried one of our literacy snack ideas? We take a read-aloud and create a fun snack to go along with the book. Each one has a free printable available to go with the book too! We have shared over 100 of them now. You can find them all here.

Do you have any other fun ways to celebrate Read Across America week? Share with us below!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Read Across America Week Ideas appeared first on Primary Playground.