Movie days are always a hit in the classroom! Whether your class has earned the movie party, it’s a movie you’re showing during a party, or at the end of the year, it’s always something they look forward to! You know me, and my love for hats, so today I’m sharing a Free Printable Movie Day Hat for your students to make while they are watching the movie!

Not only is this movie day hat adorable, but it also gives students a fun and quiet activity to work on while they enjoy the movie. Instead of wiggling in their seats or chatting with friends, they can color, cut, and assemble their hats as they watch! It’s the perfect low-prep way to keep little hands busy and engaged, while still letting everyone relax and enjoy the special movie day together.

Free Printable Movie Day Hat

You can download the Free Movie Day Hat by clicking the green box below.

I hope your students love this Free Printable Movie Day Hat as much as mine do! It’s such a simple way to make classroom movie days feel even more special and memorable. Just print, color, create, and enjoy the show! Be sure to save this activity for your next classroom celebration, reward day, or end-of-year movie party.

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Printable Movie Day Hat appeared first on Primary Playground.

This week, I have a new literacy snack read-aloud for you! We are going on an adventure, and reading A Ticket Around the World, by Natalia Diaz and Melissa Owens. The book takes kids on a journey across 13 countries and 6 continents as a young boy visits friends around the world. Along the way, children learn about each country’s culture, language, food, landmarks, wildlife, and traditions while exploring maps and fun facts.

It has engaging nonfiction content and great illustrations. This picture book helps kids discover both the differences and similarities that connect people around the globe. There are even some great reading comprehension questions at the back of the book to share with your class as a book extension.

This would be such a fun book to use if you have a multi-cultural night at your school, as part of your social studies units, summer school, or even a library summer reading theme!

For our snack this week, we will be making our own “world”!

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Snack Idea

To make the “world” snack, each student will need the following

To make the snack, each student will start with a waffle for the base. They can then add the vanilla yogurt onto the waffle and use a plastic knife or spoon to spread it all over the waffle. Lastly, they can add blueberries and grapes as water and continents to create their “world” or Earth. They turn out so cute and such a fun and yummy snack!

Around the World Free Printable

I’ve also created a free printable for your students to work on while they are enjoying their snacks! Similar to the questions in the back of the book, I created additional questions for your students to answer, such as: In India, what types of fruit grow in the hot climate? I made two different versions, one to write the answers in and one for students to draw in their answers.

Click the green box below to download the Free Around the World printable.

I loved bringing A Ticket Around the World to life with this simple literacy snack and printable activity, and I hope it inspires your little learners to explore the world through books, too. Activities like these make reading more meaningful by helping children connect stories to hands-on learning and real-world experiences. Be sure to grab the free printable and enjoy your own around-the-world adventure right from home or the classroom!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Around the World appeared first on Primary Playground.

Are you looking for a fun way to teach your students about caring for the planet? A classroom book swap is the perfect hands-on activity to bring the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle, to life! Not only does it encourage sustainability, but it also gets students excited about reading by giving them a “new-to-them” book.

Teaching young children about the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle, helps build lifelong habits that protect our planet. When students learn these concepts early, they begin to understand that small actions can make a big difference. Having a classroom book swap is a perfect example of this in action: instead of buying something new, students reuse books by giving them a second life with a new reader. This not only reduces waste but also shows children that sharing and reusing can be fun, meaningful, and beneficial for everyone!

Free Earth Day Book Swap Note Printable

To make it easy for you to get started, I’ve created a free, ready-to-use printable note you can send home with students to explain the book swap to families. Just download, print, and you’re ready to go! 

To get started, print the note and send it home with students or share it digitally through your classroom communication platform. Give families a clear due date and encourage them to send in a gently used book that their child no longer reads. Once the books are collected, display them on a table or in a designated area of your classroom so students can easily browse. On book swap day, invite each child to choose one “new-to-them” book to take home. It’s a simple, organized way to build excitement while reinforcing the value of reusing and sharing! 

Helpful tip! Make sure to have an extra set of books to add to the display so all students can participate!

Click the green box below to download the Free Earth Day Book Swap Note Printable.

If you’re looking for even more fun and meaningful Earth Day activities, I’ve gathered some of my favorites to share with you! You can also explore a list of my favorite Earth Day read-alouds to pair perfectly with your lessons.

Earth Day centers are one of my favorite ways to help students celebrate and learn about caring for our planet! Your students will love rotating through these hands-on, engaging activities that make learning meaningful and fun.

This resource includes 7 engaging Earth Day center rotations, along with table tents to make classroom setup and organization easy. Activities include an A–Z Earth Day scavenger hunt, 3 R’s sorting, a themed snack, measurement, crafts, Play-Doh dough mats, and an Earth Day hat project.

I hope this Free Earth Day Book Swap Note Printable makes it easy for you to bring a meaningful, hands-on sustainability lesson into your classroom!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Earth Day Book Swap Note Printable: Teach Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in a Fun & Meaningful Way appeared first on Primary Playground.

Add a little luck and laughter to your literacy centers with this clover-themed Free Leprechaun CVC Words Game, where kids read, play, and try to avoid the sneaky leprechaun!

So many of you shared how much fun your students had playing our Gobble Gobble Game, and Santa Ho, Ho Ho Beginning Sound games at the end of the year, so I created a new version to keep the excitement going with a CVC words version! This clover-themed CVC game is a fun and engaging way for your learners to practice reading simple words while trying to avoid the sneaky leprechaun.

The Setup

To play the game, simply download the printable at the bottom of the post. Cut out all of the squares and laminate them so you can play the game over and over again. You will also need some kind of container to put the cards in. I used a simple tin that I’ve had for years, but you can use anything you have on hand.

To Play

This game can be played with one student or many. You will put all of the cards into the container and shake them up. Have a student pull out a card, look at the CVC word, and then read it. If playing alone, choose another card and repeat. If playing with other students, move to the next person to take a turn.

Some cards say, Sneaky leprechaun! If a student chooses a Sneaky leprechaun card, they say, Oh no! A sneaky leprechaun, and puts all of their clover words back in the container, and it’s the next player’s turn, or they can start over again if playing alone.

All short vowels are included: a, e, i, o, and u. It makes it easy to differentiate if your students haven’t learned all of the short vowel sounds yet. Just add what they are familiar with or what you want themto practice with into your container for them to play with. 

Your students will love playing this game so much and get so into into finding that silly, sneaky leprechaun! They hope to pull those cards!

You can download the Leprechaun CVC Words Game below by clicking the green download box.

If you’re looking for more fun ways to practice CVC words this season, you’ll want to check out our St. Patrick’s Day CVC Words Board Games!

These St. Patrick’s Day CVC board games make practicing middle sounds and short vowel words fun, interactive, and stress-free with a simple print-and-play setup. Perfect for literacy centers or small groups, this engaging resource helps young learners build phonics skills through hands-on play.

Do you have any other fun ways you like to practice CVC words with your class? Let us know below in the comments!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Leprechaun CVC Words Game appeared first on Primary Playground.

You don’t have to be a scientist to know the full moon has powers, just ask any teacher! Celebrate the chaos with this free printable tag and a sweet Moon Pie treat your coworkers will love!

I thought it would be fun to create a cute little tag you can add to a treat for your coworkers, a lighthearted way to laugh through the next full moon together.

To Make

The little treat is super simple and quick to put together, but will surely be a hit with your teacher friends!

All you need is

• Print the page of tags below
• Scissors
• Stapler
• A box of Moon Pies

Just download, print, and cut out the tags. Staple a moon pie to each of the tags and you’re all set! You can hand them out to your teacher besties, tuck them into mailboxes, or surprise your grade-level team with a little full-moon humor. They make the perfect quick and easy gift to brighten everyone’s day when things start feeling a little loony! Or this would be a fun, inexpensive project for your school’s PTA/PTO group to do for the entire school! You’re sure to get some stories that come from full moon days!

You can grab the Free Printable Full Moon Tag by clicking the large green box below.

Whether you’re surviving the chaos of a full moon or just want to share a laugh with your coworkers, these little treats are a simple way to spread some joy. Teaching can be wild, but a bit of humor (and chocolate!) goes a long way. So print a few tags, grab some Moon Pies, and make someone’s day a little brighter!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Printable Full Moon Tag appeared first on Primary Playground.

I have another fun Halloween read-aloud this week for our literacy snack idea! This week, we are reading, We’re Going On A Ghost Hunt by Marcia Vaughan and pairing it with a simple, fun snack idea that your students will love! There’s nothing better than pairing a great book with a themed snack! It’s an easy way to spark excitement, encourage participation, and make reading truly memorable. Your students will love this Halloween read-aloud favorite!

We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt is a fun and slightly spooky twist on a classic favorite! Follow a group of brave little ghost hunters as they journey through creaky houses, dark forests, and shadowy paths, all in search of their very own ghost. Along the way, they’ll face a few spooky surprises, but their courage (and curiosity!) keeps them going. It’s a ghostly adventure your students will want to join again and again!

To go along with the book, our snack that we will be making this week is our very own ghosts!

Snack Idea

For each student you will need:

• Half of a banana
• 1 choclate chip
• 2 candy eyeballs

To make their little ghost, students will unpeel half of a banana, then gently press on two candy eyeballs and a chocolate chip for the mouth. It’s quick, easy, and absolutely adorable — the perfect simple snack for this week! 

Free Printable

I’ve created a free printable to go along with the book, perfect for students to work on while enjoying their spooky ghost snack! They’ll get to practice their sequencing skills as they color, cut, and glue the pictures in the correct order of what the kids saw on their ghost hunt. It’s a fun, hands-on way to extend the story! 

You can download the Literacy Snack Ghost Hunt Read Aloud free printable from my TpT store by clicking the green box below.

If you’re looking for some other engaging ghost activities, we have this fun Halloween Ghost CVC Middle Sounds Sort Center! This engaging ghost-themed literacy center provides students with hands-on practice in identifying and sorting CVC middle vowel sounds. It’s perfect for Halloween centers, early finishers, morning tubs, or small group literacy practice. You can get it out here.

And if you like this literacy snack idea, you’ll want to check out all of our literacy snack collection here.

I hope your students love this book as much as I do and enjoy their fun, yummy, spooky ghost snack!

See you next time!

Jenette

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

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.

Halloween is the perfect time to add a little extra fun to your literacy lessons! This week, our Literacy Snack Tricka Treat Read Aloud is Chicka Chicka Trick or Treat, by Julien Chung,  with a fun literacy snack idea that your students will love. Pairing a good book with a themed snack is a great way to bring stories to life, boost engagement, and make reading memorable. This fun Halloween read-aloud is sure to become a new classroom favorite! 

Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat is a Halloween companion to the beloved classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and there’s a spooky surprise in store for everyone’s favorite letters!

The classic alphabet chant gets a Halloween twist as the letters sneak their way up the tree, all wearing their favorite costumes. But when a witch swoops in, and the letters come tumbling down, will that be the end of their Halloween fun…or just the beginning?

For our snack this week to go along with the book, we’re making our own spooky alphabet tree and a special treat!

Snack Idea

Supplies that you will need for each student:

• 1 long pretzel rod
• 5 or 6 pretzel sticks
• 1 bag of mini alphabet cookies
• 1 small piece of candy

To make the spooky alphabet tree, have the students start with their large pretzel rod. They can then add the pretzel sticks as the tree limbs. You can suggest breaking a couple of them in half to make different branches. Add the letter cookies onto the spooky tree. Add a small piece of candy for each student so they can each have a special treat like the letters at the end of the book!

Kids will love seeing their tasty creations come to life (and then disappear bite by bite!). It’s a simple, hands-on snack that ties perfectly into the Chicka Chicka Trick or Treat story and keeps the Halloween fun going long after storytime!

Free Printable

I made a free printable to go along with the book for your students to work on while they are enjoying their spooky alphabet tree snack. They will get to draw Halloween costumes on a few letters and then write what they think the best Halloween costume is.

You can download the Literacy Snack Tricka Treat Read-Aloud free printable from my TpT store by clicking the green box below.

If you’re looking for some other engaging Halloween letter activities, we have this fun set of Halloween-themed beginning sounds board games. A fun way to reinforce this beginning sounds this month! You can check out the board games here.

You can find all of our other literacy snacks here.

I hope your students love this book as much as I do and enjoy their fun, yummy, spooky alphabet tree snack!

See you next time!

Jenette

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

It’s apple season again, and I have another fun literacy snack idea to go with your apple theme this week! We are reading The Biggest Apple Ever, by Steven Kroll.

As a new school year begins in Mouseville, the students are diving into a lesson all about apples – kicking things off with a contest to discover the biggest one ever! Clayton, the town mouse, and Desmond, the country mouse, are both eager to win. But even after teaming up, the two friends can’t seem to find the largest apple. Will they admit defeat, or will they find another way to come out on top?

The simple text and lively illustrations make this book ideal for story time, keeping the kids entertained and perfect to go along with our apple theme!

Teachable Moments: The story naturally opens up conversations about cooperation, problem-solving, and kindness, great values to reinforce at home or in the classroom.

Encourages Discussion: You can use the rivalry between Clayton and Desmond to talk about competition, when it’s fun, and when teamwork matters more.

To go along with the book this week, for our snack, we will be having apple pie just like Clayton and Desmond made to share with their class!

Snack Idea

This week’s snack is a super simple one! Pick up an apple pie (or two, if you have a larger group) and serve each student a small slice to enjoy!

Be sure to bring along some small plates and plastic forks as well!

Free Printable

I also made a free printable to go along with the book! It’s perfect for your students to work on while they are enjoying their apple pie snack! They’ll look at the pictures in each box, number them in the order they happened in the story, and then color the illustrations. It’s a simple, fun way to practice retelling and sequencing!

You can download the Literacy Snack Biggest Apple Ever Read-Aloud Free Printable by clicking on the green box below.

If you’re looking for some more fun apple activities, you’ll want to check out our 7 hands-on Apple Week Centers! From crafts and snacks to measurement and phonics, these print-and-play activities make learning sweet and simple! Check out the apple week centers here.

I hope your students enjoy this fun apple-themed read aloud, and of course their special apple pie treat! See you next time!

Jenette

The post Literacy Snack Biggest Apple Ever Read-Aloud appeared first on Primary Playground.

Hooray! It’s almost time for the first day! Today, I have a fun Free Printable First Day of School Hat for your new students to make on their first day! Keep on reading to find out more about the printable hat and about a fun read-aloud to go along!

I found the cutest book to add to our ‘Back to School’ collection this year. It is called First Day, Hooray! The book is all about the different feelings that the kids have on their first day of school. From worry, and that’s ok, to embarrassed, I have paint in my hair, to excited, playgrounds are fun! Feelings are not right or wrong. They find a spot where they belong! At the end of the book, they talk about just one feeling that is left, and it’s Hooray! So our hat says, Hooray! I had a great first day!

I thought that it would be a fun way to connect this book with making the hats. The students can then take them home and share with their families some of the different feelings that they may have had on their first day.

Make the Free Printable First Day of School Hat

The hat is an easy craft for the first day of school. You’ll just need a printed hat for each student. Have them color their 2 pages of the hat, and then cut them out. You can help them staple the hat together, and boom, you’ve got an adorable keepsake for the first day of school for them to wear home!

This easy, fun craft is the perfect icebreaker activity that helps kids settle into their new classroom while showing off their creativity. As they color, cut, and assemble their personalized hats, they’re also getting comfortable with scissors, glue, and making new friends. It’s a confidence booster, a keepsake, and a great way to snap those adorable first-day photos! 

You can download the Free Printable First Day of School Hat by clicking the green box below.

If you’re looking for some more great read-aloud for the back to school, you’ll want to check out our other suggestions here.

We’d love to see your students proudly wearing their First Day of School hats! Snap a photo of the fun and share it with us to celebrate the start of an exciting new year. Tag us so we can cheer them on, too!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Free Printable First Day of School Hat appeared first on Primary Playground.

Hello July! I can’t believe we’ve made it through another whole year of sharing monthly calendars of jokes with you! Today, I have our last set, the July Joke of the Day 2nd Edition!

July Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly summer jokes and some fun ocean animal jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month, we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Sharing humor can foster a positive, lighthearted environment, whether at home, in the classroom, or among friends. It sets a cheerful tone for the day.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home. During the summer months, share them with your family at home during lunch or dinner to get some giggles. 

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the July Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

If you missed the first edition of the July Joke of the Day printable, you can find it here.

If your kids are loving the jokes, you might also want to check out our Summer Jokes Bingo set. 
The bingo cards are filled with the answers to 30 different jokes. You will read each joke, and then the students will find the correct answer on their board. There is a matching picture on each of the calling cards and bingo cards, so the students can easily check their answers. The pictures on the boards also make it so non-readers and ESL students can play as well. You can grab the Summer Jokes Bingo set here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post July Joke of the Day 2nd Edition 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.

Hello June! Today, I have our NEW June Joke of the Day 2nd Edition ready to share with you!

June Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly summer jokes and some fun animal jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month, we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Sharing humor can foster a positive, lighthearted environment, whether at home, in the classroom, or among friends. It sets a cheerful tone for the day.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home. During the summer months, share them with your family at home during lunch or dinner to get some giggles.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the June Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

If you missed the first edition of the June Joke of the Day printable, you can find it here.

If your kids are loving the jokes, you might also want to check out our Summer Jokes Bingo set.
The bingo cards are filled with the answers to 30 different jokes. You will read each joke, and then the students will find the correct answer on their board. There is a matching picture on each of the calling cards and bingo cards, so the students can easily check their answers. The pictures on the boards also make it so non-readers and ESL students can play as well. You can grab the Summer Jokes Bingo set here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post June Joke Of The Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

May is here! And I have our NEW May Joke of the Day 2nd Edition ready to share with you!

May Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly summer jokes and some fun animal jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Sharing humor can foster a positive, lighthearted environment, whether at home, in the classroom, or among friends. It sets a cheerful tone for the day.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the Mayl Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the Mayl Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post May Joke Of the Day 2nd Edition 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.

Welcome to April! I have our NEW April Joke of the Day 2nd Edition ready to share with you!

April Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly weather jokes and some fun animal jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Sharing humor can foster a positive, lighthearted environment, whether at home, in the classroom, or among friends. It sets a cheerful tone for the day.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the April Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the April Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post April Joke Of the Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

March is here! Today I have a NEW March Joke of the Day 2nd Edition to share with you!

March Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly animal jokes and some fun jokes for St. Patrik’s Day this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Sharing humor can foster a positive, lighthearted environment, whether at home, in the classroom, or among friends. It sets a cheerful tone for the day.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the March Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the March Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post March Joke of the Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

Groundhog Day is such a fun theme for kindergarten! For today’s Literacy Snack Groundhog Read-Aloud we are reading Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts The Weather by Bruce Koscielniak.

“Geoffrey Groundhog has become a local celebrity for successfully predicting how long winter will last. Everyone awaits his prediction each February 2, when he emerges from his burrow to look for his shadow. But Geoffrey’s fame has grown out of control—and so has the commotion surrounding his burrow! With television lights and cameras crowding him, he can’t even see the ground, much less his shadow. How will he make his spring prediction? How will anyone know if they should wax their surfboards or their skis?”

The kids have such a fun time predicting wether the groundhog will see his shadow or not! For our snack this week, we are making our own groundhog!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

Snack Idea

To make the groundhog snack, each student will need:

• A chocolate rice cake
• 2 Vanilla Wafter cookies
• 2 Mini Nutter Butter cookies
• 1 mini marshmallow
• 1 chocolate chip
• 2 candy eyes

Instructions for groundhog snack

To make the groundhog, have the students start with the rice cake. They can then add the two mini Nutter Butter cookies as the ears. Next, place the two vanilla wafer cookies on as the cheeks. Add the mini marshmallow between the vanilla wafer cookies as its tooth. Add the chocolate chip as its nose and add on the candy eyes. He looks so cute!

Free Printable

I made a free printable for your students to work on while they enjoy their groundhog snack. They will get to predict whether the groundhog will see its shadow or not and write about why they chose their prediction.

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

I made the printable so that you can use it with any groundhog book, too. Below are a couple of other great options that you could read with your class.

Groundhog’s Day Off

Groundhog Day!

If you’re looking for another fun activity to do with your class, we have this cute Groundhog Craft With Writing Prompts. It’s a fun way to add in some writing practice and they look adorable hung up in the classroom or your hallway!

I hope your students enjoy making their groundhog snacks and learning all about Groundhog Day! See you next time!

Jenette

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

It’s that time again for another NEW version of our joke of the day for February! The February Joke of the Day 2nd Edition is ready for you to print and go for the month!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

February Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly animal jokes and some fun jokes for Valentine’s Day this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the February Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the February Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post February Joke of the Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

Happy January! I have the NEW January Joke of the Day 2nd Edition for you today! I can’t believe we’re already through half of the school year and sharing the 2nd set of these daily jokes with you!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

January Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each day as I share a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly animal jokes and a bunch of snowman and winter jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the January Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the January Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post January Joke of the Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

Are you looking for a fun activity to do with your class to celebrate the holidays? This year, why not have a holiday book exchange? I’ve created a Class Holiday Book Exchange Letter for you to send home with your students to make it extra easy this year!

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Class Holiday Book Exchange

We all know that reading is important, so what better way to kick off winter break than with a new book to read?! During your holiday party is a great time to exchange books!

Send home our Class Holiday Book Exchange Letter, and make sure to fill in the date that you’d like to have the books returned.

You’ll want to have a handful of backup books wrapped up in case you have a few students who cannot or forget to bring in a book.

On the last day of school before break or during your holiday party, each student grabs the book he/she brought. Have the class sit in a circle around the carpet. You’ll want to choose a book to read ahead of time. My favorite to book to read for this activity is How Santa Got His Job. Every time that I say the word “Santa” the students will pass their book to the person next to them and so on throughout the book. When the book has been finished, everyone gets to open the book that they currently have. New books for all!

You can download the FREE Holiday Book Exchange Letter by clicking the green box below.

Tips for the holiday book exchange

• If a student ends up with the book that they brought. If this happens, ask the class if anyone wants to trade. You can also do this if a boy or girl gets a Barbie book or a Spiderman book or something of that nature and wants to trade. Simple to trade!
• If a student doesn’t bring in a book. Not a problem. Just be prepared and have a few extra books on hand that are wrapped that you can give to them. I always pick up extra books at the thrift store when I find them!

If you’re looking for some other fun holiday party game ideas, our holiday sock exchange is a similar activity but each student brings in a pair of fun socks instead. You can get the details and letter to send home for that activity here.

And we also have another fun circle time holiday game that involves candy canes. You can get the details of that game here.

Do you have any other fun game ideas that you play during your holiday party?

I hope you enjoy this special holiday season with your students!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post Class Holiday Book Exchange appeared first on Primary Playground.

Are you little learners working on practicing their beginning sounds? I have a fun Free Printable Santa Beginning Sounds Game they will love to play!

Many of you expressed how much fun your kids had playing our Gobble Gobble Game last month; I’ve made one to continue the fun this month, too, with a Christmas version! This game is fun to review beginning sounds and letters with your learners.

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The Setup

To play the game, all you need to do is download the printable at the bottom of the post. Cut out all of the squares and laminate so you can play the game over and over again. You will also need some kind of container to put the cards in. I used a fun Christmas container that I got at Michaels years ago. but you can use anything you have on hand.

To Play

This game can be played with one student or many. You will put all of the cards into the container and shake them up. Have a student pull out a card, look at the letter, and say the sound it makes. If playing alone, choose another card and repeat. If playing with other students, move to the next person to take a turn.

There are also some cards that say, Ho ho ho! If a student chooses a Ho ho ho! card, they say, Ho ho ho! like Santa and put all of their letters back in the container, and it’s the next players’ turn, or they can start over again if playing alone.

There are both uppercase and lowercase letters. You can choose to use them both or just one set, the game will work the same either way.

Your students will love playing this game so much and get so into saying ho, ho, ho like Santa does. They hope to pull those cards!

You can download the Santa Beginning Sounds Game below by clicking the green download box.

If you’re looking for more beginning sound activities, we share all of our favorites
 in this blog post here.

Do you have any other fun games you like to play to practice beginning sounds?

Thanks for stopping by!

jenette

The post Santa Beginning Sounds Game appeared first on Primary Playground.

Have you followed along with our joke-of-the-day printables that we’ve released each month this school year? Today I have the December Joke of the Day 2nd Edition ready for you!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

December Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Each weekday on Facebook I share a silly joke of the day.

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly animal jokes and a bunch of Christmas jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the December Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the December Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post December Joke Of The Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.

Happy November! I’m back today with the November Joke of the Day 2nd Edition, ready to print and go for you!

THIS ACTIVITY WORKS WELL WITH

November Joke of the Day 2nd Edition

Have you been following along each month as I post a different joke of the day on Facebook?

Since this is the second edition, there are all new jokes this month! You’ll find some silly animal jokes and a bunch of Thanksgiving jokes this month. Each month, I also turn them into a printable so you can easily print them out and have the page handy all month to share with your class or your own family at home.

These jokes are a simple, fun way to connect with your students and make them laugh. This month we have fun jokes that are sure to make your little ones giggle and maybe get some eye rolls.

Share the jokes with your class during your morning meeting, getting ready to go to lunch, or when you are packing up for the day before you go home.

I made the joke of the day printable available to print in both color and black and white.

You can download the November Joke of the Day 2nd Edition printable by clicking the green box below.

In case you missed the first edition of the November Joke of the Day printable, you can find that here.

I hope your kiddos will enjoy this new set of jokes just as much as the first!

See you next time!

Jenette

The post November Joke Of The Day 2nd Edition appeared first on Primary Playground.