This week I got to go into the first grade classrooms and help out with one of my favorite projects. They turned out so cute! With this activity, students will choose five the main events from  the Polar Express, write and illustrate them, and sequence them onto a train. Keep in mind, my directions are for a first grade class. If you do this with 2nd or 3rd, you wouldn't have to do so much ... Read More about Common Core in December: Polar Express Sequencing

Reindeer: Research, Comparing texts, and Opinion Writing (with some fact checking!) If you are looking for a fun activity that will last about a week, hit several standards, and be a little quirky, look no further! The following activity begins with a read-aloud of a fiction book, moves into researching using nonfiction texts and short video, and then takes a sharp right into opinion ... Read More about Common Core in December: Reindeer

I can't believe it! Two days in a row of blogging. Well, I'm sort of cheating because these are from old posts. ;) I did update my freebie from years ago, so I thought it would be a good time to repost. This is a short one today. Come back tomorrow and the next day to see a Polar Express activity (craft freebie) and a fun reindeer writing activity.  Santa Writing One of my ... Read More about Common Core in December Part 2

December is always so much fun at school, but unfortunately, also crazy busy! When I taught first grade, there were always SO many themes I wanted to integrate into the curriculum. There's gingerbread, Polar Express, reindeer, Christmas around the world... The list goes on. For the next week, I will share some of my favorite activities for December. First up... GINGERBREAD! Comparing Different ... Read More about Common Core in December: Gingerbread