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FOR PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN,
AND 1ST GRADE

Let’s make learning fun, as play, creativity, and content collide, with these ideas for play-based centers, multisensory learning experiences, integrated thematic activities, and purposeful crafts for kids!

Fine Motor Freebie

Free Alphabet Fine Motor Mats

Combine letter recognition with fine motor practice using these FREE alphabet mats for literacy centers, morning tubs, or early finisher activities!

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20 Math and Literacy Winter Kindergarten Centers or Morning Work Tubs for December

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Digital & Printable Writing Prompts for Personal Narrative, Opinion & Informational Writing

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Editable Name Practice Mats Bundle | Fine Motor Name Activities

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How to Use School Supplies Craft | First Week of Back to School Activities

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Explore creative ideas and strategies to help keep your little learners SHARP!

Celebrate the 100th Day of School with this easy-to-assemble 100 year old craft for kids and 100th Day of School activities for writing! Students get to transform into a 100 year old for the day, as they complete one of the four 100th Day writing prompts and adorable 100th Day of School crafts. This 100th Day craft is great for your 100th Day centers, since they can independently complete the 100th Day writing activity. Plus, these 100th Day crafts make a cute 100th Day bulletin board display!

Adorable 100 Year Old Craft for Kids for the 100th Day of School

One day you’re a kindergartener and the next you’re 100 years old! With this easy-to-assemble 100 year old craft for…

Celebrate the 100th Day of School as you practice counting to 100 with this 100th Day of School gumball craft! This gumball machine craft for the 100th Day is low prep and one of the best 100th Day centers. Plus, this 100th Day craft is simple for students to complete independently, as they count to 100 using bingo daubers or stickers to fill in all 100 gumballs for the 100th Day. Use this 100th Day gumball craft in your 100th Day of School activities and on your 100th Day bulletin board!

Super Simple 100th Day of School Gumball Craft

The 100th Day of School is kind of a big deal for our little learners! On this special day, my…

Countdown to Christmas with these fiction and nonfiction reindeer books for kids! Learn all about reindeer with the list of nonfiction books, or enjoy a whimsical holiday story about reindeer with the fiction reindeer read alouds. This list of reindeer books is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade and second grade students. Add these books about reindeer to your collection of reindeer activities, reindeer crafts for kids, Christmas crafts, Christmas books and caribou books for kids!

20 Magical Reindeer Books for Kids at Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, I love to swap out our turkey books for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and many more…

Celebrate the diverse holidays and traditions around the world with these must-read holidays around the world books for kids! These holiday books for kids are great for fostering an inclusive classroom around the holiday season. Discover Hanukkah books for kids, Kwanzaa books for kids, Las Posadas books for kids, Diwali books, and St. Lucia's books. Christmas books for kids, Ramadan books and Chinese New Year books can also be found on this ultimate list of holidays around the world activities!

The Best 60 Holidays Around the World Books for Kids

As the holiday season quickly approaches, I am always on the hunt for ways to bring a bit of magic…

Embark on a journey around the world and travel to 16 countries to learn about 9 Christmas Around the World and 8 Holidays Around the World celebrations with these Holidays Around the World activities! Use the Holidays Around the World slides and interactive Christmas activities for kids to teach students about diverse holiday traditions. These holiday activities for kids include Holidays Around the World crafts, a Holidays Around the World passport, airline tickets, nonfiction text, and more!

The Best Holidays Around the World Activities for Kids

Get ready to ignite excitement in your classroom as you take your students on a global adventure to explore the…

Incorporate writing into your Thanksgiving activities with these How To Catch a Turkey activities and turkey crafts! Using one of the best turkey books for kids and these procedural writing activities, students will devise a turkey trap for catching the turkey in disguise. They will also use transition words from the how to writing anchor chart to create their procedural writing and Thanksgiving crafts. This How to Catch a Turkey craft for Thanksgiving makes a cute Thanksgiving bulletin board!

The Best How to Catch a Turkey Activities and Craft

A turkey is on the loose! How can you catch it? Have some fun this Thanksgiving devising a plan to…

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Hey, I’m Ashley

SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

Hey, teacher friend! I’m Ashley, a passionate Kindergarten teacher dedicated to creating an enriching and playful learning experience for our littlest learners.

Since beginning my teaching career in 2004, I’ve become a connoisseur of teacher pens and markers, as well as a master actress, turning ordinary moments and objects into extraordinary teaching experiences and tools.

To me, the best learning involves integrated activities and, of course, a cute craft with a purpose. I believe the words “fun, play, and creativity” can sit right alongside the words “developmentally appropriate, engaging, and rigorous.” Learning is meant to be fun and messy!

So, whether we’re knee-deep in glitter or orchestrating a symphony of giggles during story time, let’s keep our little learners SHARP together!

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Every year, I say that the number of students lack

Every year, I say that the number of students lacking fine motor skills continues to grow. Some of this I attribute to the increased use of technology.

Our little learners are spending less and less time holding a pencil, coloring with crayons and cutting with scissors.

And, they are spending more and more time swiping the screen with their fingers.

Even though the school year looks different, we can continue to provide opportunities for students to build fine motor skills!

I have used fine motor tubs for morning work to help control the morning chaos… So that I can focus on the daily morning tasks of taking lunch count and attendance, answering parent questions, collecting notes, comforting students… You know all those many hats we wear as soon as the school bell rings!

Switching from paper and pencil morning work to these fine motor tubs has been a total game changer in terms of engagement! This has been a great time for me to sneak in a little extra fine motor practice!

Inquiring minds want to know… Have you seen a decrease in fine motor skills over the years? Just me? 🤷‍♀️

Drop the word TREE in the comments for the link to the tree template!

P.S. Head to my stories to see another version of this counting tree using stickers! Plus, I shared 20 fine motor activities for December!

#kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #finemotorskills #finemotoractivity #finemotoractivities #finemotor #finemotorplay #preschool #preschoolactivities #preschoolteacher #preschoolathome #preschooler #firstgradeteacher #firstgrade #1stgrade #teachersofinstagram #teach #teacher #teachers #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachk #onesharpbunch

Snowman Slime will always be my favorite activity

Snowman Slime will always be my favorite activity at our holiday party! This recipe is the best! It’s no-mess and only three ingredients! We mix everything together in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon for super easy clean up!

After we make our slime, we decorate these containers to look like snowman faces. I just used my hole puncher to punch the eyes and cheeks. The nose I cut with scissors. You could also grab snowman face stickers from Amazon.

Trust me... the kids love this one!

Drop the word SLIME in the comments for the link to the recipe!

#christmasparty #christmaspartyideas #christmas #winterparty #slime #diyslime #slimerecipe #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensory #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #preschool #preschoolactivities #preschoolteacher #preschoolathome #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #1stgrade #secondgrade #secondgradeteacher #2ndgrade #iteachtoo #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachk #teach #onesharpbunch

I always like to have the kiddos make a little kee

I always like to have the kiddos make a little keepsake for their parent Christmas gifts! These DIY tile coasters are an adorable and inexpensive student Christmas gift to parents… and so much easier than painting canvases!

Plus, they are student-created!

Just use Mod Podge to attach the template to a square 4.25 x 4.25 inch ceramic tile (found at Home Depot, Menards or Lowes).

Drop the word TILE in the comments for the direct link!

#christmascrafts #christmascraftsforkids #craftsforkids #kidscrafts #christmasactivities #diygifts #diygift #christmasactivitiesforkids #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #1stgrade #iteach #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachfirst #teacher #teachersofinstagram #teach #teachersofig #onesharpbunch

Did you know that male, female and young reindeer

Did you know that male, female and young reindeer share their names with male, female and young cattle? 🦌

They are not called does, bucks and fawns!

I found that little tidbit very interesting!

Speaking of interest... Keeping the kiddos interested and engaged during the holiday season can be a bit of a challenge.

But, learning about reindeer just before the holiday break is a great way to pique their interest!

Drop the word REINDEER in the comments, and I’ll send you the direct link!

Head to my stories for a closer look at how our learning extends across literacy, math, science and social studies.

🥳 Also, how many days do you have left before break?

#christmascrafts #christmascraftsforkids #craftsforkids #kidscrafts #christmasactivities #christmasactivitiesforkids #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #1stgrade #iteach #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachfirst #teacher #teachersofinstagram #teach #teachersofig #onesharpbunch

Here’s a quick and festive way to strengthen tho

Here’s a quick and festive way to strengthen those fine motor skills! Just cut out some candy canes. Card stock will work best. The students will use paper clips to add that many stripes to the candy cane.

You would be amazed by how well they do with this! Serious perseverance!

Drop the words CANDY CANE in the comments for the direct link to the numbered candy canes!

#finemotorskills #finemotoractivity #finemotorplay #finemotor #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #preschool #preschoolactivities #preschoolteacher #preschoolathome #preschooler #christmas #christmasactivities #christmasactivity #teachersofinstagram #teach #teacher #teachers #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteach #iteachk #onesharpbunch

Here’s a simple holiday gift idea for your stude

Here’s a simple holiday gift idea for your students! I made sure to include a snowman for those students who do not celebrate Christmas. Pack all three mats, or just one, in the bag with various loose parts, including pipe cleaners, pom poms, pony beads, paper straws, buttons and googly eyes.

When the kiddos are finished building each design, they can take their baggies home… a little holiday gift from you!

Head to my stories for more party ideas!

Drop the word DOUGH in the comments for the link to the mats!

Inquiring minds want to know… When is your last day of school? Around here, we go all the way until December 20th!

#christmasparty #christmaspartyideas #kidschristmas #finemotor #finemotorskills #finemotoractivity #sensoryplay #diygift #diygifts #studentgifts #preschool #preschoolactivities #preschoolathome #preschoolteacher #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #firstgradeteacher #firstgrade #1stgrade #teachersofinstagram #teach #teacher #teachers #teachersofig #iteach #iteachtoo #iteachk #onesharpbunch

Grab your passports, boarding passes, and suitcase

Grab your passports, boarding passes, and suitcases as you embark on a global adventure with your students learning about the Holidays Around the World! ✈️ 🌍

Drop the word HOLIDAYS in the comments for the direct link!

#christmascrafts #christmascraftsforkids #craftsforkids #kidscrafts #christmasactivities #christmasactivitiesforkids #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #1stgrade #iteach #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachfirst #teacher #teachersofinstagram #teach #teachersofig #onesharpbunch

Holiday gifts for parents—have you decided what

Holiday gifts for parents—have you decided what your kiddos will be making this year? 🎁

If it’s one of those tasks sitting on your endless to-do list and feels too overwhelming to tackle, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!

These DIY tile coasters are an adorable and inexpensive student Christmas gift to parents!

After your students color, design, or paint one of the 7 templates included, use Mod Podge to attach the template to a square 4.25 x 4.25 inch ceramic tile (found at Home Depot, Menards or Lowes)!

Last, wrap the tile coasters with the matching printable gift tags!

Grab this easy (and super cute) parent holiday gift on sale with code CYBER24!

Drop the word TILE in the comments for the direct link!

#christmascrafts #christmascraftsforkids #craftsforkids #kidscrafts #christmasactivities #christmasactivitiesforkids #kindergarten #kindergartenteacher #kindergartenactivities #kindergartenclassroom #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #1stgrade #iteach #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachfirst #teacher #teachersofinstagram #teach #teachersofig #onesharpbunch

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VISIT 16 COUNTRIES!

Grab your passports, boarding passes, and suitcases as you embark on a global adventure with your students learning about the Holidays Around the World!