Let's Create Smiles For the Holidays with This Question: (I Ask This Question Every Year & I get the SAME results EVERY time!)

You can do this activity 
remotely or face-to-face!

Click the image to see the entire collection.

And find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below

plus discounts just for YOU!

Here is the question I ask EVERY year:

Which would YOU rather be? 

... a reindeer,  (Click on the reindeer!)

an elf,   (Click on the elf.)

a gingerbread cookie,                             

        (Click on the gingerbread cookie.)      

 or a snowman???                   (click on the snowman.)

Aren't these snow globes adorable?

They were created with graphics from DJ Inkers!

Here is a fun way to get your students to discuss their opinions, justify their answers, integrate higher level thinking into your lessons, and have FUN.  You can also use this as a springboard for an opinion writing assignment.

So, which one will get the most votes?

Behind the children you can see the live webcam we watch each morning.
It's reindeercam.com and it's a live webcam on 2 of Santa's reindeer.
 Santa shows up each morning at 8:00 AM (Pacific Time) and feeds the reindeer!

 Find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below

+ discounts for everyone!

First, We Read:

 Well, actually, I read books to the class about snowmen, reindeer, gingerbread men (and gingerbread girls), and elves.  I might read only one book about reindeer and lots of books about gingerbread cookies, but by the time we are ready to discuss our opinions we have all been exposed to these fine characters.  :)

 Find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below

+ discounts for everyone!

Second, We Discuss:

We talk about the pros and cons of being each character.  They have to justify their answers and tell why they would like or dislike being each character.  Yes, higher level thinking is alive and well in our classroom as we justify almost everything!  :)

Here are some of the things the children have told me in the past:

"Snowmen get to play in the snow, but they also have to stay outside all the time or they melt."

"Gingerbread cookies get to be covered with candy, but they can't cross rivers without crumbling and they also get eaten all the time."

"Elves get to be with toys all day long, but they also have to work all the time!"

"Reindeer have to work all night delivering presents, but they get to fly!"  :)  So, that's the character who wins EVERY year!

Find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below 

+ discounts for everyone!

Third, We Completed A Graph:

We used the cute icons from DJ Inkers! I LoVe using their adorable graphics! You can see all of their graphics, fonts, & borders by clicking HERE.

You can find this set of icons on TPT to  crate a classroom graph by clicking HERE. (It's only $1.)

You can just have students write their name on a Post-it, but I have each child's photograph laminated on a piece of construction paper and I attached a piece of sticky-back Velcro to the back of each photo and the graph.  Students come up and attach their photo above the icon that represents snowmen, reindeer, gingerbread cookies, and elves to express their favorite.  

Just look at ALL of these adorable projects 

I created with graphics, fonts, & borders from

DJ Inkers!

Click the image to grab this set for $1.

Find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below 

+ discounts for everyone!

Fourth, We Write:

Kindergarten kids love to tell you about their opinions!  :)  Now, we encourage them to write about them!  I give them the prompt dotted on the master that reads:  I would rather be a...  Then, all they have to do is trace the dotted font and copy the word snowman, reindeer, gingerbread man, or elf.  

Then, they tell me WHY they want to be that character and I either write it for them to copy or I let them try to sound-blend the words and write them with temporary spelling.  

Again, the fonts, borders, and graphics are all from DJ Inkers! 

Find out how to win a gift certificate from DJ Inkers below.

Click the image to grab this set.

This page goes with the graph. The set comes with 20 different templates that feature
graphics from DJ Inkers!

 

Find out how YOU can WIN a

Gift Certificate from DJ Inkers below 

+ discounts for everyone!

Last, I Take Their Photograph (dressed like their favorite character):

These are sooooo cute!  You can use them on the graph or on their writing page.  

Here are some examples of the costumes I use.  I made the snowman and gingerbread cookie out of bulletin board paper and tag board.  

The nose lights up!

Complete with ears and a tiny hammer!
I used the cover page from the set of icons as a sign for our class graph.

I made this out of tag board, white bulletin board paper, and blue & black construction paper.

Made from tag board and bulletin board paper with construction paper trim.
We use these to play "dress up" in the home center.
We turn the home into a gingerbread house. 

You might also like:

The Gingerbread Man's Book of Settings with graphics from DJ Inkers. (This is just a cover page. The students create new settings for their gingerbread cookie.) THIS ITEM IS FREE!!!

Click the image to grab this FREEBIE!

The Gingerbread Man's Number Formation Book:

Click the image to grab this fun counting book that is also a re-telling book!

As you read the rhyming text, students illustrate the story & trace the numerals.
Then, they use colored glue to trade the large numerals on the next page.
This 7-page book can be completed over 4 days. 
When it's done, they have a "take-home" book to use to re-tell the story
and a set of raised numbers to ru n their fingers over.

Check out all of KFUNdamentals' social media:

 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kfundamentals

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kfundamentals2/

          Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/KFUNdamentals2/_saved/

          Teachers Pay Teachers:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kfundamentals

(There are over 20 FREEBIES in my TpT store!)

FREE code for a FREE 90-day trial for ESGI + $50 off of your 1st year, & ESGI will donate $8 to "Read in Color!"

Use code PALMALIBRARY at ESGI.

CLICK HERE to start your FREE trial!

So, here is the Rafflecopter where you can apply to win a 

$20 gift card for DJ Inkers! 

Winners will be announced here 

and on KFUNdamentals' Facebook page on 

Nov. 27, that's the day after Thanksgiving!

BONUS:

EVERYONE wins with 

DJ Inkers' 12 days of giveaways:

Amazing SALES and all new products!  

Mark your calendars for December 1-12, 2020. 

 Freebies and Sales are for 24 hours only. 

+ An EXTRA BONUS!!!

Discounts!!!

Shop for smiles during Thanksgiving weekend to SAVE 25% 

on their entire website!  

November 27 - 30, 2020

Bring smiles to your classroom (or virtual classroom)  

with graphics from

D.J. Inkers

and make your classroom a 

DJ Inkers classroom!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See yo all tomorrow!

Palma :)

Which Would YOU Rather Be?

... a reindeer, an elf, a gingerbread man, or a snowman???

Here is a fun way to get your students to discuss their opinions, justify their answers, integrate the Common Core Practices into your lessons, and have FUN.  You can also use this as a springboard for an opinion writing assignment.

Here is the big question:

Would you rather be a reindeer, an elf, a gingerbread man, or a snowman???

Behind the children you can see the live webcam we watch each morning.
It's reindeercam.com and it's a live webcam on 2 of Santa's reindeer.
Santa shows up each morning at 8:00 AM (Pacific Time) and feeds the reindeer!

First, We Read:

Well, actually, I read books to the class about snowmen, reindeer, gingerbread men (and girls), and elves.  I might read only one book about reindeer and lots of books about gingerbread men, but by the time we are ready to discuss our opinions we have all been exposed to these fine characters.  :)

   

 (Click any of the books to see where to buy them.)

Second, We Discuss:

We talk about the pros and cons of being each character.  They have to justify their answers and tell why they would like or dislike being each character.  Yes, Common Core is alive and well in our classroom as we justify almost everything!  :)

Here are some of the things the children have told me in the past:

"Snowmen get to play in the snow, but they also have to stay outside all the time."

"Gingerbread men get to be covered with candy, but they can't cross rivers."

"Elves get to be with toys all day long, but they also have to work a lot."

"Reindeer get to fly!  :)  But they also have to work all night delivering presents."

Third, We Completed A Graph:

We used the cute icons that I offer on TPT to label our graph.  I have each child's photograph laminated on a piece of construction paper and I have attached a piece of sticky-back Velcro to the back of each photo and to the graph.  Students come up and attach their photo above the icon that represents snowmen, reindeer, gingerbread men, and elves to express their favorite. 

Click the image to see the link.

Fourth, We Write:

Kindergarten kids love to tell you about their opinions!  :)  Now, we encourage them to write about them!  I give them the prompt dotted on the master that reads:  I would rather be a...  Then, all they have to do is copy the word snowman, reindeer, gingerbread man, or elf.  Then, they tell me WHY they want to be that character and I either write it for them to copy or I let them try to sound-blend the words and write them with temporary spelling.  They love to illustrate their writing too.

You might like our writing prompts.Click the image to see the link.

This is just one of the writing templates that comes in this set!

Last, I Take Their Photograph (dressed like their favorite character):

These are sooooo cute!  You can use them on the graph or on their writing piece.  

Here are some examples of the costumes I use.  I made the snowman and gingerbread man out of construction paper and tag board.  

The nose lights up!

Complete with ears and a tiny hammer!

I made this out of tag board and construction paper.

Made from tag board and construction paper.
We use these to play "dress up" in the home center.
We turn the home into a gingerbread house.

By the way, every year, the reindeer always gets the most votes!  Since we discuss our opinions and justify them, it seems that getting to fly with Santa trumps all of the other positives like getting to play in the snow, being with toys, or getting covered with candy!  

You might also like:

The Gingerbread Man's Book of Settings:

Click the image to see the link.

The Gingerbread Man's Number Formation Book:

Click the image to see the link

Check us out:

 Facebook:  KFUNdamentals on Facebook

          Pinterest:  KFUNdamentals on Pinterest

          Teachers Pay Teachers:  KFUNdamentals on TPT

 See yo all tomorrow!

Palma :)

Holiday FUN & $1000.00 for your classroom!

1st, here is the Dec. Fun:

 Gingerbread projects-

Click the graphic to see the download. 

Click the graphic to see the download.

Christmas projects-

Holiday Activities-

2nd, here is a FREEBIE:

It's a Kwanzaa craftivity-

And Hop on over to Teaching Blog Addict for tons of FREEBIES.  CLICK HERE!

AND 3rd... How About $1000.00 for your classroom?

Yes, $1000.00 for you to spend on your classroom!  Just submit an application for our Teacher Award.  The Southern CA Kindergarten Conference has given over $32,000 in grants in the past and they have $1000.00 waiting to give to a teacher this year.  You also get a FREE registration for next year's conference!  I have won this award before and it is amazing!  

Here is the link for more information and the application.  

My only advice about this application is to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.

They have awarded grants for all kinds of projects from outdoor gardens to music programs.
They typically receive very FEW applications for this grant, so
if you follow directions and request something that is educationally sound,
you have a pretty good chance of getting this grant!

Apply before the deadline of Jan. 8, 2016.

Here is more info about the $1000 grant:

The Southern California Kindergarten Conference is pleased to announce Teacher Awards up to $1,000 each and a paid registration for the 2016 Pre- Conference. The purpose of the award is to encourage the professional development of early childhood educators and researchers and to benefit students ages four to seven. Our goal is to support teachers in their efforts to create and implement innovative applications of theory utilizing sound, developmentally appropriate practices. The 2016 recipient will be presented with his/her award during the early morning Pre-Conference session on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:15 am. If you are interested in applying for a Teacher Award, please download the guidelines and application at our website. The deadline to receive the application is January 8, 2016. 

That's it for today!