A St. Patrick's Day Centerpiece DIY & Classroom FUN!

And It's Mostly From The Dollar Tree!

Click the image for the FREE rainbow activity.

This was so easy to make and cost practically nothing!

I needed to create an ice breaker type activity and I wanted it to have a St. Patrick's Day theme. My thought was to create a pot of gold filled with golden nuggets. I wanted to attach a little ice-breaker question to each golden nugget. The plan was to have each person choose a golden nugget, read the question aloud, and answer it so we could get to know each person a little better.

So, I headed to The Dollar Tree and I found a kettle shaped glass bowl, a sheet of moss, a roll of green glitzy ribbon, a bag of glittery shamrocks & gold coins, and a bag of river rocks. So, I'm in to this for $5 + tax. 

I already had black, yellow, and gold tole paint at home,  and some sticky-backed jewels.

Earlier in the week, I had already painted a little glass bowl green and flipped it upside down to create a little leprechaun hat. 

I embellished it with a hatband made out of black cardstock, golden fun foam, and sticky-back green pearls, so I knew that I could create a pot of gold with a little paint and some rocks. 

First I painted the outside of the glass bowl black. 

Then, I painted the black river rocks yellow. It took 2 coats to cover the black, so you might want to get light colored stones. 

After the last coat dried, I added a top coat of metallic gold paint.

I printed up some ice-breaker questions, but first I rewrote them so they all related to St. Patrick's Day in some way. 

I cut the questions apart into strips and folded them up so they were about 3/4" square. I used glue dots to stick them to the back of each golden nugget, but you can use white glue, Tacky glue, or even hot glue. 

I placed the black pot on the sheet of moss and filled it with the golden nuggets. I also placed some nuggets around the pot. I tied some ribbon to the pot and sprinkled the centerpiece with the glittery shamrocks and glittery golden coins & any other St. Patrick's Day decorations I had in the house. Let me know if you have any questions. :)

Click the image for the FREE rainbow activity.

For classroom teachers...

... who have their students create leprechaun traps, you might want to create a pot of gold and fill it with golden nuggets for your students to find in your classroom. Each child can take home a special golden nugget!

CLICK HERE for the FREE rainbow/color-word activity. 

CLICK HERE for the leprechaun shopping activity. It also comes with a black cat and snowman set too!

Here are the links to all of my social media and for a FREE 60 day trial of ESGI + $40 off your 1st year! Use the code KFUN at https://www.esgisoftware.com/sign-up/?promo=KFUN

My FaceBook:  https://www.facebook.com/kfundamentals

My Pinterest Boards:  https://www.pinterest.com/KFUNdamentals2/

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/KFUNdamentals

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

My TpT Store (get over 20 FREEBIES!):

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

Get a 60-day free trial + $40 off of your 1st year at ESGI:

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18 Months For The Price of 12 & $40 Off!!!

Now Through March 8...

Click the image above. 

Be sure to use my code, PalmaBonkers to get all of this:

All teachers who sign up with ESGI for a new ESGI free trial account between March 2-8 will...

1. be entered to win a $500 Amazon Gift Card or an Apple Watch!

2. qualify for a $40 discount off your first year purchase!

And if you purchase between March 2 and March 8, you will receive...

1. an additional 6 months to your license!

2. a $40 discount off your purchase!

3. a FREE ESGI t-shirt!

And your students will LOVE testing! Really, they will. Your administrator will LOVE the data, and YOU will LOVE all of the info you will instantly receive once you have tested your students. 

Use the built-in tests or create your own custom tests. 

Enjoy this quick video and get started with ESGI. 

CLICK HERE

to view the video.

Are You Stressed? Need Some Self-Care?

This is just what you have been looking for!

But "The Whole Teacher" is offered only until March 3...

Click on the image.

My friend, Crystal Radke, had come up with the BEST idea to help teachers get through the rigors of teaching and balancing it with all that life sends our way. 

Click the image.

This is what she has to say...

If you are like most teachers, you are stressed out, exhausted and counting down to the last day of school! The problem with that is you always feel tired, depleted and constantly empty. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could learn to live a balanced life with freedom to spend time with your family, have energy to take care of yourself and find joy in and outside of the classroom? 

As a member of The Whole Teacher, you will join a COMMUNITY. You will also learn how to stop putting yourself last and finally overcome teacher burn out. It's time you do something for yourself because you deserve it and the ones you love deserve it too!

Click on the image.

Each month will focus on a new topic, such as...

~Embracing Self Care

~Organize Your Life

~Keeping Your Joy In Your Classroom

~Fostering Friendships

~Marriage and Relationships

+ so many more!

Click the image.

So, what are you waiting for?

Did I mention that this offer ends on March 3 

and won't open up again for several months?

Make a difference in your life now. 

Be the change 

and see how your teaching life 

and personal life will benefit. 

CLICK HERE

for more info. 

And while you are finding ways to reduce stress, sign up for stress-free assessments with ESGI and discover how easy and meaningful testing can really be! Use the built-in tests or create your own to match your required tests. 

Use my code, PalmaBonkers, by 3/1 to get

~a bonus 6 months of ESGI

(so you get 18 months!)

~a $50 Berteau & Co. gift card 

~$40 off your 1st year

~An entry to win a $500 Amazon gift card 

or an Apple Watch!!!

CLICK HERE

for more info & to get started!

Get Your PHD from Palma & Heidi

Our PHD Stands for Palma & Heidi's Developmentally Appropriate Practices.

Our one-day professional development workshop is filled with engaging, hands-on songs, activities, and strategies that will make your ELA lessons come alive!

Save the date, 3/30. Registration opens next week.

Sponsored by the California Kindergarten Association, this one-day workshop allows you to earn up to three graduate-level semester units!

Save the date, 3/30. Registration will open next week at the California Kindergarten Association's Web Site.

Save the date, 3/30. Registration opens next week.

When:   Saturday, March 30, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Where:  Mark Day School, 30 Trellis Dr.,

               San Rafael, CA 94903

Who:        Pre-K, TK, & Kindergarten Educators

What:    A day filled with inspiration, fun, &    

               learning! Discover classroom-proven,   

               developmentally appropriate strategies,          

               and easy-to-implement ideas that will 

               motivate student engagement and make 

               learning FUN!

Includes: coffee, breakfast muffins, lunch & soft drink, snacks, handouts, templates, and PRIZES!

(All supplies and materials will be provided for the "Make & Take" activities.)

We will also have a children's art display and a few vendors for your enjoyment. 

Join us for a special day that will inspire you to sing, move, and engage your students with new strategies on Monday morning! 

Save the date: March 30

Registration will open next week at 

The CA Kindergartner's Assoc's Web Site.

I will update this post with live links as soon as registration opens. 

It's A Superbowl Sale!!! And An ESGI Super-Special 2/1-2/8!!!

Have You Wanted to Try ESGI?

Click the image above.

Well, this is YOUR week! 

It's what YOU have been waiting for!

It's a Super-Special Promotion from ESGI!!!

It runs from 2/1/2019 - 2/8/2019.

All you have to do is sign up for your 1st year of ESGI. 

CLICK HERE

TO GET STARTED

Remember to use my code:

PalmaBonkers

What you get:

1. A $50 gift card for Amazon.

2. An extra 6 months of ESGI. (That's 18  

    months!)

3. $40 off of your 1st year!

4. An entry to win a $500 Amazon gift card or an Apple Watch!!! 

Here are the rules:

Benny Bonkers Rules and Guidelines

All prizes and benefits valid for individual, first-time subscribers.  No group or renewal purchases qualify for prizes or benefits.  All trials and purchases must use a promo code that includes the word “BONKERS” when initiated.

• To enter raffle: Trial must be started before March 31, 2019.
• To receive 6 months free and $40 savings: Purchase must be completed by May 31, 2019.
• To receive $50 Amazon card, 6 free months and $40 savings:  Purchase must be completed by Feb. 8, 2019.

So, if you have been waiting for the perfect time to order ESGI, DON'T WAIT! 

CLICK HERE

And get started NOW!  

Be sure to use my code:  PalmaBonkers

Plus...    My entire TpT Store is on sale!!!

Click the football
And you will see my store.

I'm throwing a Superbowl Sale over at my TpT Store, so grab all of the things on your wishlist and shop 'til you drop! Sale runs Feb. 3-4.

It's a GR8 Day For Science! + Links, FREEBIES, & Discounts!

You asked for it...

Here are the highlights from my science presentation at the California Kindergarten Conference in Northern CA this month.

5 Senses Pre-science:

I introduced each of the 5 senses at the small-group table so each child got to manipulate the realia and learn how to take care of the materials before they became part of the science center. 

Their favorite activity was getting to trace their name with white glue and sprinkle it with powdered Jell-O. When it dried, it became a tactile scratch-&-sniff reminder of how to spell their name. (Great to use this with sight words too!)

Matter: The Power of Air

We got to make our snowmen float on air!

CLICK HERE

for the directions.

We had so much fun making our
snowmen float on air!

We also had fun with these paper helicopters. CLICK HERE 

for the template and directions.

We tested different variables: size, weight, even color!

Oh, and the bubble experiment was so much fun!

More...

We explored the properties of water, weather experiments that demonstrate the water cycle, and we learned this song:

(To the tune of "Oh, My Darlin'")

Evaporation,

Condensation,

Precipitation on my mind.

It is just the water cycle

and it happens all the time!

We talked about seasons, plants, and animal life cycles. 

Click the image for the writing templates.

Click the image for the flowerpot template and complete directions. 

And I shared some FREEBIES & Discount Codes:

FREE scientific method signs
for your classroom!Click the image to grab them!

A FREE month of HP Instant Ink,
A FREE trial of ESGI + $40 off of your 1st year,
A FREE Letter Journal that will
make your classroom come alive from
Alive Studios (with purchase).

If you want ALL of my science templates with
integrated writing templates too, just
email me for a $20 flash drive ($35 value):
kfundamentals@gmail.com

So, catch me at a conference or book me for a professional development at your school. 

For more info about the CA Kindergarten Association and their amazing conference, 

CLICK HERE.

Any questions? Just email me or leave me a comment below:

kfundamentals@gmail.com

It's Finally Here... It's Humpty Dumpty's Sight Words!!!

Can YOU put them back together again?

I have been asked so many times to create these.

Well, I finally had the time! It's a GR8 way to teach and reinforce the 40 pre-primer Dolch Words!

Click Humpty Dumpty!

How it works:

If you don't have any parent volunteers who can make this, try recruiting 6th grade helpers for 15 minutes each week to come into your classroom and do tasks like this one...

Step 1:  Copy the Humpty Dumpty Sight Word Cards on regular copy paper or cardstock for a lasting center activity.

Click Humpty Dumpty!

Step 2: Cut apart the Humpty Dumpty Sight cards on the solid lines. Then, cut along the vertical dotted lines for each word. Keep all of the pieces for each word together.

Click on any Humpty Dumpty!

Click on the broken Humpty Dumpty!

Step 3: Number each sight word on the back of each vertical strip, so if word # 1 is "big" then number the back of each letter with a #1 and also label the plastic egg you will store those pieces in with a #1. 

Click the image.

Step 4: Fold each vertical strip up to the horizontal dotted line twice so it hides Humpty Dumpty and only the letters are showing.

Click the image.

Step 5: Place the pieces for each word in the plastic egg with the matching number. 

That's it. You're done! Now comes the fun...

In a small group setting, give each child a plastic egg to open. Without unfolding the strips, they should arrange the letters to create a sight word. If they arranged the letters correctly, Humpty Dumpty will be "back together again!"

Click Humpty Dumpty!

And, did I mention that you get an adorable color copy of the poem, Humpty Dumpty? And it is complete with the cutest graphics and fonts from DJ Inkers:

Click Humpty Dumpty!

You can grab the entire set of 40 Humpty Dumpties with the 1st 40 Dolch Sight Words 

by CLICKING HERE.

Tips:

~When learning a new sight word, give each child a "reference card" with the word they are trying to create printed on it. 

~When practicing sight words, give each child a combination of familiar words and newly introduced words.

~When using this as intervention, give the child an egg containing a word they have not been able to master. After they create the word, they should copy it with marking pens or build it out of Play Dough or Wiki Stix. 

~To keep track of which sight words each child has mastered and which ones they have not, use ESGI. If you have not tried ESGI yet, do yourself a favor. It's a game changer!

CLICK THE CODE ABOVE.

You can give it try for 60 days FREE (no credit card is required) with NO strings attached. If you LOVE it, here is a code to use that will give you $40 off of your 1st year. The code is "KFUN" and it never expires! 

CLICK HERE

to get started. 

Have fun!