Information provided on this page for classroom use only; not for reproduction.

thevirtualvine.com 2001

 

 

 

May - Summer

 

On this page you will find a wide range of activities to wind up your school year and ease your students into a summer of fun and continued learning.

If you're looking for Mother's Day ideas, check out the Mother's Day page.

Rubber Duckie Floats

1 pint lemon sherbet
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
1 small bottle ginger ale
2 whole pineapple rings

Put two scoops of sherbet, crushed pineapple and the tablespoon of pineapple juice in a bowl. Mix with egg beater. Pour mixture into 2 tall glasses and add 1 scoop of sherbet. Pour in ginger ale slowly. The soda will become sudsy looking. Don't let it overflow! Hang a pineapple ring on each glass and serve with a spoon and a straw. Serves 2.

Individual Ice Cream in a Bag

1/2 c. heavy whipping cream or whole milk
1T sugar
1/4 t vanilla extract
2 C. ice cubes
6 T rock salt.
1 zipper sandwich bag
1 quart size freezer bag
oven mitts or dish towel
spoon
cup (optional)
 

Directions:

1. Pour cream, sugar, vanilla into sandwich bag and seal.
2. Put rock salt and ice cubes in freezer bag.
3. Put sandwich bag into freezer bag, seal freezer bag.
4. Using mitts or dish towel shake, rock, roll, and squeeze the bag for about 5 minutes.
5. Open freezer bag and clean off salt.
6. Open sandwich bag, transfer ice cream to cup or enjoy eating from the bag.

 

Ice Cream Emergent Reader:

Yummy, Yummy Ice Cream

http://www.teachersbookbag.com/summer.html

Calendar:
Make a caterpillar using 4 hand-prints with the fingers going down and a fist for a head.  Use a finger to form the antennae.

Poem:  The Fuzzy Caterpillar

The fuzzy caterpillar
Crawled upon a leaf.
Spun her little chrysalis,
And then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamed that she could fly.
And later when she woke up,
She was a butterfly!

May Songs:
May
(tune:  Skip to My Lou)

May, May, the month of May,
Flowers blooming every day.
Summer time is on the way,
This is now the month of May.
~Author Unknown

May
(tune:  Frere Jaques)

It is May
It is May
Flowers grow
Flowers grow
Time to say "I love you"
Time to say "I love you"
Mother Dear
Mother Dear
~Author Unknown

Resource Pages:
* The Best of Teacher’s Helper Seasonal & Holiday Activities (TEC 1478) has Summer activity sheets for Kindergarten.

* Learning Centers Throughout the Year (Teacher Created Materials 059) has patterns for making sunglasses.  Copy the patterns onto cardstock, decorate, cut out, glue or tape colored cellophane to form the lenses.

Pinwheel Patterns:
http://users.supernet.com/theresa/pinact.htm

http://www.fascinatingfolds.com/diagrams/beginners/pinwheel/
pinwheel.html


May Links:
http://abcteach.com/Activities/mayflowers.htm

Popsicle Stick Kids

http://www.kinderart.com/crafts/popsiclestickkids.shtml

 

Tie and Dye a T-Shirt

http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson29.html

 

Count Down to Summer

http://www.myschoolonline.com/folder/0,1872,23847-107973-26-19550,00.html

 

Comment Ideas for Report Cards

http://chtah.com/a/aA826gwAIq2tRAJZ3CDAJQK8jCW/frd117

 

School Memory Book

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/books/schoolmemory/

 

End of the Year Activities

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/endofyear/index.htm

 

Graduation/End of the Year Ideas

http://www.hummingbirded.com/back_BB_end_year.html#grad

 

Slushies

http://www.kinderart.com/kitchen/slushies.shtml

Summer Links:
Summer Crafts & Activities
http://childfun.com/themes/summer.shtml

Summer Coloring Pages
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/summer/color.html

Summer Things
http://www.bry-backmanor.org/actpag98.html

Summer Counting
http://www.bry-backmanor.org/actpag205.html

Summer Fun for School-agers
http://daycare.about.com/library/weekly/aa062600a.htm?rnk=r1&terms=After+School+Care

+Activities

Arts/Crafts for Kids

http://kidsartscrafts.about.com/s

 

June

http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/f_june/

 

Sunglasses and Sun Visor printables

http://kizclub.com/seasonalcrafts.html

 

Summer Activities

http://www.kizclub.com/Topics/holiday/summer.pdf

 

Summer Puzzle

http://www.kizclub.com/Topics/holiday/summerpuzzle.pdf

 


End of the Year Souvenirs:
*Buy an inflatable beach ball for each student in your class.  Blow up each ball and using a broadtip marker, write “We had a ball in <first grade, Kindergarten, Mrs. ___’s class, etc.> along with the student’s name.”  Then sign it yourself, and allow the students to have their friends autograph their ball with a Sharpie marker.  Give them time to play with the balls before having to put them up.  For transporting purposes, you might want to provide a bag with “Have a ball this summer!” printed on the outside and the date.  Have the students deflate their ball and transport them in the bag.

I also had my students complete a souvenir booklet of their favorites.  The booklet was in the shape of a beach ball that I made using a graphics program.  I printed out the front and back cover in color so that it looked like a beach ball.  The title was “I Had a Ball in Mrs. ___’s Class!”  The inside pages I programmed with:
My favorite class was …
My favorite Center was …
My favorite friend was …
I learned …
My favorite thing that we did was …
I will miss …
Autographs …

All the pages were cut out and stapled together to form a beach ball shape book. This booklet went in the bag with their beach balls.  This project was a LOT of work, but the enjoyment that my students got out of it was well worth it!

* A small bag of playdough (bought or homemade) along with a cookie cutter.
* A scrapbook with snapshots taken during the year
* A book
* A picture for each student of you and that student along with this poem:
Here’s a picture you can treasure
Teaching you has been a pleasure!
The year now ends, and we must part.
Always know you are in my heart.
* Student made T-shirt

 

* "I hope your summer is TOPS!" - This idea was shared with me by Shirley.  An idea I saw last year (I think in Mailbox) was to give the children little tops with a note that says "I hope your summer is TOPS!"  Oriental Trading has marker tops that when you spin them, it makes designs on the paper.  My kids last year loved them!.  Thanks for sharing, Shirley! :)

Summer Reproducibles: Can be found in Teacher’s Helper, Apr/May/June 1999

Summer Bulletin Board: “Sailing into Summer …”  Give each student a sailboat pattern with the sentence starter:  This summer I’d like to …  Have them write or dictate what they’d like to do onto the sail of the sailboat and color the sailboat.  Mount these onto a bulletin board with either an ocean or beach scene.

End of the Year Poems:
 

It’s time to say good-bye
Our year has come to an end.
We’ve made more cherished memories
And many more new friends.
I’ve watched your children learn and grow
And change from day to day
I hope that all the things we’ve done
Have helped in some small way.
So it’s with happy memories
I send them out the door
With great hope and expectations
For what next year holds in store!
~Author Unknown

 

 

I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child’s mind,
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher – the tools she used
Were books, music and art.
The other, a parent, worked with a guiding hank;
And a gentle, loving heart.
Day after day, the teacher toiled with touch
That was deft and sure.
While the parent labored by her side
And polished and smoothed it o’er.
and when at last their task was done,
They were proud of what they had wrought,
For the things they had molded into the child
Could neither be sold or bought.
And each agreed they would have failed
If each had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school

And behind the teacher, the home.
~Author Unknown

 

 

To the parents of : _____________

I’ve worked with your flower,
And helped it to grow.
I’m returning it now,
But I want you to know …..

This flower is precious
As dear as can be.
Love it … take care of it
And you will see
A bright new bloom
with everyday …
It grows in such a special way.

In August …. a bud,
Midterm … a bloom;
Now …. a lovely blossom
Comes home to you in June.

Remember this flower
As dear as can be,
Though rightfully yours …
Part … belongs to me!

Fondly,
Teacher’s Name
~Author Unknown

** Note  ** Alternative to the verse with the months in case you get out of school in May:
In August … a bud;
December … halfway;
Now … a lovely blossom;
Comes home to you in May

 

 

On The Last Day of School

Father,
A quiet tension fills the room
On this last day of school.
I expected exuberance and rowdiness,
But that came yesterday,
When there was still one day to go.
Today the children are disturbingly subdued.
I am embarrassed at my own emotions;
I cannot look at the children directly.

The room is so blank
Our desks are cleaned out.
The last traces of the party have been swept away.
The charts and posters are down for the summer.

So now we sit quietly,
Too wrought even for songs and games
And we wait for the bus to come.

I expect to see these children again, of course,
But it won’t be the same.
They know it,
And I know it.

The will come around to see me,
Jealous of the new class,
And I will look at a room of little strangers
And miss the familiar faces.

In time
The strangers will become friends.
But every class is different and special;
No new group of children will ever take the place
Of the one leaving me today.
~Author Unknown

 

 

Dear Parents,
I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall.  I give him back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature then he was then.
Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.
I give him back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.
Ten years from now if we met on the street, your child and I, a light will shine to our eyes, a smile to our lips, and we shall feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today.
We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year.  I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give him back I must.  Take care of him, for he is precious.
Remember that I shall always be interested in your child and his destiny, wherever he goes, whatever he does, whoever he becomes.  His joys and sorrows I’ll be happy to share.
I shall always be his friend.
~Author Unknown

 

 

Parents Are Very Nice People!

When we were babies, they did so much;
They bathed and fed and changed us and such.
They hushed our cries with sweet lullabies;
Parents are very nice people!

When we were one, they laughed at our talk;
They held our hands and helped us walk.
They tickled our toes, and tweaked our noses;
Parents are very nice people!

When we were two, they calmed our fears;
They fixed our hurts, and wiped our tears.
They held us tight and made things right.
Parents are very nice people!

When we were three, they helped us too;
We learned to dress and put on our shoes.
They taught us to share, and how to be fair;
Parents are very nice people!

When we were four, they read to us –
Stories, poems, and fantasies.
We sang nursery rhymes, and danced sometimes;
Parents are very nice people!

And then we were five --- standing at the door.
We turned around and waved once more;
They smiled at us kind of funnily.
Parents are such very nice people.

And now we’re six, and we’ve learned some of the tricks,
Of numbers and letters and want to know more.
Parents and teachers are here by the score,
To watch us go to the first grade door.
~Author Unknown

**Note**  For a Kindergarten retainee, you can change the last line to:
“To help us learn and learn some more.”

 

Summer’s Here

Summer’s here!
Another year
Of school is at an end.
We’ve learned a lot
And grown a lot
And made a lot
Of friends.
We’ll say goodbye,
Now summer’s here,
It’s time for us to part.
But we’ll remember all our friends
And keep them in our hearts.
~Helen H. Moore

 

 

My daughter’s Kindergarten class did this next poem as an end of the year class program (11 years ago!).  Each student held up a letter poster and recited their line.  They did this while wearing sunglasses and a graduation cap they’d made from posterboard.  At the end, they all threw their caps up in the air … too cute!

A, B, C Farewell

A is for the alphabet when we know how to say.
B is for busy bodies – at work and at play.
C is for colors – red, yellow, blue, and green.
D is for drawing pictures, the best you’ve ever seen.
E is for exercise to keep our bodies strong.
F is for the fun we’ve had as we have gone along.
G is for the good friends we made throughout the year.
H is for happy faces, filled with love and cheer.
I is for imagination used at every turn.
J is for good jobs and the praises we have earned.
K is for kindergartners – hip, hip, hooray!
L is for learning – more and more each day.
M is for minding and showing our respect.
N is for numbers. One, two, three … correct?
O is for the obstacles we learned to overcome.
P is for puppets and for playing rhythms on a drum.
Q is for all the questions we’ve asked throughout the year.
R is for reading stores, even those that bring a tear.
S is for different snacks, several we have tried.
T is for talking.  It’s not to be denied.
U is for unusual; it fits some things we’ve done.
V is for volunteers – parents and everyone!
W is for the world of words we’ve barely dipped into.
X is for extra special kids – it’s him, it’s her, it’s you.
Y is for yes, it has been a great year!
Z is for first-grade zest. We're ready, have no fear!
~Author Unknown

 

 

Dear _________,
You’re a very special person
And ________, you should know
How I loved to be your teacher
And how fast the year did go!

We did a lot of special things-
We learned, we laughed, we cared
I always will remember you
And all the fun we shared.

Please come back to visit me
As through the grades you grow,
Try hard to learn all that you can
There is so much to know!

The one thing I tried to teach you,
To last your whole life through
Is to know that you are special
Just because, _______, you are you!
~ Author Unknown

 

 

I’m glad I was your teacher
I’ve come to love you so.
I can’t believe the end is here.
I hate to see you go.

Remember all the fun we had
In all the things we did.
But most of all remember …
You’re a Very Special Kid!

You can make a bi-fold frame to go along with this poem.  It would hold a picture of the student along with a copy of the poem.  Purchase colored cardstock and cut out two “frames” for each student using an Ellison die-cut. (I know they have a rectangular frame.)  Tape the two frames together on one side facing each other.  Tape or glue the student’s picture on the back of one frame and a copy of the poem on the back of the other.  Decorate the frame.  This is an adaptation of an idea that someone posted on the ‘net. 

 

 

When you get bigger, it's hard to recall
Everything you did when you were small
But if days get forgotten, in time to come
May this photo give you a feeling of fun
Echoes of poems or games or songs,
Memories of rights and notions of wrongs,
The joy of dressing up to pretend-
I hope this will help with
"I remember when......"
~Author Unknown

 

 

Here is a picture that you can treasure.
Teaching you has been a pleasure!
The year now ends, and we must part,
Always know you are in my heart!
~Author Unknown

 

 

Sticky Fingers and Big Wet Kisses

Sticky fingers and big wet kisses
Dirty toes and stars with wishes
Splashing through puddles and hugs too tight
Afternoon naps and sleepless nights
I'm growing so fast, I'll soon be grown
So I've made you this handprint for your very own
So tuck it away and keep it, please
So years from now I can see
How much I changed as time went by
And you can always remember my...
Sticky fingers and big wet kisses
Dirty toes and stars with wishes......
~Author Unknown

 

 

It's time to say good-bye now
but now before you go
We'd like to tell you something
We think you'd like to know
We're going to start our school days
for twelve more years and then...
When we graduate the next time
Won't you please come back again?
~Author Unknown

 

 

Great Expectations

It's time to say good-bye,
Our year has come to an end.
I've made more cherished memories
And many more new friends.

I've watched your children learn and grow
And change from day to day.
I hope that all the things we've done
Have helped in some small way.

So it's with happy memories
I send them out the door.
With great hope and expectations
For what next year holds in store.
~Author Unknown

 

Kindergarten Cheer
(Put in your own school's name)

One, two, three, four
What are we yelling for?
(________) Kindergarten!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Do we love it?
Yes, you bet!
And the longer we yell it---
THE LOUDER WE GET. . .
(_________) Kindergarten!
(_________) Kindergarten!
Yea! Yea! Yea!
~Author Unknown

 

 

We made new friends,
We learned to share,
We learned to take turns
And always play fair.
We learned some songs
And things to do,
Kindergarten was fun
The whole year through.
~Author Unknown

 

 

Remember how I walked away,
On tiny feet, my first school day?
With tiny hands I waved goodbye,
And I saw the tear in the corner of your eye.
But you were brave and so was I.
We both tried hard not to cry.

My little feet carried me to school.
I remember your saying, "Now obey every rule!"
My little hands opened the heavy school door.
Everywhere I looked, there were kids galore.
I went down the hall to the big red "K".
There was ____________ to show me the way.

We made a big family, ____________ the "Mother".

With a family this large, we had to help each other.
I've tried hard to listen throughout the whole year.
So when I'm in first grade, I'll have nothing to fear.
The muscles in my hands are now much stronger.
And even my feet look a whole lot longer.

On the last day of school, as we all wave goodbye,
Do you s'pose ______________ will have a tear in her eye?
It really has been a happy school year.
And if it weren't for you, Mom and Dad,
I just wouldn't have been here!!

*Put teacher's name in the blanks.
~Author Unknown

 

 
 

The Teacher's Garden


In the year ____, on the (date) of (month)
You came into my class, how well I remember.
Some of you were smiling and giggling a lot.
Some were very quiet and a few tears I could spot.
You were all in my garden just waiting to grow
So this gardener got busy with her rake and her hoe.
I fed you the water and let in the sun.
You took in the soil, but we had only begun.
Each day as I worked in this garden of mine
I saw you all growing so strong and so fine.
Then finally one day I took a good look
And saw each of my flowers with their favorite book.
It was obvious then that you had worked, too
Soaking up all the food that I had given to you.
But although you have blossomed, you still need to grow
So I'll pass you on now to another gardener I know.
She too has a rake and hoe she can use
And plenty of food from which you can choose.
I hope you will keep your roots open wide
Take in all her food and keep it inside.
Yes, a gardener can work all night and all day
But the flower must be willing to take in each ray.
So work very hard in your garden each year.
Do the best you can do and you'll have nothing to fear.
Grow strong and tall, reach up for the sun.
Stay as nice as you are and have lots of fun!

~ Author Unknown ~
 


End-of-the-Year Song:
(tune: "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah")

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, Zip-a-dee-ay,
My, oh, my, summer's coming our way.
Plenty of sunshine, swimming and play,
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, school's out today.

There's a sadness in the air.
It's over. It's done, but wasn't kindergarten fun?

Oh, zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Summer's coming, coming our way!
~Author Unknown

End of the Year Song:
(tune:  Addams Family)

Refrain:
Da-da-da-da-h (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dah (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dah
Da-da-da-dah
Da-da-da-dah (snap, snap)

We learned our ABCs
And counting one, two, threes
And now we know all these
THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS
We learned how to share
And learned how to care
Just ask us if you dare
THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS

(Refrain)

It seems we've just begun
And now it's almost done
This year's been so much fun
THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS.

So we must say so long
With this our little song
We'll be back before long
THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS
~Author Unknown

End of the Year Activities: 

  Buy each student their own little bottle of bubbles.  Go outside and have a great end of the year by blowing bubbles.
  Have an End of the Year Picnic
  Use sidewalk chalk to draw on the sidewalks

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk:
Small Dixie Cups
2-3 Tbsp. liquid Tempera Paint
Plaster of Paris
1/2 cup water

Mix tempera paint and water and add Plaster of Paris until creamy.  Pour into cups and let harden for about 24 hours.  Once it has hardened, peel away paper cup and write away!

End of the Year Count Down: This eye-catching display guarantees that the last week of school will be filled with surprises. Label each of five paper strips with an end-of-the-year surprise, such as lunch outdoors, a popcorn party, or a video. Place each strip inside a balloon; then inflate the balloons. On a bulletin board, display a character cutout holding five balloon strings. Title the display "Let's End the Year With a Bang!" Attach the inflated balloons to the ends of the strings. Pop a balloon each morning of the last five school days and enjoy the resulting surprise that day. Pop goes the year!

End of the Year Treasure: This is an idea that I completed with my class a few years back.  It turned out sooo cute, and I still have students come up to me and say they still have their pillowcase.  Using a laundry marker, copy the following poem onto a white pillowcase:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I'll count these hands instead of sheep.
And I'll remember the friends I made,
When I was in Mrs. ______’s _____ grade.

(however, I don’t think these are the exact words that we used on our pillowcases, but I can’t remember what they were.  this may be an adaptation.  seems like ours ended with the words Mrs. _____’s class)

*Here are some adaptations written by Rhonda Dominguez
.  Thanks for sharing, Rhonda.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep.
I'll dream of every lad and lass
from Mrs. ____’s Kindergarten class.

or

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep.
I'll dream of how the year did pass
in Mrs. ____’s Kindergarten class.

or

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep.
I'll dream of friends who won my heart in
Mrs. ____’s  awesome Kindergarten.

or

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep.
I'll dream of all the friends I made
and hope to see in the first grade.

or (for 1st grade)

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep.
I'll dream of all the friends I made
while learning in Mrs. ___’s first grade.

or

Now I lay me down to sleep
I count these hands instead of sheep
My year in Kindergarten went by so fast
but I'll remember my friends in Mrs. ___’s class!

Once the poem is printed onto the pillowcase, have your students dip a hand into one of several bright colors of  paint.  Stamp their handprints around the poem.  If you wanted to, you could even write each student’s name under their handprint.  Remember to put a plastic bag or something inside the pillowcase to keep the paint from seeping through.

 

 



End of the Year Awards: Some teachers recognize each student in their class for some kind of accomplishment at the end of the year.  You can make your own awards at several sites on the ‘net.  They could say something like: This award is presented to _________ for _____________.
Some possibilities for awards are:

Computer Whiz
Great Sportsmanship
Stick-to-It Award
Class Bookworm
Always Helpful
Beautiful Handwriting
Most Cooperative
Creative Writer
Excellent Artist
Excellent Thinking
Great Participation
Brightest Smile

Sunshine Award
Hardest Working
Best Boy Athlete
Best Girl Athlete
Outstanding Behavior
Most Improved _________
Excellence in ________ (subject area)
Most Improved in _________ (subject area)
Creative Writing Award

True Friend

Future Teacher
Math Problem Solver

I Love Math
Most Responsible
Wonderful Singing
Happy Attitude
Dependability

Bookworm

Magnificent Memory

Future Author
Sharing
Politeness
Citizenship
Academic Achievement
Perfect Attendance
Most Attentive

Marvelous Math

Awesome Author

Super Scientist

Amazing Athlete

Care Bear Award
Neatness

Wonderful Writer

Storyteller

Leadership

Mother Hen

Critical Thinking

Thinking Outside the Box

Helping Hands

Quality Questions

Courageous

Curiosity

Future Comedian

Energy & Effort

Reliability & Responsibility

Honest Abe


Websites for making awards/certificates:

KidBibs
http://www.kidbibs.com/awards/

Not Just for Kids! Certificates
http://www.night.net/kids/certificates.html-ssi

Certificate Creator
http://www.certificatecreator.com/

Certificates, Awards, Achievement Certificates
http://www.successcertificates.com/

If you’re a subscriber to The Mailbox magazine (snail mail), you can visit The Mailbox Companion (online) and create awards there as well.
http://www.themailboxcompanion.com

 

There are more awards/certificates websites here: www.thevirtualvine.com/printables.html



End of the Year Happy:
Here is something to remind you of kindergarten
Seeds to remind you how much you have grown
A sucker to remind you how sweet you are
A book mark to remind you to always enjoy books
Money to remind you how much you are worth (Play money)
All in a cup full of love and sealed with a kiss (All items in a cup with a Hershey’s Kiss)

End of the Year Program:
The Very Little Kindergarteners

Have your students brainstorm events that occurred in your classroom for each month.  This is an example that was posted on the ‘net …

In Sept. the very little kindergartners started school.
In Oct. the very little kindergartners celebrated Halloween (or fall)
In Nov., the very little kindergartners had a Thanksgiving feast.
In Dec., the very little kindergartners celebrated the holidays
In Jan., the very little kindergartners said Happy New Year.
In Feb. the very little kindergartners sent Valentines
In March. the very little kindergartners planted flowers
In April, the very little kindergartners hunted Easter eggs.
In May, the very little kindergartners said We are ready for first grade.
In June, and July, the very little kindergartners played and played.
And in August, the very little kindergartners turned into
GREAT BIG FIRST GRADERS!


Summer Survival Kit:
A cup of goodies just for you!

This cup is for you from me with love.  Inside I have put some treats that you can use this summer.

A piece of sidewalk chalk for this summer when you need something to do (be sure to ask your parents where it's ok to draw!)

A Band-Aid for one of those summer ouches!

Hugs and Kisses for those times you need them!

A pencil and eraser to practice writing over the summer.

A postcard with my address on it so you can write me sometime this summer to let me know how you are and what fun things you have been doing.

A summer reading log and bookmark... return the completed log to me in August and receive something special!

Have a wonderful vacation, remember to come visit me next year.  Enclosed is a coupon that you can return to me next year for a free trip to the Treasure Chest!

Summer Review: Provide your students with a way to review some of the skills they learned while in your class.  Using a graphics program or clip art, enlarge a picture of a ball as much as possible, but where it will still fit on one page (I used a baseball so that I could write in between the stitches).  If you’re using a graphics program, type in the center of the ball, “Have a Ball This Summer!”  Make another copy of the ball without the writing.  Trace around the shape onto a blank sheet of paper.  Copy as many pages as you’ll need to make a book for reviewing skills that were learned during the year.  Program the pages with the skills that you’d like to see reviewed.  In my book, I had the following pages:
short message explaining the purpose of the book
all capital letters mixed up
lowercase letters
color words
circles of color for the kids to identify
numbers 1 – 20
shapes
and an autograph page for their friends to sign
message wishing them a good summer!

All these pages were photocopied then cut out and stapled together.  They were sent home with the students on the last day of school.

Another Summer Review Idea: This idea was posted on the ‘net and I loved it!  Whenever I tried to do it at the end of last year though, I couldn’t find the cheap pails.  So you might want to pick them up early.

School's Out For Summer!


Purchase a pail and shovel for each student.  Inside the pail put:
sight words
capital letter cards
lowercase letter cards
numbers to 20
color words
colors
addition and subtraction flashcards
paper
colored macaroni/buttons for sorting, patterning, counting, etc.
an easy reader. 
You can also include calendars for June and July with an assignment written for each day. 
extra workbook/skill pages
Summer journal/pencil

1 - 100 mini Counting Chart with pencil/topper to use as a pointer

mini ABC chart

Sample assignments:
Mix up your capital letters and see how fast you can say them.
Write your whole name on lines correctly 5 times.
Grab a handful of macaroni/buttons and estimate how many there are; then count. 
Grab a handful of macaroni/buttons and graph them.
In your summer journal, tell what you miss so far about school.
Mix up your lower-case letters and see how fast you can say them.
Write your numerals to 10, five times each.
Make math sentences with your macaroni/buttons.
See how fast you can say your sight words.
Read a book to someone.
Draw a picture about your favorite part of a book.
Ask someone to read a book to you. 
Mix up your numerals to 20 and see how fast you can say them.
Count all the shoes in your house.
Help your mom make a grocery list.  Read the list back to her

 

5/05 Update: I made these again this year, but with a twist.  I added a graphic to each pail using paint pens instead of the Ellison cut out.  The boys that I knew were going to spend the summer fishing got fishing rods on theirs.  The girls got flowers and hearts.  The rest of the guys got things like sailboats, kites, bicycles, etc.  They turned out a lot cuter than I thought they would.  (No pictures, I left my camera at home. :( )  I added a canister of playdough to them when I got to school.  I bought 1200 index cards and used all of them except for about 50 ... and I already had the alphabet cards that I didn't have to make.  A friend had given me a lot of leftover Abeka sets, so I was good to go on those.   (This was for about 10 kids!)

 

I also had a couple of second grade boys that I didn't think would appreciate having to carry those pails on the bus, so I bought them little plastic tool boxes instead ($2.38 @ Wal-Mart).

Welcome Letter to Next Year's Class:
In the June/July 1991 Primary Mailbox, there's a reproducible for the following letter.  It's a letter to be written by the current members of the class to the future members of the class.  It has ocean graphics and says the following:

(a place for the date)

Dear ____ Grader,

Welcome to _________.  You are very lucky to be in this class!  I was in this class last year.  I liked being in it because ________.  The thing I liked the most about this class was ________.   Another one of my favorite things was _______.  I learned a lot, too.  My favorite subject was _______.  I liked it the best because _______.  I also liked the projects we worked on.  My favorite project of the year was _____.  You really have a lot to look forward to!

I think you'll have a great year.  Remember to do your part!  Always remember to ______.  Good luck!

Sincerely,
(student's name)

 

 

End of the Year Happy: Make Forget Me Not flowers and add this poem ..

We've shared good times.
You've learned a lot.
I hope you will
Forget me not!

 

End of the Year Survey

In years past I've done an end of the year survey with the parents of my students.  Since this year is my first year at doing inclusion with my second graders, I think I'm going to do the survey with the parents once again as well as with the teachers that I teach with (K-2).  Hopefully this will give me some good feedback as to how the year has gone.  Below is the form that I'm going to use.  It isn't your typical bubble in the circle type form.  It's more open-ended and when you use a form like this, you have to be ready to expect the good with the bad.  In the past I've received a lot of high praise that's made it worth it and only a couple of comments that left me scratching my head in confusion. :)   So if you think you're up to it, give it a shot.  You will need to add a cover letter with your instructions as this is a generic form.  If you want to brighten it up, print it on colored paper to attract attention! :)

end of the year survey form

 

 

 

 

Apr/2001

last updated 7.13.08

 

 

 

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