Showing posts with label printables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label printables. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

15+ Earth Day Crafts & Printables for Kids



Check out these Earth Day crafts and printables for kids to celebrate the holiday. They're suitable for children who speak or are learning any language!

Why Craft on Earth Day?


Using crafts to celebrate Earth Day has numerous benefits for children and adults alike. 
  • It's a fun and engaging way to learn about the importance of taking care of our planet. 

  • It can also inspire creativity and encourage problem-solving skills as individuals think about ways to repurpose or recycle materials. 

  • Crafts can also foster a sense of community as people come together to work on projects that benefit the environment. 

  • Crafting can be a therapeutic activity that helps to reduce stress and promote mental well-being
    . 
  • Making crafts out of recycled or repurposed materials, individuals can reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The best part of making crafts, in my opinion, is that they can usually be done in ANY language. I hope you and your children or students enjoy this compilation of some pretty great crafts and printables to do for Earth Day.


Earth Day Crafts for Kids


Here's a list of hands-on crafts for kids to make as they learn about and celebrate Earth Day.


  1. Cascarones Activity
    If you have any cascarones left over from Easter, then use them! If not, don't waste those expensive eggs you are buying: use the eggshells to create your own Earth-friendly seed starter pots!

  2. Recycled Earth Day Craft
    I really love this simple confetti planet Earth from No Time for Flash Cards. It's just lovely and easy for little fingers to make.

  3. Earth Day Printable Headband
    This is a great printable craft from Simple Everyday Mom to get things started, and to get kids excited for the day’s activities. Coloring and wearing this headband will put them in just the right frame of mind. 

  4. DIY Earthy Rock and Fossil Fridge Magnets
    These DIY magnets from Sustain My Craft Habit are a neat idea that can keep the concept of Earth Day in their minds all year round every time they look at the refrigerator. The supplies list is short, but worth picking up ahead of time, as it isn’t all stuff people keep laying around.

  5. Bird-Friendly Seed Mosaic Bird Feeders
    Feeding birds is great. Feeding birds safely is a major concern, though. These planet-friendly, bird-friendly feeders by Barley & Birch allow for a lot of creativity, and only take a few cheap ingredients. Great way to learn about reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

  6. Fairy Greenhouse Egg Carton Seed Starters
    Also by Barley & Birch are these super clever egg carton seed starters! I mean, seriously, recycling at its best. We eat the eggs, use the eggshells as seed starter pots, and then re-use the plastic carton as a mini greenhouse. It's what Earth Day is all about!

  7. Sprout House
    This Sprout House from STEM Education Guide is such a cool idea, and one that will keep kids engaged for some time after Earth Day. Build a small house out of sponges, and line them with sprout seeds. Put water in the dish, and watch day by day for the sprouts to grow.

  8. Recycled Plastic Bottle Planters Craft 
    These Recycled Bottle Planters by Craving Some Creativity are the perfect size for succulents and help keep single use plastics out of landfills. Younger ones will need help, but they will love the adorable animal faces.

  9. Hot Rock Melted Crayon Craft
    Older kids will love this craft from by Simply Well Balanced. It may take a fair amount of supervision based on your child's age and skill level, but the results are so fantastic. Crayons partially melt when used on hot rocks to create unique patterns. This is a great outdoor activity on Earth Day!

  10. Earth Day Daisies 
    Oh my gosh, these are just the cutest things! Buggy and Buddy has this gorgeous little craft made out of cupcake liners. I think you will love displaying them as much as your kids will making them!

  11. DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots and Painted Stone Garden Markers 
    Toilet paper rolls can be recycled in multiple ways. But this option from The Forked Spoon creates another gorgeous planter that kids can check back day after day to watch their plants magically grow.

Earth Day Printables for Kids



If you prefer print-and-go activities, consider this list of Earth Day downloads.

  1. Earth Day Acrostic Poem Activity
    This packet of bilingual Earth Day acrostic poem templates includes directions and examples in both English and Spanish. There are five different acrostic pages with prompts of varying length and difficulty. There's also a blank page to allow children to use their own focus word.

  2. Bilingual Earth Day Activities for PreK - 1st
    This bilingual packet full of Earth-Day-themed activities is also available in English and Spanish. 

  3. Free Download: Bilingual Earth Day Puzzle Cards 
    This activity is good for language learners and preschoolers. These bilingual puzzles are made up of 12 cards that feature different ways to be kind to the Earth...in English and Spanish.

  4. Free Printable Earth Template 
    There are so many different crafts and learning opportunities with these Earth templates by Lil Tigers. Print several to take advantage of multiple crafts on Earth Day. Can be used in any language.

  5. Earth Day Color by Number Printable
    Younger ones may enjoy helping with some of the other projects, but they aren’t going to be fully engaged in several of them. These colorable printables by Mommy Made That offer a project that they can tackle on their own. Kids can make some very cute pictures, and will love figuring out which colors go in which parts. English only.

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Friday, March 31, 2023

Machu Picchu Lesson Plans, Videos, Books, & More

icelight from Boston, MA, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are studying Peru in your home or school classroom, you will want to bookmark this collection of Machu Picchu lesson plans, videos, books, and more that I found while researching.  

Surprisingly, there wasn't as many resources as I had expected when I began looking for them online. These are the most kid-friendly ones that I saw and felt would be a good fit for a unit study of Peru. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.


Machu Picchu Lesson Plans




Printables and Activities

It's hard to find activities about Machu Picchu for PreK and early elementary, but these first two are a good fit. 



Videos




Children's Books about Machu Picchu


Machu Picchu: The story of the amazing Inkas and their city in the clouds



Lost City: The Discovery of Machu Picchu
 
by Ted Lewin

Where Is Machu Picchu?

Where Is Machu Picchu?
by Megan Stine 


Machu Picchu: Children's Latin American History Book


For Teens:


Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time



Lost City of the Incas

by Hiram Bingham

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Thursday, October 27, 2022

Day of the Dead Crafts, Printables, & Recipes



I am seeing just so many wonderful Día de los Muertos crafts, printables, and recipes on the internet. I had to put them together and share them with you. There are so many clever ideas and ways to decorate an ofrenda or simple activities to teach families about this holiday. I could just keep adding and adding to this, but here's a start. I hope you find something to try. And if you'd like to learn more about Day of the Dead, be sure to visit my page: Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead Lesson Plans and Activities.


Día de los Muertos Crafts

Day of the Dead Pumpkin by Our Crafty Mom



Día de los Muertos Printables






Dia de los Muertos Recipes


Pabassinas: Raisin Nut Cookies for Day of the Dead/ Dia de los Muertos by The Monday Box



Other Posts on Day of the Dead:




Monday, September 12, 2022

Hispanic Heritage Month Printables for Middle & High School

Hispanic Heritage Month Printables for Middle & High School


Hispanic Heritage Month has rolled around once again and this year I have some new HHM resources for middle and high school students. In the past, I have focused a lot on elementary and lower middle school grades. But I see a lot of teachers purchasing those products and using them with older students. (Here's my list of Printable Lessons and Activities to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month that are for all different ages.) So this year, I sat down to create lesson and activities with those educators in mind.

Here is a list of my HHM downloads, starting with the new ones available for this year, as well as my other established favorites. :)

Hispanic Heritage Month Printables for Middle School & High School


Hispanic Heritage Reading Passage


I am so excited about this one! This new one-page reading passage is dedicated exclusively to Hispanic Heritage Month and talks about how and when it came to be, why it is important to celebrate it, and who are some important figures in U.S. history. It comes with an 8-question comprehension quiz and answer key.

The coolest part is that it includes a digital version if you prefer to assign it for virtual instruction. 

**Note: Those of you who purchase my reading passages regularly will be happy to know that I am working on adding digital versions to all of them. Yay! 


Hispanic Heritage Month Trivia Challenge


This is a Google Sheets™ file designed as a supplemental assessment game! Students test their knowledge of Hispanic Heritage Month by answering up to 12 self-checking trivia questions. They have to choose 8 questions to answer, but may gain bonus points by answering more.

It's a great assessment activity to pair with the following:

Hispanic Heritage Month Escape Room


In this Google Sheets file, students must answer 12 (self-checking) questions about Hispanic Heritage Month to unlock the final word puzzle, then unscramble the letters to escape! Comes with two digital files - one in English, the other in Spanish - plus printable task cards, in case you want to use it as an in-class activity and not as a digital one.


Additional Printables that Highlight Hispanics in History


A More Complete History: Hispanic Activists (Unit 1)


This comprehensive Teach for Justice unit focuses on five important (and often forgotten) historical figures of the 1900s using articles and mini documentaries as our secondary sources. The 150-page unit for high school students includes lesson plans for in-person and virtual learning, as well as essay questions, project based learning options, and research & present topics. Options for worksheets and summative assessments allow for differentiated learning.

The five figures covered in this unit are:
  • Jovita Idár
  • Sylvia Mendez
  • Ralph Lazo
  • Willie Velásquez
  • and Helen Rodríguez Trías

I have also begun breaking up this unit into the individual lessons and making them available, starting with Jovita Idár:

A More Complete History: Hispanic Activist Jovita Idár (Lesson 1)


Jovita Idár is in the news lately because she will be the first Mexican American woman recognized by the U.S. Mint on a coin in 2023 as part of their American Women Quarters Program. 

This 30-page lesson plan closely looks at her life and work. The activities require research and critical thinking. It includes Google Drive options for worksheets and summative assessments allow for differentiated learning and virtual instruction. Answer keys and essay rubric are included.

You can also find this free sample of one of the lessons from the unit, in case you'd like to try before you buy:

A More Complete History: Hispanic Activist Willie Velásquez (Lesson 4)



When and How to Use Them


All of these lessons and activities can be used in either a school or home learning environment. If you are a parent, you may use these to supplement your child's main curriculum. Or use them in your homeschool as an additional class that dives into heritage studies. Or even better, use them in history to study the contributions of Latinos to world and U.S. history - their stories are too often overlooked.

For more excellent resources, be sure to visit the National Museum of the American Latino.

Parent and Teacher Opportunity


Did you know that if you send me a photograph or two of one of my products being used in your home or school classroom (no faces necessary), I will send you any non-bundle item free from my shop? You pick the product!


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Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Bilingual Book Club Packet


There's a new packet in my shop today!

Last week, I shared a post on How to Start a Book Club for 8 to 12-Year-Olds. As soon as I hit publish, I knew I needed to add another resource to make book clubbing more fun. 

Bilingual Book Club Activity Pages


So... voilá! Here's a bilingual packet of book club printables. They are designed to make running a book club easy and enjoyable for kids. 

It comes with pages for: 
  • writing down discussion questions, 
  • reviewing books, 
  • a member roster, and 
  • tickets for choosing a different meeting leader each time you get together.




Other Summer Reading Printables


You can also pair it with my bilingual reading passport, depending on the book theme or the format of your book club. It says Día de los Niños on it because that's the occasion for which I made it. But EVERY DAY is Día de los Niños, remember? And the passport itself doesn't have any specific holiday mentioned. It's pretty versatile and can be used at any time of year for any reading activity.





You might also like the free bilingual reading logs that you can download in my TpT shop. This packet contains three different designs so you can track by:
  1. # of minutes read,
  2. # of pages read,
  3. OR # of books read.
ALL of the logs are available in full color or black-and-white, and they are available in English and Spanish. You choose which one works best for your students.


Monday, April 25, 2022

Reading Challenge & Passport

 Bilingual Reading Passport

This week, I'm continuing our Día de los niños series with a free download. If you're a MommyMaestra subscriber, you'll find this printable reading passport in your inbox this evening. If not, you can purchase my reading passport file in my TpT store. 

Scroll down to the bottom of this post or sign up here for my newsletter.


Bilingual Printable Reading Passport

This reading passport is easy to print and assemble.  

  1. Make sure to select "Actual Size" on your printer settings, or "Custom" and "100%."

  2. Print pages 3 and 4 on two separate pieces of paper (Do not select "Print on both sides of paper.")

  3. Fold page 3 in half with the printed side facing out. 

  4. Fold the page in half again with the dark blue covers on the outside.

  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with page 4.

  6. Tuck page 4 inside page 3. 

  7. Staple in the middle to hold the booklet together.
The passport has text in both Spanish and English.


How to Use This Reading Passport

You can use the reading passport like a reading log for your child. Just let them enter the titles and authors of the books they've read and keep it like a running account. There is no limit to the number of inner pages you can print and add to your child's passport.

OR you can assign your child a reading challenge...

Latino kid lit


Reading Challenge

I'm always thinking about ways to get kids excited about reading. And one of those is with a reading challenge. 

One simple and easy challenge is to have your kids read 8 books in one month. You can set the details based on your child's interests and reading level (picture books, chapter books, poetry, etc.), or just let them choose which books they want to read.

Other challenges could be for the summer or school year. You can require books by Latino authors, classics, novels, short stories, books in Spanish, biographies, or even graphic novels. You can also challenge your student to read one book from each genre.

Whatever you do, be flexible and have fun!



Other Día Posts You May Enjoy:





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Thursday, March 3, 2022

17 Dinosaur-Themed Crafts for Kids


You guys know that I have a 4-year-old. And he is all about EVERYTHING that is dinosaur related. I'm reminded of the
meme from Sheldon Comics that is of a graph showing the time in your life that you know the most about dinosaurs.

So in honor of my kid, I'm sharing this list of 15 dinosaur crafts for kids. We're already working our way through it!

Dinosaur Crafts for Kids


Each of these dinosaur crafts for kids are the perfect way for kids to use their imagination and creativity making their own prehistoric creatures! Whether it’s for a classroom craft, birthday party activity, or just for fun at home, there are so many awesome dinosaur crafts for kids to choose from!


  1. DIY Dino Bones Activity
    Do you have a young archaeologist in your house? Then this activity is for them! First, create your own dinosaur bones, teeth, and claws using air-dry clay. Then bury them. Then dig them up and record the data!


  2. DIY Fossil Dig
    This was part of my Summer of Fun series seven years ago! My son was 8 at the time and had a blast creating his own fossil dig. A list of materials is included.

  3. Handprint Dinosaur Card Craft
    Sam at Simple Everyday Mom has this super fun Triceratops handprint card that is pretty easy to put together. (My 4yo was quick to point out that it is not a Stegosaurus as I called it by mistake!)

  4. Paper Dinosaur Puppet Craft
    These puppets are perfect for story time. All you need is the free template, some construction paper (or colored cardstock), glue, and popsicle sticks. Then you can encourage your child to make up his own story using these puppets. :)

  5. Clothespin Dinosaur Craft
    This was the first craft we put together and my 4yo wanted to copy the color exactly. We didn't paint the clothes pins, though. And we used googly eyes instead of paint, but the joy he had was just as strong as it would have been if we had!


  6. Cupcake Liner Dinosaur Craft
    These are the cutest little cupcake liner dinosaurs! And putting them together is so simple. If you eat a lot of cupcakes at home, then you probably already have all the materials you need.

  7. Movable Dinosaur Craft
    Another great dino craft from Crafts by Amanda. This movable brachiosaurus (?) is 10 times the fun simply because his body parts move!

  8. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils
    These are crazy fun for little hands to make. And they even get to use their own dinosaur collection! All you need are 3 simple ingredients and then let the fun begin.

  9. Paper Plate Triceratops
    If you aren't afraid of a little paint in your little one's hands, then this step-by-step tutorial and video may be for you!

  10. Dinosaur Handprint Craft
    My 4yo is always asking to make handprint crafts, so this one from Mombrite is PERFECT for him...and maybe your child, too? I like handprint crafts because they let kids practice their tracing and cutting skills. Yay for fine-motor skill development!




  11. DIY Scratch Art Dinosaur Craft
    Here's another super clever activity from Messy Little Monster. Younger kids may need a little help with this one, but both they and older children with love this craft lesson. It involves creating a dinosaur from cardboard, layering it with media and then scratching it off to reveal the beautiful colors below.

  12. Tape Resist Dinosaur Bone Art
    If you're looking for STEAM activities, this is it! How fun is it to create your own dinosaur "skeleton" drawing using tape-resist paint techniques?

  13. Dinosaur Craft for Kids
    This is cute and fun for little fingers. Mom will have to probably cut out the pieces, though, for younger children. If you make several at a time, though, your kids can have a good time mixing and matching pieces!

  14. T-Rex Dinosaur Craft
    T-Rex is everyone's favorite. So this is an excellent activity for birthday parties or dino-themed classes. The best part is that Jeannie's template includes both a small and big version. :)

  15. DIY Felt Dinosaur Plushie
    Oh my gosh, this one makes me want to squeal. It's adorable! But not a craft for little ones to put together. Older kids or parents can make this easy plushie then give it to the younger kids to play with. Ha!


  16. Dinosaur Night Light
    For older kids who like more of a challenge, this one from Crafts by Amanda is the bomb! Your kids will love making their own night light while letting their imagination run wild.

  17. Bubble Wrap Print Dinosaurs
    Mess at its best! No one can resist bubble wrap - especially when you throw in a little paint!




Books & Printables


And if you have little ones, pairing one of these activities with a book - like this one from Laurie Berkner - is a win/win! I've even included a free download to go with the book. 

And for our bilingual learners, here's a printable set of dinosaur-themed puzzle cards with vocabulary in both English AND Spanish - you choose which language works best for your family.


Thursday, February 10, 2022

Bilingual Valentine's Day Print-and-Go Resources

 

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching! If you are looking for print-and-go resources in English or Spanish, here is a look at some of the ones I have available on TpT. For a complete list, click here.



grades PreK - 2nd

Introduce your young students to the vocabulary associated with Valentine's Day. This little booklet lets them color in the picture, then read and write the words.

The booklet is available in three versions:
  • English only (for ESL)
  • Spanish only (for Spanish learners)
  • Bilingual (for dual immersion)



grades PreK - Kinder

Introduce your young students to Valentine's Day with this fun activity pack!

There are 15 pages total with activities that focus on the following concepts and skills:
  • counting
  • spot the difference
  • puzzles
  • vocabulary
  • math
  • sequencing
  • tracing
  • maze
  • featured letter
  • beginning letter sounds
  • writing papers



grades PreK - 1st

This is my favorite Valentine's Day product!
Boost your child's vocabulary and reading skills with this Valentine's Day storybook. This story lists things that children often enjoy on this holiday, so the student will enjoy coloring while learning the words for "balloons/globos," "candy/dulces," "hugs/abrazos" and more.

NOTE! This file contains THREE books:

• a bilingual book (English & Spanish)
• an English only (for ELL)
• a Spanish only (for Spanish learners)



Famous Couples in History Reading Passages
grades 3rd - 5th

Teach your students about famous couples in world history with this set of reading passages and comprehension questions. This file currently features the following five couples who impacted world history:

  • Cleopatra & Marc Antony
  • Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
  • Coretta Scott & Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Queen Isabella I & King Ferdinand II
  • Jacqueline Bouvier & John F. Kennedy

Each quiz includes 6 comprehension questions, plus space for writing personal thoughts. Answer keys included.


Friday, January 14, 2022

Print-and-Go Activities for MLK Day

MLK Day print-and-go activities 

This coming Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Are you looking for resources that are no-prep to share with your children or students? MommyMaestra has you covered!

Consider one of my bilingual print-and-go activities for your classroom. I have a variety of activities for different ages. The most popular one is my Triptych Writing Activity, shown above. In this writing triptych, kids read a short passage about Martin Luther King, Jr. and read some quotes from his famous speech. They can color it, and draw or paste a picture of themselves on one of the folds of the triptych. Then they can think about the quotes and write a few words (short paragraph) sharing their own hopes for this country.

Here are a few other downloads that may interest you:

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Activity
grades 3rd - 6th

This simple activity allows students to write their own ending to Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. They simply color in the base sheet and write in their ending, before coloring in and attaching a flap-style poster to the top.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King Jr. Bilingual Coloring Activity
for PreK - 1st (FREE!)

A simple color-by-number activity for introducing Martin Luther King, Jr. to younger children in preschool and lower elementary.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

A Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary
grades 4th - 8th

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this easy, no-prep, printable poster and glossary! Available in full color or black-and-white, you can decorate your classroom or have your students color in the poster and read the glossary which features words related to Dr. King.

MLK Day print-and-go activities

Martin Luther King, Jr. Quote Analysis
grades 7th - 10th

Teach and develop your students' ability to analyze and interpret text in a social justice context.

This file contains one lesson plan for teaching quote analysis, grading rubric, and 26 worksheets - 25 with different different quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and one blank to allow students to choose their own quotes.

Includes links to online reading and video resources to introduce Dr. King, as well as suggested links for online sites with King's quotes.

LinkWithin

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