Charlotte's Web

As I plan my year I really like to look for themes that transition nicely into each other so that I'm not totally changing up everything when I move to a new theme. This year I knew I wanted to have a farm theme because we take our annual field trip to the farm. I also knew I wanted to do a spiders theme because I just think they are cool! I also always have at least one sweet kiddo whose family doesn't celebrate Halloween, so I have to be careful about choosing October themes. :)

I had these on my calendar, but with some space in between. What could I use to link these themes? Charlotte's Web! What a smooth transition from farm to spiders. So we started reading the book as a class and I started looking for resources to go along with the book.

Surprisingly, there really aren't a lot of first grade resources for this book. I found some CUTE things on TPT, but they all covered topics we haven't gotten to yet! I stumbled across some SUPER fantastic clip art by Melonheadz and decided to make some stuff of my own. If you are interested, feel free to check it out at my TPT store!

I love Kohls.

I went to Kohls today to pick up the Eric Carle books and stuffed animals. You really can't beat $5 for a hardback book by an author you love. Plus, I'm pretty sure the caterpillar is the cutest stuffed animal I've ever seen.

The only reason I do NOT <3 Kohls? I went in there with the intention of buying the books. $160 later, I have a new spring wardrobe. It's like Target. I swear these stores have a secret cover charge. I never just buy what's on my list. Impossible.

If you'll be my Valentine...

I love Valentine's Day in first grade. I found this adorable book today and couldn't resist picking it up for the 14th.

If You'll Be My Valentine is written by Cynthia Rylant and is a book of valentine poems written by a little boy to different loves in his life. I created a writing activity as a response to literature and I can't wait to see who my kiddos decide to write to!

If youll be my valentine writing connection

I'm going to have them draw a picture of the person they're writing to in the heart frame and write their poems on the lines below.

I put the hearts on the end of the second and fourth lines to remind my students that the last words in those lines should rhyme. :)