This house shape book activity helps K-2nd Grade children color, draw and write their own story about home, then cut out and staple the house pages into a book to share.
This dear valentine activity has K-2nd grade students pick heart word cards for family and school helpers and spell each word on a Valentine card. Answer key included.
This apple shape book activity lets K-2nd grade children color, cut out and write their own apple story on cover, picture and writing pages with kid-sized lines.
This barn shape book activity helps K-2nd Grade children color, draw and write their own farm story, then cut out and staple the barn pages into a book to share.
This Earth Day writing activity helps K-2nd grade children order six planting picture cards and write the steps with first, next, then and last. Answer key included.
This flower shape book activity lets Kindergarten to 2nd Grade children draw, write and staple their own flower-shaped story book. A fun spring craft that builds narrative writing skills.
This apple themed writing activity has 1st and 2nd grade children order apple life cycle cards, write the steps, compare apples and oranges, and write a poem and story. Answer key included.
This boy shape book activity helps K-2nd Grade children color, draw and write their own story, then cut out and staple the boy-shaped pages into a book to share.
This pumpkin themed writing activity has 1st and 2nd grade children order pumpkin life cycle cards, write the steps, sort facts and write a poem and story. Answer key included.
This computer shape book activity helps K-2nd Grade children color, draw and write their own story about computers, then cut out and staple the pages into a book to share.
This easter egg writing activity has 1st and 2nd grade students order picture steps, plan with first, next, then and last, and write a how-to. Answer key included.
This girl shape book activity helps K-2nd Grade children color, draw and write their own story, then cut out and staple the girl-shaped pages into a book to share.
This summer time back to school writing activity gives 1st-3rd grade students 12 prompt cards about summer and the new year, plus draw and write pages that make journaling fun.
Shape books and seasonal stories
Themed writing paper gives first graders a reason to write. An apple-shaped book, a valentine or an Earth Day page turns a blank page into an invitation. Kids practice writing complete sentences with capitals, finger spaces and periods, and they build up to a few sentences on one topic. Shape books are great for "all about" writing, like listing facts about apples. The click moment is when a child proudly reads their finished shape book to a friend and asks "Can I make another one?"
A fun page can carry a lot of writing practice. These moves make the most of it.
Before kids write, do an apple-themed page on the board. Think aloud: "First I'll write a fact. Apples grow on trees. Capital A, period at the end!" Kids then write their own facts using your model as a guide.
Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withApple Themed Writing ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Staple a few apple-shaped pages together and have kids write one fact or sentence per page. It feels like making a real book. They learn to stick to one topic across several pages.
Why it works: kids understand an idea best when they touch it, then draw it, then write it, the order the U.S. Department of Education recommends for elementary math.
Try it withApple Shape Book ActivityActivitiesOpen it →Rotate seasonal paper all year, like pumpkins in fall. Kids practice the same writing skills over and over without getting bored, and you can compare their writing from month to month.
Why it works: the brain holds on to what it meets again and again over time; spaced practice was rated among the very best methods (Dunlosky and colleagues, 2013).
Try it withPumpkin Themed Writing ActivityActivitiesOpen it →A cute page can make even reluctant writers excited.
ActivitiesKids write a kind note to a friend or family member on a heart page.
Open Dear Valentine Activity →
ActivitiesWrite one way to care for the Earth and share it with the class.
Open Earth Day Writing Activity →
ActivitiesMake a house-shaped book about who lives in your home and what you love about it.
Open House Shape Book Activity →Teacher favorites right now: House Shape Book Activity, Dear Valentine Activity and Apple Shape Book Activity.
It's lined writing paper decorated with a theme or shape, like an apple, pumpkin or heart. It makes writing more fun and gives kids a topic to write about.
Have kids write one sentence or fact on each page about a single topic. Shape books are great for informational writing and for showing off finished work.
Early in the year, one or two sentences is great. By the end of 1st grade, many kids can write three to five sentences on a topic.
Yes. Print a page for a holiday or a favorite topic, and have your child write a story, list or letter. It makes writing practice feel like a treat.
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