Free printable Thanksgiving lesson plans, games

With the holidays fast upon us, why not gear up with the fun, educational activities, parents. Teachers and homeschoolers, these activities are for you too. Check out these sources for Free Thanksgiving holiday crafts, games, greeting cards, coloring pages, printables perfect for kids home on vacation or classroom Thanksgiving units.

Children's literature books on bullying: Bully buster bibliotherapy for kids

 With the Orlando shooting at an LGBT nightclub fresh on minds and heavy on hearts, it's a good time to discuss bully buster tips with children. First, it's important to understand bullying. The bully stereotype is the Charles Atlas ad, where the big guy kicks sand in the little guy's face while the dismayed girl looks on.   Children's literature books on bullying: Bully buster bibliotherapy for kids | Examiner.com

Free printable Raggedy Ann and Andy coloring pages

 As a little girl, my favorite cartoon dolls were Raggedy Ann and Andy. We didn't have television and I met Raggedy Ann and Andy in a collection of stories we had. I had a little Raggedy Ann doll with a little red heart sewn on her chest. American writer Johnny Gruelle told the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy stories to entertain his sick little daughter, Marcella. She passed away in 1918 and Johnny Gruelle published them in memory of his beloved child. Raggedy Ann dressed in a gingham apron, white pinafore and petticoat and bloomers and Raggedy Andy, in a little sailor suit. Both had red yarn curls and triangle noses. They lived with other toys, in Marcella's nursery.  Free printable Raggedy Ann and Andy coloring pages | Examiner.com

Free printable Wonder Pets coloring pages, Nick Jr activities for kids | Examiner.com

"Wonder Pets!" is Nick Jr channel's totally adorable cartoon. Wonder Pets are fuzzy, cute, cuddly animals similar to Webkinz. Wonder Pets features Tuck the baby turtle, Ming-Ming an aviator baby duckling and Linny, a little guinea pig. Wonder Pets! is a perfect show for toddlers, preschool and the young at heart. Here are free printable Nick Jr Wonder Pets coloring pages and activities for kids.  Free printable Wonder Pets coloring pages, Nick Jr activities for kids | Examiner.com

Multicultural kids books: Reading around the world of children's literature

 Homeschool parents and teachers, do you need reading activities for National Reading Month in March? Why not read around the world of children's literature? Take an around the world tour with kids books! Here are globe-trotting children's literature selections from pole to pole and occident (west) to orient (east). Older children can hone their skills by reading aloud to younger children. This list of kids books has value-added lesson plans as children's literature selections have global social studies, history, geography and multicultural literature connections.



Read around the world to visit children in other lands and experience their lifestyles, religion and culture. Many of these children's literature kids books are Caldecott Medal recipients. This means that they have been recognized for their art and illustrations. Typically a Caldecott winner depicts multicultural lifestyles  Multicultural kids books: Reading around the world of children's literature | Examiner.com

Free printable James Bond 007 Spectre coloring pages, James Bond cars models

Bond is back. "Spectre"--which opened Nov. 2015, is the newest James Bond 007 film and it's also the most lavish and multi-national. Spectre picks up where Ian Fleming left James Bond in "Skyfall." For 54 years now fans have flocked to see Agent 007. And the tide doesn't seem to be ebbing. Talk is that Bond filmmakers may be eyeing the electrifyingly talented Idris Elba could as the next James Bond after Daniel Craig. How about free printable James Bond coloring pages to celebrate Spectre. Use these to celebrate Global James Bond Day on October 5.  Free printable James Bond 007 Spectre coloring pages, James Bond cars models | Examiner.com

Free printable Captain Underpants kids book games: Dav Pilkey graphic novels | Examiner.com

March is National Reading Month--time to celebrate kids' books and their authors. Today's featured book guy is Dav Pilkey, a very silly man with a middle school juvenile sense of humor. Who is Dav Pilkey you ask? Well, adults might not know the name, but kids will recognize Dav Pilkey as the author/illustrator of graphic novels and kids books, notably Captain Underpants. Dav Pilkey has many well-loved kids books and graphic novels to his credit. But his most enduring is the supremely ridiculous "Captain Underpants" stories. Oh and grownups, graphic novels are stories told in cartoons or comics, not dirty books! Jeff Kinney author of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series is another graphic novels writer.   Free printable Captain Underpants kids book games: Dav Pilkey graphic novels

Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Pinterest, email, and blogs overflow with valentine crafts. Alas, many are also costly. So, don't pay. Here are free printable preschool valentine worksheets, games, crafts, learning activities and lesson plans. Fru-gals and fru-guys, use these for Valentine's Day fun.   Free printable preschool Valentine worksheets, games, crafts, activities

Free printable Catholic Lenten worksheets, lesson plans, Bible activities

The Catholic Lenten season begins each year with the Imposition of the Ashes on Ash Wednesday, which in the 2016 calendar will kick off very early on February 10. Lent starts a 40 day journey of fasting, corporal spiritual acts of mercy, spiritual pilgrimage and prayer. A Catholic tries to live, in a humble human way, in solidarity with the Lord Jesus, as he fasted in the desert for 40 days and made his final pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A Roman cross, torture and crucifixion awaited Him. But so did the glory of Easter, the Resurrection. Lent is a season for intense and deep personal and spiritual reflection.  Free printable Catholic Lenten worksheets, lesson plans, Bible activities

Chinese New Year of the Goat books for kids, children's literature from China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It begins Feb. 19 in 2015 and culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Goat (or Sheep) in 2015.

Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages

Catholics celebrate several special religious days, referred to as holy days of obligation. These days center around a Bible event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15). Here are free printable Catholic coloring pages featuring Bible stories. prayer, sacraments, mass, Gospel, saints, Lent, Advent, holidays and holy days, life of Jesus, Catholic saints' feast days, rosary and stations of the cross.   Free Catholic Bible printables, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week coloring pages | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Monkey 2016: Books for kids, children's literature from China

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It starts late January to mid February, on Feb. 8 in 2016. CNY culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Monkey 2016.  If you were born in 2004, 1992, 1980 (etc.) you're a monkey! Here are Chinese New Year of the Monkey books for kids, children's literature from China | Examiner.com