Best Historical Fiction Books for Tween, Teen Girls

 Historical fiction is becoming increasingly popular genre with school-aged girls. I've compiled a list from my 20+ year teacher career, highlighting the best historical fiction for tween and teenage girls. You'll note I didn't add American Girls. Those books are excellent, but written for slightly younger girls. But older girls can certainly enjoy them! This list isn't exclusively for girls, but most books have female protagonists so girls may be more drawn to them. Best Historical Fiction Books for Tween and Teenage Girls

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Free Printable Puppets and Preschool Themed Mini Books to Act Out

When I taught summer enrichment, one class that always went over big was puppetry. Here are free printable finger puppets, stick puppets, paper bag puppets and 3D play sets (to use like puppets). Many have accompanying mini booklets kids can read and act out with their puppets. There are Bible, animal, people, Disney character, monster and other puppet themes. Perfect for Vacation Bible School, summer school, daycare and rainy day fun!  Free Printable Disney, Animal, Bible Finger Puppets

Challenged, Censored Banned Books Arouse Love of Reading in Tweens, Teens

Want to teach kids to love reading? Tell them a book has been banned, censored or challenged by adults. Nothing sends a reluctant reader to the bookshelf quicker than thinking he's doing something verboten! Especially tweens and teens who love flouting authority anyway! Often students who most hate reading speak loudest against censorship and in solidarity with authors. God love them for that. So without further ado, my adolescent friends, here are the Most Banned Books? Authors of Teen, Children's Literature. Now get thee to a library!

Free Printable Christian Bible Craft Activities

Looking for Bible based coloring pages and Christian crafts? Look no further. In this article I've linked to websites with free printable Judeo-Christian themed craft activities. Use for Sunday School, Religious Education, CCD, VBS, Christian School or homeschool. Jews might use Old Testament Bible crafts for Hebrew shul or Torah lessons. Free printable paper crafts extend learning. Crafts take Bible lessons beyond ho-hum reading and memorization to interactive. Children get to cut, assemble, paste, color and fold. All these activities are hands-on and lots of fun.  Free Printable Bible Craft Activities

Free Printable Memorial Day Worksheets, Literature and History Based Crafts, Games

Memorial Day is the last Monday in May--May 26, 2014. As Remembrance Day, we honor veterans and those lost in U.S. wars. It's also Decoration Day, when we commemorate loved ones lost by putting flowers on graves. Teachers, homeschoolers, scout leaders and parents, here are free printable lesson plans, worksheets, crafts and games to teach kids about this national holiday. Activities are literature and history based. Kids might memorize "In Flanders Field" (link found in article) for a family Memorial Day recitation. Very moving and evocative of the day.  Free Printable Memorial Day Worksheets, Crafts, Games

Free Printable Spider-Man, Marvel Comic Book Superhero Coloring Pages

Hey kids, want free printable Amazing Spider-Man 3 coloring pages? I found some you're going to love (keep reading past the grown-up chatter and click the link at the end). Adults, you might quibble over whether cartoons, comic books and graphic novels qualify as literature. I say at least kids are reading. Pictures and illustrations provide context clues and help children learn to read. When they're ready, they'll start reading more challenging books. But you never outgrow your childhood favorites. I loved comics (still do). In that spirit, here are free printable the afore-promised. Free Printable Spider-Man Coloring Pages

Free Printable Cinco de Mayo Lesson Plans, Mexican History Worksheets

Want to know more about Cinco de Mayo? It's not just about tacos and pinatas. It's not the Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16). Cinco de Mayo celebrates an epic battle between a tiny, outnumbered Mexican army and a superior French war machine. It's adventure, edge of your seat action, a story of courageous, clever heroes and swashbuckling deeds of daring-do! If you love military strategy, sieges, and battle drama, read more. Forget the fantasy and anime--read a real thriller! Click here to do so Free Printable Cinco de Mayo Lesson Plans on Mexican History

Free Endangered Species Coloring Book for Earth Day

The Environmental Protection Agency- EPA has developed a free printable 28-page activity and coloring book entitled Save Our Species. This free printable resource, perfect for Earth Day, has been developed and provided to the public as an educational information guide. On Earth Day, students can explore endangered species in the United States, by coloring the animals, plants and habitats.   Free Printable Earth Day Endangered Species Coloring Activity Booklet 

Free Printable Peter Rabbit, Velveteen Rabbit, Easter Bunny Crafts

Secular Easter is a child-friendly holiday. Baskets, candy, egg decorating, bunnies, baby animals, spring--things kids love. Here are free printable Easter bunny crafts, plus printables based on my two favorite bunnies in children's literature-- Peter Rabbit and the Velveteen Rabbit. Those books have been dear to me since I was a toddler. Parents and teachers, you'll want these for preschool classroom fun.  Free Printable Easter Bunny Crafts for Preschool

Preschool Animal Alphabet Themed Snacks with Printable ABC Animal Activities from A-Z

Teachers, want to make ABCs fun? Here are healthy animal alphabet-themed snacks from A-Z. Use Alpha-Bits cereal, letter pretzels, cookies for letter shape. Then follow these recipes to create educational snack crafts that teach reading. I've included free printable animal alphabet coloring pages and activities.
Preschool Animal Alphabet Themed Snacks From A-Z