Free printable Cinco de Mayo crafts and activities on Mexico

Cinco de Mayo, or Fifth of May, celebrates the victory of the smaller Mexican army over the mighty French juggernaut, in the Battle of Puebla, 1862. Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day, but many Latino Americans celebrate it. It's an exciting story to explore. Here are free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages and Mexican crafts to celebrate this fun ethnic festival. Free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages, Mexican crafts and printables

Free Easter bunny printables, Peter Rabbit printables, Velveteen Rabbit crafts

Easter is probably the most quintessentially preschool holiday of all. Easter baskets, candy, egg decorating, bunnies, baby animals, spring--little children love this festive season. So for the young and young at heart, here are free printable Easter bunny crafts. I've included printable activities based on my two favorite bunnies, Peter Rabbit and the Velveteen Rabbit, too. Parents and homeschoolers, use for preschool lessons; teachers, you'll want these for preschool classroom fun.Free Easter bunny printables, Peter Rabbit printables, Velveteen Rabbit crafts - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

 

Reading enrichment activities: summer book crafts, literature games, printables

 March is National Reading Month, kicked off by "Read Across America." Schools abound with reading opportunities. But what about those long summer months? Here are summer reading enrichment activities to keep kids' noses in books year-round! Included are interactive reading response activities, ELA (English language arts) lessons, book-based crafts and literature response lessons. Use these multi-sensory, cross-curricular Montessori-based lessons for Readers Workshop, special education students, reluctant readers and divergent learners too.Reading enrichment activities: summer book crafts, literature games, printables - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free printable Very Hungry Caterpillar activities, Eric Carle printables

In honor of National Reading Month (March) I'm going to share free activities based on favorite authors and books. Eric Carle is a beloved children's author. Carle has illustrated dozens of books about insects and animals. Here are free printables from the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle's best-loved kids' book. Mrs. Spatafora's Kindergarten Blog features dozens of printable cut and paste crafts, games, activities, lessons, puzzles and coloring pages on preschool themes.Free printable Very Hungry Caterpillar activities, Eric Carle printables 

Free printable Valentine's Day coloring pages, crafts, worksheets, activities - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Valentine's Day, celebrated Feb. 14, usually represents a party, candy and cards for children, So how about some free printable Valentine's Day coloring pages, cut and paste, games, lessons, puzzles and activities? Here are some websites to check out for free Valentine's Day printables. Use in school or homeschool. Tie in with your regular curriculum.   Free printable Valentine's Day coloring pages, crafts, worksheets, activities

Free printable Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah greeting cards

We're so fortunate in the US, to have so many rich and varied holiday traditions and cultural observances in which to participate: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. Here are free printable Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah color your own greeting cards to share.  Free printable Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah greeting cards

World War I Books and movies for Armistice Day and WWI 100th anniversary films

Veteran's Day remembers the World War I armistice (truce) on November 11, 1918. Though no WWI was a poignant and pivotal epoch in history. Remembrance Day 2014 is especially solemn, said the Christian Science Monitor November 11. It's the 100th anniversary of the year the war began in Europe.



Hailed the Great War to "end all wars" it didn't. A global conflict broke out not 20 years later thanks to inadequate resolution of WWI. The first mechanized, non-Napoleonic war, WWI soldiers experienced horrors unheard of in their fathers' wars--aerial dogfights, chemical and biological warfare, land mines and machine guns. Big Bertha and Minnie (minenwerfer), tanks and trenches, weapons of mass destruction.



Teachers, here are literature-based films to help students experience and understand WWI. Show in civics, social studies, current affairs and history (middle school or older).  World War I books and movies for Armistice Day and WWI 100th anniversary films 

Free Printable Greek Mythology Coloring Pages and Lesson Plans

I love exploring mythology. All ancient religions impact our modern lives, but none so widely as Greek and Roman. The Greco-Roman pantheon is a family tree. At the top are Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven) who begat Titans Cronus, Oceanus, Hyperion, Coeus, Cronus (Saturn in Roman mythology), Crius, Lapetus and the female Titanides Mnemosyne, Tethys, Theia, Rhea, Phoebe and Themis. The reigning 12 Olympians (aka Immortals) descended from Titans Cronus and Rhea (yes siblings, ick) then overthrew their forebears to rule Olympus.  Do love learning about mythology? Then here are Free Printable Greek Mythology Coloring Pages and Lesson Plans

Free Printable Frankenweenie, Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline Coloring Pages

Tim Burton is an enigmatic director. He's given us some wild rides in fantasy. In 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas gave audiences a whole new vision of Halloween and Christmas. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Jack Skellington gained cult following. Then Tim Burton brought Roald Dahl's children's classic James and the Giant Peach to the screen. In 2005, came another cartoon operatic horror comedy, The Corpse Bride. My personal favorite Tim Burton cartoon is from Neil Gaiman's book "Coraline." Here are printable Tim Burton coloring pages from favorite books.   Free Printable Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline Coloring Pages

9-11 Lesson Plans to Teach Kids About September 11 World Trade Center Attacks

September 11, 2001--dubbed 9/11 for the atrocity of terrorist attacks that occurred -is a day no adult American can forget. But how can we teach children about the World Trade Center, Flight 93 and Pentagon attacks in ways they can understand? How do you explain war and terrorism to kids? How do you commemorate what they never experienced? Here are free lesson plans to help.  9/11 Lesson Plans to Teach Kids About September 11 World Trade Center Attacks - Bubblews