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

Free Printable Murder Mystery Games, Detective Games

Do you love murder mysteries? Read detective novels? Do you love gathering clues, analyzing data, questioning suspects? If you love playing detective check out these links for free printable murder mystery downloads. Perfect for your next murder mystery weekend party!

Great educational activities for classroom and homeschool. Murder mystery and detective games help students learn problem-solving, deductive and inductive reasoning, distinguishing fact from opinion, categorizing details, gathering data, research and much more.   Click for murder mystery games and murder mystery party printables. For more free printable activities and free, safe online games visit me at www.freesafekidsgames.blogspot.com. Happy Sleuthing.

Free Printable Magic Tricks, Magician Themed Birthday Party Printables

Hey kids! Do you like to play tricks on people? Are you an aspiring magician? Would you like free printable magic tricks to show your audience? Maybe you'd like to have a magic themed birthday party? Here are free printable magic tricks and sleight- of-hand how-to demonstrations for my budding illusionist readers. Free Printable Magic Tricks, Magician Themed Birthday Party Printables

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