Free Printable Apple Themed Lesson Plans

Apples are a common theme for preschool and elementary school students. Teachers and homeschoolers, are you teaching a unit on apples? Have I got a great sweet treat for you: 166 pages of free printable apple themed lesson plans. Games, crafts and activities. Free Printable Apple Themed Lesson Plans for Preschool and Elementary School

Free Printable Educational Card Games and Board Games

Card games and board games are an excellent teaching tool. They're are interactive and hands-on. Children practice many skills when playing card or board games. They learn to count, add, subtract, prioritize, plan, organize, sort, coordinate and evaluate. Card games can be created to teach content area and subject matter and help students memorize information. I remember teaching and homeschooling before Internet and computers. I made dozens of card games for students. That's pretty labor intensive, With the Internet we have access to free printable activities to use as lesson plans. This saves time and money. Simply print, laminate and cut apart. Here are links for free printable card games.


The Kidz Page There are free printable word games, math games, sudoku games and lots of other educational learning games. They are brightly colored, cheerful games.
Planet Pals has a free printable animal matching card game. You can play this game as a regular card game also, finding pairs and sets.
Print Games has several cute card games. Some are styled on vintage card games. There are board games to print also. These make excellent family games and party games.
Mom's Minivan has a great assortment of free printable travel and car games. There are bingo games, Battleships games, matching games, cootie catchers, connect the dot games and more.
Mom's View has a nice assortment of educational games, math, geometry matching and more. There are free printable game tokens, playing pieces and dice.

Altogether there are 100+  free printable games for classroom, homeschool or family fun. Follow instructions carefully to be sure you print the right number of game sheets. Making printable games has the added benefit of being a craft project for kids. I recommend you print a paper copy of the cards, game pieces and game boards. Then use copier to print the game onto card stock. Laminate the entire sheet before you cut out the pieces. Save printing ink by setting printer preferences to economy and black and white setting. Have kids color games--now you have cut and paste craft, coloring activity and game! Better and better!
For more free printable activities, visit my blog Free Coloring Pages 4u.
For free printable lesson plans visit me at www.freeprintablelessonplans.blogspot.com . Happy printing!

Free Printable Educational Cut and Paste Crafts and Games

Summer is an excellent time to explore the wonderful world of free printable projects and activities. Cut and paste activities are perfect for day care, kids at home, road trips, rainy day fun and summer craft camps. During the summer, teachers and homeschoolers have an opportunity to make educational games and activities for their classrooms. Free printable activities are the perfect resource for educational games. Free Printable Educational Cut and Paste Projects and Activities

Make Free Printable Spider-Man Coloring Pages into Learning Games

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opened May 2, 2014 in U.S. movie theaters. Are you a fan of Spider-Man? Then you'll want these free printable Spidey coloring pages. Actually, you can print any DC or Marvel superhero coloring pages from this link. You can find Barbie, Disney, PBS, Looney Tunes characters too! Make coloring pages into learning games. Print small images. Color. Attach to index cards and label. Use them to help kids learn to read. Write lists of associated words on the back For Spider-Man, you might use: spider, arachnid, insect, bug, super, hero, fly, web, city, save. Free Printable Spider-Man Coloring Pages

Homemade Story Dice for Writing Prompts Games

Here's a creative writing game I designed with students. Story Prompts dice. It's a mashup of Magnetic Poetry and a Chicken Soup for the Soul Game. Make 6 paper cubes (basic box pattern). Draw a cross of six equal sized squares, four long and one on each side, second down. Fold four long into a box. Fold in the two side flaps as top and bottom. Tape. Here's a printable template if you need it.  Homemade Story Dice to Encourage Outside the Box Thinking

Harry the Dirty Dog Game, Craft, Snack, Printables

Are your kids going winter stir-crazy? Too cold to play outside long. Snow too deep for little one. Well, you need a craft afternoon. I learned as a teacher/homeschool mom to make lesson plans hands-on. So my craft parties include an interactive story and snack and lots of free printable book-based activities.
One of my husband's favorite children's literature characters is Harry the Dog, created by Gene Zion and drawn by Margaret Bloy Graham. My mom described a yarn bush she made for the birds and it reminded me of Harry. Here are activities based on "No Roses for Harry."   No Roses for Harry Recycled Yarn Craft, Snack, Printables

Apple-Themed Games and Hands-On Activities

Apples are the perfect theme for fall lessons. They fit with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Here are educational apple games in science, art, creative writing, math, social studies, practical life. I've added free printable apple-themed lesson plans and worksheets for activity extenders.  Preschool Apple Unit, Cross-Curricular Hands-on Crafts, Activities, Recipe

Free Educational Games, Websites, Printables for Children

 Last week, the American Library Association observed Banned Books Week. Not celebrated--the ALA recognizes the impact to the reading public when books are challenged. And it hopes to educate people on the essence of allowing all books to have a place on the shelf.

The ALA is a celebrating a milestone in children's literature too. It's the 75th anniversary of the prestigious Caldecott Award for best illustrations in kids' lit. And the ALA in its Association for Library Service to Children, has compiled a comprehensive collection of educational websites for kids. Games, crafts, reference, coloring, puzzles and more.  Free Educational Websites, Printable Learning Games For Kids

Throw a back-to-school bash with games, crafts for kids

Labor Day is a bittersweet holiday. It's a time of summer endings and fall beginnings. Why not start the school year off on a fun note with a back-to-school party? Here's an easy and cheap kids' party plan for students in preschool to middle elementary.

* Choose a positive theme. This gets kids excited about school. Make it a shoe theme with the slogan "We're putting our best foot forward." Or do a football theme--"Kicking off a great year." Get your creative groove going and involve kids. Here's more on crafts, food, activities and games. Perfect for home-school and public school and parochial school kids! Throw a back-to-school bash for your kids

Free Summer Reading Activities, Book Crafts, Literature Games

Summertime and da livin' is easy! Kids rejoice when released from school for vacation. But what about learning lags from too much time away from books? Here are reading activities and book-based crafts and literature response lessons. Use these games and activities for back-to-school kickoff events, too! Free Reading Activities, Book Crafts, Literature Games

Hands-On Homemade Reading Crafts, Book Activities, Literature Games

Homeschoolers, need cheap, homemade language arts lesson plans? Special needs teachers, want interactive reading games? Here are hands-on reading activities for preschool to high school. Use cheap, recycled materials. Lessons are based on HOTS (Higher-Order Thinking Skills): analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation. Games, interactive lessons, multisensory activities--perfect for ages preschool through high school with modifications. Hands-On Homemade Reading Crafts, Book Activities, Literature Games

Homemade Reading Crafts, Book Activities, Literature Games

Homeschoolers, need cheap, homemade language arts lesson plans? Special needs teachers, want interactive reading games? Here are hands-on reading activities for preschool to high school. Use cheap, recycled materials. Lessons are based on HOTS (Higher-Order Thinking Skills): analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation.
Hands-On Homemade Reading Crafts, Book Activities, Literature Games

Reading Language Arts Games Using Cartoons and Graphic Novels

Years ago, I made a file folder game that has traveled with me to elementary, middle school, special education, adult education and homeschool classrooms. This language arts- reading game uses cartoons, comic strips and graphic novels. I call this game Cartoon Cut-Ups.  Laminate colored comics from Sunday newspaper cartoon section, then cut comic strip into individual frames (usually six to eight).  Write cartoon name number order on the back of each piece in permanent marker. Place frame pieces in envelope (label envelope with name). The object of the game is to reassemble the mixed-up cartoon frames back in their original order so that the cartoon makes sense. Graphic novels work well also, but generally have more frames. Assembling a graphic novel cartoon will be more challenging. Here's more on this game. Reading Language Arts Games Using Cartoons and Graphic Novels

Free Educational Board Games to Print

I've got a thing about making learning fun. My heart goes out to kids when homework is boring and worksheets rote and repetitive. It's become my magnum opus to find or make activities that students will learn from and enjoy. I guarantee, that when concepts are made interesting and lessons interactive and hands-on, teachers have fewer discipline problems. I began teaching in 1985 and homeschooling in 1995. We didn't have the wealth of materials available online. Oh ye of the internet generation, take advantage of those resources. Here are links for free printable games to teach just about any content imaginable, from alphabet to zoology! These games are suited to preschool, kindergarten, early elementary and special education. My CI students adored bingo, matching, and file folder games like these! Get double fun making craft-games. Print and let kids cut, color, paste and assemble. Two lessons in one! To get them, click  Free Printable Preschool Board Games, Learning Activities

Free Printable Rainbow Magic Fairy Crafts, Games

"Rainbow Magic" is a series of books from the UK, about fairies, created by a collection of authors writing under the pseudonym "Daisy Meadows." Rainbow Magic is illustrated by Georgie Ripper. There are several dozens stories. Here are free printable fairy crafts from Rainbow Magic. Rainbow Fairies Crafts, Printables

Choosing Best Kids' Toys and Christmas Presents

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is buying gifts for kids. I love choosing toys, but I'm very picky. I demand that toy gifts I buy have some intrinsic educational value. And there are a lot of junk toys on the market. How do you wade through the chaff to find the best gifts for kids? Focus on interactive, active and hands-on. Avoid anything with a screen and battery! Here's the complete guide from a 25-year veteran teacher and 24-year mom of four.  Read more

Free Printable Apple Activities, Apple Games for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans

Apples are a popular theme for fall lesson plans, especially for preschool lessons. Looking for apple activities? Have I got a great sweet treat for you--a plethora of free printable apple-themed fun. This booklet includes apple math activities, science puzzles, social studies lessons and history extensions. There are printable creative writing prompts, word games and more. Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans 

Free Printable Hunger Games Book, Movie Activities

It's an understatement to say that "The Hunger Games" book trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, has taken the world by storm. "The Hunger Games" movie blasted to top spot when it came out in March. The saga continues in "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" which don't stay long on book shelves. Planning to teach a unit on "The Hunger Games" books or movie? Why not incorporate these free printable activities and host a Hunger Games party or simulation. Here are free printable lesson plans and activities for several different content areas. As for age level, the movie is acceptable for most ages, but the books are a bit graphic. I recommend using "The Hunger Games" series with kids over 12. Read on Free Printable Hunger Games Lesson Plans

Best Free Online Spelling, Vocabulary Games to Boost Reading Skills

Looking for free online reading games and spelling activities? I'll share links, but you have to promise not to tell anyone about my secret. See, I have a confession to make--I love online word games. For all the articles I write warning parents and kids about the dangers of obsessive game playing, I should be the last one to fall prey to online gaming. But I admit there are advantages. Playing word games helps boost my visual tracking, perceptual acuity and typing skills (or so I tell myself). Mostly, I use them as a brain break from writing and research. For  great reading games (for kids and adults) click here Best Free Online Spelling, Vocabulary Games to Boost Reading Skills

Free Printable Brave Games, Coloring Activities

Looking for a new Disney princess that's not quite as sugar-coated as the standard fare? Why not check out Merida from Disney's newest Pixar release "Brave?" Merida is definitely no Cinderella. She's more akin to Lady Macbeth (minus that nasty business of murder) that Sleeping Beauty. If you liked the movie "Brave," which premiered on June 10, 2012, you'll want these free printables, reading games and coloring pages and activities from the film.  Free Printable Brave Movie Games, Coloring Activities