HAPPY DECEMBER!!!!!!
The holiday bug has officially bitten me and I am counting down the days until Christmas back east with the family! This will be the first year that Parks and I are spending the holiday together 🙂
We have 3 more weeks at school and I have my schedule jam-packed with fun, holiday activities to keep my students engaged and learning! Last year, I created a “stocking stuffer” class activity that I did to spread the holiday cheer before we went off to break. This year, my group of students reallllllyyyyy need some community-building so I spruced it up a little bit and turned it into a freebie for you!
Essentially students create this quick n’ easy stocking craft:
I put a little envelope under each stocking and hang these up on the wall right outside our classroom. Over the next few weeks, my students will use free time (Daily 5 – work on writing??? or those extra few minutes before/after lunch) and write one another notes! We secretly put them in the envelopes and I make sure the students know they aren’t allowed to read their notes until right before break! Of course, I write them each a cheerful note and put in their envelope so they can remember how much Ms. Moran appreciates them as well.
🙂
I encourage each student to try and write a note for every.single.classmate before the break gets here. When we have our holiday party, we take our stockings off the wall and read our lovely notes! It is a such a fun, *feel-good* activity to remember how much we appreciate each other before the holidays!
I hope you enjoy the freebie and the next few weeks of fun before your break!
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Love the freebie! Thank you so much. Classroom community is so important.
Tania
My Second Sense
You are welcome, Tania! It is so important and my kids need it more than ever this year…. I hope this helps!!!
Thanks for the freebie! What a great way to make writing fun and spread good cheer. I am hoping you might be able to squeeze one more project into this busy month. I am new to blogging and am trying to organize a Winter Wonderland Exchange Project with teachers from all over the country. I am hoping you will consider joining the fun. Please head over to fristgradecarousel.blogspot.com for more info. Thanks, Maria
You are welcome, Maria! I am stopping by now!
I love this idea!
Thanks Nina!
I started this activity today. I also wrote a shout out about you on my blog…because I love your holiday cheer with a stocking!!
Lovely Little Learners
What a great idea!! I love it!
Aimee
Primarily Speaking
Thanks, Aimee!
We also really need community building this year…so we will be doing this starting Monday!
I hope it helps Suzy! I am hoping it works some wonders in my class!
Susan I LOVE this! So creative and what a thoughtful idea for this time of year! Thanks so much for sharing!
Karyn
A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net
You are very welcome, Karyn! I am so glad you like it 🙂
Super cute!! I can't wait to try this!! 🙂
Lisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
Thanks Lisa! Hope your kids like it 🙂
Thank you for the great freebie! My kiddos have been wanting to write notes – this will be perfect!
Looks like you came by at just the right time!! I hope they love it!
What a cute idea! I have a student who doesn't celebrate holidays this year. Hmm . . . how could I alter the activity so he could participate? Maybe a snowflake or mailbox for him.
What i have learned
My friend, Denise, over at "Sunny Days in 2nd Grade" thought to print some stockings on blue construction paper for your Hanukkah friends! A snowflake or mailbox would work great too!
What a terrific freebie! Thank you for sharing this at TBA, have a wonderful week!
~Fern
Fern Smith’s Classroom Ideas!
Fern Smith’s Pinterest Boards!
Thanks Fern, I love linking up with TBA!
You are fabulous for sharing this! What a perfect time of the year for teaching kindness and compassion 🙂
Jessica
Littlest Scholars is having a holiday giveaway!
Jessica, you are fabulous for leaving that sweet comment 🙂 I was feeling the holiday spirit!
Fun! Love this idea!
Megan
Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade
Mrs. Wheeler TpT
Thanks, Megan!
Thank you so much for sharing! What a great way to combine two critical skills in the life of a growing child: writing and kindness. Can't wait to build community with this activity 🙂
Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade
I hope it helps in your classroom! Thanks for stopping by Lindsay!
Sweet idea! Thank you!
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
You are very welcome Teri!
Thank you for this! It's definitely something I'll be able to use.
Shibahn
I love this freebie! Thanks SO much!!!
Covered in Glitter and Glue
I love this idea! Saw it over at Sunny Days! I'm having a Secret Snowman gift exchange and the kids can leave little surprises for each other. I think the notes would be perfect! Thanks!
Gina
Beach Sand and Lesson Plans
Thank you so much for this! I saw it at Sunny Days and came here to pick it up! My kids so enjoyed making their stockings, writing notes to each other, anticipating getting them, and today getting their stockings! It was a great community builder for my class! Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas!
I would like this freebie
Super excited to use this with my sweet 6th graders. Extremely ready to build our community even stronger
I love this idea!
This is wonderful, thank you for sharing!
I can’t wait for my students to participate in this activity.
Thank you for the stocking idea – I will be starting this on Monday with my 5th grade class.