Epiphany party: Three Kings Day Magi activities, Twelfth Night King cake recipes | Examiner.com

Few students look forward to returning to school in January after Christmas vacation. So why not start the New Year with a holiday party? But you just did the holiday season, right? Well, not if you live Europe, South America or some other countries. There, the holiday season has just begun! And it's called Epiphany (or Three Kings Day, Dia de Reyes, Twelfth Night). Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches celebrate Jan. 6 as Three Kings Day when the Magi brought gifts to Baby Jesus. People mistakenly assume the Magi arrived with the shepherds, angels, etc. But the Bible says they came roughly 12 days after Jesus's birth, so Three Kings Day is the Twelfth Night after Christmas.Here's an Epiphany party planner to use for social studies lessons.  Epiphany party: Three Kings Day Magi activities, Twelfth Night King cake recipes

Alphabet Letter Reading Lessons from A-Z

Need some fun summer games to help children practice the alphabet, letters, reading, and phonics? We want children retain what they've, but let's do it the fun way. Here are reading recipes and games using alphabet and letter foods. Here's what you will need:
- Alphabet pasta (available in pasta section)
- Chicken soup broth
- Alpha-Bits cereal
- Letter pretzels
- Letter Cheez-its crackers
- Variety of fruits and vegetables (whole and fresh)
Alpha-veggie (Initial Letter practice) Preschool to kindergarten
Set out a tray of fresh fruits and vegetables
Give each child a bag of letter pretzels, letter Cheez-its or Alpha-Bits
Hold up one fruit or vegetable at a time. If the child has the letter in his bag that matches the first letter of the fruit, he may eat the letter.
Cut each fruit and vegetable into bite sized pieces with letter pretzel or cracker near it. Or make salad from fruit pieces.
Fruit and Vegetable letter list
A-apple, apricot, avocado
B-banana, blueberry, bean, broccoli
C-cucumber, celery, cherry, cabbage, carrot
D-date
E-eggplant, endive
F-fig
G-grape, grapefruit
H-head of lettuce
I-iceberg lettuce
J-(juice from fruit)
K-kiwi, kale
L-lemon, lime, lettuce
M-mango, muskmelon, mushroom
N-nectarine
O-orange, onion
P-pear, pineapple,peach, pepper, potato, pea
Q-quince
R-radish, raspberry, raisin
S-strawberry, star fruit
T-tangerine, tomato
U-ugli fruit
V-vegetable
W-watermelon, wax bean
X-(Hershey's kiss!)
Y-yellow bean
Z-zucchini
Word Wizards (grades 1-5)
Give each child a bag mixed with letter pretzels, letter crackers and Alpha-Bits breakfast cereal.
Set the timer for three minutes.
Child makes as many words as possible with his bag of letters. When finished the Word Wizard makes the treat disappear!
Alphabet Souper (all ages)
Cook alphabet pasta in chicken broth. Add vegetables from Alpha-Veggie game if desired or just let children enjoy the pasta. As they eat the soup children name the letters or make words with the letters in the bowl. You can substitute Campbell's Alphabet Soup if desired.
For more great educational games for family, homeschool and classroom, visit me at www.diyhomeschool.blogspot.com and www.freelessonplans4u.blogspot.com.

Free Printable Father's Day Cards for Students to Make

Hey Teacher! No. this isn't a Pink Floyd shoutout--leave them kids alone (sorry, feeling a little punchy and silly today). Anyway, what this is, is a reminder that Father's Day comes in June right after kids get out of school. So I figured, why not have students make cards for dad (or some other important male in their lives--brother, uncle, grampa, priest, minister, rabbi, friend) as an end-of-school craft? Here are free printables. Homeschoolers and parents, you can use these too! After all, you're stuck with your kids all year (lol)--why not keep them productively busy!  Free Printable Father's Day Cards

5th Grade Graduation Reflections

We just celebrated our youngest daughter's fifth grade graduation. When I wrote this, Michigan fifth graders were exiting elementary school and starting middle school in sixth grade. And that was bad enough. Now it's happening in 4th grade in some schools!



I know, I know you don't have to say it; my husband already has "in our day, there was never any 'graduation' ceremony." But he was more upset that sixth grade (now fifth grade) is too young to begin middle school. I don't know whether I disagree or agree with the ceremony and party thing. I guess I look at it as "smaller stuff" which I choose not to sweat (already have enough of that, thanks). But abut fifth or even sixth graders being too young for middle school, I totally agree. Not because they're immature. It's the age gap I object to. Read on. 5th Grade Graduation Reflections. Picture is me and the young 'un now mostly growed up.

Free Printable Very Hungry Caterpillar Coloring Pages, Crafts, Game, Lessons

Childrens' illustrator Eric Carle is best known for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a little caterpillar eats his way through different foods each day of the week. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is used in preschool and kindergarten classrooms teach and explore caterpillars and butterflies, sequencing and days of the week. Click here for Free Printable Eric Carle Activities from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Free Printable Cinco De Mayo Coloring Pages, 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, and not many Latinos celebrate it outside Puebla. But stateside, we love any excuse to party (ahem, fiesta!). In that spirit, here are free printable coloring pages for Cinco de Mayo. Commemorate the Mexican cultural celebration Cinco de Mayo with free printable crafts, coloring pages and lessons. Use these free printable activities in the classroom, homeschool, 4H, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and church groups. Free Printable Cinco De Mayo and Mexico Coloring Pages

Free Printable Easter Bunny Crafts, Coloring Pages

I'm a good Catholic girl. So Easter, for me, is about the resurrection of Jesus, first and foremost. But I'm not going to lie--I love the secular parts too. Easter baskets, candy, egg decorating, bunnies, baby animals, spring--somehow those things make my celebration of Christ more meaningful. If you enjoy secular Easter, 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 teachers, you'll want these for preschool classroom fun. Free Printable Easter Bunny Crafts for Preschool

Free Printable Poetry Worksheets and Lesson Plans

April is National Poetry Month. Whether you read or write poetry, or both, if you're a homeschooler, teacher, you'll want poetry activities to celebrate. Use these internet links to explore, expand and enjoy poetry more. Perhaps you've always felt an inner nudging to write poems. Maybe you've written some but feel shy sharing it? Wouldn't this be an excellent time to allow your inner poet a little fresh air? I've compiled a selection of poetry resources for you to pack in your writer's toolbox to start your journey. Free Printable Poetry Prompts and Activities

Book Activities from Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Is there anyone who won't be glad to see the back end of winter 2014? Well, don't worry you parents of bored kids, teacher-mama has more children's literature activities. Hands-on lesson plans with story, game, craft and snack. Today's is on "Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?" and "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" by Bill Martin and Eric Carle. Book Activities from Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Free Printable Stone Soup Activities

The legend of "Stone Soup" is timeless. It's been used around Thanksgiving to teach sharing. Stone Soup could easily have been a metaphor for the Native American and pilgrim relationship. The story has been retold many times, notably by Marcia Brown, Ann McGovern and Jon J. Muth. Stone Soup is sacred text in preschool and elementary classrooms. If you are teaching Stone Soup, here are free printable activities. As an educator and homeschooler, I've used "Stone Soup" over the years. Read on  Free Printable 'Stone Soup' Games, Activities and Lesson Plans

Gutentag! Teacher mama coming to you live. I've just started another blog (yes, manic blogger alert). This one is education-centered. Well, so are most of my 55 (blushes) blogs. I've several on lesson plans, one on crafts, one on games, one on preschool, one on special needs. But I decided to create one blog that was a general education collective--like a digital teachers' lounge, or an internet cafe for educators. Plus I had a cool name that was begging to be used. Thus, teacher Apple Bytes was born.

Why should you care what I have to say about education? Well, you certainly don't have to. But I've made a career of it over the last 32ish years. And you might find some interesting tidbits to help. I worked as a Sunday school and VBS teacher starting at age 14. I was a camp counselor in high school. I was a YMCA day camp director. I majored in education, starting in 1982. I earned a teaching certificate in K-8 and special education endorsements in 1986. I taught Montessori, adult education, alternative education, correctional facility classes, ESL, GED, ABE, remedial reading, senior citizens, high school completion, psychology, history and science.

I homeschooled my four kids for 10 years, beginning in 1995. I taught for our homeschool cooperative. I subbed for several years. I wrote and directed four student plays. I volunteer in family theatre, at our local museum and at church. I teach a 1760s dame school for a French voyageur encampment each year. I've written over 1,000 lesson plans, developed curriculum for just about every subject and have been writing about it online since 2004. I've got over 2,000 education-specific pieces of content published.

So stop by and visit. I'll be posting information for parents, teachers, homeschoolers, university education majors, teachers seeking jobs, anyone interested in learning.