Cute and simple owl craft

Rachel from I Heart Crafty Things shared this fun owl craft that would be a cute compliment to any owl-themed classroom or as a follow-up activity to reading the book The Little White Owl.

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I love that they use simple supplies: paper plates, paint, and scrap paper. I even have all of that stuff at home right now. Are they not just the cutest things?! These might be popping up at my house this week ;)

Check out my list of fun ways to decorate an owl-inspired classroom.

Have you used a theme to decorate your classroom?

Star Classroom Theme

Planning a star theme? Let us help! Here are some great ideas and resources for your classroom.

(source)

Fun Ideas

1. Super Star Incentive Punch Cards. Use these punch cards I talked about here to rewards students for completing their classroom job, doing well on a test, turning in assignment, etc. Use these cute star hole punchers to make this idea even more fun!

2. Get a star named after your class from the Star Registry. It can be called Mr.Mrs.'s _____ Shining Stars. Let your kids know each year about 'their' star. Have them give their star a nickname. Incorporate the Class Star into writing assignment ("describe a trip you took to our star" or "what would you wish upon OUR star?"), math problems ("Our star has five star friends and two of them went on vacation. How many star friends are left?"), and of course, science lessons. 

3. Shooting Star Club. Have students earn their way into the club each month by achieving a goal you set for them (certain number of AR book points, 100% turned in homework, A on all your spelling tests, etc). Treat the Shining Star Club members to a special reward each month. Check out this list of free and easy rewards to use in your classroom for some ideas.

Classroom Labels

• On your door: "Welcome to Mrs./Mr.______'s Galaxy! See all the shining stars here: [put up student's names written on stars]."
• Reading / Circle Time Area: The Milky Way
• Teacher's Desk: Queen/King of the Stars: Mrs./Mr. _______
• Sink: Star Washing Station. Keep those sparkles shining!
• Coat Closet: Space Suit Storage

Gadgets and Goodies

Birthday Badges

Star Rug

Stickers

Star Lights:

Desk Name Tags:

Paper for Teacher Letters:

(Use for open house!)

Bulletin Board Ideas

1. Welcome to Class: "Look at all our shining stars!" or "Best Stars in the Galaxy!" or "Look at all the shining stars in Mrs./Mr._______'s Solar System!"


2. Display Student Work: Cover your bulletin board with dark blue or black paper. Use tons of small, metallic star stickers to create a solar system look- or use this fun nighttime bulletin board paper. Label the board "Look at our Super Star work!" Write one student's name on a star cut-out (like these) and staple those stars on the board. Use pushpins to display a good piece of work by each student's star. (Bonus: Use these star pins!)

3. Job Chart: Write jobs on cut-outs of clouds. Display them on the job chart board. Write each student's name on a cut-out star. Use a pushpin to attach the student's star to the job they were assigned. Fun bonus: Use these punch cards I talked about here to rewards students for completing their classroom job. I used this idea in my own classroom and it worked wonders in keeping our room running smoothly. 

Bulletin Board Sets & Borders       

Bulletin Board Paper:

Bulletin Board Border:

Want some more great ideas? Read more of our great tips on classroom organization and subscribe to my feed so you don't miss any future tips!

Do you have a great star-themed idea? Please be ever-so-kind and share it with us in the comments!

Apple Classroom Theme

Planning an apple theme? Let us help! Here are some great ideas and resources for your classroom.

Fun Ideas

1. Incentive Tree. Create an apple tree in a prominent place in your room (can be a stick in a pot or a wall display). purchase little apple ornaments or cut out paper ones. When you observe your class exhibiting good behavior, hang an apple on the tree. When the tree is full, reward them with a class prize. Here are some free and easy rewards you could use.

2. Have an 'Apple a Day' Student. Make a poster that says: "This apple-a-day earned a big fat 'ole A!" Choose a different example of A+ student work to display on this poster each day to encourage students to strive for outstanding work.

3. Apple Tree Book Club. Have each student color an empty tree on a sheet of paper. Using cut-outs of apples or apple stickers, write the name of a book on each one as the students finish reading it (and pass the AR test if you school is involved in that). Students can place their apples on their tree and earn a reward when they've filled their tree up.

Classroom Labels

• On your door: "Welcome to Mr./Mrs. _______'s Apple Farm!"
• Reading / Circle Time Area: The Apple Orchard
• Teacher's Desk: Famer _______________'s Apple Stand
• Sink: Apple Cleaning Area
• Coat Closet: The Apple Barn

Gadgets and Goodies

Apple Wall Decals 

Apple Rug

Stickers

Apple Glow Lamp:

Desk Name Tags:

Paper for Teacher Letters:

(Use for open house!)

Bulletin Board Ideas

1. Welcome to Class:

     "I've got the best apples in the bunch!"

2. Display Student Work: Create a large tree on a wall or board (or use this one). Cut out apples or use these and place them on your tree. On each apple, write a student's name. Use pushpins to display a good piece of work by each student's apple. Title: "A+ Apples!"

3. Job Chart: Write jobs on cut-outs of apple baskets. Display them on the job chart board. Write each student's name on a cut-out apple Place the apples in the job basket that that student was assigned too.


Bulletin Board Sets & Borders       

Want some more great ideas? Read more of our great tips on classroom organization and subscribe to my feed so you don't miss any future tips!

Do you have a great apple-themed idea? Please be ever-so-kind and share it with us in the comments!

Monkey Classroom Theme

Planning a monkey theme? Let us help! Here are some great ideas and resources for your classroom.

(source)

Fun Ideas

1. Have a M-O-N-K-E-Y M-U-N-C-H Lunch: Give students a card with the letters spelling out 'Monkey Munch.' have them cross of a letter for each mis-behavior. If they still have the letters to MUNCH left by the end of the week, they can eat in the classroom during their regular lunch time. A teacher and I did something similar to this for Accelerated Reading points- we teamed up and switched off who stayed in the cafeteria and who stayed in the room. (This idea is similar to the Friday Recess behavior management program that worked like magic in my class.)

2. Open House Craft: Have students create a monkey face on the back of a plate and place their face on their desk over their name tag. When parents come to visit, see if they can guess which one is their little monkey.

3. Tie monkeys into the entire year. If you are studying habitats, make sure to study where a monkey lives. If you study adjective, use them to describe a monkey. If you are practicing addition, add up how many monkeys there are. 

Classroom Labels

• Carpet / Circle Time Area: Monkey Meeting
• Teacher's Desk: Mr./Mrs. __________, King of the Jungle
• Sink: Banana Bay
• Over the door: It's a Jungle In Here!

Gadgets and Goodies

Alphabet Chart:

Rug:

Stickers

Lamp:

Storage Bin:

Wall Decal:

Desk Name Tags:

Paper for Teacher Letters:

(Use for open house!)

Bulletin Board Ideas

1. Welcome to Class:

     "It's a jungle in here!"

     "Look who's monkeying around this year!"

     "What a great bunch of kids!" (banana tree with a monkey)

2. Student of the Week (or Month): Create a board that is themed around the 'Monkey of the Month.' Place a monkey cut-out on the board, but leave a blank space over the face where you can place a picture of the student's face who is being displayed. Clutter Free Classroom has great idea for a Student of the Week board:

3. Job Chart: Write jobs on monkey cut-outs. Display them on the job chart board. Write each student's name on a cut-out banana and stick a velcro dot to the back (the 'soft dots'). Stick another dot on the monkey's hand (the 'rough dots').  Stick the name of the student to the job they have been assigned so that the monkeys are holding the bananas.


Bulletin Board Sets & Borders       

Want some more great ideas? Visit my Classroom Theme Pinterest board.

Do you have a great monkey-themed idea? Please be ever-so-kind and share it with us in the comments!