June Special Days

Special Days

June 6 D-Day-65th Anniversary-2009
June 6 Teachers' Day Varies by Country
June 7 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 9 Donald Duck Day
June 14 Flag Day
June 19 Juneteenth
June 21 Father's Day
June 21 Summer Begins
June 28 Paul Bunyan Day
National Ice Cream Month
National Tennis Month
National Camping Month
National Safety Month
National Zoo Month

Theme Resources:
http://edhelper.com/June.htm June Theme Units

http://edhelper.com/DailyThemes_June_6.html D-Day Theme Unit

http://www.dday.org/index.php?page=education D-Day Memorial Info

http://edhelper.com/DailyThemes_June_28.html June 28th Theme Unit Paul Bunyan Day

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/monthly-resources/june.htm Bulletin boards, plans, activities, units, resources

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/calendars/june.php Calendar Activities

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/ Themes-World Environment Day-June 5--U.S.Flag Day-June 14

http://www.instructorweb.com/lesson/flagday.asp Flag Day Lesson & History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth Juneteenth History & Info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher%27s_Day Teachers' Day by Countries

http://www.edhelper.com/DailyThemes_June_7.html National Ice Cream Day

http://www.education-world.com/learning/month/june.shtml National Zoo Month and Other June Calendar Themes

www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/summerfun.htm Summer Theme Resources

End-Of-School Year Themes and Resources

http://edhelper.com/end_of_school_year.htm End of School Theme Unit

http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/holidays/endofyear/ End of School Year Theme Unit

http://www.edhelper.com/Teacher_Appreciation_Day.htm Teacher Appreciation Theme

http://www.teachingheart.net/endoftheyearpage.html Year Ending Theme Unit

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/EndSchool.htm Lessons & Ideas

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=264 End of Year Wrap-Ups

http://www.teachersnetwork.org/NTNY/nychelp/Literacy_Management/endofterm.htm Procedures

http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/saygoodjob.html Say Good Job 50 Ways

http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/ Teaching Tips

http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/reportcardcommentselementary.html Report Card Comments

http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/lastdayofschool.html Tips Last Day

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/end-of-year/index.htm Activities

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/endofyear.html End of School Year Resources

http://www.thevirtualvine.com/May-Summer.html Everything for End of School

http://www.pre-kpages.com/endofyear.html Books & More Ideas

http://www.theeducatorsnetwork.com/main/units/endofyear.htm End of Year Resources

http://www.teachnet.com/lesson/art/tshirts052199.html Custom T-Shirts

http://www.billybear4kids.com/graduation/memory/book.html School Is Cool Memory Book

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/books/schoolmemory/ Memory Book

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/templates/template_memorypage.pdf Memory Page

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems56.html Poems & Songs

http://www.littlegiraffes.com/graduation.html Ideas & Poems

http://webclipart.about.com/od/msubgradaa/Graduation_Clip_Art_Links.htm Clipart

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/graduation/mgradposter.html Posters

http://www.abcteach.com/MonthtoMonth/poster.htm Blank Poster

http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/End_of_the_Year/ Theme Resources

http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/endofyear/052498.html Ideas

http://www.abcteach.com/Extras/studentcard.htm Card to Copy

http://www.hummingbirded.com/end-of-year.html Letter to Parents & Poems

http://www.teachnet.com/how-to/endofyear/certificates060399.html Certificates

http://atozteacherstuff.com/printables/cat_endyear.shtml Poems & Recipes

http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/graduation/a/gradparty.htm# Parties

http://www.allthedaze.com/summer1.html Games, Survival Kits, Awards, Ideas

http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/end_of_the_year_and_summer_activ.htm Resources

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson184.shtml Lesson Plans

http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/endofyear.htm Resources

Inspiring Quote:“Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another.”— Marva Collins

Top 10 Teaching Tips--Last Day of School

Top 10 Tips for Teaching on the Last Day of School

For many teachers, the last day of school can be worse than the first. All of the worksheets are done, grading is finished, and the students are anxious to start their summer vacations. Any hope of getting in a last-minute lesson is dashed when you see your students' anxious glances at the clock. However, there are still some things that you can do to fill the time until that final bell rings.

1. Write letters: You can ask your students to each write a note to students who will be incoming in the fall. Have them talk about their favorite class activities, share jokes, or give new students important information for surviving the school year. You may gain some insights on your teaching style, and you can always use the letters as icebreakers the next school year.

2. Make some memories: Make some memories by creating class memory books that are easy. You can create simple printable worksheets for students to complete and staple together as a book. Have them write down favorite memories, draw pictures of the classroom, and sign autographs for each other. If you have time, you could even include a class picture on the cover.

3. Take out the trash: Quite literally! You can use the boundless energy that the students have to take down posters, scrub desks, shred old homeschool worksheets, or pack up books. To avoid the groans, consider making it a game or a race - divide the class into teams and see which team can complete its tasks first to win a prize.

4. Ad lib for laughs: Develop a list of silly topics, one for each child, and put them in a jar. Have each student pull a topic and give them a minute or two before calling them up. Encourage the students to get creative with fun topics like "what would you do if you were the president" or "convince us to buy your shoes."

5. Get outside: After all, your kids would rather be outdoors. Try some fun outdoor games that require teamwork, like relay races or water balloon tosses. It will allow your students to burn up some energy without tearing your classroom to pieces.

6. Play learning games: If your classroom is stocked with a variety of educational games, now is a good time to pull them out for entertainment. Organize game centers around the classroom and allow students to pick which ones they would like. Set a timer and have groups rotate from one activity to another periodically.

7. Focus on the future: Elementary school students in particular will enjoy imagining what the next grade will be like. Have them write an essay or draw a picture to share with the class. Or you can have students share their plans for the upcoming summer vacations.

8. Spelling Bee: Pull out all your spelling teacher worksheets from the entire year, and hold a class spelling bee. It will be an enjoyable way to spend time and refresh students' memories. Older children may enjoy a Jeopardy-style game involving facts that they learned throughout the year.

9. Say something nice: Pin or tape a thick sheet of paper to every child's back. Have students go around the classroom and write something nice on the back of their peers. If this is too rambunctious for your classroom, have your students make autograph books that can be passed from row to row and filled out by their peers.

10. Say thank you: Teach your kids to show their appreciation. Have them write thank you cards for their favorite school staff. This can be parent volunteers, the principal, even the janitor or the food service workers.

Taken from http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/lastdayofschool.html
More Resources at http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/endofyear.htm

Autographs & Summer Books

A New Look at Autographs

Many teachers at all grade levels use autograph books as a way to end the school year. Students sign yearbooks, self-published materials, and other kinds of materials. In the 1880s, autograph books had a different format. Seeing this format from the past can give your students new ideas on how to make autograph sessions more meaningful to both the author and the recipient. The site adds value to classes in history and writing. It also gives students a new perspective on the concept of autographs.

To see the html version of an 1880s autograph book, go to http://www.laurasnyctales.com/book/intro.html

Summer Books for Students

As the year winds down, students make plans for the summer, just like you do. Research shows that students lose ground during the summer months. Some research indicates that the drop will be lessened or eliminated if a young student reads just eight books during the summer. These next few weeks are a perfect time to promote summer reading to your students. Here are a few ideas from the International Reading Association:
Make sure students have library cards. If a field trip to the library isn’t feasible, consider bringing the public librarian to your classroom to help you. A librarian makes a great salesman for summer reading, as well.
Look to local businesses to help cover the cost of books for students. Students are much more likely to read a book that they own.
Have students set a goal to read at least 8 books during the summer.
Rather than reading a single book, use these last “Teacher Read-Aloud Times” to promote several books.
Make parents aware of ways they can help their child keep reading. Reading Rockets offers parents a wealth of suggestions. You can direct them to http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/summer#parent to give them useful information.
Have students develop a written plan for their summer reading.
Taken from: E-newsletter from the Texas State Teachers Association May 2009 http://www.tsta.org/

Hubble Space Telescope

Hubble Space Telescope and NASA Pictures

http://www.cephasministry.com/BlaineHubbleFotos[1][1].pps+Apr+6++2009.pps Great!

http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/videos/powerpoint_presentation_hubble.htm Photos

http://terpsichore.stsci.edu/~summers/writings/hubble/ Hubble Presentations

http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/151124.html Hubble & NASA Pictures

http://hubble.nasa.gov/ History of Hubble Space Telescope

http://www.aerospaceguide.net/hubblespacetelescope.html Great Hubble Facts

http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/ Track It & More Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope Information & Resources

http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/spaceshuttles.htm Space Shuttles & More Resources

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (on May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day .

http://www.usmemorialday.org/ Resources
http://www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/memorialday.htm Theme Resources
http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/holidays/memorialday/ Teaching Theme
http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/memorial.php Theme Unit Resources
http://www.vickiblackwell.com/memorial.html Resources
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/memorial.html Poster Poem Lesson
http://www.freekidcrafts.com/kid_memorial_day_craft_ideas.html Crafts
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/patriotic/ Crafts
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson313.shtml Lessons

Memorial Day lesson plans teach students the history of American wars and promote an understanding of how patriotism and sacrifice have contributed to U.S. freedom and liberty.Read more: "Memorial Day History Lessons: Student Activities to Commemorate America's Fallen Soldiers Suite101.com" -

http://curriculalessons.suite101.com/article.cfm/memorial_day_history_lesson

International Missing Children's Day

International Missing Children's Day is May 25th, 2009.

The main purpose of the International Missing Children’s Day is to encourage people to think about all the children who have been reported missing around the world and to spread a message of hope and solidarity on an international scale to parents without any news of their children and who do not know where their child is or what has become of him/her. The banners there show just a small number of missing children. If you can also spare the time to visit http://www.humpherlinks.co.uk/directory/Missing_Kids/index.html you can check out even more official sites round the world. These sites and the children they try to help need your help. You, or someone you know, my be the one person to help a child in need.Thank you.
http://www.humpherlinks.co.uk/missingkids.html
Copyright ©Larry Humphreys 2008 - 2009
The ring manager of Schoolhouse WebRing ring sent me this message to share with others.

Armed Forces Day May 3rd Saturday

Armed Forces Day

Here is what The World Book Encyclopedia says:
"The third Saturday of the month is Armed Forces Day, when the United States honors the men and women of the military services. In 1950, the Armed Forces Day celebration combined the Army, Navy, and Air Force tributes, which had been held at separate times.

Armed Forces Day honors all branches of the armed forces of the United States. It is celebrated on the third Saturday of May with military exercises on land, at sea, and in the air. Military installations are usually open to the public on Armed Forces Day. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed Armed Forces Day, and it was first celebrated in May 1950. It replaced three separate celebrations for the Air Force, Army, and Navy. James V. Forrestal, the first secretary of defense, helped unite the armed services under the Department of Defense after World War II ended in 1945."

http://www.annieshomepage.com/armedforcesday.html Armed Forces Day

http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/ Poster 2009

http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/military/history.html History

http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/afd.htm Info

http://www.defenselink.mil/ US Dept. of Defense

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Day Info All Countries

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/veterans/ Crafts

http://www.suelebeau.com/military.htm Military Resources

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/armed-forces-day/poems-rhymes/ Poems

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/armedforcesday.htm Resources

National Train Day May 9

National Train Day May 9


http://www.nationaltrainday.com/2009/events National Train Day May 9-10

http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/09/happy-national-train-day/ Blog National Train Day Info

http://www.kinderplans.com/content.cfm?pageid=142 Transportation Theme Unit Lessons

http://www.teachingheart.net/polar.html Train Theme Unit

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSMDOTransportationUnitK.htm Lessons

http://www.oli.org/education_resources/lesson_plans_k-5.htm Trains Lessons K-5

http://www.marcias-lesson-links.com/polarexpress.html Polar Express Trains

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/candytrain/ Candy Train Craft

http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/miscellaneous/712-train-activity-theme.html?start=4 Songs & Poems

http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/miscellaneous/712-train-activity-theme.html?start=1 Arts & Crafts

http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/miscellaneous/712-train-activity-theme.html?showall=1 Games & Act.

http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/winter/trainride.htm Winter Train Ride

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/trains/books.php Books

BOOKS & RESOURCES:

The Caboose Got Loose by Bill Peet

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Train Song by Diane Siebert

The Little Engine That Could

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/transportation.htm Transportation

Mother's Day

Since 1914 -- when Mother's Day was first celebrated as a national holiday in the United States -- the second Sunday in May has always been a special day for children and their mothers. Mother's Day is celebrated in many countries. The day is used by children and husbands to honor mothers and grandmothers for all that they do in raising children.
In the United States, Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (famous for writing the words to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"). But it was a woman who was never a mother herself who led the campaign for national recognition of Mother's Day. Anna Jarvis held a ceremony in 1907 in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her mother, who had died two years earlier. Jarvis' mother had tried to establish Mother's Friendship Day. Mother's Day continues to be a very commercial holiday in the United States. Flowers, candy and cards are typical gifts, and phone traffic is especially high on the second Sunday in May.
Taken from: http://www.howstuffworks.com/question634.htm

Learn about the history of Mother's Day, how to say mother in various languages, jokes, quotes, poetry, gift ideas, recipes, craft ideas, and more. Have students consider some simple gifts of time they can give to Mom on her special day. These sites are good ones to search for quick and easy ideas to celebrate Mother's Day and pay tribute to her.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/holiday/mothers.cfm Crafts, Gifts
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson263.shtml Lessons, Gifts, Coupons
http://www.dcrafts.com/motherday.htm Resources
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/mothers-day/index.html Crafts, Gifts
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson263.shtml Lessons, Gifts, Coupons, More Ideas
http://www.dcrafts.com/motherday.htm Poems, Crafts, Gifts
http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/mothersday.htm Resources

Cinco De Mayo May 5

The World Book Encyclopedia

"Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, won the battle even though the French force was better armed and three times as large. The battle occurred after Emperor Napoleon III of France sent troops to Mexico to conquer the country. Despite the Mexican victory at Puebla, the French later gained control of Mexico City and established a French-supported government there. In 1866 and 1867, however, France withdrew its troops from Mexico because of resistance by many Mexicans and pressure from the United States. The French-backed government soon fell. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated differently in different areas. For example, in Mexico, it may be observed with parades, festivals, music, and dancing. In the United States, celebrations often include parades, folk dancing, speeches, carnival rides, and Mexican music."

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/cinco

Resources:
http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/holidays/cincodemayo/ Theme Resources

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/cincodemayo.shtml Cinco de Mayo Theme Page

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/holidays/cincodemayo1.htm History

http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo Cinco de Mayo History

http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/ys/CRAFTS/Papflowr.htm How To Paper Flowers

http://www.dltk-kids.com/World/mexico/index.htm Mexican Act. for Kids

http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/cincodemayo.php Theme Resources

http://holidays.kaboose.com/cinco-party.html Games and Activties

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/espinoza/projects/557-044/gunnels/wq.html WebQuest Gr. 3 Soc. St.

http://fc.bigwalnut.k12.oh.us/~Laura_Laidley/cincodemayo.htm Webquest Gr. 8

http://www.annieshomepage.com/cincodemayo.html Annie's Page of Resources

http://www.preschooleducation.com/scinco.shtml Songs

http://stepbystepcc.com/holidays/cincodemayo.html Theme Unit

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/cinco-de-mayo/wordfinds/cinco-de-mayo-wordsearch.html Word Search

http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-S2000/Love/index.htm Mexico Geography Lesson Gr. 5

http://www.lessonplanet.com/curriculum_connections/math_lesson_plans/16_March_2009/11/cinco_de_mayo_lessons_with_la_vida Lessons
http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/cincodemayo.htm Theme Resources

Teacher Appreciation 1st Week of May

Teacher Appreciation Day in the U.S. is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first full week in May. In 1985, The National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. Additionally, UNESCO inaugurated October 5 as World Teachers Day, although in the USA, Teacher Appreciation Week is typically celebrated on the above May dates. Teachers will appreciate all your efforts at any time of the year! Expressing your gratitude for all they do is especially meaningful during Teacher Appreciation Week and on Teacher Appreciation Day each year. Thank you all for making our learning experiences positive and for showing love, humor and compassion. A quick "thank you" note or email takes a moment to write and send but the pleasure it gives is enormous. Taken from http://www.rexanne.com/teach-app.html Rexanne's Teacher Appreciation Page.

Check out some ideas you can use to show special teachers just how much they mean to you and others and see the teacher appreciation activities about Teachers’ Day in other countries.
http://www.nea.org/teacherday/index.html NEA National Teacher Day

http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/ Teacher Appreciation Info

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/03/26/more-teacher-appreciation-ideas/ Great Ideas

http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/Quotations_on_teaching/ Quotes

http://www.quotegarden.com/teacher-apprec.html Quotes

http://www.dltk-kids.com/school/poems_for_teachers.htm Poems

http://www.poemsource.com/teacher-poems.html Poems

http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/blog/ Blog Teacher Appreciation Ideas

http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/learn/activities/feature/teachers/teachers.html Suggestions

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/crafts/msg0113333732091.html Suggestions & Ideas

http://www.sugardoodle.net/Teacher%20Appreciation%20Ideas/index.shtml Ideas & Info

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin308.shtml Teacher Appreciation Files

http://www.annieshomepage.com/teacherday.html Teacher Day

http://www.thevirtualvine.com/applesfortheteacher.html Apples for the Teacher

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/teacher_appreciation.htm Ideas

http://geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass/teacheappreciationowl.htm Ideas and Suggestions