Teacher’s Brain

Category: Craft Ideas

4th of July Activities for Elementary Students

Craft Ideas

If you’re teaching this summer, you may be on the hunt for the perfect 4th of July activities for elementary students. Celebrating Independence Day in the classroom provides a wonderful opportunity to combine fun and learning while fostering a sense of patriotism. 

From creative and fun crafts and engaging stories to educational games, these 4th of July activities for kids will help students understand and appreciate the significance of this historic holiday.

4th of July activities

What Can you do to celebrate 4th of July? 

Check out these 4th of July activities for school to teach your students the importance of Independence Day and have a fun classroom celebration! 

Try out a 4th of July Craft: Patriotic Windsock

Create a festive patriotic windsock using red, white, and blue construction paper. Roll the paper into a cylinder, attach streamers to the bottom, and decorate with stars and stripes using stickers, markers, or paint. Add a string hanger at the top, and display the windsock outside to catch the wind and show off its patriotic colors.

Read a 4th of July Book: “The Night Before the Fourth of July” by Natasha Wing

“The Night Before the Fourth of July” by Natasha Wing is a delightful rhyming story that follows a family’s preparations and celebrations for Independence Day. From decorating the house and participating in a parade to enjoying fireworks, the book captures the excitement and traditions of the holiday. It’s a perfect read to get kids excited about the festivities and to discuss the various ways people celebrate the Fourth of July.

Play a Fun and Educational Game: Patriotic Bingo

Play Patriotic Bingo by creating bingo cards with symbols like flags, fireworks, and eagles. Draw slips of paper with matching symbols from a hat and have players mark their cards. The first to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins, providing a fun and educational way to learn about Independence Day symbols.

Take it to the next level by checking out these ready-made 4th of July activities and classroom resources! 

4th of July Glasses Craft

4th of July activities

Use these fun Fourth of July glasses to celebrate the national holiday of our Independence! Students can color and assemble their own patriotic glasses, making them a perfect accessory for any 4th of July event. This craft is a simple and enjoyable way to add some festive flair to your classroom celebrations.

Fourth of July Bulletin Board 

Looking for a unique summer bulletin board? I have you covered with this print and go PDF that includes bulletin board letters, stars, and Pop Art pages to use with photos or drawings. This set features 22 slides with 3 Pop Art choices (for a photo, a drawing, or answering writing prompts), 3 different types of writing prompts (blank, primary lined, or intermediate lined), and a star to cut out and color or place a photo. 

It also includes premade letters that say “OUR SHINING STARS” and stars to run on colored paper to make the board pop. An example of how to assemble the board is provided. Students can work alone or with a partner to create a poster, placing a photo of themselves or their partners who worked on the project.

4th of July Craft Hat and Writing Prompts

Looking for an engaging activity to do with students this 4th of July? Have them create their own 4th of July hat to wear while using the provided writing prompts to express how they celebrate the 4th of July! This download includes a cover, 2 pages for the hat, and 3 different writing prompts with both primary and intermediate lines. 

The prompts are: “What it means to be an American,” “How we celebrate the 4th of July,” and “Persuade your teacher to have a 4th of July Party,” complete with a photo example to guide students.

I hope you have lots of fun celebrating the 4th of July with your students! If you want more summer fun, check out my post here for some summer activities! 

3 Sweet and Thoughtful Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids

Craft Ideas

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan some special surprises with your students to celebrate the amazing moms or guardians in their lives. If you’re looking for Mother’s Day activities or some Mother’s Day crafts for kids in your classroom to create, you’re in the right place. 

Mother's Day crafts

As teachers, we know how much effort and love our students put into making these Mother’s Day gifts, so I’m sharing three simple yet thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas that your students can make this Mother’s Day. 

1. Handmade Cards Bursting with Love:

One of the simplest yet most heartfelt gifts your students can create is a handmade card. Encourage them to let their creativity flow! Provide them with colorful construction paper, markers, stickers, and any other craft supplies you have on hand.

Guide them to write a sweet message inside, expressing their love and gratitude for their moms. It could be as simple as “Mom, you’re the best because…” or “Thank you for always being there for me when…”

Encourage them to draw pictures or add little designs that represent their bond with their moms. It could be a drawing of them together, a heart filled with reasons why they love their mom, or even a collage of happy memories.

2. Personalized Photo Frames:

Another wonderful idea is to help your students create personalized photo frames for their moms. You can start with simple cardboard or wooden frames, which you can easily find at any craft store or even make yourself!

Let your students decorate the frames using paint, glitter, buttons, ribbons, or anything else you have available in your classroom. Encourage them to get creative and make each frame as unique as their relationship with their mom.

Once the frames are decorated and dried, help your students print out a special photo of them with their mom. It could be a recent one or a cherished memory from the past. Insert the photo into the frame, and voila! They’ve got a lovely keepsake that their moms will treasure forever.

3. Coupon Book of Acts of Kindness:

For something a bit different, why not have your students create a coupon book filled with acts of kindness that they can do for their moms? This is a thoughtful way for them to show their appreciation and give back to their moms.

Provide them with strips of paper or pre-made templates where they can write down different acts of kindness, such as “Breakfast in bed,” “One free hug,” “Help with chores,” “Movie night of your choice,” or “A day of pampering.”

Encourage your students to think about what their moms would truly appreciate and enjoy. Once they’ve written down their coupons, they can decorate the booklet and present it to their moms on Mother’s Day. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, as their moms can redeem the coupons whenever they need a little extra love and help.

Remember, the most important thing is not the intricacy of the gift, but the love and effort that goes into making it. 

Looking for some ready-made Mother’s Day craft ideas that your students can make? I have you covered! Check out these Mother’s Day resources. 

Mother’s Day Flower Card Craft 

Are you looking for a way to show moms how much you love them? Try these printables to create 3D flowers as a card, craft, or wall display to accompany opinion writing! They make great art centers, small group activities, and bulletin boards! 

Mother’s Day Tea Lapbook Craft

Looking for something fun and original to do with your students for Mother’s Day? I always like to have a Mother’s Day Tea, but you can do this just as a great gift to send home also. This lap book is sure to make mom feel special!

Digital Mother’s Day Cards

Are you looking for some easy-to-create digital Mother’s Day cards for your students to do at a distance? I have you covered with these 10 Google slides! Just use the edit boxes to add your own text, add an image of mom, and print to give to mom or a caregiver. 

These simple yet thoughtful gifts will surely bring smiles to the faces of your students’ moms and warm their hearts on Mother’s Day. So let’s get crafting and celebrate the incredible moms in our lives! 

Happy Mother’s Day! 🌸💖

Looking for more Mother’s Day crafts? Check out my post here! 

3 Spring Activities Your Students Will Love

Craft Ideas, education, Teaching Tips


Spring has sprung! Spring break is approaching for many teachers and students and that brings tons of excitement. If you’re looking for some spring activities or even Easter activities for kids that you can do to hold your student’s attention and keep them engaged in learning this time of year, you’re in the right place.

spring activities for kids

Here are some engaging and fun bunny activities that are perfect for the spring season! 

Bunny Hop Relay Race

Teams gather for an exciting relay race! Equipped with bunny ears, students can hop to the turnaround point and back, tagging the next teammate. Your students will love this game! 

Bunny Craft Station

Get your students to explore their creativity with crafts! They can make bunny masks, puppets, or greeting cards for their parents or a friend! 

Bunny Storytime and Egg Hunt

After enjoying bunny-themed stories, take your students out to hunt for hidden eggs outdoors. This is a great way to encourage teamwork as they search and share their discoveries. If you’re looking for Easter activities, this is a great option! 

Want some done-for-you spring hands-on activities? Check out these ideas from the shop! 

Bunny Craft Printable Headband

Looking for a couple of engaging ways to celebrate spring with your students? Try these Bunny Rabbit Mask & Headband crafts. There are two writing papers included too. (intermediate lined and primary)

  • 1 Bunny Mask
  • 1 Bunny Headband
  • 2 Spring Bunny Writing Papers

How to Catch the Easter Bunny Writing | Build a Trap Activity

Are you looking for a great way to do a spring writing lesson with students?  I have you covered with these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts to design their own Easter Bunny trap digitally (or in-person).  Then, they will write a narrative, persuasive, or opinion paper about how they plan to catch the bunny.

Bunny Craft Printables | Easter Hat | Writing

Are you looking for some engaging bunny crafts and writing ideas to do with your class this spring? Try these printables to easily create different bunny crafts! They make great centers and bulletin boards too!

  • 5 Crafts with Photos
  • 4 Spring Writing Papers (Primary and Intermediate Lined
  • Make a Headband, Bunny Candy Bag, Writing Craftivity, or letter Art

What are your favorite spring activities or bunny activities to do with your students? Let me know in the comments! 

Want more Easter activities? Check out my post here! 

3 Engaging Spring Activities for Kids

Craft Ideas, kindergarten survival, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

Looking for some spring activities for kids? I have you covered! 

As we gear up for the spring season, I wanted to share some fun and engaging ideas to infuse your classroom with a little burst of springtime sunshine. 

spring activities for kids

What are some spring activities for elementary students?

Here are some ideas for some spring hands-on activities to get you started.

Life Cycles

Dive into the life cycles of plants and butterflies! Use simple props like egg cartons, art supplies, and pictures to create interactive displays. This hands-on approach will make learning about growth and change a memorable experience.

Try this: Butterfly Life Cycle Activity 

Want a fun activity for spring where the kids learn about the Butterfly Life Cycle and integrate symmetry by making a book that will make a lasting memory for them to share at home? I have you covered with these printables for creating a butterfly craft and writing options!

“This was so much fun! My students loved writing, coloring and creating their butterfly-they especially loved recreating the stages 🙂 Thanks so much!” -Jenny 

Rainy Day Science

Embrace the spring showers by turning them into a learning opportunity! Set up a rain gauge and encourage your little scientists to measure and record rainfall. Discuss the water cycle and the importance of rain for our environment.

Try this: Rainbow Activities

Are you looking for quick and simple rainbow crafts to display in your classroom? Look no more! These editable printables cover writing, math, and art! Just use paint, paint daubers, or color to make a rainbow. Add a little cotton to the clouds and you have a cheerful display!

“This was a great resource when discussing rainbows.” – Jared

Weather Watchers

Create a weather station in your classroom and have students take turns being weather reporters. They can observe and record the daily weather, noticing any changes that come with the arrival of spring.

Try this: Weather Patterns Unit

This unit is loa with enough resources to stretch it out for two weeks, if needed! If you need to teach weather patterns, the water cycle, rainbows, and more, I’ve got you covered with engaging activities and printables to make your life easy!

“This unit was a great way to introduce the water cycle to my kindergartners!” – Rachael

What are your favorite spring activities to do in your classroom? Let me know in the comments! 
For more spring fun, check out my post here!