Teacher’s Brain

Host a SPY DAY Themed End of the Year Celebration

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to end the school year with your students? Look no further than the SPY Day School LAB theme day, available on TeachersPayTeachers! My students love when I add a theme to our end of the year celebrations!

This end-of-the-year theme day is designed to get students excited and engaged as they work together to complete a series of spy-themed challenges. Teachers can structure the day like a spy mission, with each challenge building on the skills and knowledge learned in the previous challenge. You can add some spy themed music while they solve clues.

The SPY Day School LAB includes everything you need to run a successful theme day. It includes detailed instructions, printable worksheets, and engaging activities. I love challenges that are designed to be age-appropriate and can be easily adapted to suit different grade levels and classroom settings.

Benefits

One of the key benefits of the SPY Day School LAB is that it encourages students to work together. The challenges require students to communicate effectively, collaborate, and support each other as they work towards a common goal. This can be a great way to build a sense of community and connection among your students as the school year comes to a close.

Another benefit of the SPY Day School LAB is that it is highly engaging and fun for students. The challenges are designed to be exciting and interactive, which can help to motivate students and keep them focused on their learning. This can be especially important as the school year winds down and students may be feeling restless or distracted.

Overall, the SPY Day School LAB is a great option for teachers who want to end the school year on a high note. It is a fun and engaging way to build teamwork skills. The activities also promote community building, and keep students motivated and focused on their learning. Check it out on TeachersPayTeachers today and get ready for a thrilling end-of-year adventure!

5 Heartfelt and Creative DIY Crafts and Activities to Celebrate Mother’s Day

Can you believe Mother’s Day is just around the corner? This school year has absolutely flown by. As elementary school teachers, we have a golden opportunity to help our students show their love and appreciation for their amazing moms through fun and creative Mother’s Day crafts and Mother’s Day activities.

Are you planning to make some DIY Mother’s Day crafts with your students this year? If you are and aren’t sure what to make, I have you covered! 

What kind of activities can be done on Mother’s Day in school?

Here are a few ideas for some awesome DIY crafts and Mother’s Day gift ideas you can do with your students to celebrate all of the amazing mamas in their lives:

Homemade Cards

There’s nothing quite like a personalized card to show someone you care. Have your students create their own cards for their moms using all kinds of art supplies such as markers, stickers, glitter, and construction paper. You can check out my Mother’s Day card resource here! 

Flower Bouquets

Who doesn’t love flowers? Have your students create their own bouquets using tissue paper or construction paper. They can choose their mom’s favorite colors and types of flowers, and then arrange them in a vase or jar. Check out my flower card resource here! 

Photo Frames

Help your students create their own photo frames for their moms using materials such as popsicle sticks, cardboard, and paint. Encourage them to get creative with decorations and messages that express their love.

Coupon Books

Have your students get creative and fill it with things that they know their mom will love. Check out my coupon book resource here! 

Mother’s Day Tea Party

Who doesn’t love a good tea party? Host one in your classroom for moms and their children. Have your students prepare and serve tea and snacks, and create a warm and inviting atmosphere for this special occasion.

If you’re looking for the perfect resource to add to your tea party, you’ll love my Mother’s Day Tea Lapbook resource

mother's day crafts

Even if you can’t do a tea party, this craft makes a great DIY Mother’s Day craft for kids to give to their mothers. 

Mother's day gift ideas

Here’s what’s included: 

Pg. 1 Cover

Pg. 2 Table of Contents

Pg. 3 Directions

Pg. 4 Mom with Hair

Pg. 5 Mom Without Hair (add yarn to personalize)

Pg. 6 Tea Pot for Front Cover of Lapbook

Pg. 7 Arms and Title for Lapbook

Pg. 8 Coupon Book

Pg. 9 Cup of Tea (add a tea bag)

Pg. 10 Notes to add to Lapbook

Pg. 11 – 12 Mother’s Day Flap Book

Pg. 13 Pocket full of REASONS (with phones)

Pg. 14 Adjectives to describe MOM (This is an extra sheet I did not use in the Lapbook example. I added it in case you might want to be creative and change things around.)

Pg. 15 Photo of Lapbook Cover

Pg. 16 Photo of Lapbook Inside

Pg. 17 Photo of Extra Flower Adjective Activity

​​Pg. 18 Credits

Mother's day crafts

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Remember, the key is to encourage creativity and heartfelt expressions of love and appreciation. Let’s help our students celebrate their moms in a fun and meaningful way this Mother’s Day! 

For more fun activities for the classroom during the month of May, check out my post about Star Wars Day here!

What are your favorite Mother’s Day activities for school? Let me know in the comments!

How To Have An Epic Star Wars Day Celebration With Your Students

May the 4th be with you!

Does that sound familiar? This is a phrase you might hear while out and about on May 4th, and for a good reason! If you are a Star Wars fan, (and honestly, who isn’t?) you probably know the phrase “May the force be with you”. It is something commonly said in the movies as a way for people to wish each other well when they part ways or when they are preparing to partake in something heroic or even dangerous. 

Star Wars Day

Thanks to this date sounding so much like the popular phrase, it has become dubbed Star Wars Day! How fun is that? If you are looking for some Star Wars activities that you can do with your elementary-age students, don’t worry. I have you covered! This is a day that students usually love and get very engaged with because it’s just fun- plain and simple! 

How do you celebrate Star Wars Day at school? 

If you’re ready to become the most memorable teacher of your students’ lives this year by celebrating Star Wars Day in 2023, I have the perfect ideas for you so that you can have a full day of fun with a Star Wars-themed day at school that your students will remember forever. 

  1. Dress up as your favorite Star Wars characters. These movies have become so popular that the characters and costumes are recognizable even to people who haven’t seen them. Tell your students that they can dress like their favorite character or even wear a Star Wars t-shirt or hairstyle. 
  2. Make DIY Lightsabers. Pull out those craft supplies and let students get creative by making their own lightsabers! 
  3. Watch Star Wars clips or read Star Wars books. If you’re looking for an on-theme brain break for your students, consider watching some popular clips from the movies (not too scary, preferably) or reading a Star Wars book together as a class. 
  4. Make some Star Wars-themed treats. Create some easy-to-make galactic treats for your classroom for extra fun. Everyone loves snacks! 
  5. Learn about planets and stars. What better opportunity to teach students about stars, moons, planets, and galaxies? 
  6. Teach about force and motion. Star Wars is all about using the force so this is a great chance to pull out some force and motion activities! You can check out my force and motion resource here. 

If you’re looking for more guidance on how you can create an epic day for your students, check out my Star Wars Theme Day resource!

Star Wars theme day may the 4th be with you

This download is full of everything you need to have a great May the 4th Be With YOU-themed celebration! It’s packed with tons of resources that will make this day not only fun but easy and low-stress for you. 

Here’s what’s included: 

What is in this download? 

Cover

Table of Contents

A Note To Teachers

Lesson Plans Introduction 

Standards Met 

Home Connections Project Letter for Parents

Donations Please Page for Parents

Create a Space Creature

Glue your creature together

Give your space creature a personality

Sweet Fighter Treats (EASY to Make)

Venn Diagram Earth (VS any other Planet you Choose)

A Venn Diagram EARTH vs STAR

Venn Diagram ANSWER KEY to Earth vs Star

I SPY Planets (Circle and X planets and stars, count and Tally)

ODA SODA (Ingredients and Directions to make PUNCH)

Galactic Water Labels for water bottles

Fight Training Code of Conduct Poster

Training Laser Directions (with pictures)

Training Academy Certificate

PUSH, PULL, FORCE, MOTION Posters

Looking for digital resources to make this day excellent? Check out this Star Wars-themed Digital Escape Room! 

Star Wars day

This is a great way for your students to review planets, and problem-solving. Digital Escapes™ is a fun way to get students to learn without even realizing it. NO Printing and No Prep needed for this digital escape! Star Wars-inspired challenges students will love!

During the escape, students will be tasked with solving 4 lock clues in order to escape the room. There is a pdf included in this download with directions, the link to the site, an answer key, and an optional note-taking worksheet for students. This activity takes about 30 to 40 minutes to complete.

Star Wars day digital escape room

Students will:

  • Listen to short audio directions 
  • Watch a Video with a Problem (1st clue) 
  • Click to reveal 3 tasks for students to solve.
  • Solve a Riddle to Discover What Planet they crash-landed on. 
  • Answer Space Questions to rebuild their ship and to get FUEL
  • Work on problem-solving as a group or individually
  • Answer comprehension questions about the video to get the Life-Saving Sword.
  • Meet some life form on Mars.
  • End with a treat of your choice, a Party, a Wookie Cookie, some Oda Soda, or recess after they Escape

Check out the video preview!

Are you celebrating Star Wars Day with your elementary students? Let me know in the comments! 

Engaging Ways To Teach Students About Earth Day


On April 22nd, we will celebrate Earth Day! 

As teachers to such young students, it’s our responsibility to instill a sense of responsibility and respect for the environment in our students, and Earth Day is the perfect occasion to reflect on our relationship with the planet we call home. 

earth day activities for kids

If you’re looking for Earth Day activities for kids, you’re in the right place! 

Here are some simple things you can teach your students to do to care for our planet. 

  1. Turn off lights and electronics when leaving a room to save energy.
  2. Use reusable water bottles and lunch containers instead of disposable ones.
  3. Plant a tree, garden, or help maintain a community garden.
  4. Participate in neighborhood cleanups to remove litter from streets and parks.
  5. Use both sides of the paper when drawing or coloring to save paper.
  6. Use public transportation, bike, or walk instead of driving a car when possible.
  7. Compost food waste instead of throwing it away.
  8. Use natural light instead of turning on the lights during the day.
  9. Make crafts from recycled materials such as old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and plastic bottles.
  10. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hands to save water.

These activities are not only good for the planet, but they can also help your elementary students develop a sense of responsibility and care for their environment.

For even more Earth Day activities for kids, I created this virtual field trip to a Recycling Center! 

earth day activities

You’ll be every student’s favorite teacher with this activity! Virtual Field trips are a great way to engage students in learning.  Use these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts, learn about Earth Day, recycling, what to bring on a trip and so much more!

earth day activities

What is in this download?

28 Google Slides with Titles, Edit Text Boxes, Directions, and Movable Parts 

  • KWL Chart
  • Packing A Suitcase for the Trip
  • 1 Minute Take OFF Flight Video
  • 7-minute Field Trip Video (Earth Day, Car Ride to different Recycling Centers, Train Ride)
  • Sequencing Events, 2 Writing Prompts, Counting Objects (under 10), Labeling Parts, Recycling Song, and Comprehension Questions
  • One extra slide for you to add anything you would like to the lesson. (videos or an assignment)
  • Home Connection Optional Assignment for students to build something with recycled materials. 
  • Black and white ink-saving Writing Pages and Home Connection Page for in-person teaching.
earth day activities

This resource is great for virtual or in-person teaching!

What are your favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day in your elementary classroom? Let me know in the comments!