Funny Jokes and Puns for the Classroom. 60 school jokes! Fun for April Fools Day or anytime! Promotes critical thinking skills. Fun two minute activities. If you have two minutes, you can still get those brains working and have fun, too! Riddles, puns, and brain teasers that are sure to make everyone smile. Fun, humorous riddles about school that will crack you up! Enjoy these when class is not quite over, but the lesson is! You can also use as a fun filler at the end of the year! Or use before or after spring break, or after state testing for comic relief. Or use them as a daily warm up! 60 slides. Show slide to reveal the beginning...click to reveal the punchline. - HappyEdugator

Adverbs - Fun Worksheet and Word Search. Students need to identify adverbs in 20 sentences and then find them in the wordsearch. Fun practice that helps students become more familiar with adverbs as parts of speech. Fun test prep! Good activity to use the day before or after a long break, like Spring Break. - Happyedugator

Introduce the book Tuck Everlasting with this PowerPoint. Students will learn about the prologue, complete an anticipation guide, and prepare to make connections as they read the book. - HappyEdugator

Fairy Tale Homophones. Fun practice sheet identifying homophones in famous fairy tales. Sheet includes ten sentence that have incorrect homophones for students to find and fix. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator

Non-fiction Text Structure PowerPoint. Describes non-fiction organisational patterns or informational text structure in easy to understand terms. 6 different text structures, including cause and effect, comparison/contrast, and sequence, question and answer, problem and solution, and description. The slides discuss each structure separately and offer what signal words to look for in each type of text. A concept map or graphic organiser accompanies each type of structure as well. Selections for practice included. Animated graphics and animations to engage your pupils. Helps students recognise different text structure when reading and provides a foundation for expository writing. 20 slides.- HappyEdugator

Figurative Language PowerPoint game. A fun interactive way to practice identifying types of sound devices and figurative language used in poetry and writing. One slide reviews definitions of similes, metaphors, idioms, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, and onomatopoeia before the start of the game. Students are given two sentences and have thirty seconds (fifteen seconds each) to decide what type of figurative language or sound device the underlined words function as in a sentence. (Time's up when the lines under the greyhound vanish) They can work with a partner and use wipe-off white boards or write the answers down on paper. After time is up, the sentences will disappear. Click again to check answers. Advance slide and click to start with a new set of sentences. 36 sentences in all. Updated and revised! (Please note - some people have expected that there is sound and a countdown timer. There is no sound or countdown timer...I cannot add that without removing the animation. Students just watch the racing dog and the two lines - when the first line disappears, they have to hurry up before the second line goes and time is up.) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5a Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5b Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5a Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context. - HappyEdugator

An analogy shows the relationship between pairs of words. The relationship between the first pair of words is the same as the relationship between the second pair of words. For example, quick is to fast as loud is to noisy. Four practice sheets for students. They must use the words in the box to complete the analogies. - HappyEdugator

Parts of Speech PowerPoint. Parts of speech instruction, review, and practise. Great for the beginning of the year or back to school! 58 animated slides explain the eight parts of speech! Lots of animations and sounds to keep your students engaged and interested, in addition to helping them understand English grammar! The key to writing good sentences is to know how words are put together and how they function in a sentence. Describes nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections and how words can function as different parts of speech. Lots of slides and information. Best to break into chunks to supplement your lessons. Slides on Parts of speech including- Nouns - definition Concrete nouns and abstract nouns Common nouns and proper nouns Action verbs and linking verbs "To be" verbs - forms of be Personal pronouns Demonstrative pronouns Interrogative pronouns Indefinate pronouns Pronouns and Antecedents Degrees of comparison - adjectives Positive Comparative Superlative adjectives Irregular Comparative adjectives Coordinate adjectives - punctuation of Order of Cumulative adjectives Degrees of comparison - adverbs Irregular Comparative adverbs Prepostions and objects Prepositional phrases Coordinating Conjunctions and compound sentences Subordinating Conjunctions and complex sentences Interjections A slide to practise with questions over the main points included after each part of speech section, followed by a slide with the answer key. Now also includes some links to videos and web content. - HappyEdugator

Folktales: Myths, Legends, Fables and Fairy Tales PowerPoint. Teach folktales and traditional tales: myths, legends,tall tales, fables, and fairy tales. The slides discuss differences between myths and legends, tall tales, fables, and fairy tales. Examples of some famous tales and famous authors are mentioned. Myths are explanations for how ancient people understood their worlds, like Thor and Zeus. Legends were stories passed along that had a basis in truth, but were not real, like King Arthur and Robin Hood. Fables were told to teach lessons, most famously by Aesop. And folk tales and fairy tales were both passed down as stories for the children. Fairy tales we now enjoy were collected from oral tradition and written down in the 1800's. For instance, Hans Christian Andersen is remembered especially for his tales of The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling, while the Brothers Grimm are known for Cinderella, Snow White, and The Frog Prince. Everything is presented against a beautiful castle background and sound effects have been added for interest.

Fairy Tales Reading Activity. Elements Chart. Students read 5 fairy tales out of the fifteen suggested choices and mark with an x the elements and characteristics of fairy tales they find in their stories. Students can read the fairy tales online at the suggested website and complete this as a webquest, or you may prefer to provide books for them to peruse. Either way, they will see through discovery that fairy tales have many characteristics in common. - HappyEdugator

Greek and Latin Roots. 30 WEEKS of Word Stems from Latin and Greek Roots. Basic Lists of Greek and Latin roots. prefixes, suffixes, and affixes, tests, and answer keys included. Perfect for Back to School. Teacher directions, suggestions for homework activities, and differentiation included. This program will prepare your students for standardized tests. Starting at the beginning of the year, go through all 30 weeks, and then spend some time reviewing these as test prep before state testing. Knowing these Latin and Greek roots (which are labeled as to origin) will help your students understand the building blocks of the English language. In this file you will find thirty sets of word stems from Greek and Latin Roots. Each page has ten stems, with their meanings and example words. After the first set, most pages will have two review stems from a previous page. The origin of each stem is marked L for Latin or G for Greek. Supports common core standards. Suggested for middle grades, but may be adapted for grades 4 - 5 by following the suggestions for differentiation. Enjoy! - HappyEdugator Standards L.4.4b, L.5.4b, L.6.4b, L.7.4b, L.8.4b

A Beginning of the Year Me Bag Activity - a great back to school activity that helps everyone get to know each other at the beginning of the year. This All About Me Bag activity includes letter to parents with calendar, assignment reminder sheets, and rubric. Includes an original "me" bag poem to paste on the bag that students can read aloud and two writing sheets. Promotes creative thinking.

Reading Club or Book Club Activities for the Entire School Year. When you go back to school, are you planning to have a reading club or a book club start at the beginning of the year? Either in your classroom, or school-wide? This 34 page packet is what you need to start a successful reading club. This is a year's worth of activities for a Reading Club. The topics are planned for September through June. Everyone starts with a membership card, and to stay an active member, each student reads books on the theme of the month. The printables included here are: a student letter with membership card, a parent letter explaining the requirements, letters home with signature lines for books read for each theme, badges for monthly bulletin boards, and certificates of achievement for each month. There is also a super student award for the end of the year and a tic-tac-toe board for students to complete that will encourage them to read books from a variety of genres. Start your club anytime and enjoy the reading! 34 pages. - HappyEdugator

Cumulative Test of Greek and Latin Word Roots or Stems. Greek and Latin Roots test to assess students on their general knowledge of word stems after we have studied basic Greek and Latin roots. It includes multiple choice, matching and fill-in type questions. A key is provided. The basic Greek and Latin word root lists, which include affixes, prefixes, and suffixes, are also available separately. 35 questions in all. Left editable for your specific needs, so you may customize for your class. Supports common core. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., photograph, photosynthesis) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

Public Speaking PowerPoint - How to write and present a speech. Presentation explains purpose ( Persuade, Inform, and Entertain), points to consider such as subject, audience, personality, and occasion. Discusses the process of planning a speech, including the body, the introduction, and the conclusion, writing an outline, and preparing the delivery. 25 slides. Includes Outline Templates FOR FREE to support the lesson

Transition Words and Phrases Lists and Sorting Activities. Supports common core! Transitional words and transitional phrases are useful in writing clear and fluent paragraphs, but students need to be familiar with when to use them. Includes a Word Splash of Transition Words with a graphic organizer for sorting, several different handouts with lists of useful transition words, and a categorizing worksheet.for groups to work on and discuss. Some words may be classified in different categories, so this can lead to interesting discussions and students will have to employ higher level thinking skills.The lists will become a handy reference tool for use when writing. - HappyEdugator CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3c Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3c Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2c Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.

3D Diorama Project. Use this project as a culminating activity for any unit of study in English, PSHE, history or science. I like to use it after reading a class novel, but I have also used it in PSHE after we studied a region or a country. Includes a student handout with directions and grading checklist, and detailed directions with photos. Thanks and enjoy! - Happyedugator

Business Letter Writing. How to Write a Business Letter Handout. This technical writing handout is a handy guide on how to write a business letter. Shows how a business letter is formatted, and the six main parts of a business letter: heading, inside address, salutation, body, closing, signature. Includes a blank template, a handout on writing strategies, a persuasive map, and rubric.

Leadership - Ten Qualities of a Good Leader PowerPoint Presentation. Helpful at the beginning of the year. Includes ten qualities that make a good leader. Some of the characteristics of a good leader include self-confidence, a sense of justice, and self-control. Good BTS character education activity or use when you are discussing classroom rules and behavior expectations. We tell kids to be good leaders,and not followers, but they need to know how. Good for back to school or the beginning of the year to provide students an understanding of expectations. Use at the beginning of the year to motivate. Use at the end of the year to review important life skills. (For professional development, insert the word teacher for leader, and student for follower) Animated slides, Partner activity and writing assignment included, along with some quick review questions. - HappyEdugator

Christmas Pictionary and Charades Game. A fun Christmas game of Pictionary or Charades - where all words are related to Christmas, Winter, or December, and even include Christmas songs and Christmas movies. 99 Different Cards! Print out Cards. Cut out and Laminate. You can then use the cards to play the game Pictionary or Charades. Just team up. Either game is for four or more players. The more, the merrier! The object of the game is to have fun! Fun party game at school or at home! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! - HappyEdugator