Mother's Day Purse Poems

12 May 2012
I so wish I was one of those organized people who post their fabulous ideas days (even weeks) before special occasions ... but alas, I'm not.  I'm lucky I even squeezed in a Mother's Day activity this week.  So, I'm offering  you the next best thing.  This is what my class did for Mother's Day ... and if you like it, you can pin it for next year (I guess that's the best I can do).
photo of Mother's Day Purse activity @ Runde's Room
We've been studying and writing poetry lately, so I wanted the kids to write a poem for Mother's Day.  And, I wanted to present it in a special way ... so we made Mother's Day Purse Poems.  

We used 12 x 12 scrapbook paper cut in half for this activity (I included the link for the pad of paper I used at the bottom of the page).  Fold the bottom part of the paper up, so that it is about 2 inches from the top of the paper.  Fold the top of the paper over to fold a flap.  Then the students cut the paper into a trapezoid shape.  I told them they could round off the edges of the flap if they wanted.  They cut a thin strip to use as the purse strap, and taped it to the inside of the paper.  We used a velcro dot to hold the flap down to the paper (purse).

For the poem we used one of the simple "I Am" templates found on the internet.  We just changed the "I" to "She".  Because some of my students don't have a mom in their lives, they could write about a grandma, aunt, or any mother figure they have in their lives.  Students wrote the poem on the inside of the purse, so that when the flap is opened, their "present" is revealed.  Cute, easy, and quick ... just what I needed on a Friday afternoon!
photo of Mother's Day Purse activity @ Runde's Room


photo of End of the Year Cootie Catchers @ Runde's Room
I also wanted to express just how jealous I am reading about all of you who are just about finished the school year.  I'm not going to tell you I still have 7 weeks (35 days) left ... wait, I guess I just did ... ;)  I guess I was living vicariously through all of you, and wanted to feel like the end of the year was just a bit closer, so I made up a fun little reflection activity for the end of the year.  End of the Year Cootie Catchers would make a great activity for pairs or small groups to get them thinking about all the wonderful things they accomplished and took part in through the year.  You could also turn one of the prompts into a reflection writing activity - a perfect end of the year activity for the students' portfolios.  Click HERE or on the picture to take a peek at my newest set of cootie catchers.

As always, I'd like to offer you a little treat.  Be one of the first THREE to leave me a comment with your email, and I'll send you a free copy of the cootie catchers.  Enjoy ... and HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

38 comments

  1. I love the purse poem! Cute idea doing the I Am poem in 3rd person about Mom.

    My kids love your cootie catchers!

    McDonough.colleen.a@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Colleen! I'll send them out in a few minutes! Enjoy!

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  2. What a cute idea! This is great for the end of the year when I'm killing some time after I'm done writing reports! :) Great blog, I visit often! lorin.trevisan@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks! I'll send them out in a few minutes! Enjoy!

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. I'm sorry - your email address didn't work. Do you have another email address I could try? (I've noticed that sometimes the hotmail addresses don't work when sending attachments).

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  3. I'm not done yet either! ;) I love your cootie catchers. My girls loved the valentine cootie catcher and hand to print it multiple times. :)
    I'd love this one as well. :)
    Sina (gr8teacher)
    bellamia29@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks, Sina! I'll send them out in a few minutes. Enjoy!

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  4. Can I just say that you are my new FAVORITE PERSON!!! Each and every idea you post is wonderful!! Very cute ideas on pinterest keep catching my eye and EVERYTIME I find myself on your blog!!!! From one teacher to another, thank you. You are incredible. Also, I am beginning math notebooks next year and I am so thankful for your ideas! I want to be just like you when I grow up! :)

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    1. Thank-you SO much, Jacquie! I hope you find lots of ideas you can use in your classroom. I've been so happy with our math journals this year - I can't wait to see them keep evolving next year!

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  5. What a cute idea! Yes, pinned it for next year :)

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! I am planning to do the same Father's Day activity that I did last year, so maybe for once, I'll be able to get the post out early.

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  6. LOVE LOVE LVOE your mother's day acitviy. will have to save it for next year love the cootie catcher too as always. happy mother's day. hope you enjoy your time with your family. mary

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    1. Thanks, Mary! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!

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  7. ahhh sorry... I combined my work and personal accounts! lol it's lorintrevisan@hotmail.com
    Sorry!

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    1. No problem - I just tried again. Let me know if there was a problem!

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  8. Super love the Mother's Day purses:))) Too cute. Will be pinning these:)

    4th Grade Frolics

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    1. Thanks, Tara! Quick and easy ... my kind of Friday afternoon activity!

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  9. The purses are too cute!!!! I heart the cootie catchers!!!

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  10. I love your cootie catchers and so do my kids. The purse idea is fab girlfriend- I am saving that idea for next year. Thank you for all your sharing.

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    1. Thank-you so much! The purse idea just came to me right before lunch on Friday ... knew I wanted to incorporate poetry somehow. So glad it all came together!

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  11. Love the Mother's Day purse!! That is so cute!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Thank-you so much, Lori! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  12. The purse poems are sooooo cute!!

    WOW-you still have quite awhile til school gets out. Ooops-I'm sorry! :)

    When do you go back after summer? We have 10 days left and go back around August 20th!

    By the way, I combined my running, reading,and teaching blogs into 1 blog to simplify my life! Here's the link:

    http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com

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    1. Shannon - I got your email last night, and "ran" over to subscribe to your new blog!!! Can't wait to follow your new adventure!

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  13. Purse is adorable! I've pinned for various occasions! Thanks for a great idea!

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  14. It's a very funny coincidence as I came up with the same idea to have the students write a 'biographical' poem although our format was slightly different. I loved reading them afterwards. I love the presentation and might try that next year - thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thank-you! It just came to me literally an hour before we made them, but I'm so happy with how they turned out. I usually do poetry of some kind for both mother's and father's day.

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  15. Thank-you very cute

    A Teacher's Treasure sent me over here!

    Suzzanne Horton

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  16. I love your cootie catchers! I used some for math centers!! Thanks for sharing!
    A Teacher's Treasure sent me over :)

    Allie
    www.the-gypsy-teacher.blogspot.com

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    1. Welcome! I'm so happy to hear you like the cootie catchers - I'm still building my math centers, but I can't wait to have them up and running for next year.

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  17. I am looking for a measure of central tendency activity that I have read about where data from the students tests were used. I thought I read about it on your blog but am unable to find it. Did you do a lesson like that? tredus@sbcglobal.net

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