Ready to Enlist?

I might be telling my age....
but when I was a kid I LOVED the song,
I'm in The Lord's Army!

Did you learn that song?
Do your littles know it?
It's an oldie, but it's still good.

(Click the pic to listen - YouTube link.)

Several years ago I wanted to do something with the song,

& God took it & turned it into a whole military-themed unit.

Anyway....

since Memorial Day is coming up,

I thought you might like a craft/bulletin board activity.

It's part of my Lord's Army packet,

but you can get the pattern FREE right here.

(Click on any of the pictures to grab a pattern.)

I use the paper pattern to make a sturdy pattern on 

card stock so that it's easier to trace multiple copies

without the pattern going to shreds.

(A crafty parent told me to use empty cereal boxes.)

I also label the pattern pieces with the part name

and the suggested color.

(One year we found camo wrapping paper

and those were very cool.)

That helps students when they are tracing their own pieces.

Cut them out...

I never cut out pieces for my students unless

they are very tiny pieces.

My goal is not a perfect product that looks exactly like mine.

With them cutting, it usually means that

their final products have a LOT of character :) 

Assemble....

They could be assembled and glued onto 

construction paper (and then add a background)

or they could just assemble the character.

Details...

Finish up with whatever details they choose

(faces, scraps for camo, boot laces, etc.)

These make a great bulletin board.

If you're interested,

here is a preview of the entire unit.

Don't forget the click any of the pictures above

to grab your FREE craft pattern.

Happy Independence Day & Let FREEdom Ring #4

If you're stopping by today,

Happy Independence Day!

Today comes with gratitude for the men and women

who give of themselves (and their families) to protect and defend

the United States of America.

We salute you!!

Let FREEdom Ring #4

Today's FREEBIE comes to you from me :)

Click on the picture to grab your copy.

Happy July!

9--11

Be sure to head over to my Facebook page today for a (limited time only) FREEBIE

in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Click on my Pirate Girl to go to my Facebook page.

A Special Monday

It's Memorial Day and so I wanted to focus our verse on remembering those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I also wanted to leave the activity with an open ending so that you could choose how best to use it with your students. What I came up with is Philippians 1:3.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

The packet has the verse with soldier clip art and also a blank copy, in case you're not going the military route. You might want to have your students remember soldiers of the cross, special people in their lives who pointed them to Jesus. Or you may just have them draw pictures and write about ANY person they are thankful for.

Included: 2 versions of verse page, writing paper, book marks, word cards for rebuilding.

Click on the bookmarks to pick up your free copy.

Honoring those who Served

Looking ahead to Memorial Day......

Just another day off? or really a day of honoring and remembering?

I know I'm guilty of being thankful for an extra day off and not truly being thankful for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Not that I wasn't thankful, it's just that I didn't really spend a lot of thought on it. I hope this year will be different for all of us. I pray that we all take the time to be thankful for all those who serve and especially for those who have served in the past and never came home. 

One way that we honored our soldiers last year was by doing a WALL OF HONOR.
Our kids and even staff members brought in pictures of their loved ones who had served and added them to our board. They attached names and dates, places and branches of service.

This activity stirred up the sweetest conversations, not only among our kids who met relatives they had never even known about, but also among our staff who hung pictures of their parents and sons and daughters.
The love and pride was overwhelming!

Our school year is over on Friday, so we will not be able to do the board for Memorial Day this year.

We are planning to do it for Veteran's Day so the end of the year will not be an issue.

If you are still in school for a while, maybe it's something you could put together.

And if you need a little something to do, I've put together a word building FREEBIE.
Just click on the picture to head to my store and pick it up. 

The fabulous art is done by Mel at Graphics From the Pond.
Hope you enjoy it.

Take It and Make It!

Welcome Back for Take It & Make It with the 2nd Grade Pad.

This week I am featuring a product that's in my TpT store.

It's a Biblical unit focused on the military and it's called

I'm in the Lord's Army.

It features the children's song "I'm in the Lord's Army."

It includes printable copies of the book and many other posters and activities. 

Here's the preview.

The take it and make it for this week is the soldier pattern that is included in the unit.

Even if you don't teach in a school where you are allowed to use Biblical materials,

you could still use the soldier pattern with your military or other patriotic units.

Here are the steps......

I use the included paper pattern to make a sturdy pattern on card stock 

so that it’s easier to trace multiple copies.

(A GREAT tip that I learned from a crafty parent is to use empty cereal boxes to make patterns on.)

I also label the pattern pieces with the part name and the suggested color. That way, if I am having the students trace their own pieces they have that information readily available. 

Students (or I) use the patterns to trace each piece on the desired colors.  The next step is to cut them out. I never cut out pieces for my students unless they are very tiny.

My goal is not a perfect product that looks exactly like mine.

Since I do not cut for them it usually means that their final products have a LOT of characterJ

Next is the assembly. 

They could be assembled and glued onto a piece of construction paper (and then they could add a background if they wanted). 

Or they could just assemble the character.

Once it has been assembled, they can start adding details. 

On this one we tried to make a little camo.  (One year we found some camo wrapping paper and traced the pieces on that and they were very cool).

Finish up with whatever details they desire.

You could make green, blue or tan camo, or any combinations of army green/brown.

The hair could also be changed to match your students’ hair.

They are very cute lined up “military style” on a bulletin board display.

Hope you like it and will take a look at my unit.
Be sure to head back over to see Cynthia at the 2nd Grade Pad for some other great ideas.

Someone has a birthday today.....

Happy Birthday George Washington!

Really this post has nothing to do with George Washington:)

This post is all about a FREEBIE for you.

While updating my old St. Patrick's Day items and trying to get ready for next month I made a little word building activity and thought some of you might enjoy it.

So even though it is George's birthday...the present is for you!

Enjoy!

Oh yes, if you were hoping for some patriotic items, here are a few from my store.

Thanks for checking them out!