When Life Gives You Lemons… Celebrate National Lemonade Day!

August 20 is National Lemonade Day, and what better way to celebrate than with a splash of learning, a squeeze of creativity, and a whole lot of lemon-themed fun? Whether you’re teaching during the summer or prepping activities for back to school, this is the perfect time to blend literacy, science, and hands-on exploration with a sweet citrus twist!

Featured Resource: Lemon Fact Booklet

This kid-friendly Lemon Fact Booklet is a great way to integrate science and nonfiction reading into your classroom routine. Students will explore:

Where lemons grow and how they are harvested

The parts of a lemon and the life cycle of a lemon tree

How lemons are used in food, drinks, and even cleaning

Fun lemon facts to keep young minds buzzing

The booklet also includes:

Comprehension questions to reinforce informational text skills

Sorting sentence activity to support sentence structure and understanding

A craft page where students decorate their own lemon stand or lemonade cup

A research form to guide beginning writers in exploring their own lemon-related questions

Perfect for independent work, small group time, or a themed learning day!

5 Fun Books About Lemons & Lemonade

Pair your Lemon Fact Booklet with these delightful picture books that bring lemons—and lemonade stands—to life:

"The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline DaviesIdeal for advanced 1st grade or read-alouds, this chapter book explores entrepreneurship, sibling rivalry, and problem-solving.

"Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money" by Emily JenkinsA sweet story about two siblings who set up a lemonade stand in winter—packed with early math and money concepts.

"Curious George Goes to a Lemonade Stand" by H.A. ReyEveryone’s favorite monkey learns about helping others and running a stand. Great for introducing sequencing and teamwork.

4 "When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree" by Jamie L.B. DeenihanA humorous, heartwarming book about gratitude, patience, and unexpected gifts—with a great message for SEL.

5. "Maisy Makes Lemonade" by Lucy Cousins is a cheerful, brightly illustrated story where Maisy the mouse sets up a lemonade stand to share with her friends. With its simple text and vibrant pictures, it’s a perfect read-aloud for young children that celebrates kindness, sharing, and the joy of working together.

Activities to Squeeze In Some Fun

Here are five fun lemon-themed learning activities to go along with the Lemon Fact Booklet:

Lemonade Stand Dramatic Play Center - Set up a pretend stand with cups, signs, play money, and yellow pom-poms or paper lemons. Practice social interaction and early money skills.

Sink or Float: Lemon Science Experiment - Compare a whole lemon vs. a peeled lemon in water. Talk about air pockets, density, and make predictions.

Make Real Lemonade Together - Let students help squeeze lemons, stir in sugar and water, and taste their creation. Then write a how-to piece about it!

Lemon Painting with Halves - Cut lemons in half, dip in paint, and stamp onto paper to create art. Add smiling faces for a cheerful bulletin board!

Lemonade Math Story Problems - Write and solve word problems about selling cups of lemonade, giving change, or dividing lemons among friends.

Whether you're teaching in August or planning ahead for next year, National Lemonade Day is a great opportunity to add zest to your lessons and make learning memorable.

 Ready to celebrate? Grab the Lemon Fact Booklet and let your classroom shine bright like a lemon! 

Resource may be found in my store: 

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Farm Fresh Fun! Celebrate Farmers Market Week in the Classroom

From crisp apples to juicy tomatoes, the farmers market is bursting with learning opportunities for young students! Farmers Market Week (August 4–10) is the perfect time to teach children where food comes from, how it's grown, and why local farming matters—all through hands-on, engaging resources that build science and literacy skills.

I’m excited to feature four of my favorite food-themed fact booklets—each one spotlighting a different farmers market favorite!

Tomato Fact Booklet

Students will explore how tomatoes grow, the parts of a tomato plant, and where tomatoes fit into our meals! This resource includes:

A kid-friendly fact booklet

Comprehension questions

Sentence sorting activity

A fun tomato craft (design your own tomato or tomato stand!)

A research page for young learners to extend their thinking

Lemon Fact Booklet

Perfect for summer or citrus-themed units, this booklet teaches about lemon trees, uses for lemons, and fun facts—plus:

A craft to decorate your own lemonade or lemon basket

Comprehension and sentence sorting pages

A research form that encourages curiosity and early writing

Apple Fact Booklet

Apples are a classroom classic—and this booklet helps students understand apple parts, tree growth, and fun varieties. It includes:

An interactive craft (create your own apple or mini orchard!)

A fact booklet that supports early readers

Comprehension questions and a sentence sort

A simple research form

Potato Fact Booklet

Dig into root vegetables with this simple and engaging look at potatoes! Kids will learn where potatoes grow, how they are harvested, and different ways we eat them. The booklet includes:

A potato-themed craft (make a potato person or farmer’s basket!)

Comprehension check

Sentence sorting

A research page

Farmers Market & Vegetable-Themed Books

Here are some picture books that make perfect companions to your food fact booklets:

"To Market, To Market" by Nikki McClure - A beautifully illustrated story that shows the journey of local food from farm to market.

"Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z" by Lois Ehlert - A bright, colorful book packed with vocabulary and real-life fruit and veggie examples.

"Before We Eat: From Farm to Table" by Pat Brisson - A simple and powerful book that highlights all the hands involved in bringing food to our table.

"The Vegetables We Eat" by Gail Gibbons - A nonfiction gem that breaks down the types of vegetables and how they grow—great for science tie-ins!

"Apple Farmer Annie" by Monica Wellington - Follow Annie from orchard to market as she grows, bakes, and sells apples. A perfect pairing for your Apple Fact Booklet!

Farmers Market Week Activity Ideas

Try these classroom-friendly activities to bring your own market to life:

Create a Classroom Farmers Market - Set up small stands with paper fruits/veggies, price signs, and baskets. Let students "shop" or "sell" using play money.

Tasting Day- Taste-test slices of apples, tomatoes, and boiled potatoes. Graph favorites or write a simple opinion piece.

Vegetable Sorting and Classifying - Use real or paper veggies to sort by color, type (root, stem, fruit), or texture. Great for science and vocabulary.

Grow a Seedling - Start a small tomato, potato sprout, or apple seed project to show plant growth over time.

Design Your Own Market Bag - Give students a paper bag to decorate with fruit and veggie stamps or drawings, then use it to carry home their work!

Celebrate Farmers Market Week by teaching children to appreciate the foods they eat, the farmers who grow them, and the natural processes behind it all. With your Lemon, Apple, Tomato, and Potato Fact Booklets, you’ll have everything you need to make this learning juicy, sweet, and full of flavor!

 Ready to dig in? Grab your booklets and head to the (classroom) market!

All products may be found in my store:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Back to School Must-Haves: Explore My School, Maps, and Culture!

As we step into August, it’s time to get classrooms ready for a brand-new school year—and what better way to kick off learning than with engaging resources that build community, spark curiosity about the world, and celebrate cultural heritage? I’m excited to share three of my newest back-to-school products designed especially for Pre-K through 2nd grade learners. These resources combine literacy, social studies, and hands-on fun to start the year strong!

My School and Community resource helps students feel connected and confident as they explore the people and places that make up their school and neighborhood. This resource includes:

A simple fact booklet introducing key community helpers and school staff

Comprehension questions and sentence sorting activities

A craft activity for students to design their own school or community building

A research form for beginning writers to draw and write about someone in their school

Perfect for classroom routines, social studies time, or center rotations!

My Maps and Globes builds geography foundations early with the engaging introduction to maps and globes! Whether you’re setting up your classroom map wall or diving into how to read symbols, this resource is a fun way to begin:

A fact booklet that explains basic map elements, such as compass rose, key, and globe features

Interactive activities like sentence sorts and map labeling

A creative craft where students make their own simple map

A research form that helps students learn about their place in the world

This is a great tool for teaching spatial awareness and visual literacy during those first few weeks.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Get ready to honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) with a resource that introduces young learners to the vibrant contributions of Hispanic cultures:

A fact booklet highlighting influential figures, traditions, and celebrations

Comprehension checks and sentence sorting to build understanding

A creative craft activity that lets students decorate a papel picado banner or cultural symbol.

A research form for exploring a famous Hispanic figure or country.

This is a great way to weave inclusion and diversity into your early-year curriculum in a meaningful, age-appropriate way.

Whether you’re building classroom community, helping students explore their place on the map, or celebrating cultural identity, these new back-to-school resources are designed to spark curiosity, support foundational learning, and keep little hands engaged. 

 Ready to explore? Check them out in my store and add them to your early-year toolkit! 

All products may be found in my store!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Shark Week is Here!

Shark Week is more than just an exciting TV event — it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring the mystery and magic of the ocean into your classroom or learning space! Kids are naturally curious about sharks and ocean life, and this themed week is a perfect time to inspire them to read, draw, research, and create.

Whether you’re in summer school or just planning ahead for your ocean unit, I’ve got two great resources to help make Shark Week an unforgettable experience — plus five recommended shark books and a few hands-on activities that tie it all together.

Nothing hooks young learners like sharks! This black-and-white nonfiction booklet is ideal for pre-K and kindergarten students learning about ocean animals. Here’s what’s included:

A student-friendly informational reader about sharks (printable and numbered for ease!)

A note-taking worksheet to guide early research skills

A research form students can complete

A craft that helps bring learning to life

Use it for independent work, small group reading, or as part of a larger ocean unit.

 Bonus idea: Have students research their favorite shark fact and share it with the class on a "Shark Scientist" poster!

Take your ocean unit deeper with a bundle of 8 animal fact booklets PLUS a full set of directed drawing activities!

Animals included:

Shark

Jellyfish

Seahorse

Whale

Octopus

Dolphin

Starfish

Crab

Every animal booklet includes: Informational pages, research forms and note-taking worksheets, center activities, directed drawing pages to build confidence and creativity.

This bundle is great for differentiated learning, center rotations, or as part of a research project wall display. Here's another resource found in my store - How to Draw Ocean Animals. 

Add these picture books to your Shark Week read-alouds or classroom library:

"Clark the Shark" by Bruce Hale - A fun and relatable story about energy, self-control, and friendship.

"The Shark Book" by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page - A beautifully illustrated nonfiction book packed with facts.

"Shark Lady" by Jess Keating - A biography of Eugenie Clark, a scientist who defied stereotypes and studied sharks with love and respect.

"Smiley Shark" by Ruth Galloway - A sweet story about being yourself and finding your place in the ocean.

"If Sharks Disappeared" by Lily Williams - A simple but powerful introduction to ecosystems and the importance of sharks in ocean balance.

Shark Week Activity Ideas:

Here are some no-prep and low-prep ways to celebrate Shark Week:

 Shark Research Report – Use the fact booklet and let students draw and write about their favorite shark fact.

 Shark Craft & Ocean Bulletin Board – Display their crafts and facts with a “Swim into Shark Week!” theme.

 Directed Drawing Center – Set up a space where kids can choose their favorite ocean animal to draw and write about.

 Ocean Animal Match Game – Create simple picture-word cards to match animals with their names or facts.

 Shark Week Photo Booth – Let students pose with shark hats, ocean backdrops, and their completed crafts for a fun Shark Week memory.

Wrap-Up: Make a Splash with Learning!

Shark Week gives us the chance to spark curiosity, build early research skills, and have a little fun along the way. With resources like the Shark Fact Booklet and the How to Draw Ocean Animals bundle, you’ll have everything you need to immerse your students in joyful, hands-on learning all week long. 

Products may be found in my store.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Celebrate Cow Appreciation Day

Get ready to say moo! and celebrate one of the most beloved animals on the farm — the cow! Cow Appreciation Day (July 8) is the perfect opportunity to introduce young learners to farm animals through reading, drawing, writing, and hands-on fun.

This special day fits beautifully into a farm-themed unit, and I’m excited to share two of my favorite resources to help you bring cows to life in your classroom. Whether you’re exploring animal life cycles, where our food comes from, or just enjoying some barnyard fun, this blog post has everything you need to make the day memorable.

Curious little learners will love diving into this kid-friendly nonfiction booklet all about cows! It's ideal for early research projects or thematic animal studies in pre-K and kindergarten.

Here's what's included:

A black-and-white informational book about cows

A worksheet for note-taking

A research form for student responses

A fun cow craft to wrap up the learning

Whether used independently or in guided groups, students will gain a deeper understanding of cows while strengthening early literacy and research skills.

Ready for a farm art session? This engaging resource - How to Draw Farm Animals - allows students to draw and write about farm animals — from pigs to peacocks! With 3 levels of writing, it’s easy to differentiate and let every learner shine.

Animals included:

Cow 

Pig 

Sheep 

Duck, goat, chicken, donkey, alpaca, peacock, and horse

Directed drawing activities are great for:

Fine motor development

Listening and direction-following

Building writing confidence

Pair the cow drawing with your fact booklet for a creative literacy extension!

Here are some great read-alouds and classroom favorites to add to your Cow Appreciation Day celebration:

“Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” by Doreen Cronin - A hilarious tale of farmyard rebellion and negotiation — always a hit!

“The Cow That Laid an Egg” by Andy Cutbill - A sweet and silly story about a cow learning self-worth and feeling special.

“Cows Can Moo! Can You?” by Bonnie Worth (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) - A fun and informative book with Dr. Seuss-style rhymes and facts about farm animals.

“Mrs. Wishy-Washy’s Farm” by Joy Cowley - Repetitive and engaging text makes this a read-aloud favorite for early learners.

Clayton the Energetic Cow by Daniel Green

  Clayton is a cow with boundless energy who learns that being different is a gift when he finds the perfect way to help others on the farm.

Make Cow Appreciation Day extra fun with these cow activities:

Cow Craft & Fact Display – Complete the fact booklet and attach the cow craft to a “We’re Wild About Cows!” wall display.

Farm Animal Directed Drawing – Let students choose their favorite farm animal to draw and write about, then share with the class.

Milk & Dairy Taste Test – Try cheese, yogurt, or different types of milk and chart the class favorites.

Cow Pattern Counting – Use black-and-white cow spots for patterning, sorting, or addition practice.

Moo-sical Chairs – A fun twist on musical chairs with cow-themed music or sound effects.

Cow Appreciation Day is more than just a celebration — it’s a chance to teach kids about farm animals, food sources, kindness to animals, and rural life. With your Cow Fact Booklet and How to Draw Farm Animals, you have everything you need to make the day educational, artistic, and just plain fun.

So grab your farmer hat, print those pages, and get ready to moo-ve into learning!

These resources may be found in my store: 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher