A fun and creative art activity to celebrate Diwali (Deepavali), the Hindu Festival of Lights. ACTIVITY 1 Draw patterns on the hand templates using a black pen/marker/ink (there are lots of images on the internet to get inspiration). Cut out and display on a coloured background. ACTIVITY 2 Draw patterns in the hands of the boy/girl. Colour the rest of the picture. Three different templates provided (boy, girl, unisex). ACTIVITY 3 Draw patterns in the hand template and write an acrostic poem. Write your name or a fact about Diwali in the box under the handprint. INCLUDED: ♦ Teacher notes. ♦ Handprints – template. ♦ Handprints – template with border. ♦ Handprints – with coloured background (x2). ♦ Example – designs on hands with a coloured background. ♦ Example - designs on hands with a plain white background. ♦ Handprints – boy/girl/unisex. ♦ Single handprint with acrostic poem template. ♦ Single handprint (2 per page). ********************************************************************* © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Alphabetical Order. Worksheets for students to cut, group, order and glue words into alphabetical order. 3 different levels: * all words have a different starting letter * some words have the same starting letter * all words have the same starting letter 2 different worksheets at each level. 2 A5 size worksheets on A4 paper. Blank template included. Answer sheets included. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A creative classroom activity for celebrating Matariki (the Māori New Year). Hiwa-i-te-rangi is one of the 9 stars in the Matariki star cluster. It is known as the ‘wishing star’. This star has a connection to our hopes, dreams and aspirations for the year ahead. The Process: 1. Draw patterns in the spaces around the star shape (use a black ball-point pen). 2. Colour. 3. Write a wish in the star. 4. Cut out around the outside black frame. 5. Display on the wall (you may like to do this so it looks like a patchwork quilt). Three different templates are provided for you to select from. Two templates have pre-drawn patterns in the boxes at the bottom, and one is blank so your students can design their own patterns. Included: ♦ Instructions ♦ Information card about Hiwa-i-te-rangi ♦ Template A – with patterns ♦ Template B – with patterns ♦ Template C - blank (draw your own patterns) Made on A4 size paper. Finished size of artwork (after cutting it out) is approx 18cm x 18cm. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

43 activity sheets for students working at the Magenta, Red, Yellow and Blue levels of the NZ reading colour wheel. ♦ Write your name. ♦ Trace the words. ♦ Write the words by yourself. ♦ Cut the words out (at the bottom of the sheet). ♦ Glue the words into the correct place. Magenta – 9 activity sheets. Red – 10 activity sheets. Yellow – 11 activity sheets. Blue – 13 activity sheets. The font used is ‘NZ Basic Script’. The letter shapes are the same as those recommended in the NZ Ministry of Education Handbook – ‘Teaching Handwriting’. A4 size. The level is written in the bottom left corner on each worksheet. Words Used: Magenta: I like going is mum look the am said to at went in me here my on dad a and come up can sat for Red: we get put with go no they today was where you she he this are will as too not but likes down big it little see so looked Yellow: when came one it’s make an all back day into oh out play ran do take that then there him saw his got looking of yes mother from her baby father Blue: have help here’s home let need again laugh soon talked could had find end making under very were your walk girl about don’t last what now goes because next than fun bag coming did or cake run ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

New Zealand high frequency sight words. Upper and lower case word matching activity for words in the Magenta to Orange levels. Words are written with the NZ Basic Script font. Provided in both colour and black/white . Ideas: ♦ Match the cards to make pairs. ♦ Play ‘memory’. ♦ Play ‘snap’. High frequency words align to the NZ reading colour wheel: ♦ magenta (25 words) ♦ red (28 words) ♦ yellow (31 words) ♦ blue (37 words) ♦ green (49 words) ♦ orange (63 words) Words Used: Magenta: I like going is mum look the am said to at went in me here my on dad a and come up can sat for Red: we get put with go no they today was where you she he this are will as too not but likes down big it little see so looked Yellow: when came one it’s make an all back day into oh out play ran do take that then there him saw his got looking of yes mother from her baby father Blue: have help here’s home let need again laugh soon talked could had find end making under very were your walk girl about don’t last what now goes because next than fun bag coming did or cake run Green: always good walked know please them use want feel just left best house old their right over love still took thank you school much brother sister round another myself new some asked called made people children away water how Mrs if I’m Mr who didn’t can’t after our time most Orange: man think long things wanted eat everyone two thought dog well more I’ll tree shouted us other food through way been stop must red door sea these began boy animals never work first lots that’s gave something bed may found live say night small three head town I’ve around every garden fast only many laughed let’s suddenly told word forgot better bring push ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

NZ Essential Spelling Lists 1-8 Word Cards Words written in ‘NZ Basic Script’ font. List 8 – commonly misspelt words. Each list has a different coloured border. These colours match the lists in my other Essential Spelling List Resource – 5 words on a card. Click here to view. 10 words on each A4 piece of paper. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Computer Keyboard Template Included: ♦ blank ♦ black and white ♦ dark grey ♦ light grey ♦ blue ♦ pink ♦ green © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A laptop / keyboard template for you to use however you wish! Suggestions would be to display things in the screen …. Computer rules, how to …, word of the day, reminder notices, etc. You could laminate it and write on it with a whiteboard marker or you could simply pin things to the screen. The templates: ♦ Grey ♦ Blue ♦ Pink ♦ Green ♦ Purple Designed on A3 size paper. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Stick puppet templates (black and white) for the story ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. Templates Include: • Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear • Goldilocks • Porridge Bowls x3 • Chairs x3 • Beds x3 • Broken Chair • Goldilocks’ mother • Goldilocks’ house • Three Bears’ house • Forest pathway • Goldilocks sleeping in bed • Goldilocks waking in bed Template Options: There are 2 different templates for the Bears – happy face and confused face. There are 2 different templates for Goldilocks – happy and shocked/surprised. Attach these back-to-back with a craft stick in between. Simply turn it around to show the change of emotion during the story. A template is also provided of Goldilocks without any facial features. Your students can identify her emotions as they change throughout the story and then draw them on the template. There are also 2 different templates for Papa and Mama Bear’s bed – nicely made and slept in. Great for story retell, oral language development, puppetry skills, imaginative play, etc. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Celebrate the Māori New Year with this writing/art activity. Write a haiku poem on the feather template. Add colour and cut it out. Join the class feathers together to make a korowai (Māori cloak). Included: ♦ Haiku framework chart ♦ Example poem ♦ Feather template – with lines for writing ♦ Feather template – without lines Please note that information/instructions are not included for the making of the korowai. To see examples, please do an image search online (Matariki feather cloaks). The Haiku Poem: The haiku poem is a simple, 3-line poem that involves counting syllables. The framework is: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Early finishers can use the feather template without the lines to create additional decorative feathers that can then be interspersed between the haiku feathers. Made on A4 size paper. Two feathers per sheet. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A fun, easy craft activity for celebrating Diwali (The Festival of Lights). Follow the instructions to make a diya out of salt dough and leave it to air dry for a few days. Decorate before drying (like the images provided), or dry and then paint/decorate. MAKING THE DIYA: Resources to assist with making the diya include: ♦ Teacher notes (with lots of ideas and hints). ♦ Recipe for your students to follow (makes 1 diya). ♦ Sequencing Cards – use as a recipe or as a sequencing task before making. These include pictures and text. WRITING TASKS: Two writing tasks are included as a follow-up to the craft activity. ♦ procedural / instructional writing (3 different templates). ♦ newspaper report writing (2 different templates plus an example). One of the newspaper reports is a fill-in-the-blanks template which is suitable for junior students. The instructions state to air dry the diya (takes a few days) but you could choose to dry it in the oven to speed up the process (details included in the teacher notes). WHAT YOU NEED: Flour, salt and water. Things to decorate it with (buttons, beads, shells, glitter, paint, etc). If you have junior students, this is a great activity for you to do with a buddy class who are a bit older. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

This is an easy, super-fun improvisation activity that you can do in the classroom with your students. The activity: Two students are acting out a scene … the teacher calls ‘freeze’ …. one of the actors is replaced by another student who recreates the pose … the new actor reads a short statement from a card that they get from the teacher and they begin acting out a new scenario. This resource contains: 120 statement cards. Comprehensive teacher notes. Loads of laughter is guaranteed! Simple and effective. Your students will love it! © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Do you need some handwriting goals for your lessons? Well, here is a set of 12 ‘handwriting target’ cards. Each card has a target board with a pencil/arrow hitting the centre. A word beginning with the letter ‘S’ is written next to it (eg size, slope, spacing, speed …). Fun and easy for your students to remember. Included: ♦ 12 target cards (2 per page) ♦ teacher notes (brief outline of the 12 target words) ♦ visual prompts for assessment (targets and stars) Great for: ♦ forming success criteria in handwriting lessons ♦ deciding individual goals in handwriting lessons ♦ as a wall display A great reminder for what students need to do to earn a ‘pen licence’. For a great pen licence template, click here The font used on the cards is ‘NZ Basic Script’. The letter shapes are the same as those recommended in the NZ Ministry of Education Handbook – ‘Teaching Handwriting’. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Cursive Handwriting - copy cards and tracing cards. Included: ♦ Alphabet reference chart showing the letter formation of Aa to Zz. ♦ Word cards – 5 words per card. 3 cards per page. For looking at and writing in your book. Eg. write one whole line of each word. ♦ Alphabet tracing cards. Basic letter formation – lower case and capital letters. Letters and words. ‘Dotty’ letter font. For laminating and using a whiteboard marker on them. 1 letter per page. Note to NZ buyers: unlike my other handwriting resources, this resource is not made with the NZ handwriting font. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Stick puppet templates (black and white) for the story ‘The Gingerbread Man’. Templates Include: * Gingerbread Man * Gingerbread Man – blank (A) * Gingerbread Man – blank (B) * Old Man * Old Lady * Cottage * Oven * Fox * Horse * Pig * Cow * Dog * Cat * Blank Template The old man and old lady templates do not have any facial features. Your students can decide what sort of emotion the characters need and then draw the eyes, nose and mouth. Great for story retell, oral language development, puppetry skills, imaginative play, etc. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Stick puppet templates (black and white) for the story ‘The Little Red Hen. Various animals are included due to the many different versions of the story. Simply print the ones you need. Templates Include: * Hen * Cat * Rat / Mouse * Pig * Horse * Cow * Dog * Duck * Goat * Wheat seeds * Packet of seeds * Watering can and plants * Wheat * Mill * Flour * Oven * Bread * Blank template Great for story retell, oral language development, puppetry skills, imaginative play, etc. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

Great swimming pool game that helps with water confidence. Ship/Pirate/Ocean theme. 34 command cards to print and laminate. Each card has the command, a visual cue, and the action. Stand at the side of the pool, call out a command and hold up the card. Students complete the action. Continue in this way. You can play it where the last student to do the action is eliminated, or just keep playing and encourage water confidence and movement. A great game to play as a warm up activity or as a fun game at the end of a swimming lesson. Play with as many commands/cards as you wish. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Includes teacher notes and instructions on how to play the game. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A fun set of word pattern strips. Use as a literacy task or make it part of your algebra unit when looking at patterns in math. This resource contains 12 x Strips to identify the pattern and continue it. 12 x Strips to find the missing word Pattern reference (teacher guide) Student recording sheet and teacher answer sheet (for the ‘find the missing word’ strips) A blank template for students to make up their own word patterns. The set of word pattern strips are provided in 2 different formats. Simply print the format you want to use. For example: • Cat, duck, cow, dog, camel, dragon… • Cat, duck, ___, dog, camel, dragon … So there are 12 different patterns and 24 different strips. There are many different possible answers for all of the word patterns in this resource, but the answer must follow the ‘rule’. For example, in the list above, any animal that begins with the letter ‘c’ would fit in the gap. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A fun, effective art activity for your students to complete and give to their mother on Mother’s Day. It looks tricky …. but it is very simple! The artwork involves drawing a number of straight lines between the dots on a template. Your students will get a thrill when the curves just appear! Included: ♦ dotty template. ♦ template with lines (this can be used to show the completed design, or for a ‘colouring only’ activity). ♦ example of finished, coloured artwork. ♦ simple, clear instructions (with images). I have provided 8 steps to complete the line art. Each step is on one page. The instructions are suitable for displaying via a data projector so all of your students can refer to it and self-check. The Process: ♦ Draw the lines. ♦ Draw a stem, leaves, flower pot, etc. ♦ Write words/phrases in the petals that describe your Mother. ♦ Colour/decorate. ♦ Give to your Mother. This activity is also suitable as a general art activity. You don’t have to use it for Mother’s Day. Have a student that doesn’t celebrate Mother’s Day? No problem. They can make the flower and decorate it in a different way. Skill enhancement: ruling straight lines with precision. Keywords: parabolic curves, string art, line art, geometry, flower, math, ruler, straight lines. © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources

A simple craft activity for your students to make to celebrate Waitangi Day. 1. Colour the flag on the front and the writing on the back. 2. Cut around the outside border. 3. Fold in half. Place a wooden skewer (or similar object such as a drinking straw) at the half-way point. 4. Glue the inside so the two halves stick together. Templates for these 4 Flags: * Flag of the United Tribes of NZ – the first national flag, adopted in 1834. * Union Jack – NZ’s flag after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. * New Zealand Flag – formally adopted in 1902. * Tino Rangatiratanga (National Māori Flag) – launched shortly before Waitangi Day in 1990. Refer to the images above to see 3 of these flags. 2 templates per A4 page. Sharp colouring pencils or fine-tip markers are best to use in this activity (especially for the NZ flag as the areas to colour are quite small). Approximate size: 13.5cm x 7cm when finished. ********************************************************************** © Suzanne Welch Teaching Resources