Happy Holidays Inclusive Activities For The Classroom

 

Exclusively Inclusive!

Life skills for a better world all wrapped up in holiday activities! 

Whether you are a homeschooler or a classroom teacher, you will love these new activities for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and More. 

Planetpals NO PREP activities are not only clever and fun but unqiue! Kids learn life skills. One of a kind for Kindness, Inclusiveness, ways to a better world. Classroom, homeschool or home. 

Check out what's new! 

Here are three of our newest for the Holiday Season.

A lesson on a world of holidays

A Star of an activity

Tick Tock It's Time for Kindness

Stage Is Set For A Funtastic Recycle Reading Craft!

Dioramas: A Wonderful Way To Teach Recycling And Reuse. A Very Creative Learning Activity

Recycle a box and make a diorama to stage a scene from your next book report assignment. 

Whether you are a teacher or homeschool mom, this is a great project to help your kids get more out of their next book. Make it as a school assignment, homework or reading play. It encourages creativity and takes the reading to another level. Did I say it teaches Reuse and recycle, too?

Here, Chris illustrated a scene for his book report with a box, some paper rolls and pieces of paper and cloth.  He did a great job, don't you think!

Learn about many of our recycle craft ideas at Planetpals

Alternative Activities And Ideas For A Covid Halloween That Won't Spook You!

It's scary! It sure is a game-changer this year in every way, Halloween is no different. 

So, with that in mind, many of you are wondering how to handle Halloween this year.  Many grapple with whether to take your children out trick or treating or to holiday parties.  We hear that gatherings are a source of the Coronavirus virus spreading, and touching another source. It's obvious that many people do not want their kids putting their hands in bowls of candy and many home-owners don't want to hand candy out. How do you social distance and still have fun & keep the tradition? Make a new tradition! 

What SPOOKTacular things can you do for a Covid Halloween?  

Here are some alternative ideas for a safe and fun Halloween for your family, classmates and friends. Some of them so great, you may want to incorporate them every year! 

In each case you can have the kids help make Halloween themed treats, serve Halloween candies, dress up in Halloween costumes, give prizes, whatever you can dream up.

• Have a Family Halloween Party at home: Serve a special dinner or dessert Halloween themed. 
• Have a Halloween Movie Night: Choose a Halloween movie you all will enjoy!
• Have Halloween Dessert Party: Easy as pie! Ghostly treats, fun to eat!
• Have a Halloween Candy Scavenger Hunt: Hide candy around the house or yard.
• Have a Halloween Drawing Contest: Fun for the creative crew.  Display them all month!
• Have  a Halloween light show & decorating event.  Not just for Christmas anymore! Do a drive by or walk by with neighbors (social distancing of course).
• Have a Zoom Halloween Party:  This will work for family, friends or school classmates. Show off your costumes, decorations, artwork and treats!
• Have a Halloween Craft Night: Choose some creative crafts, be a Planetpal and RE-use them to decorate next year!
• Lots of Halloween Craft and Food Ideas in Planetpals Halloween Journal, too. Don't miss one Boo-tiful thing!

As you can see there are lots of alternatives.  Who knows they may be so much fun taht they can become a tradition for years to come. 

Happy Hal-OHOH-ween!

Clean and Green Ideas For Back to School

Here are a few ways you can help the planet this school year...Remember, every litter bit helps!

• Take your lunch in a reusable lunch box, or cloth bag instead of paper bags..
• Recycle any packaging in your lunch box.
• Pack a cloth napkin instead of paper one. You can reuse it! Just count all your school days...that's how many paper napkins you saved.
• Cover your books in recycled paper bags or wrap... decorate them yourself, they could look fun and you might start a trend!
• Use up last years school supplies before you buy new ones.
• Use the reverse side of scrap paper for your first drafts of writing, art and math projects.
• Keep a "craft box" of discards you think might be handy for class projects during the year...mark it "my craft box" so noone will mistake it for trash! Keep things like empty yogurt containers, elastics, string etc...that might interesting and useful for your art.
• Take the bus or Car pool with friends...have your mom's take turns...It's fun to go to school in groups and you save lots of gas!.
• Ask your teacher to put up Planetpals recycle kits posters to remind everyone at school about recycling.
• Click here for more recycle ideas for everyday

See our #backtoschool board on Pinterest for more back to school ideas! 

We have over 100 boards of educational content on Pinterest

and over 1,000 pages of educational content on Planetpals.com 

Our new TPT store!

Funny Punny Playful Humor To Educate Kids During Covid Times

We created a Covid Lesson that comes at a time of uncertainty and frustration for educators and students alike!

Just one of the fun items in this 13 page bundle.

It is meant to be a solution! To open up dialog and act as inspiration, as well as humor and lightheartedness for these unusual times.

The lessons, poem and cartoons enable students to learn what they can do to help themselves and others. It teaches responsibility and enables them.

It can easily be adapted to many age groups and used both in remote and classroom settings.

The CORNAVIRUS BUG BUNDLE Includes 13 Pages (PDF and PNG formats):

• The CORNAVIRUS BUG KIT Includes:
• 2 Page Lesson
• 1 Page Game Board
• 1 Page Poem
• 1 Writing / Drawing Page
• 1 Clip Art Page
• 1 Greeting Card To Assemble
• 6 Cartoon Posters

Health, Wellness, Solutions.

Get it! TeacherPayTeachers/Planetpals 

DIY No Sew Cut Out Face Mask

DIY Mask 

Now that Coronavirus terms like social distance, stay safe, six feet away are the new normal,  masks are a an adornment, as well as a necessity. 

Why not try this clever one piece mask!

  

It's socially responsible to wear a mask to help protect others as well as ourselves.

Whether you want to make your own fashionable masks, need a last minute mask, or just want to get crafty, here is a simple, no sew, one piece, cut out mask you can do all by yourself. I suggest a flexible jersey fabric.  But it works on many fabrics. Best with stretchable materials. Why not Re-use and repurpose a T shirt! 

These masks are washable, too and can be reused!

Just download this FREE Mask template now: (includes instructions!)

Remote Learning Resources: Distance Learning Solutions, Ideas & Options

In this new world of social distancing, pandemic solutions, coronavirus fears, stay at home, stuck at home and distance learning, we are all scampering around trying to find options, ideas and solutions.

Learn More About Planetpals Lessons for Distance Learning

If you need resources that are inspiring, fun, and light hearted for kids to learn about their world, earth science, life skills and health, try some of Planetpals activities!  They stand the test of time, are unique and playful.  Just what we need in these days of emotional turmoil and a complete turn around in what our school day is.

For one, Check out Planetpals Resources for health ideas, safety tips, exercise and the importance of healthy tips that work for this strange new world.

Buy PP Healthy Lifestyle Lesson

Amuse them with Planetpals eco tips that cover a multitude of wordly topics with punny and funny playfulness. and work for any age!

Get PP Flash Cards

Our Earth and environmental lessons are informative, fascinating and clever, not to mention, have been successful in education for decades.

See All of Planetpals Lessons

There's lots more so check out Planetpals TPT Store.

Happy Healthy Hopeful Earth Day 2020 50th Anniversary!

As we approach today's 50th anniversary, it is with sadness that our Earth is experiencing such trying times with the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.  As the world stands still, however, the planet and nature are returning to a more natural and stress free state.

Happy Healthy Hopeful Earth Day 2020 50th Anniversary!

Let us all learn from this, how precious our lives are and the planet that we live on is!  Let's try to continue to use less of everything, spew less gasses in the air and dump less on our lands.

Perhaps we can find a happy medium between consumption and need,  and above all, not enter upon greed. 

So, to this we say, Happy Healthy and Hopeful Earth Day!

Planetpals.com  / Planetpalsblog.com  / Facebook.com/Planetpals /  Planetpals Store 

Coronavirus Pandemic Quick Tips You Will Want To Know

It's a strange time right now, some may even say it's a bit scary.  But, being knowledgable can help you and your family and friends stay safe and well. Knowledge is power!

We have gathered a bunch of tips from the experts on how to stay safe. Simple and easy to follow. So, while you are social distancing and when you are not, be mindful, stay well, take precautions. Share them with friends. That way we all help one and other! 
For up to date notifications and info follow our PLANETPALS facebook page.

Meanwhile, here is a sample of Planetpals Safety Tips created to date:

 

Get them in real time on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Pages.  Stay Healthy!

Spread Cheer Not Virus - Keep Your Distance Coronavirus Pandemic Humor

Do You Need To Humor Yourself And Others?

We have plenty of humor for you to send during this Pandemic. 
Created by Planetpals artist Judith Gorgone.

Available on Greeting Card Universe.  Did you know you can have cards sent to you? You can also pick them up at places like Target...but be careful and keep your distance! We want to spread cheer but not virus! Available on products and t shirts at Redbubble . 

Pandemic Cards / Pandemic Products

Designs © artist Judith Gorgone

Check out these Pandemic PRODUCTS

Check out these Pandemic CARDS 

 

          

    

Pandemic Cards / Pandemic Products
More designs available!

Pandemic Waste: With Coronavirus The Gloves & Wipes Waste Unimaginable

Covid 19 has our health system as well as all of us working backward. We are tossing materials out like mad for fear of contamination.

Single-Use Unneccesary Disposal - What Can You Do? 

That doesn't just include hospitals using gloves and gowns, but individuals tossing single use gloves, masks, and wipes on a daily basis!  

Not only is it a recycle mess it's a social mess! People are afraid of the contaminants and just disposing of them everywhere. In shopping carts on the street, in the parking lots.

Hopefully, stores, businesses, gas stations, etc will place disposable recycle boxes outside their exit doors for gloves and wipes to help us recycle.  Gloves and wipes have to be disposed of differently than toilet paper or tissues. 

Here are a number of topics and solutions I found. Some solutions for small businesses and large and information guides: 

Recycle Disposable Wipes 
Recycle Gloves
Terracycle Disposable Boxes
Kimberly Clark Right Cycle 
Clean Hands Eco Friendly Alternatives

Be green! Think Clean EARTH. Be a Planetpal!

During Social Distancing and Distance Learning Why Not Nature Journal!

Journals can be a great learning experience all year long

For links to these projects go to Planetpals Pinterest Nature Journal Board

What better learning experience is there than to document nature's splendor, with a nature diary! It's a great project for any age including kids!  Anyone can draw, write, record and photograph what they see.

Any season is a season for Journaling; 

Spring means outdoors for many who have cooped up all winter, like birds and bugs, trees and plants.   Summer is a time for thriving for many plants and animals, caring for their young, plants blooming and harvesting.  As well, Autumn harvests and the storing and shedding of animals and plants.  Winter is time for hibernation and wild weather patterns. Let's face it, all year long nature evolves, the skies not only change through the seasons, but change day and night, as do the tides. 

The changing seasons are a perfect time to think of Journaling.  

Journaling is a wonderful pastime and an educational hobby. With the changing season comes changes in nature. You can track the seasons of trees and flowers.  You can track nature's life cycles like that of a butterfly from and egg to a caterpillar to a full grown butterfly. You can watch animals come out of, or prepare and go into, hibernation.

Things you can record in a Journal:

Learn to look for patterns in nature such as heart shaped leaves, camouflage or repetitive patterns. Find nests and cocoons, take photos of changing leaves, sprouting flowers and new blossoming plants. Watch gardens grow and the changing seaside.  Learn what different species eat, which ones are endangered,  and learn about the food chain. Collect different kinds of natural species or their parts such as shells or barks from trees. Or simply find the beauty in any natural thing!

Here is a list of additional ideas for a Seasonal Journal:

• Color in Nature
• Art in Nature
• Anatomy and Architecture
• Planted Seedlings
• Budding and Blooming Flowers
• Budding and Blooming Trees
• Birds and Nests
• Bugs and Insects
• Cacoons and Bee Hives
• Hybernation and Habitats
• Otters and Damns
• Breeding and Birth
• Sky and Clouds
• Changing Leaves
• Collecting bark, leaves, insects or shells
• More 

© Judith Gorgone Designs www.gorgone.com

How to document in your Journal:

• Draw
• Paint
• Photograph
• Write Stories
• Write Poems
• Write Haiku
• Describe Objects
• Color Match
• Collect specimens
• Save seeds
• Collect images from magazines
• Decorate

How to make a Scrapbook:

• Buy a notebook or scrapbook
• Use any kind of paper
• Use paper 
• Use cloth
• Recycle papers, scraps and bags
• Recycle cardboard

See many more ideas and download helpers here:

• A Printable Nature Journal for you to download for free.
• Free Nature Discovery Kit to Download
• Our Nature Magazine of additional articles and ideas for you to explore.
• DIY Nature Journal Ideas Pinterest Board
• Our Creative Art Journal Ideas Pinterest Board

Download Planetpals Free Nature Diary FREE Here.

Be a Planetpal!  Come up with some natural ideas and recycle ideas you can use in your journal and share it with us!