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Each month I provide a free calendar set in my newsletter. These free calendar sets could be displayed on a bulletin board or placed inside a pocket chart. Below is my June Calendar Set and the link to download it. The June title is a 2 page banner that should fit in most standardized monthly pocket charts that many teachers use. I have designed large June days of the week that you may find useful. The calendar number dates also fit in pocket charts, and I have included a blank square and a birthday square to use. There are 11 pages in this free PDF June Calendar Set.
Click here to download Free June Calendar Set
June Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of June?
Below, you will find a list of general June writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for June with corresponding creative writing ideas and topics.
I have created this list of June writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students, but many of these creative writing ideas and topics would also be appropriate for other grade levels.
You will find June writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:
- You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas for this writing prompt idea.
- You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to this writing prompt idea.
General June Writing Prompts:
Next year you'll be in a different class with a new teacher. Write a letter to your next year’s teacher, telling him/her the most important things that you learned this year. What advice would you give children who will soon be starting the grade that you are now completing?My favorite memories of this school yearI’ve improved in _____ this school yearMy goals for next school yearCreate a new water park. Give your new theme park a name and describe the most popular water rides that are at your park.A vacation I will always rememberDesign a postcard from a place that you visited or would like to visit. On the front of the postcard, draw a picture of a place that you saw. On the back, write a letter to a friend about this vacation.My SPACE-tacular vacationMy dream summer holidayMy dream summer camp A fun roller coaster rideA weird day at the zooLost at the zoo What is your favorite summer memory? How old were you when it happened?Do you like the summer heat or do you spend most of your time in the cool, air-conditioned indoors? How do you think people coped with the heat before air conditioning and electric fans were invented?
June Celebrations, Events,
Holidays, and Dates in History:
National Fruit and Vegetable Month
June is National Fruit and Vegetable Month. - Keep a record of the fruits and vegetables that you eat for an entire week.
- Some children don’t enjoy eating fruits and vegetables. Write a paragraph convincing children of the importance of eating the daily, recommended amount of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Create a poster highlighting the importance of eating fruits and vegetables each day.
- A website that has information for children about fruits and vegetables, as well as some games is: http://www.freshforkids.com.au/index2.html
June 4
On June 4, 1896, Henry Ford put the finishing touches on his gasoline-powered motor car. He was 32 years old and he worked in a tiny workshop behind his home. He called his creation the Quadricycle because it ran on four bicycle tires. The success of the little vehicle lead to Henry Ford founding the Ford Motor Company in 1903. - Show your students a picture of Henry Ford’s quadricycle. You can find a picture of his quadricycle at: http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/showroom/1896/quad.html
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How have the style and designs of automobiles changed from the quadricycle to the cars of today? - What do you think the cars of the future will look like? Design a car of the future and write about the special features of your car.
June 8
June 8 is Best Friends Day. - Who was your first best friend? Describe this friend and what made this friend so special.
- Write these quotes on the board and have your students respond in writing to them: Gems may be precious, but friends are priceless. The best vitamin for making friends is B-1.
June 12
Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929 in Germany. The Frank family moved to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, in 1933 and this is where Anne Frank lived most of her life. Anne Frank is one of the most well known Jewish victims of the Holocaust because of her diary, which was first published as a book, in Dutch, in 1947. Anne was a Jewish girl that hid with her family and friends in Amsterdam during World War II. She wrote a diary chronicling her story. Since then, millions of people have read the thoughts and hopes of one young girl and have been inspired by them. - Share these quotes from Anne Frank with your students and have them write a response to one of them:
- (1) Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!
- (2) It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.
- A website that has a lot of information and photographs of Anne Frank is: http://www.annefrank.org/
June 14
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. Flag Day recognizes the adoption of the flag of the United States, which occurred by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777, on June 14. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union. It is said that the color white on the flag signifies purity and innocence, red signifies valor and bravery, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. - Design a flag for your school or city.
- Write a paragraph describing why you chose these symbols and colors for the flag that you designed.
- A website that has pictures and dates of the Evolution of the American flag is: http://www.united-states-flag.com/evolution-of-the-american-flag.html
June 15
June 15 is Smile Power Day. It takes twice as many muscles to frown as it does to smile. Smiling is the most recognized form of beauty, friendship, acceptance, and goodwill. - Write this quote on your board and ask your students to write what they think this quote means: "Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you."
- What can you do today to make someone smile?
- Write about a time that someone was sad and you helped cheer them up, or a time that you were sad and someone made you smile.
- Read your students 10 Reasons to Smile and then have them make up their own list of why it is great to smile. http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm
June 17
June 17 is Eat Your Vegetables Day and on this day, people are encouraged to eat vegetables for every meal, and for a snack. - What is your favorite vegetable to eat? Which is your least favorite vegetable to eat?
- Make a list of all the vegetables that you can think of. Circle the ones that you do not eat regularly and should add to your diet. Write yourself a letter advising how you should include eating more vegetables in your daily diet.
- Vegetables for Kids has some fun stories about vegetables that you can read to your students, as well as some talking vegetables. http://www.vegetables-for-kids.com/vegetables-for-kids.htm
Third Sunday of June
Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. - There is a popular saying “Fathers Know Best.”
- Write about a time that your father helped you or gave you some good advice about a problem that you had.
June 25
Eric Carle was born on June 25, 1929 in Syracuse, New York. He is a children's author and illustrator. He is most well known for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been translated into over 47 languages. Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 88 million copies of his books have sold around the world. His most well known stories are based on his knowledge and love of nature and in his books, Eric Carle offers his readers the opportunity to learn something about the world around them. - Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to your students.
- Have your students write a poem about caterpillars.
- Click the following underlined link to go to my web page that contains a caterpillar poetry writing template that you can use to complete this activity with: http://www.uniqueteachingresources.com/caterpillar-poems.html
- You can find Eric Carle’s home page at: http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html
June 27
Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When Helen Keller was 19 months old she contracted an illness that might have been scarlet fever or meningitis. Helen recovered, but the illness left her deaf and blind. - If Helen Keller were born today her life would undoubtedly have been completely different.
- How would the technology available today to blind and deaf/blind individuals have helped Helen Keller?
- Show your students this video in which Anne Sullivan explains how she taught Helen Keller how to speak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv1uLfF35Uw
Since this newsletter covers both June and July, below is a free download for my July calendar set.
Click here to download Free July Calendar Set
July Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of July?
Below, you will find a list of general July writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for July with corresponding creative writing ideas and topics.
I have created this list of July writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students, but many of these creative writing ideas and topics would also be appropriate for other grade levels.
You will find July writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:
- You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas for this writing prompt idea.
- You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to this writing prompt idea.
General July Writing Prompts:
My dream summer holidayMy SPACE-tacular vacationMy dream summer camp Sunshine makes me feelOn a hot day, I …Too much sunshineHot, Hot, Hot!If I were a beach ballThe case of the disappearing beach ball A day at the beachA fun roller coaster rideA weird day at the zooLost at the zoo A day at the farm A perfect picnicThe day the lawnmower went crazy Car wash craziness Water balloon warThe secret in the sandbox
July Celebrations, Events,
Holidays, and Dates in History:
July 4
In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is celebrated. July 4 is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. - Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. Why do you think that the United States celebrates the 4th of July with fireworks displays?
- What are the reasons that you are grateful to live in the United States?
July 11
The American children’s author E.B. White was born on July 11, 1899 in Mt. Vernon, New York. His first children's book, Stuart Little, was published in 1945, and his most famous book, Charlotte's Web, was published in 1952. - The main characters in Charlotte’s Web are a spider and a pig, and they become very good friends and help each other.
- Write a story about two other animals that that become good friends and help each other.
July 17 and 18
Disneyland Park was opened to the general public on July 18, 1955. A special International Press Preview event was held the day before on Sunday, July 17, 1955. - When the park first opened, it consisted of five themed areas: Main Street, U.S.A. (an early 20th century Midwest town based on Walt Disney's childhood), Adventureland (featuring jungle themed adventures), Frontierland, (illustrating the western frontier), Fantasyland (bringing fantasy into a reality), and Tomorrowland (looking into the future).
- Pretend that you worked for Walt Disney in 1955 and write an idea for a 6th themed area for Disneyland.
- Describe the theme for this area and the rides and buildings that would be included in this new area of Disneyland.
- What would it be like if Walt Disney was your father or grandfather?
July 24
Today is Amelia Earhart Day in honor of her birthday in on July 24, 1897. Earhart was the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean. - Write a story about Amelia Earhart being alive today and being an astronaut. What new flying record would she have achieved if she was still living today?
- Write about an exciting trip that you took and the method of transportation that was used to get to this place.
- An Amelia Earhart web page can be found here: http://www.ameliaearhart.com/
- Information about the Amelia Earhart museum can be found here: http://www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org/
Fourth Sunday in July
In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed into law the resolution unanimously adopted by the U. S. Congress establishing the fourth Sunday of every July as Parents' Day. Parents’ Day is established for recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children. - Make a list of chores and the ways that you can be helpful to your parents.
- During the weekend, try to accomplish as many of these chores as possible to show your parents that you appreciate them.
Recent Updates On
Unique Teaching Resources
I currently have 21 different book report sets available on Unique Teaching Resources. This month I added the following book report templates to my website: Sandwich, Wanted Poster, Biography Newspaper, and First Place Trophy End of Year Award.
Please click on the links below to go
to view any of these book report sets:
- Cheeseburger Book Report Set
- Sandwich Book Report Set
- Game Board Book Report Set
- Wanted Poster Book Report Set
- Movie Camera Book Report Set
- Biography Book Report Newspaper Set
- Character Body Book Report Set
- Main Character Vacation Suitcase Book Report Set
- Rocket Book Report Set
- Birthday Cake Book Report Set
- School Bus Book Report Set
- Dog Book Report Set
- Butterfly Book Report Sets (2)
- Caterpillar Book Report Sets (2)
- Dive Into Reading Book Reports (fish templates)
- Radio Book Report Set
- Mountain Story Map Book Report Set
- Computer Book Report Set
- Castle Book Report Set
- Sunflower Book Report Set
- 1st Place Trophy / Favorite Book Report Set
(Ideal for an end of year activity.)
New Creative Writing Resources!
This month I began on resources for three new areas of my website in the area of written expression.- Large Writing Templates
- Fun Poetry Templates
- General Year Long and Monthly Writing Prompts
These 3 pages can be found on my main left hand navigation bar under the teaching area of written expression.
These pages are in their early stages of development. If you have followed along with my book report web page, you will have noticed that I try to add 3-4 new book reports to this page each month. I will be doing the same with these new writing pages.
Large Writing Templates
Please click on the links below to view
these sets of large creative writing projects:
- Writing Myths: Large Sword Templates
- If I Was a Knight: Knight Helmet Writing Templates
- Family Tree Templates and Family Tree Newspaper
- Sunflower Writing Templates
- Butterfly Story Writing Templates
- Caterpillar Story Writing Templates
- Turtle Writing Templates
Fun Poetry Templates
Please click on the links below to view
these sets of fun poetry writing teaching resources:
- Caterpillar Poetry Templates
- Color Poems Using Ice Cream Templates
- Simile Snakes Poetry Templates
- Kite Poetry Templates
There are also poetry lesson plans for particular holidays and months that you can find on my poetry teaching resources page.
General Year Long and Monthly Writing Prompts
The third area of written expression that I worked on this month was ideas for writing prompts. The main page of my writing prompts contains ideas for topics that you can use with your students any time of the year. This page contains a large list of writing prompts which I have divided into the following categories:
- School
- Favorites
- Friendship
- Memories
- Personal and Feelings
- Famous People
- Animals
- Create or Invent
- What If (things that could possibly happen)
- What If (using your imagination)
- Story Starters (creative ideas for beginning stories)
On this page you will also find 12 monthly calendars that you can click on and this will take you to a new web page that contains writing prompts that are specific to that month's themes, topics, and holiday.
As a new feature of my monthly newsletter, I will include writing prompts for that month's newsletter, as I have in this newsletter. If you want to plan ahead, you can view these monthly writing prompts by visiting my main writing prompts page.
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to my newletter. Remember to download your free resources within 5 days of the date that it was sent.
Please be sure to check out the other pages on my website for a large variety of other teaching resources that will engage your students in learning and save you valuable time.
Have a wonderful and relaxing summer!
Sincerely, Heidi McDonald
Creator and Site Manager
Unique Teaching Resources
P.S. My next newsletter will be my
August/September/Back to School Issue.
I plan to send out this newsletter around August 10, 2010.
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