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

Celebrate America with July Products

July is the perfect time to dive into all things red, white, and blue! Whether you're teaching summer school, planning a patriotic unit, or just want to bring a little sparkle to your classroom or home activities, there are so many fun ways to explore the United States of America with young learners.

To make it easy and meaningful, I’m featuring two engaging resources that help kids learn about the USA through reading, drawing, and writing. Pair them with great read-aloud and hands-on activities for a well-rounded celebration!

Help your K–1 students explore the symbols, landmarks, and identity of the USA in a kid-friendly way! This black-and-white informational book can be used for:

 Independent reading or guided reading groups, simple country research projects, and cross-curricular connections to geography and culture. Each page is numbered for easy printing and student-friendly layout. There's also a create-your-own version so students can illustrate their own understanding — perfect for building ownership and creativity!

From the Statue of Liberty to a juicy hamburger, this drawing and writing pack turns patriotic learning into artful expression!

Students will enjoy step-by-step drawing activities paired with 3 levels of writing prompts, making it easy to differentiate. This set is great for:  Independence Day, art centers, sub plans or early finisher tasks, and creative writing lessons with a patriotic twist!

Some of the exciting USA-themed drawings include:

Uncle Sam, American Flag, White House, Apple pie,  Washington Monument, Fireworks…and more!

Here are five picture books to enrich your USA-themed learning:

“This Is America” by Don Robb - A visual introduction to U.S. symbols and what they mean.

“We Live Here Too! Kids Talk About Good Citizenship” by Nancy Loewen - Real-life stories from kids across the U.S. focusing on kindness, fairness, and community.

“F is for Flag” by Wendy Cheyette Lewison - A beginner-level nonfiction picture book that explains the flag’s meaning and role in American life.

“Apple Pie 4th of July” by Janet S. Wong- A delightful multicultural story that shows how families blend traditions while still celebrating America.

“The Scrambled States of America” by Laurie Keller- A hilarious, fictional take on all 50 states and how they work together — fun and educational!

Try these fun USA activities for July extension activities with your students:

1 Design a U.S. Landmark Poster – Students choose a famous landmark (like the White House or Golden Gate Bridge), research it, and create a mini-poster.

2 American Symbols Scavenger Hunt – Use your fact booklet to guide students as they look for symbols like eagles, flags, and more in books, signs, or magazines.

3 USA “I Spy” Drawing Page – Let students draw all the USA-themed items they can think of on one page (great warm-up for your directed drawing resource).

4 Patriotic Tastes Chart – Try apple pie, watermelon, and hot dogs and graph student favorites.

5 My Favorite American Symbol Writing – A simple prompt: “My favorite American symbol is ___ because ___.”

The month of July gives us a chance to not only celebrate the Fourth of July but also to teach students what makes America special — from its symbols and food to its values and diverse people. With your USA Fact Booklet and How to Draw the USA, you’re giving students the tools to read, write, and create in a way that sticks with them. 

These products may be found in my store:

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

Celebrate Rainforest Day – Explore, Learn, and Create!

June 22 is World Rainforest Day, and it’s the perfect moment to take your students on a vibrant learning adventure into one of the most vital and fascinating ecosystems on Earth. 

Rainforests are bursting with biodiversity, home to half of the world’s plant and animal species, and play a huge role in stabilizing Earth’s climate. Teaching kids about the rainforest helps them appreciate nature’s balance and the importance of protecting it.

That’s why I’ve created two cross-curricular rainforest-themed resources that blend science, art, and writing in a fun and engaging way:

Rainforest Fact Booklet

This printable booklet is packed with fun facts and hands-on activities designed for young learners (K–2). It helps children:

Learn about layers of the rainforest, unique plants and animals, and the critical role rainforests play in our planet’s health

Build reading and comprehension skills

Practice research and writing using a student-friendly research form

Engage in sentence sorting and complete a fun rainforest-themed craft

Perfect for independent work, sub days, or even a mini rainforest unit!

How to Draw Rainforest Animals

This step-by-step directed drawing activity features 15 rainforest animals, including the sloth, toucan, jaguar, tree frog, and more! Each drawing includes:

3 differentiated writing prompts per animal

Opportunities for kids to express creativity while building fine motor skills and listening comprehension

A perfect pairing with the Rainforest Fact Booklet for a well-rounded thematic study

5 Rainforest Books for K–2 Kids (Fiction & Nonfiction)

"The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry (Fiction)A powerful, beautifully illustrated story that teaches about rainforest conservation and respect for nature.

"If I Ran the Rainforest" by Bonnie Worth (Nonfiction - Cat in the Hat Learning Library)A playful yet informative Seuss-style introduction to rainforest habitats.

"Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme" by Marianne Berkes (Fiction - Counting & Rhythm)Engages young learners with counting, rhyme, and hidden rainforest animals.

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals" by Jill McDonald is a bright and engaging board book that introduces toddlers and preschoolers to rainforest creatures with simple facts and cheerful illustrations. It’s a perfect first nonfiction book to spark curiosity about nature and animal life in the jungle.

"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth by Eric Carle (Fiction)A gentle, thoughtful tale that celebrates the sloth and encourages appreciating the slower pace of nature.

Skill-Based Rainforest Activities

 Science – Rainforest Layers Flip Book

Have students label and illustrate the 4 layers of the rainforest (emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor). Use fun facts to describe animals that live in each layer.

 Art – Rainforest Animal Collage

Use tissue paper, construction paper, or magazine cutouts to create a colorful rainforest background. Add drawn or cut-out animals to their correct layer.

 Craft – Rainforest Diorama or Animal Mask

Let students build shoebox dioramas or create animal masks (toucan beaks, sloth faces, butterfly wings) to role-play and present what they've learned. 

Writing Prompt Ideas:

If I lived in the rainforest, I would...

My favorite rainforest animal is ...

How can we help protect the rainforest?

Rainforests are sometimes called the “lungs of the Earth” because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They help regulate Earth’s temperature, provide medicines and foods, offer homes to thousands of species, and 

influence rainfall and water cycles.

Teaching kids about rainforests isn’t just a science lesson—it’s a call to action. When children understand and care about nature, they grow into responsible stewards of the planet.

Whether you're teaching in the classroom or homeschooling, these resources make it easy to celebrate Rainforest Day with purpose and play!

Grab both the Rainforest Fact Booklet and How to Draw Rainforest Animals in my store to bring the jungle into your students' imaginations and hearts! 

Both resources may be found in my store: 

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

Celebrate American Eagle Day – Let Learning Soar!

June 20 is American Eagle Day, a perfect opportunity to introduce your students to the awe-inspiring world of eagles—powerful birds that symbolize honesty, strength, and freedom.

To celebrate, I’ve created a comprehensive Eagle Fact Booklet that gives young learners a chance to explore the traits, habits, and importance of this iconic bird through reading, writing, research, and craft. This resource isn’t just informative—it’s designed to spark curiosity and encourage critical thinking.

What’s Included in the Eagle Fact Booklet:

Black-and-white informational booklet about eagles

Comprehension worksheet for note-taking and writing responses

Research form to guide student-led learning

Sorting sentences for reading fluency and vocabulary reinforcement

Craft activity (make-your-own eagle!)

Teacher fact page to encourage group discussion

This booklet works beautifully for: Reading groups

 Centers, Early finishers, Sub days, Homework Birdwatching tie-ins

5 Eagle Books for Kids to enjoy reading:

"Bald Eagle" by Gordon Morrison (Nonfiction) - Stunning illustrations and clear text teach kids all about the eagle’s role in nature and its path back from near-extinction.

"The Bald Eagle" by Norman Pearl (Nonfiction, Rookie Biographies Series)-Easy-to-understand facts and colorful visuals about why the eagle is a national symbol.

"An Eagle’s Feather" by Minfong Ho (Fiction/Inspired by True Story) - A poetic tale of freedom and healing inspired by a real eagle’s rescue.

"Soaring with the Wind: The Bald Eagle" by Gail Gibbons (Nonfiction) - Gail Gibbons is a master at combining science and art. This book explains the eagle’s habits and lifecycle.

"The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola (Fiction - Symbolism) - While not directly about eagles, it includes symbolic animal representations, including eagle references that open conversations about Native American respect for birds of prey.

Here are some activity Ideas to Make Eagle Day Fun & Skill-Building:

 Science – Observe & Compare Birds of Prey

Compare eagles to other birds like owls or hawks using a Venn diagram. Discuss adaptations like beaks, talons, and eyesight.

 Art – Eagle Feather Watercolor

Paint or collage an eagle feather. Use real photos for reference and label the parts of a feather.

Craft – Eagle Puppet or Paper Plate Eagle

Use the eagle craft included in the booklet or make a simple eagle puppet using brown paper bags or plates.

 Geography – Map It!

Use a map of North America to track where bald eagles live. Add small eagle icons to show their range.

 Writing Prompt –

“If I Could Fly Like an Eagle, I Would…” or “Why the Eagle Is a Great Symbol for Our Country.”

Eagles represent freedom, courage, and resilience. Once endangered, the bald eagle is now a conservation success story—thanks to people who cared enough to protect them. Teaching kids about eagles helps build respect for wildlife and awareness of the role humans play in protecting nature.

Let your students take flight into learning with this booklet and activities—because when kids connect with nature, they care for it. 

This resource may be found in my store:

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