Welcome back educators, parents, and grandparents! March can be a month bursting with change as Mother Nature begins to bloom and show off her colours – especially after a cold winter. As we slowly enter into Spring, it’s the perfect time to celebrate some March events. You will find a multitude of fun activities to engage with children as you celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2 or learn more about Irish traditions, history and Irish humour when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Also included is a close look at effective classroom meetings – enjoy the many songs and activities. Easter is celebrated on March 31st – you will find several songs, and activities to enjoy with your children. As excitement builds and families prepare for Spring Break which in many school districts is from Friday, March 15, 2024 to Wednesday, April 3, 2024, you will hopefully have many opportunities to enjoy quality time together! March looks to be another month filled with many enjoyable activities as you play, learn, and grow together with your children.
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DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 2024 – March 10, 2024 in Canada
The practice has been both praised and criticized. Adding daylight to evenings benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours, but can cause problems for evening entertainment and other occupations tied to the sun. Although an early goal of DST was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity, modern heating and cooling usage patterns differ greatly, and research about how Daylight Saving Time currently affects energy use is limited or contradictory. It’s difficult for many youngsters to adjust to this time change and settle down to sleep. So why not curl up with a good book about sleep to help children to go to sleep. The following recommended books may assist as children adapt to the change.
Once Upon A Daylight Saving Time by R.E. Skibiski. The transition to Daylight Saving Time (or Daylight Savings Time) happens every year, and yet among all the books of poetry for kids, and there are lots and lots of them, where can one find a fun rhyming children’s book on the topic?What’s more, where can one find such a book that also teaches a few lessons on manners for children? The time is ripe for one! And here it is! In this book, a rattlesnake needs a hand in winding his clock one hour ahead. But there’s a problem. Because he’s used to bossing all the critters around, he’s much too gruff, and each time he meets a potential helping hand, he annoys them with his bad manners. After a long, unsuccessful day, the rattlesnake finds some prairie dogs and rightly sees them as his last hope. Unfortunately, he louses things up once again. However, something’s different this time. Instead of running away, a little prairie dog, shocked at the rattlesnake’s rudeness, decides to teach him the ABCs of minding his p’s and q’s. But with night drawing near, will the rattlesnake learn his lesson in time?
Daylight Saving Time For Kids!: Why in the World Do We Turn Our Clocks Forward? By Brian Smith. When winter turns to spring, people in most areas of Canada turn their clocks ahead one hour to Daylight Saving Time. No daylight is actually being saved, of course. We just move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. But there’s much more than that, including. Who Thought of Daylight Saving Time (DST)? What Happens When the Clock Changes? Why doesn’t everyone like the change? Should There Be a Permanent Daylight Saving Time? Who First Started Changing the Clock? How to Prepare for DST (So You Don’t Feel Drowsy) An Easy Way to Remember Which Way to Turn the Clock. Why Farmers Don’t Like Daylight Saving Time Too Much. Are We Really Saving Energy by Changing the Time? The Benefits of Daylight Saving Time and Much, Much More!
Clocks and More Clocks by Pat Hutchins. When the hall clock reads twenty minutes past four, the attic clock reads twenty-three minutes past four, the kitchen clock reads twenty-five minutes past four, and the bedroom clock reads twenty-six minutes past four, what should Mr. Higgins do? He can’t tell which of his clocks tells the right time. He is in for a real surprise when the Clockmaker shows him that they are all correct!
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. This book recently won the coveted Caldecott Honor award and just opening the book, you can see why! The title displays a prelude of clever wordplay found throughout. This little owl is adorable, and the wondrous illustrations fill the page with heartwarming imagery. Owl overcomes fright and trepidation becoming the hero of the day…or night.
The Dark was Done by Lauren Stringer. This is the perfect book for youngsters who are afraid of the Dark. A young boy was afraid of the Dark under his bed even though he loved hearing the crickets sing their night songs. The Dark was feeling pushed away by children, by streetlights and lights of every kind. So Dark left. Now the sun shone all night long. No one knew if it was daytime or nighttime. The boy missed the sounds of crickets; others missed stars twinkling in the sky. When Dark finally returned, everyone was happy, and the boy said good night to the Dark under his bed every night. The illustrations are exquisite and rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil.
Hello, Moon by Evan Turk. pays homage to that beautiful orb in the sky. But there is also an underlining score of the strong bond between parent and child. The child’s curiosity about the moon is shown through the moon phases and the parent is always there beside the child. The illustrations, which are on the open-page, are extraordinary and gorgeous, made with marbling inks and gouache.
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb by Marian Dane Bauer. Rattling windows with the roar of a late-winter storm, March shows up like a lion– wild and messy, muddy and wet. In rhythmic, exuberant text, Newbery Honor-author Marion Dane Bauer conveys the changeable nature of spring weather, as the lion makes way for the lamb—with a huge sneeze!—as the trees and flowers spring into bloom.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY: March 17th. St. Patrick’s Day was originally celebrated in Ireland with religious services and feasts in honour of St. Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints. When Irish immigrants brought St. Patrick’s Day traditions to the United States, the day evolved into a secular celebration of Irish culture. St. Patrick is probably one of the most well known saints of all times and over time his feast day, celebrated on March 17th, has become known as a celebration of all things Irish, green and magical. Below is a list of charming St. Patrick’s Day picture books for children. This list includes books about Saint Patrick, Irish folktales as well as Irish themed stories.
A Fine St. Patrick’s Day by Susan Wojciechowski. Tralee and Tralah are rival towns, and have been for as long as everyone can remember. Every year they have a St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest and Tralah wins, but this year little Fiona suggests they paint the whole town of Tralee green. As the village folk paint away a small stranger arrives on St. Patrick’s Day looking for help. A lovely story about kindness and magic.
Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. The story begins with big folk (humans) moving into Ireland and soaking up all the leprechaun luck floating in the air. To protect their luck the leprechauns sweep it up and store it away. Unfortunately, they scooped up too much and misfortunate fell on the land of Ireland. But all is not lost! A woman named Fiona uses her cleverness to get luck back. A fun story about luck, leprechauns and cleverness with charming illustrations.
Finn McCool and the Great Fish by Eve Bunting. Finn McCool is the biggest giant and greatest warrior around but he isn’t very intelligent. Finn asks the village wiseman to help him find wisdom. The old man tells him to find and eat a magical red salmon. A lovely story about kindness and wisdom.
How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace. A silly story about how a leprechaun evades various traps, from the simple, to the fancy and the simply outrageous. A fun book for younger children.
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola. Jamie O’Rourke is the laziest man in Ireland, especially when it comes to growing potatoes. When his wife gets laid up in bed, unable to help, Jamie decides to venture out and happens upon a leprechaun. The leprechaun gives him a magical seed that grows into the biggest potato in the world! But can he dig it out? A fun story based on Irish folklore.
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola. A beautifully illustrated story about the life of St. Patrick and some of the legends and miracles told about him. A family favourite.
That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting. The leprechauns have jobs to do, like putting a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but they can’t help sowing mischief along the way. After all, it’s what leprechauns do! A fun little tale with charming illustrations.
My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza. If you are looking for an engaging book to further explore the idea of luck around St. Patrick’s Day, this is the one. Fox thinks it is his lucky day when an absolutely scrumptious piglet knocks on his door by accident … or is it? Through amusing, lively illustrations, this laugh-out-loud tale is about a very gullible fox and a sly piglet that students will love! A story perfect for read-aloud time or personal reading time.
EASTER BOOKS: MARCH 31, 2024 . Here is a list of recommended Easter books for kids and families. Our favorite picks are fun and educational, and some even teach age-appropriate biblical stories of Easter. Some stories can help explain the true meaning of the holiday to young children in an age-appropriate manner. These books are the perfect final chapter on all your family’s annual Easter activities. All these recommended books will make an egg-cellent Easter gift for kids. Here are some favorite Easter books to add to your collection or an Easter basket, whether you buy them or check them out from the school or local library.
The Berenstain Bears And The Easter Story by Jan & Mike Berenstain. Join the Berenstain Bears as they explore the true meaning of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus. Children will discover ways to implement traditional religious values and share God’s goodness in Zonderkidz The Berenstain Bears Living Lights™ series of books with over 13 million copies sold. This story:
Encourages age appropriate discussions about salvation and Jesus’ resurrection
Is an engaging story about how Easter is more than the Easter bunny, candy, and egg rolls, and is a season of faith
Perfect for early reader
Perfect for independent reading or a gift in the Easter basket gift.
How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace. Finding eggs is easy, but can YOU catch the Easter Bunny in action this year? He has a basket full of treats and tricks for staying hidden―plus that bunny hippity hops with lightning speed! Start a new tradition with this bright and funny children’s Easter book and get inspired to build STEAM traps of your own to pair with the read aloud! Educators, families, and children will love this wonderfully creative opportunity to have fun and celebrate the holiday together.
The Great Easter Egg Hunt by Rachel Piercey. Follow Bear and his friends on the exciting adventure in the forest. This book has a rollicking rhyming text and delightful art, with over 100 eggs to find and count. Can you help them? Children will delight in searching for hidden eggs as they follow Bear and his friends on an egg hunt through the woodland, along the river, and even into Rabbit’s home. The perfect Easter gift, this book is full of the joys of spring!
Happy Easter, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer. Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter is celebrating Easter in this classic, funny, and heartwarming book. Whether he’s dyeing eggs, searching for baskets, or snacking on sweets, both parents and children alike will relate to this beloved story. A perfect way to celebrate the Easter holiday!
Easter Things to Make and Do by Kate Nolan. Celebrate springtime with this big, bright book full of simple yet charming craft ideas for little children. From blossom pictures and butterflies to bunnies and chicks, there are all kinds of things for children to have fun making, using everyday materials from around the house. Spotting, counting and matching puzzles as well as step-by-step drawing activities will provide hours of Easter holiday fun too.
Bear Finds Eggs by Karma Wilson. Bear and his friends hunt for missing eggs in this new picture book adventure in the bestselling series. Mama Meadowlark can’t find her eggs! Bear and his friends pitch in to help and search high and low. Each time they find an egg, they paint it with bright colors so they don’t lose it again and add it to Hare’s handy basket. Will they be able to return all the eggs to their mother?
The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward. Cottontail the country bunny has big dreams of becoming the fifth Easter Bunny, and when she finally proves herself worthy of Old Grandfather’s blessings, she is chosen to deliver the most special egg of them all. With twenty-one baby bunnies to look after, mother bunny Cottontail abandons her dream of becoming an Easter Bunny. But when Grandfather Bunny spies her perfectly behaved brood, he’s so impressed that he makes Cottontail the most important Easter Bunny of all! Originally published in 1939, Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes celebrates the timeless values of equality, hard work, and patient ambition.
DR. SEUSS BOOKS: Celebrate his birthday on March 2. He was born in 1904 and changed the way books were written. He endorsed the importance of reading. Today’s a day to celebrate. Go to the library and find all the books written by Dr. Suess and take them home or to the classroom. There are too many outstanding Dr. Suess books to recommend.
Enjoy this poem about Dr. Seuss:
The work of someone gone but great.
Come on now, don’t be obtuse,
Let’s all give thanks to Dr. Seuss.
His name was Theodor Seuss Geisel
And all the kids think he’s swell.
Born March 2, 1904
His family brewed beer and more.
By high school he was doing art
His cartoon style set him apart.
Soon our Ted was a Dartmouth grad
He paid his rent by drawing ads
But bigger fame came next, you see.
The tickled tots, they took a look
When Ted, he turned to children’s books.
“The Cat in the Hat” and “Hop on Pop”
Once he started, he couldn’t stop.
“Yertle the Turtle,” “The Lorax” too
A fish of red, a fish of blue.
Our favorite lines we loved to quote
“Could you, would you, with a goat?”
Thank you, thank you Sam-I-Am
“I do so like Green Eggs and Ham.”
Sneetches, Horton, Gerald McGrew
Don’t forget Thing One and Thing Two.
Or, of course, the Griggolupp
Like Seuss would do, I made that up.
Ted’s loyal readers didn’t flinch
When they met the mean old Grinch.
The green one stole poor Whoville’s Yule
Their spirit made him feel a fool.
The movie version was not so merry
Despite the grimace of Jim Carrey.
And at the risk of being contrary
Mike Myers’ “Cat” was truly scary.
It’s not Ted’s fault they weren’t so fun
Because he died in ’91.
But his whimsy will survive
In new books and films – way more than five
There’s even a “Grinch” sequel, it’s true
To bring us more of Cindy Lou Who.
So let’s pour a glass of milk, or juice
And raise a toast to Dr. Seuss.
DR. SEUSS BOOKS: Celebrates his birthday on March 2. He was born in 1904 and changed the way books were written. He endorsed the importance of reading. Today’s a day to celebrate. Go to the library and find all the books written by Dr. Suess and take them home or to the classroom. There are too many outstanding Dr. Suess books to recommend although you will find several songs, activities and recipes as you celebrate his birthday.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. This book was published after Dr. Seuss’s publisher bet him that he couldn’t write a book with 50 or fewer words. The result is his best-selling creation that involves some interesting breakfast choices.
SONGS: Review this poster with children to point out all they learn when they listen to music. You may wish to download the poster.
MORNING MEETINGS: A morning message is the perfect way to engage students the minute they walk through the door. Answering a question with no right or wrong answer allows learners to discover and articulate what’s important to them and supports their social-emotional growth. Not only that, the questions can spark important conversations that bring your community together on a deeper level. Here are some favorite morning message ideas teachers are using to connect with their students.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME: MARCH 10, 2024. Don’t forget to shift forward your clocks ahead to daylight time. Most of the US, Canada and Mexico’s northern border cities will start Daylight Saving Time (DST) at 2 am (02:00) local time on March 10, 2024. The clocks will “spring forward” (by shifting the clock forward) an hour to daylight time, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Bring out your green! St. Patrick’s Day—observed every March 17—is packed with parades, good luck charms, and all things green. The event started as a religious holiday, but over time it’s become a celebration of Irish culture.
2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩
School–community partnerships play an essential role in successful schools, often providing support and resources to meet staff, family, and student needs that go beyond what is typically available through school. Reciprocally, community partners benefit from their relationships with schools, including learning about schools’ inclusive culture. The first main finding is that schools have a variety of partners and partnerships, but all partnerships are reciprocal in that they are mutually beneficial. The second set of findings include the school factors that were facilitators of successful school–community partnerships: strong school leadership, an inviting school culture, educator commitment to student success, and the ability to collaborate and communicate with community partners. The community partners in many of these schools emphasized how the culture of including all students and providing all students with an excellent education profoundly influenced how they perceived disability and how they used their new knowledge in other settings.
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DR. SEUSS ACTIVITIES: MARCH 2, 2024. Welcome to the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss! Here you will find resources to share with your students, and tips on how to incorporate Dr. Seuss books into your plans throughout the school year.
You cannot eat these “green eggs,” but this fun Fizzing Green Eggs science experiment is great to celebrate Dr. Seuss, St. Patrick’s Day, and Spring. Kids will love all the colour and fizzing action in this science project.
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with this downloadable bookmark.
Have children practise their cutting skills and then match these Dr. Seuss rhyming picture cards. This activity enhances language skills and rhyming skills in particular. Rhyming skills are a part of phonemic awareness, a precursor for reading success. Add some fun and movement! Ask children to jump, clap, or hop, when they hear a rhyming pair.
EASTER ACTIVITIES: The arrival of Easter often feels like the formal transition to spring—bring on the sunshine, flowers, and baby animals! Easter is a religious holiday and a time to celebrate spring and make fun memories with your family.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY ACTIVITIES: Bring out your green! St. Patrick’s Day—observed every March 17—is packed with parades, good luck charms, and all things green. The event started as a religious holiday, but over time it’s become a celebration of Irish culture.
Sign-up for a template and follow these directions to have your children create a Leprechaun Bookmark or just have your children draw their own Leprechaun.
After reading My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza, follow up with a discussion and completion of a chart detailing what attributes each child has to make them lucky as well as things they’re thankful to have.
Spring Break Tips – Visit the VSO School of Music to learn more about their Spring Break programs for kids.
March 18-22 • Monday – Thursday March 25-28
MORNING MEETING ACTIVITIES:
MORNING MEETING ACTIVITIES: Morning meetings are becoming a classroom staple, especially in elementary classrooms. They’re a way to help kids and teachers focus and prepare themselves for the day of learning ahead. They also provide an opportunity to incorporate social-emotional learning and community building. These morning meeting activities and games offer ideas for making this time valuable—and fun! The following reasons are important for educators to consider:
🏫 Build Strong Connections: Greetings, questions, activities, and messages that foster healthy relationships and a vibrant classroom community.
💬 Meaningful Discussions: Keep kids engaged in activities that boost social and emotional ski
💞 Feel-Good Themes: Dive into daily Social-Emotional topics like Mindful Monday and Friendly Friday!
💻 Customize with Ease: Editable slides for greetings, shares, activities, and morning messages – tailor it to fit YOUR classroom.
🌟 Versatile & Time-Saving: Perfect for meetings, transitions, small groups, counseling, brain breaks, and more!
Goals of Classroom meetings:
builds classroom community through fun interactive game play.
promotes inclusion and cooperation.
practices social emotional skills.
creates a culture of active participation where everyone’s contribution is highly valued.
builds relationships amongst the class by working together and forming bonds.
guides transition from whatever was going on this morning outside of school to help students’ focus their attention on learning.
Looks like/Sounds like:
teamwork between students.
observing, focusing, thinking creatively, and problem solving.
using self control.
respectful, inclusive language.
calm controlled body movements.
indoor voices.
fun – cooperative rather than competitive.
MORNING MEETING IDEAS:
Download the following:
A PPT of a classroom morning meeting: Morning meeting slide set. Includes greetings, sharing & activities.
Pink Yink Drink: From the Green Eggs and Ham cookbook or One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, whip up this fun drink recipe:
Create a Dr. Seuss Lunch.
HEALTHY RECIPES: Download and discuss the healthy poster found above.
Chicken Gyros – Chicken Gyros are easy to make at home! Marinate chicken in a simple marinade made with Greek yogurt, lemon, red wine vinegar, and spices. Grill to perfection and add the juicy chicken to pita bread and top with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce.
Goulash – this is an easy recipe made with ground beef, onions, bell pepper, a rich tomato sauce, herbs, and elbow macaroni. Make this one pot meal a family favorite as it is perfect for busy weeknights!
Chocolate Banana Cookies – Use the brown bananas on your counter to make these decadent and delicious chocolate cookies! The chocolate banana combo is perfect.
