President Time Line Box Report

February is the time of year when I have my students create time lines for two very well know Presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. And what better way to do it, than on a box report. A what? A box report! Here is how its made:

1. To make the box, you'll need a 12 x12 square sheet of paper. Fold it in half diagonally both ways.

2. Fold each corner to the center.

3. Fold one edge to the center, unfold and fold the next edge. Do this to all four edges.

4. If you flip it over, you should have a 4 x 4 grid.

5. Unfold on flap and cut on the dotted lines.

6. Overlap the two side pieces.

7. Fold the flap over the side pieces and repeat steps 5 and 6 on the opposite side.

8. Glue a strip of paper folded like an accordion inside the box.

You'll need to fold and do two boxes, one for the lid and the other for the bottom of the box. Or, you can do one box and use a larger image of the president you are writing about as a cover.

Your student will also need to create/fold an accordion with 8 folds to glue the time line facts in order.

For this, they:

-Take a 9 x 12 piece of construction paper and cut it in half the long way.

-Fold like an accordion 4 times. (I tell my students to fold in half two times and then refold "accordion-style." That way each fold is equal.)

-Glue two ends together.

-Glue one end of the accordion to the inside of a box and the other end to the other inside of the box.

-Glue the time line facts in order.

-Close the box, glue the image of George Washington to the top and the other on the bottom. Decorate the rest of the sides as desired.

To get the time line facts just click on the link below. 
Did I mention it was available in both Spanish and English? Well, it is! :)
I hope your students enjoy creating these box reports as much as mine! 

Happy President's Day!

An InLinkz Link-up

Family Calendar

For the past 16 years I have been creating my family's calendar. I started back in 2001! Back then, only a few of my cousins were married, so the calendar was fairly simple. But now... Wowsers!! It's become quite a phenomenon! It started out with only 15 families. Granted, a few were for my single cousins, but none the less... Now, as I finish editing the 2016 calendar, I realized how beautiful and wonderful it has been for me to see, first hand, how our family has grown. I tear up just thinking about it. 

First ever calendar from 2001

I now make it for 25 families! Back in 2001, it started out with 48 members. Now, we have 137!! Oh my! I had not realized how many relatives (by blood or marriage) had become a part of this tradition. No wonder I take for ever to do it every year. Hahaha! 

Past calendars: You can see how the family has grown!

My family has become so accustomed to this calendar, that by the end of December, during our Posadas (our 9 day Mexican recreation of Mary and Joseph's arduous journey to Nazareth,) they begin reminding me if I'd already begun the calendar. 

And so, I'd like to share with you this wonderful tradition with you of creating your very own family's calendar. All you have to do is enter your family member's birthdays and/or anniversaries. Once done, print and bind it. I print at home and bind at my work. I buy the binding strips at Staples.

I am sharing it on PowerPoint so you can edit it. I used to create it on Calendar Maker, but began doing it on PPT last year. It's sooo much easier. Here is a sample of what my calendar pages look like. (FYI: I make my calendar in Spanish, but I've included the English version for you as well.)

To get your family calendar template, click: HERE.

I hope you enjoy creating and making it a family tradition as I have.

Happy New Year!! And God bless!!

-Hilda

An InLinkz Link-up