Follow the Direction and learn !

Dozens of Ready-to-Go Pages That Help Kids Learn to
Follow Directions—Independently!
BY DINA ANASTASIO
NEW YORK • TORONTO • LONDON • AUCKLAND • SYDNEY
MEXICO CITY • NEW DELHI • HONG KONG • BUENOS AIRES
Name
Date
19
November
Ready for Winter
Birds an
d squirrels are getting read
y for winter.
Underline
the acorn
s.
Circle the seeds.
Draw lines con
necting the pin
e cones that are the sam
e.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
Follow the D
irections and Learn!
Scholastic T
eaching R
esources

Name
Date
Follow the Directions and Learn! Scholastic Teaching Resources
Septem
ber
6
Back to School
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
Circle each thing below that you see at your school.
Draw the outline of your school in the empty square.
Color the school in your picture the same color as your school.
1
2
3
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the activity sheets from this book for classroom use. No other part of this
publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission,
write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
Cover and interior design by Holly Grundon
Cover illustration by Steve Cox
Interior illustration by George Ulrich
ISBN 0
-
439
-
40414
-
2

Copyright © 2004 by Dina Anastasio
All rights reserved.
Printed in the U.S.A.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 40 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
September
Back to School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
My Own Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Grandparents Day . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
First Day of Autumn . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Apple-Picking Time . . . . . . . . . . . 10
October
Columbus Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
United Nations Day . . . . . . . . . . 12
Halloween Faces . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Black Cats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Haunted House . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Autumn Leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
November
Sandwich Day! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Election Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ready for Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Thanksgiving Place Cards . . . . . . 20
Thanksgiving Thank-You’s . . . . . . 21
Flying South for the Winter . . . . . 22
December
Bundle Up! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Winter Solstice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

In From the Cold . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Happy Holidays! . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Gift List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Holiday Cookies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
January
Happy New Year! . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
It’s Snowing! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Superbowl Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day . . 32
Snowballs! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Winter Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
February
February Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Groundhog Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Be My Valentine! . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Presidential Birthdays
. . . . . . . 38
Build a Snowman . . . . . . . . . . 39
Chinese New Year Dragon . . . . 40
March
St. Patrick’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Luck of the Irish . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Reading Month . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Spring Bookmarks . . . . . . . . . . . 44
March Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Flying North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
April
April Fools Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Easter Egg Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Earth Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Recycle It!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
April Showers
. . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Arbor Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
May
May Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Happy Teacher’s Day!
. . . . . . . 54
May Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Spring Babies . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
It’s Mother’s Day . . . . . . . . . . 57
Breakfast in Bed
. . . . . . . . . . . 58
Summer
Father’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Flag Day
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Summer Reading List . . . . . . . . 61
Hello, Summer!
. . . . . . . . . . . 62
Fourth of July
. . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Summer Sandcastle . . . . . . . . . 64
Contents
Contents
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Welcome!
F

ollowing directions is a basic life skill. Everyone needs to be able
to follow directions independently in order to complete everyday
tasks. Directions help us to fill out applications, follow recipes, travel
from here to there, complete forms, and assemble parts. And, following
directions is crucial to success in the classroom. Children in particular
need to follow directions in order to:
z
complete activities correctly
z
work independently
z
complete class assignments and homework
z
play games and sports
z
solve puzzles
Sometimes, difficulty with following directions can hinder an
otherwise capable student’s performance. Here’s the book you need to
help children build these important skills all year long, especially those
commonly given in the classroom:
z
underlining
z
circling
z
filling in a blank
z
making a check mark
z
drawing

z
numbering
z
following a sequence
z
using a dictionary
z
making a list
Introduction
Name
Date
47
April
April Fools Day
Draw a circle
around each thing in the sky that is silly
.
Make an X
on the thing in the water that is silly
.
Draw a line under each thing on the ground that is silly
.
Write your name and the date on the lin
es above.
1
2
3
Fo llow the Dire ction s . and Lear n!
Scholastic Teaching Resources
4

Connections to
the Standards
The activities in this
book support the
following language
arts standards and
benchmarks outlined
by the Mid-continent
Research for Education
and Learning (McRel),
a nationally recognized
nonprofit organization
that collects and
synthesizes national
and state K–12
standards.
z Uses reading skills
and strategies to
understand a variety
of informational
texts.
z Gives and responds
to oral directions.
Source: Content Knowledge:
A Compendium of Standards
and Benchmarks for K–12
Education, 4th Edition
(Mid-continent Research
for Education and Learning,
2003)

Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Using These Pages
T
hese reproducible pages can be used anytime—for whole group
instruction, small group, individual seatwork or even homework.
z
Make a copy of the page for each student.
z
If working with a student individually, sit quietly with him or
her. Together, read each direction slowly and carefully. Have
the student explain in his or her own words exactly what he
or she is being asked to do.
z
Remind students to write their name and the date at the top
of their paper.
z
Make sure that students understand and complete the first
direction before moving on to the next.
z
Have students check their work before moving on to the
next direction.
z
When the activity is complete, have students reread all the
directions, check each detail, and make any necessary changes.
For more strategies, see sidebar at right.
If Students Have Trouble
F
or a variety of reasons, following directions presents a special
challenge for some students. In order to follow directions

correctly, they must listen, read slowly and carefully, pay attention,
and concentrate. Since remembering the sequence of several steps
can be confusing, have students take one direction at a time and
think about it until they understand exactly what they are being asked
to do. You might have them check off each step as it is completed.
To demonstrate the real-life importance of following directions,
you might ask students to dictate or write directions for a familiar
task, such as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Then,
pantomime following their directions, making some obvious
mistakes as you go (such as not taking the lid off the jar)!
Supporting
Students Who
Have Trouble
Following
Directions
Discuss your concerns
with your school’s
learning specialist
to determine if any
testing should be
recommended.
Provide both written
and oral directions.
As much as possible,
seat the student away
from auditory or visual
distraction.
Speak slowly and
clearly, using words
like first, next, then

and last.
Avoid asking the
student to write and
listen simultaneously.
Start with single
directions and
gradually move to
multi-step directions.
Use a highlighter to
indicate the numbers
of each step.
Stop periodically to
ensure the student
is on track.
Check yourself to
assess the level of
vocabulary you are
using.
Have a peer act as
a model for the
struggling student.
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
September
6
Back to School
Write your name and the date on the lines above.

Circle each thing below that you see at your school.
Draw the outline of your school in the empty square.
Color the school in your picture the same color as your school.
1
2
3
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
7
September
My Own Notebook
Color the flowers on this notebook.
How old are you? Write the number in the triangle.
What color is your hair? Color the circle that color.
What color are your eyes? Color the square that color.
Write your first name in the oval.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
September
8

Grandparents Day
(First Sunday After Labor Day)
Color all the leaves green.
Color one flower red.
Color two flowers yellow.
Draw green stems on all the flowers.
Color the rest of your card.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
9
September
First Day of Autumn
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
Read each sentence.
Cross out the picture word that rhymes with each underlined word.
Write that word on the line.
Read the poem out loud.
From my window I can see
Yellow leaves up on my _________________.
I put away my baseball bat
,
And start to wear my autumn _________________.

I put away my swimming suits
,
And soon I’ll wear my winter _________________.
Leaves are falling by the lake
.
To pick them up I use a _________________.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
September
10
Apple-Picking Time
Color two apples red.
Color two apples yellow.
Color two apples green.
Draw a square around the apple at the bottom right
corner of this page.
Write the color of each apple on the line below it.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3

© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
11
October
Columbus Day
(Second Monday in October)
Columbus named his ships the Nina, the Pinta, and
the Santa Maria. Decorate your own boat. Color the big sail red.
Color the small sail blue.
Color the medium sail green.
Choose a name for your boat. Write it on the line.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
~
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
October
12
United Nations Day
(October 24
th
)
The dove is often used as a symbol of peace.
Draw wings on your dove.

Draw an eye on your dove.
Draw a tree near the dove.
Give your dove a name. Write it on the line.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
13
October
Halloween Faces
Draw a happy face on the small pumpkin.
Draw a sad face on the medium pumpkin.
Draw a scary face on the big pumpkin.
Color the pumpkins.
Underline your favorite pumpkin.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date

October
14
Black Cats
Draw a tail on the cat that does not have a tail.
Draw whiskers on the cat that does not have whiskers.
Draw ears on the cat that does not have ears.
Color all the cats black.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
15
October
Haunted House
Make an X on each square you can find.
Color each triangle black.
Color each circle orange.
Color the haunted house
any color you like.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3

© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
October
16
Autumn Leaves
Color three leaves yellow.
Color two leaves red.
Color one leaf brown.
Draw an orange leaf below.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
17
November
Sandwich Day!
(November 3
rd
)
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4

Draw black stripes on the zebra sandwich.
Color the fox sandwich red.
Draw brown spots on the owl sandwich.
Color the whale sandwich blue.
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
November
18
Election Day
Let’s vote!
Circle the
name of the
animal you
like best.
Think of your
favorite ice
cream. What
color is it?
Color the
ice cream
that color.
Draw a line
under the
book you
would most
like to read.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1

2
3
My Ballot
1. Dog
Cat
Snake
2.
3.
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
19
November
Ready for Winter
Birds and squirrels are getting ready for winter.
Underline the acorns.
Circle the seeds.
Draw lines connecting the pine cones that are the same shape.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
November
20
Thanksgiving Place Cards

Circle the three place cards that are the same.
Underline the place card that is different.
Write a family member’s name in each rectangle.
Color the place cards.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
21
November
Thanksgiving Thank-You’s
Write one word to finish the first sentence.
Write two words to finish the second sentence.
Write three or more words to finish the third sentence.
Draw a small picture at the top of your list.
My Thank-You List
I am most thankful for ____________________________.
I am also thankful for _____________________________
_________________________________________________.
And I give thanks for _______________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2

3
4
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
November
22
Flying South for the Winter
Draw a bird on the wire. To make the bird’s body, draw an oval.
Draw a round head on the oval body.
Add a beak to the round head.
Draw wings and feet on the bird.
Color all the flying birds blue.
Color all the birds on the wire red.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
4
5
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
23
Name
Date
December
Bundle Up!
Color each thing someone would wear when it’s cold.
Make an X on each thing someone would not wear when it’s cold.

Write the word “winter” under each thing someone would wear
when it’s cold.
Write your name and the date on the lines above.
1
2
3
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Name
Date
December
24
Winter Solstice
(About December 21
st
)
Read the first two lines of the poem.
Write the word from the box that rhymes on the line.
Read the next two lines.
Write the word that rhymes on the line.
Read the last two lines of the poem.
Write the word that rhymes on the line.
Not long ago the sky was bright,
Until I went to bed at .
Now night comes soon.
The sun sinks low.
Where did all the daylight ?
The shortest day of all is here.
It is the shortest of the .
Write your name and the date on the lines above.

1
2
3
4
5
6
go year night
Follow the DIrections and Learn! Grades 2-3
© Dina Anastasio, Scholastic Teaching Resources