Book Bite Book Report Pictures

I wanted to share some of the most aww-inspiring Book Bites Book Report Projects from this year's batch.  So creative!  Once again, my class used the Book Report pack from The Peanut Gallery.  The premise is that the kids have to come up with a type of meal that has "bites" to it.  Each bite has to have specific information - like setting, characters, plots, etc... and all writing is to be hidden underneath the bite.  Everything is explained in the project directions and it really is an easy print and go project.  Highly recommend it if you are looking for a creative book report.  

When I first discuss the project with my students I always use her student sample pictures (they are included in the packet)... but then I also pull out the 3D hamburger and taco that past students have given me to show off.  I also pulled up last year's images to show my kids (Yes, I show them my blog).  That's what really sparks the interest... "You mean so & so made that?"  I give the students 6 weeks to complete this project.  1 week to get their parent to sign off that they read the directions, 1 week to choose a book, 4 weeks to read the book, and 2 to work on the project.... That's just me though.  

Okay - pictures of this year's Book Buffet. 

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This child used construction paper, but they used a donut box to showcase it.

This child used styrofoam with felt for their hamburger.

This breakfast was made out of foam.  I thought it clever to use a zip tie to keep all the pieces attached to the paper plate.  

Pizza is always a winner.  This was served in a pizza box and the clay was glazed to make it rock hard.  

This child used model magic to form pancakes and served it on a tray.  

An In and Out burger, drink, and fries is always a winner.  There was felt pieces to form the different layers.  

A birthday cake, complete with a candle and sprinkles.  :)  This child was creative and used velcro to attach the pieces together.  

This styrofoam cake's layers and filling were split to hide the writing.  Cakes are almost always served in a cake box.  

Super cute, right?!  Of course I had 24 more projects that also came in that also showed off my students' hard work.  Some used just construction paper, and that was just fine.  Very proud of them.  Hope this helps someone.  

Social Studies and Novel Projects

This blog has been silent lately... just the beginning of the year with too much to do and not enough hours in the day.  I'm uploading photos today to show you what projects we have been up to.  :) 

We finished Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, so our end project was to create character letters.  This year since we are focusing on novel studies, I am using these Book Reports from Rachel Lynette to make each novel shine.  These are in class projects and she has even included directions and rubrics that made it super easy to grade.  The students wrote letters to the main characters, and the main characters had to write back to them.  They thought this was hilarious!  I thought it was so creative how the students made their writing sound exactly like Peter, Fudge, Mom, and even Sheila!

We have also been researching our California Regions and creating Informational Booklets.  I chose sticks to separate out my 32 kids into regions groups - 8 per region.  We spent 2 weeks researching the different topics (Landforms, Wildlife, Vegetation, Industries, Major Cities, Climate, Natural Resources, and Interesting Facts).  The kids researched using the internet, their texts, my Regions Reading Passages, and a couple region DVD's in both small group, whole class, and individuals.  They took their information and had to write one paragraph on each area and draw a detailed picture per page.  These booklets have taken 2 weeks to complete.  :)  Labor of love...

We finished up our first chapter in Social Studies (which included map skills, directions, and regions).  On the back of these worlds the kids took part of their test.  Fun times!  They were given a circle and ruler, and had to draw examples of the Equator, Lines of Latitude and Longitude, Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, Prime Meridian, North and South Poles.  When completed, they cut out their worlds and could decorate the back of it.

Oh, and we accomplished Salt Dough Maps!  1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of water is the perfect amount of dough.  My grade level always completes these the Friday before Labor Day so we have all weekend to let them dry before painting on Tuesday.  The kids had to identify the different regions and landforms, show neighboring states, and include a map key.  We added a little glitter today to finish it up since we are the Golden State.  Happy Birthday California!  

Just in case you are interested.  Here's the link. :) 

Hope you had a great day!

Book Buffet Book Report

This year I wanted to switch things up a little for our last Book Report of the year.  The kids LOVED this project, and their families were so creative.  

Last year I picked up this bundle from The Peanut Gallery.  In the fall I had my students create the CD's for our Tunes Store, this time around it was the Book Buffet.  

The kids had to answer specific questions on their book - there were certain sections, and each section had to be "hidden" under bites of food.  

Very clever!  There were so many great ones, I would never have thought of a styrofoam round cut into pieces for cake... or styrofoam covered with felt to create a hamburger...    

We had many pizzas too, and quesidillas, sandwiches, scrambled eggs and bacon...!  All in all they did a wonderful job.

Since Open House had a food theme, these were spread around the room for families to admire.  I will definitely be doing this again next year.

Check it out!  What book reports are your favorites to do?

Book Tunes Book Report

I wanted to share my students' first major book reports of the year.  Usually I have the kids make up their Cereal Box Book Report for their first trimester report, but then there is always the issue of where to store them in my small, cramped room.  This year (during the BIG SALE), I found a book report bundle from The Peanut Gallery that had a project called Book Tunes Fiction Book Report.  It had the kids create paper CD's for the different parts of the report, and they presented it in class in a CD case.  LOVE it!!  

The kids had guidelines and due dates along the way, some that I added.  For instance, they had to choose an AR book and take a test on it as part of their grade.  My past students came in this week and hung them up for me.  We just used large binder clips and push pins to hold them on the wall.  Little things that did not take up a lot of room.

I love this project and highly recommend it!  Definitely motivating for my students to complete.  

  

My Day in Pictures

Hi Everyone,

Well today I would like to show you my day in pictures. 'Twas the day before Halloween... with a pj spirit day as well (Put drugs to bed).  Now, please know I really tried to remember to take pictures... just there were some moments that I couldn't exactly grab a camera... I'm sure you understand.  :)  

Here we go:

Before school it's the calm before the storm. I unpack my bag, feeling slightly guilty that I didn't grade those papers last night. 

At 8:15 it's time to get the kids from line up and head back with them to our home away from home. 

The kids get organized- homework on desks, they are working on morning math meeting on the floor when I'm checking it in. Then we go over it (meeting and hw) full class.  

Soon enough it's prep time- kids go to PE, come back for 5 minutes before they head to recess. Those 5 minutes between the 2 are filled with filling a bucket. 

What am I doing during prep? Actually today I was correcting those papers from last night. Fun times - NOT!!

After recess is our math rotations. The kids were put into groups on Monday for the week. I use pocket charts that are magnetic on the whiteboard so they just stay up. I only rotate the station card at the top when it's time to switch.  

Math facts- Fall Roll a Dice

At your seat - Problem Solving worksheet

Teacher Time - lesson on multidigit patterns

Hands On - All Halloween math cards - all types of review.

(I used to have them use their whiteboards, but I switched it to scratch paper and pencil - they have to turn in what they accomplished to get credit.)

After math is reading. Wednesdays mean rereading the story with a partner (read to someone using comprehension check marks) then today we reviewed a bunch of stuff in our workbooks.  

{Just imagine a picture of two children reading together... my picture was somehow totally blurry.}

When done is workshop time. Kids are finishing up their Spooky Spelling Stories as a must do, and have daily 5 choices when done. 

Listen to reading - MP3's, iPad  

Word Work - Trick or Treat word brainstorm

Work on Writing choices - journal writes

It's time for lunch, then after lunch is our read aloud and read to self. 

Today we worked on a special book report instead of doing our normal workshop and science lesson. Pumpkin Character Book Reports. I'm sure you have seen them, I just didn't want the mess of using real pumpkins in class. 

The kids each had a form to fill out about a book they chose - the main idea being that they could choose a book that they enjoyed to expand other student's horizons. I wanted them to learn about other books out there.

When done with their form they took a foam pumpkin and decorated it to look like their character. Instant bulletin board recommendations. This project took about an hour and then we moved onto pack up & clean up. 

I do have yard duty afterschool this week... Then there is 25 minutes before my own son starts squawking that it's time to go home. 

Another day - I hope I'm ready for tomorrow!