Winter Party {TP challenge and Sugar Cube Missions}

What a party!  Yesterday was so much fun.  We had our Book Exchange in the morning, then finished up our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie with (crock pot) hot chocolate.  We had a couple of minutes before lunch, so I pulled out a quick time filler and the kids played the toilet paper snowman game.  Each group of 5 were given a roll of toilet paper, and only 10 minutes to create a snow person.  They got so into it, and took it very seriously.  Accessories were used, toilet paper was flying into designs, and the kids were showing some major teamwork.

After lunch we made our sugar cube missions.  I've done them in past years too - it's just my thing I love to do (instead of gingerbread houses).  We are right in the middle of studying about missions, and it just ties it all together.  I ask for sugar cube and white frosting donations, and from there the kids create their buildings.  They decorate them with our candy box candy, spice drops (for the bells), and lasagna noodles for the clay roofs.  At the very end the kids do an earthquake challenge, and walk their mission on an obstacle course.  If they can complete the walk without it falling down the mission would have withstood the natural disasters.  :P  The kids get a kick out of it.  

I love my home traditions, but also love the traditions that I have at school.  It means a lot to me to share these activities with the kids - to have fun with them after half of year of pushing them constantly.  I recently ran into one of my past students - that I had over 10 years ago - and she still remembered some of the fun moments.  It does make a difference. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing break!  

Snowman Ornaments

Every year I like to have my class make something to give their parents for Christmas.  This year I saw a cute idea over on IG to have the kids use glass ornaments and fill them up with marshmallows to create snowmen. I changed it up a bit and they filled it with 2 cotton balls, then used black sharpie for the eyes and a smudge of orange paint for the nose.  It was super simple, pretty cheap, and the kids were so proud.  I will definitely do this again!

Thank You Veterans

This year for Veteran's Day my teammate told me about a neat remembrance project that she does in her classroom... and I wanted to add it to my classroom as well.  Basically you take a long piece of white construction paper, and attach the red/blue strips.  I labeled the strips in alphabetical order: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy and gave out star stickers to my class to stick in the category of someone in their lives (grandparents, uncles, dads, friend's dad) that they know who have served our country.  The kids that wanted to share out loud full class did so, but not everyone wanted to speak aloud - which is where the stars came in.  Some kids only had one star, but some had multiple ones.  In my own life I was able to stick stars onto Air Force (grandpa and uncle), Army (grandpa), and Marines (nephew).  We also watched the Flocabulary video of Veterans Day with our school membership.  That was pretty powerful.  How do you celebrate Veterans Day?  

Snowmen and Reindeer Poop - A Fundraising Idea

It was all about poop that week before break... Snowman and Reindeer that is!  

Our school has a Holiday Shop where kids can bring in money and buy gifts for their family members.  In addition to the mugs and jewelry, teachers and grade levels are allowed to sell candy (basically the one time this happens during the year), so my team hopped to it trying to raise extra funds for our upcoming field trip.  My contribution were these poop bags.  I made 200 of them and they sold out within a couple of days... $200 coming straight to our grade level just from poop!

The Reindeer Poop were scoops of chocolate covered raisins, and the Snowman Poop were scoops of mini marshmallows with a tablespoon or two of those mini pastel mints sprinkled inside.  Size wise I used snack size ziplock bags with the cute labels stapled over the top.  We also sold Elf Vitamins (Skittles), and Candy Cane "Build your own Reindeer" kits.  

Are you allowed to sell anything in your Holiday Shop?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  

For the first time EVER all 5 of us stayed up to bring in the new year, probably because we kept the kids busy last night...  We played challenge games:

 

1) Balancing balloons on cups while wiggling.

2) Throwing mini marshmallows into a clock shaped arrangement of cups.

3) Transferring chocolate candies from one paper plate to a clock pattern using only a straw.

4) Using jumbo marshmallows and launching them across the kitchen and catching them in a cup.

Did we have fun?  Oh yes!  Did they sleep in long enough today?  Nope!

We also had a dance party, watched a couple of shows, built legos, and then made brownie bowls at 11pm.  

Country Living Magazine had posted a picture on IG a couple of days ago and I decided to try it.  Poured the batter into the muffin tins, baked for 30 minutes, pressed down with an additional muffin tin/ice cream scoop to make it deeper, then continued baking for another 7 minutes until really done.  Topped with ice cream.  It was delish!

My youngest started putting his head down on the couch at 11:55... oh, the irony of making him wake back up!  What's on the agenda for today?  Filling in my new planner, thinking about cleaning the house and putting away Christmas, and having a 24 hour date with my honey (lunch to lunch).  My wonderful parents are taking the boys on a special winter break sleepover.  But for now it's all about these pjs. 

Hope you had a great night!  How did you celebrate?

Sugar Cube Missions

That day before break, I once again had my students create Sugar Cube Missions.  It's pretty simple to create and it doesn't give me a headache.  :)  I should explain that the last day before break it's basically a full day party in our PJs.  

Here's our schedule:

Before PE/Recess: Correct HW, Listen to the choir singing, open presents (so I can write thank you notes during the movie), start watching the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

Between Recess and Lunch: Play a Book Swap game (like the White Elephant game) - students bring in a book and then we pick numbers, choose books, and swap when needed.  It's fun and totally optional.  We also watched the rest of the movie and had hot chocolate (in the crockpot) with popcorn cups.

After Lunch: Friend Friday Reading (partner reading), Sugar Cube Missions, clean up/pack up, Fun Friday with the grade level.  

See - an easy fun day!  

Families were asked to bring in sugar cubes and white frosting.  I picked up a couple of lasagna boxes (for the roofs), spice drops (for bells), and then pulled out our candy box and grabbed other options (peppermint candies, smarties).  The leftover marshmallows from our hot chocolate that morning also were pulled out for use.  Each student was given a heavy duty paper plate, and they went to work creating their mission. 

Now why do I do missions, instead of gingerbread houses?  Because we have been knee deep in learning about them. We learned about how the Spanish built them, and all the disasters that have occurred.   

This year it wasn't raining (Praise God!), so we completed the creating outside.  One long piece of butcher paper kept everything neat and tidy.  Super easy to just roll up the paper afterward to throw away.  When done the students had the option of doing an "Earthquake Challenge".  They had to walk to the far building and back while carrying their creations.  If they didn't fall apart then they were deemed earthquake proof.  When we do this inside the challenge is to maneuver through the desks in an obstacle course.  It's fun and an easy way to see who will be able to carry them home at the end of the day.  

How did you celebrate winter break with your students?  

Celebrating Martin

I tend to celebrate holidays on the day closest to the actual day... so to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. we celebrated this past Tuesday (after our Monday holiday).

One activity we did was to discuss his famous quotes and then the kids personalized them by telling what it means to them (and a little illustration).  The quotes came from All Clip Art as free clip art.  I just stuck them onto a powerpoint slide, and copied to fit at least 3 per sheet.  Then when it was time to write about them, I had the kids choose what quote they related to the most, they glued it onto their paper, and the rest is history.

Every year to celebrate his birthday I have my students brainstorm their own dream and wish for the world.  Since my 4th graders need to practice their cutting skills (I'm being serious), I had them make a cloud/dream bubble and brainstorm on top.

I especially love this one below about being all 4 things - doctor, artist, mom, and rockstar.  Dream big!

In class we also watched the Brain Pop movie about Martin Luther King Jr, and in the computer lab the kids had a chance to look up every more information about him.  Then in groups I had them fill in the posters by Elementary Lesson Plans.

How did you incorporate Martin Luther King Jr. into your lesson plans?  Hope this gave you some ideas for next year!

Veterans Day Activities

I'm so looking forward to Monday.  I need a 3 day weekend like peanut butter needs chocolate.

Of course when I asked my students if they knew why we would be having a 3 day weekend they couldn't put it into words.  So I search through the freebies on TPT and found these gems to help me explain it.

First I learned about this picture book to read to the kids.  In That Room has this mini unit to help with comprehension.  

This one is from Michelle Harper and has a timeline that kids work to put together.  I have it copied for students to work with partners.  

This one is from Ashleigh and has a bunch of different activities.  Time is going to be an issue on Friday, so I printed off her synonym activity for individual students to tackle.

This pack is from Denise Scaccia.  I love how her writing paper has all the different branches of the armed services represented.  I know it's for the little kids, but my big kids will enjoy it too.

Just a few things to help my kiddos know the reason behind the day off of school.

Hope these help you! 

Black History Month

Do you celebrate Black History Month?  I do!  

Every year I give my students a large piece of construction paper to make a placemat.  Not that they really use it as a placemat when they take it home, but the point is I want them to share the information with their parents.  I want to promote family discussions about what they learned that day in school.  Sometimes kids need a visual to remember...

  As we discuss the famous men and women they write fun facts about them on their paper.  This year, since I have now discovered the power of powerpoint, I made the placemat official looking.  I typed the names for my kiddos - making it easier for them to follow along.  I also typed up all my notes about these famous people, created note pages for the students to fill in, to use in a game, and then made up a sheet for students to take one person & create a paragraph about them to add to a class book.  

After we make up the placemat and before their individual writing, I'm going to take the fun facts sheets and cut them into strips.  They are then going to each get a strip of information about a specific person, and mingle to music to share their information over and over again with the different members of our class.  After all that writing they will need a chance to get up and move!  I have another page in the packet similar to a bingo board for them to check off who they talk about.  Their goal will be to make a bingo with the different people.  After the fact they will take their strip of paper and begin writing about their specific person.     

  It's over at TPT if you are interested in checking it out!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!  I stayed up way too late last night (no school today) to finish my 3rd book of the weekend.  Yes, 3 books.  I love vacation!

President's Day Fun

We started celebrating President's Day a week ago when my students reviewed graphing coordinate points.  2 years ago I found functional mystery picture graphs on Superteacherworksheets.com.  At that time they were free, but now there is a membership fee.  Still worth it though!
I have the one for Abe and another one for George.  

Like I was saying, my students graphed Abe a week ago on Friday, and then last Friday they graphed George.  With the first graph I showed them an example of Abe so they could check their plots.  With George I wasn't that willing. I wanted to see if they really got it.  They did and they look awesome (and their self confidence has gone up).
Besides the graphing, this coming Tuesday we will compare and contrast Abe and George.  I'm going to give them this free coloring sheet and they will draw their Venn Diagram on the back of it.    
Then after we brainstorm they will need to write a multi paragraph essay comparing and contrasting Abe and George.  It's motivation to finish since they then can color the cover of their book.  A quick staple to include their graphs and they have a book to take home to show their parents.  I love things that turn out to be easy!
Here's an art project that I loved doing with my school kids last year,  as well as my home kids.  The picture below is of my 3 boys.

All you do is take a portrait of their heads - I try to have their heads fill up the camera screen.  After you print you (or they) cut out their images.  At school last year I had them stick their face on a paper plate and they painted over it with black paint.  It was messy and my room smelled of paint for a couple of days.  At home I cut them out and then we used a poster sized permanent marker to color it in.  It was so much easier using the black sharpie.  Definitely less messy.  Then you glue it onto a white background and it's done.
Hope you are having a great weekend!

Chinese New Year and a Super Sale

Yes, both my stores will be participating in the sale over at TPT and TN this Saturday and Sunday along with many many other people.  Thanks to Primary Polka Dots for the super cute graphic!     TPT will be 20% off plus an additional amount on Sunday when you use the code "Super".  I put TN on sale for 25% as well. 
This week I celebrated our 100th day of school and Superbowl.   It was fun... and draining!  If I could only mention all the things that my students decided to do today to move on the behavior chart... but I can't and I won't.
I love this time of year, but there are tons of things to add to the curriculum.
Sunday, February 10th is Chinese New Year and I always like to do something special.  Next week we will be celebrating in the classroom because the next week is busy with Valentines...  I made these last year for Chinese New Year... not my picture... this was pre-blog.  I ended up doing it slightly different - traced a 4 inch circle onto felt (just used a canning jar lid), the kids cut it out, and then I hot glued a 4 inch piece of pipe cleaner on the inside diameter.  The kids wrote themselves a fortune on a slip of paper, and then I showed them how to fold it - to take their fingers to pinch it closed and fold it into the shape.   
Here are also some free things I found on TPT that I'm excited about. Most everything will be perfect for my intermediate classroom. This has 3 different reading levels plus comprehension questions.
This will be a fun craft. This has everything!  Story, coloring, word search, boggle, tangrams, lantern, learning the language, and writing.

This lantern page is adorable...
Click on any of the above pictures to head to the correct links. Hope this can help someone!  

Planning for Dr. King's Birthday

For Dr. King's Birthday, I like to have my students think of their own wish for the world.  We discuss what Dr. King's dream was, and then we brainstorm together what our own wishes are.  Coming off of Christmas when the students are so focused on themselves and what they feel they need, I try to guide them into thinking of things that will help the entire world.
For example: *Clean water for all *Peace *No wars *Medicine for anyone who needs it
We discuss and then they write a multi-paragraph essay about it.  We are working on details, so they will need to not only state their dream, but also a solution that could make that a reality.  Of course the solution may not be a real life possibility, but in their eyes it could.  
When they are ready to tackle the final draft I will give them a paper from this packet.  There is a full sheet with clip art, as well as a 1/2 sheet with clip art.  It's free, just click the link!  

The new year means I'm also starting out a new incentive thing in my classroom.  My kids are spelling out words to earn whole class rewards.  We tried doing something like this the week before Christmas break using Tara's "Be Merry" banner, and they really were motivated to earn the letters.  We still do warm fuzzies, but these are mainly used those weeks that there is something special going on and we need a little extra motivation to make good choices (staying on green, walking in line, etc).  

I made up a DREAM banner (and also a SNOWMAN , and then a Love Bug one), and this weekend am planning on getting the rest of Winter complete.  I'm making up 2 sizes for each banner since I want to use the full sheet for the Writing wall and the smaller 1/2 sheet for the board.  They are in the same set for convenience.  
Do you do something for Dr. King's birthday too?  Any other activities you could share with me?  Sometimes it seems that I get so trapped in the regular routine that I forget about all the thematic stuff that helps to supplement their learning.