Shapes Poster Freebie!

Hi friends!  I think I mentioned this in my last post too, but I really have been SUPER busy lately.  


I didn't want you to think that I've forgot about you though, so I made you these cute shapes posters!  I hope you can use them!  


They are especially good for my kindergarten and first grade friends!  

{Click the picture to grab your FREE copy!}

I can't wait to catch you up on some of the exciting things happening in our classroom lately!

Triops Life Cycle Awesomeness {with freebie}

Hey everyone!  I've missed you!  I'm back, after a week.  I've been super busy running all over the school.  I wanted to share this science activity that I started with my kiddos this week.  They have been looking forward to this for two months!  They have been so patient too!  

Well, it all started with this:

Have you ever seen these little guys before?  Don't they look so sweet and cuddly!?  Ya right, I know they look absolutely terrifying I mean the stuff nightmares are made of, right!

Okay, back in October during our rock unit we were investigating some fossils. I found some trilobite fossils and then low and behold I found this little package for sale in a scholastic book order.  These snugly little triops are ancient relatives of trilobites!  So... I purchased them with some of my teacher scholastic book club points.  You can get them here though.

This website has lesson plans, worksheets and loads of information to help you teach your students all about these ancient creatures!

Wowwy, wowwy, wowza!  My little darlings were SO excited when they came to school on Friday and saw this on the shelf! 

 Our school bought an aquarium for us from Wal-Mart for only $25.  It even has a light attached to the lid.

You have to use pure natural spring water.  So I bought some at Dollar Tree.  My students loved helping pour the water in the aquarium.  After the water gets to the right temperature we poured the capsule that contains the eggs into a cup.  I did this under the Elmo document camera and projected it onto my GIANT smart board.  

Can you see the teeny tiny eggs?  They are in suspended animation, that is just one of the cool words your kiddos will learn.  

Did you know I have a GIANT smartboard?!  They didn't look so tiny on this baby!  ;)

Here is the what the aquarium looks like today.  After  two days we still didn't have any triop babies.  I was getting a little worried! So, I took my lamp from my library and removed the shade and set it up behind the tank.  This warmed up the water quite a bit.  

  

Then today one of my students noticed we had FOUR little babies!!!  My students couldn't wait to have a turn at looking at them with the magnifying glass!   They are SOOOO small!  They are suppose to double in size every day!  

Today my students worked in their packet/booklet that I created for them.  You can use it too if you decide to take on this engaging project!

I copied the front and back onto 11 x 17 paper and then fold it down the middle hamburger style!

Then I made two of the journal pages and copied those onto the 11 X 17 paper, front and back.  That way you can slip them inside and staple it for a booklet. 

  My students are going to observe and record their findings daily.  

{Click the scientist to snag your FREE copy!}

It comes with three different covers and some surprises!

I made this cover in case you are doing a different project and want to use the journal booklet.

  Spoiler alert: it includes a life cycle of a butterfly coloring page! .  Hurry, go check it out!

Let me know what you think!

Morning Journal - Management Tip!

This is the system I came up with to make sure that I see every students journal and have a little conference with them each week. I use to have my students hand in their journals every Friday but then it was SO hard to make the time to go through and read each one.  Plus, then my little darling students weren't there for the feedback.  

This is what my new system looks like.

Things to notice:

* The date is at the very top.

*  Even though I really want them to be doing all of these things EVERY time they write, I just have one reminder that they need to work on that day.  This space will alternate with things like spaces between words, ending marks, complete idea, capitals in the right places, good handwriting.  

*I have the writing prompt in the big red box.

*Then I have all of my students divided up into a manageable amount for me.  I check between four to five journals a day.  This way I am able to get to everyone and they each get a little personal time with me to talk about their morning writing each week.  

I'm going to ask the hubby to send me the morning journal labels so I can share them with you!  They are on his computer :)

Hope this is helpful!

Outdoor Recreation

The administration and teachers at my school truly believe that in order to work together we first need to be able to play together.  So, lucky for us, once a month every grade has an outdoor activity that they get to earn. 


So far we have been hiking, rock climbing and had swimming lessons.  We also had a fun run race.  I love doing this so much because it gives those students that don't soar academically a chance to shine!  Everyone is good at something!!   


This months activity was ice skating!  This was such a unique opportunity for many of my students.  Only one of them had ever been before!  


Each parent is expected to complete four hours of volunteer service for the school each month and this is always such an enjoyable way for parents to accomplish their hours!  We needed lots of help with lacing skates!

Here's some pictures of all the excitement we had!

This is me with one of my little sweethearts!  

I saw many great acts of kindness and displays of true friendship!

Does anybody else have outdoor recreation time at your school?  I'd love to hear about it!!!

Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to enter my giveaway!  

Drum roll please.........................................

The winner is:

Barbara from Grade ONEderful!  How exciting!  

Thanks again everyone!!!

Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program

Our school qualified for the fresh fruits and vegetable program.  This means that everyday each child in our school has the opportunity to eat either a serving of fresh fruits or vegetables separate from lunch.  The goal is to combat childhood obesity and give children knowledge of lesser known fruits and vegetables.  So we often offer produce to our students that many of them have never heard of and especially never tasted!  We also serve them common produce but the goal is to introduce them to as many varieties as possible.   Our child nutrition director, Ashley, does an excellent job at ordering an interesting selection of fruits and veggies!    It is a great program and my students love getting their snack everyday!


Here is an example of a weeks selection:

Lady Gala Apples

Tomatillos

Beets

Brussel Sprouts

Shallets

Today our snack was very interesting and got all of my students very excited!

How cool is that?!  Orchids, an edible flower!

My little darlings would probably never have the opportunity to try such an exotic food otherwise!

Here is a link to find out about getting your school involved in this awesome program!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!!  

Hooray! It's A Gift Card Giveaway!

Hi friends!  To celebrate reaching 100+ followers, a new blog design and because I love and appreciate teacher blogging SO much I am giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader!

Here is what you can do to enter:

*Follow my blog and leave me a comment telling me you follow and what your favorite subject to teach is!   

*Post about my giveaway on your blog and use my button.  Leave me a comment letting me know you posted with the address to your post. 

*Add my button to your blog side bar and leave me a comment with the address to your blog.  


*If you have a Facebook page for your blog you can post about this giveaway there using my button for another entry!  Just let me know you posted it on Facebook.

So that is four possible ways to enter this giveaway!

Make sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you when you win!  

Good luck! 

I will randomly pick a winner on Friday the 13th!