IN THE CLASSROOM....

This week, my students are taking our state MAP test.  We are reviewing and taking break from our curriculum so I do not overload their brains this week.  I have been sharing some Math activities we have been doing, so I thought I would share some Science activities...


"A boy left his bike chained to a tree when he want away to war in 1914. He never returned, leaving the tree no choice but to grow around the bike."

Students worked together at this station to discuss how this happened.  They brainstormed their ideas and made a circle map.  As they rotate each group adds to the map.




Students loved this station.  We had previouse studied environments.  They wrote a R.A.F.T from the turtles point of view about his environment and what he is thinking about!  This is in their AJ's and we shared them at the end of the day.  Several students illustrated their RAFTS.




This was the absolute favorite picture of the day!  I used this as a creative writing station to review for PASS in the spring.  Can you imagine the stories I got about being a "clear frog".  AND yes this is a real frog.




Finally they practiced their observation skills!


Love this for practicing observations, inferences and predictions.

Hope this inspires you in your classroom with your students!
Happy Learning...


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In the Classroom...

While searching for activities this week in Math, I can across the perfect game for my students to play to help review for MAP testing next week...


 I ran across a game that teaches area and perimeter. It was described by G. Sims "Husker" in her review of Dice in Dice on Amazon. She calls it the Real Estate Game. You will need Graph Paper and Colored Pencils. 1. Roll one dice in dice and use those numbers as the sides of the area of your land plot. 2. Draw the fence line around your plot. The fence line forms the perimeter of your plot. 3. Write the multiplication problem in your plot. 4. Color in your plot with a colored pencil. You will be coloring in the area of the plot. This game is played in pairs. When there is no more room to place your next plot of land, the game is over. The player with the most land area is the winner. You might also consider laminating a few grids and using dry erase markers instead of colored pencils and graph paper." Great idea.  

We have been playing this for two days, and they are still not finished!  They have strategized, plotted, and planned what is the best way to lay out the area on their grid. Then get excited if they roll a 1 x 4 on the dice.  I have to roll for them on occasion since I have the "magic touch".  It has been a great review lesson.               
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In the Classroom...

Today I realized that something I had posted had drawn a lot of attention...


I have this posted outside on my bullentin board.  My students and even teacher come down the hall and read the various announcements on it.  Slowly these little "compliments" have dissapeared.  One young man stuck his head in the door and ask me if I had any more compliments.  I looked at him and then remembered. I had forgot I put this up.  I went outside and just the top was there.  All the compliments were gone.  I pulled another out of the folder and put it up for him.  He just smiled and said thanks.  He told me it was nice to know someone cared enough to put this up for the kids...

We all need compliments.  Post this and see what happens in your "work" place.
(Another idea from Pinterest)
Happy Learning...this time I learn from my students!

In the Classroom...

In the world of Science, my students this I rule.  So in the effort to be top dog in their eyes, I am always on the look out for really cool science.  On Pinterest this week I found it.  We are studying the Ocean, and I surprised them today by telling them I was giving each of them a pet to take care of during this unit.
They each got their very own Jelly Fish!  Now let me tell you I had some very excited 5th graders.

We went to the science lab and "made" jelly fish. If I was not their favorite science teacher, I am now.
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Things you need to make your own jellyfish (Hope you can find all these in your kitchen) :
1. A transparent plastic grocery bag
2. A plastic water bottles.
3. Thread
4. Food coloring
5. Scissors

Instruction:
• Flatten the bag and cut off the handle and the bottom part (see picture 1)
• Cut along both sides (see picture 2) to split into 2 plastic sheets – by the way, we only use just one of them.
• From the center of the plastic sheet, fold it like a tiny balloon to make the head part and tie it with the thread – not too tight (see picture 3). You must leave a little hole in order to pour some water in the head part(see picture 7-8).
• Now you’ll get the head balloon part and the remaining will be its tentacles. Cut from the edge up to the head part roughly. You’ll get for about 8-10 tentacles (see picture 4).
• For each of them, cut again into 3-4 small strings (see picture 5) – and just cut off the remaining part.
• Trim to make random long and short tentacles (see picture 6)

When finished, you’ll get something like this (the left pile is all the pieces we cut off)• Put some water into the head part to make it be able to sink (see picture 7). You must leave some air inside to make be able to float up (see picture 8).
• Fill up your water bottle (see picture 9).
• Put your jellyfish in the bottle with a few drops of blue food coloring. Screw in the cap and that’s all. : )

A tip is to make the head of the jelly fish really fat and the tenacles not as long or full.  It took us a lot of trial and error.  BUT so much fun.

Happy Learning!

Has it been that long....

I cannot believe it has been that long since I have made a post. I have been so busy with school, grad classes and home that my blog has just not been on my mind.  I read so many good blogs, it is hard to imagine that anyone would read mine. 

Just incase there is anyone that does, I have some great ideas to share...

http://classroommagic.blogspot.com/2012/01/valentine-goodies.html  is a great new blog that I am following. 

Check out this idea for a Valentine activity for your class.  Stock up on converstaional hearts.  My kids are going to love this.  This site is full of activity matts for your class.

My newest hobby is Pinterest.  I get so many ideas for my classroom from there.


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This is the newest thing that I give my kids...They think it is a cool way to get their thought out.  They like to save them in their AJ's and go back and add to it.


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I just found this...Cannot wait to share it tomorrow.

Happy pinning...