Saturday, February 25, 2012

If you give a pig a pancake... pattern freebie!

This week we did one of Laura Numeroff's fabulous books, If You Give a Pig a Pancake! My students just adore her books so the fact that HM tucked this one into the anthology made my kiddos' week.

We spent most of the week talking about cause and effect, pick up our worksheet HERE, and what is real vs. fantasy. This kids got to make up fantasy statements about pigs. Some of my faves that they came up with were ... "Pigs can go shopping with Mrs. Hodson" and "Pigs can be spaceship commanders" (we also learnerd about Neil Armstrong this week). Then we disproved each students' wacky claim. The kids really liked doing that part!

We also threw in a little compound word study, we did the bulk of it last week but they are still so excited when they spot one :) So, we made this cute pig to go along with our story which is holding writing about what each child would give their pig (but they could only choose things that were compound words). I think they look too funny! Here are a couple of my kiddos pigs...


And here is our whole class pig board...



You can get the pig pattern and writing page by clicking on the pic below!

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

And the winner is...

Well actually, no one was able to guess my favorite Seuss book... If I ran the Zoo!


So, I used the random generator to pick #4, Miss Ashely!Congrats and check your inbox!

...and as an extra special bonus I am half pricing my mini Cat in the Hat unit till Friday!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Compund words... and a Dr. Seuss givaway!

So today is a day off with the Mr. and I plan to enjoy every moment of it! So here is a quick post on our adventures into compound words this week (we're just getting started!) and read on for my Dr. Seuss giveaway.

One of our HM focuses this week was compound words, so all week we have been compiling any compound word we thought of or came across in reading

sorry for the glare :( .. hello flash in a white board!

Then at the end of the week we made compound word raincoats! Here are a couple of my kiddos coats...



I'll go to the moon in my spaceship.
And since Dr. Seuss' birthday is fast approaching along with Read Across America week I put together this Cat in the Hat Mini Unit to go along with the book. It includes all you see below and can be picked up in my TPT store for just $2.00!


Of course, someone should always get to win one, so... If you are the first to guess my favorite Dr. Seuss book I will send it your way for free, just don't forget to leave your e-mail! And if no one can guess I'll randomly choose a comment tomorrow night!

Happy Monday!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

It's All About America! with a freebie!

We are in the middle of our All About America unit and things are really getting going! For the past couple of weeks we have been focused on American symbols. This is one of those topics that he kids just get! Which makes teaching it so much fun. I read through a ton of books on the symbols, monuments, documents etc... (thanks Donors Choose!) and we learned all we could.

I put this symbol page together for us to do after we had be discussing for a few days (click the pic to download!)


We made directed art liberty bells...

the plan was to also do a white house, bald eagle and statue of liberty but time is flying!
Then we did our big group projects! This is by far my favorite activity of the entire year... I love seeing them working in small groups independently, figuring out how to function... it's great!

They each received a "Top Secret" envelope that included books, pictures, articles about their symbol. Then in their groups they had to go through the information, work together to complete a worksheet and a poster and then work with me to create a presentation (at least one sentence per group member about their symbol). So dang cute! Here are pictures that document our two day group project excursion...






 I have a ton more pictures so share, but I'll spare you all! Seriously, aren't those posters cute as can be! And bonus... I had kiddos ask to do more symbol investigation and give presentations! LOVE IT!

The next couple of weeks will be dedicated to heroes! And we will begin our hero projects... I can't wait!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Oh and... Miss Amberleigh please send me your email address so that I can send you the Dinosaurs in the Dark!

Monday, February 6, 2012

What We've Been up to, a Give a Away, and a freebie!

Happy Monday! Has it been crazy busy lately, or what? I feel like we are go, go, go around here, but I guess it's that time of year! Here's what we have been up to:


We did our February Quilt using the book Mama, Do You Love Me? Such a great book! Then the kiddos wrote about how they know their parents love them... their reasons were so sweet :)

tissue paper and starch hearts
We also made this cute groundhog day project...


You can't tell from the pic, but he's attached to a pop stick and he can poke in and out... the kids were in love! lol... I got the idea from this amazing art book. It's perfect for when I'm in a pinch and need an idea...


Last week was polar bear week, so we did expository writing about polar bears and made this funky sponge painted bear...

Sorry it's so dark... our hallway lighting isn't great
And after attending a release day, we have begun.... Language Board! Do any of you do this? It's all the rage in our district right now...

our HM focus wall is on top, but the bottom three sections are language board... a strand by strand daily spiral review.. so far, so good

Also... I am lucky enough to have some amazing readers this year so I am starting The Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark with my highest kiddos during UA time...

I put together this 35 page packet of guided reading/response worksheets, comprehension checks and story vocab cards... I am giving one away to the first commenter that names their favorite dinosaur!! If you are not a winner, you'll be able to pick it up in my TPT store for $4.00.

this and much more :)

And now for the freebie... My kiddos are in need of a base 10/tally mark review so I made up this little Leap Frog Scoot game! Just click the pic to download! Enjoy!

Have an awesome week!