October Fun

So, it has been FOREVER since I've been here. So busy the past couple of weeks. Crazy conferences, assessment weeks and an observation in the works.

But even with all of that we have has a bit of time to squeeze in some October fun! Take a look :)

This past week we worked on turning subtraction word problems into number sentences. We also learned the classic "Five Little Pumpkins" poem. So, I thought... why not combine them!

In pairs, the kiddos told pumpkin subtraction stories to each other. The listener worked out the story with their pumpkin puppets and together they created a picture and number sentence to match. They would have done this ALL day had I let them :)

You can get the clip art pieces and the recording sheet HERE (thank you DJ Inkers!). If you need details on how they were made, let me know!

We also read the story Where's My Mummy? and made these adorable tear are mummies.It is a simple gingerbread template with the hands cut off. Then the kids tore white and shades of gray paper into thin strips. A couple of torn black circles make the eyes.

This week I also made cupcakes with my auction winners. Our school hosts a fall auction where each teacher donates some time to complete an activity with their auction winner and a friend or two. Some teachers take their winners for ice cream, host a pirate lunch party, or take them to a movie. I decided to decorate Halloween cupcakes!

My winner and her friend learned how to make a pumpkin, monster, spider web and then one of their own design. I even busted out the piping bags and tips for them :)

not too bad for first graders!

These ones were mine :)

Alright, I will be back soon (I promise) with some workstation and guided reading activities.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Picture Day! Project

This last week was individual student picture day and we did the best art project to go with it!

My teammate introduced me to this book:

It's the cutest book written and illustrated by a second grade class here in California (which, by the way, totally impressed my kids!) full of funny things that happened to them on picture day; crazy hair, loose tooth etc...

So, we went ahead and read the book and did a directed art activity; drawing how we looked on picture day. This was hilarious. I took their picture (so I didn't have to wait to get the minis back from the photog). The kids were sure into it! And to be honest, most of them are spot on to their real picture!

Instead of having them create something that happened to them on picture day, we wrote something that we did to get ready for picture day. 


This one cracked me up...

Thank goodness for big sisters! lol

Each one came out different which was PERFECT!

So, if you haven't had your picture day yet or want to tuck this away for next year, I'm letting you know it is a must do!

I'll be back with some blend freebies so swing by again soon!