State Reports

I feel like I have been playing catch up ALL. WEEK. I was out four days last week, and when I went back Friday I decided that I still wanted my kiddos to do their state research projects and they were SO into it! They did a fabulous job!!

Before I got sick, we were doing a lot of research on Oklahoma. I checked out this series of state books:

I had a basket with all of the books and each child had to choose one without looking. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit :)

I required each child to find the following facts/symbols: a picture of the state with the state capitol, state flag, state animal, state bird, state tree, and state flower. We reviewed how to use the glossary to find the information. They did AWESOME!

I modified The Bag Ladies cuuuuute camera report for the kids to write and illustrate each symbol. Then each of them got to share their reports with the class. The kids loved learning about their friends' states!

Sick, bleh! So here's PART of my Oklahoma mini unit!

I have been a little MIA lately. I am home sick from school for the third day in a row. I was also sick over the weekend. I went to school Easter Sunday to make some quick, busy work plans for a sub. I just had NOTHING in me!! What started out as what I thought was a horrible muscle spasm turned out to be a kidney infection and slight case of pneumonia! YUCK. As of right now the earliest I can go back is Thursday! This is longest I have ever been away from a class at one time!

 My WONDERFUL friends Amy and Jeanne have been soooo great and have been getting everything ready for my sub and my kiddos each day. I seriously have the best team EVER and I am so greatful for them!

Before I got sick, we spent time learning all about Oklahoma-it's history, landforms, symbols, the Land Run...  We did research in the computer lab on http://www.netstate.com/ to find out some of the odd and not so well known facts and symbols. The kids were pretty into this, even though the site doesn't look all that kid friendly :) A couple of the books we read during the week included:

Every year our 4th grade students re-enact the Land Run on April 22! So before my kids went and watched it at high noon, I wanted them to have some background about it! We read the book above and discussed the Land Run and what we would need to bring with us and why. We also talked about whether or not we would be Sooners and cheat and go before noon to claim our land! Then we wrote about it and made cute little wagons. Just cut off the bottom of a paper sack, cut a piece of white paper in half hotdog style, and make a pattern for 4 wheels and  a handle! (My kids also filled their wagon with things they would bring!)

My sub is supposed to have my kids make cute little flip flap window booklet things (I don't even know what to call 'em!) to show some of the symbols that represent Oklahoma. I will try and get that posted. I was also VERY excited to be able to do some state research projects using all of the "Facts and Symbols" books, hopefully I can get to it!!! If I get to go back Friday that is what I plan on doing, so I will try to post that as well :)

Hoping these antibiotics are working!

Story Elements Flip-Flap Book

We read from our basal this week, and our story was:

My kiddos enjoyed this story because many of them could relate to Sam, who has a new puppy that always gets in trouble! We talked a lot about helping others learn the rules (great review for school rules too, especially at this point in the year!)

For reading comprehension we focused on problem and solution. We read several stories and the kids did a great job at identifying the problem and how it was solved in each story.

I had them make these cute flip-flap books as an assessment (rather than using the problem/solution workbook pages that came with our reading series). I thought they did a fabulous job!

 
 
 

AWESOME math website!

So, I found this website and I am OB-SESSED. I soooo wish I had a Smart Board in my classroom! We will definitely be visiting this site in the computer lab and using the Smart Board in there!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/math.htm

They also have other subjects, but I am just LOVING the math! Enjoy!

Word Sort Center

I just had to share one of my absolute favorite purchases from the Target bargain bins!

 I purchased 4 of these babies for $2.50 a piece this past summer, and I am praying they will sell them again when it's time for back to school stuff!!! (They sold out fast though!)

Every week my students will visit the word sort center. They each grab a table top chart and a baggie that includes 15-20 words and the patterns we are working on (underlined). Then they sort their words on the chart (as seen above). They usually need to use both sides of the chart. Once they finish sorting the cards, they record it on a very simple template I made on Word.

It takes very little prep on my part-- only 5-10 minutes to write the words/patterns for 3-4 students. (Next year I won't have to prepare them though! Woo!) The kids know exactly what to do in this center, and enjoy it much more than a word sort worksheet!

Clouds!

My kids have been SOOO into learning about clouds the past few days! On recess duty I overheard some of them saying, "Look at those Cumulus clouds! It's going to be a nice day!" Love it!

If you are teaching about clouds you must read

It is very informative and leads right into the characteristics of just about every cloud!

We focused on the following clouds: Cumulus, Nimbus, Stratus, and Cirrus. After much reading and discussing, we made a chart together to compare the four types of clouds. Excuse the handwriting and crooked lines! This was definitely a quick, last minute thing :)

I borrowed this adorable idea from The Inspired Apple to illustrate the four clouds:

Aren't those cloud friends just the cutest? What a great visual aid to show where each cloud belongs in the sky! All of my kids now know that Cirrus clouds are the highest and that Stratus clouds are like a low, gray blanket in the sky :)

 Of course my kids were practically begging for their own cloud friends, so they each wrote about the four clouds and made their own mini cloud friends. They turned out so cute!! I am so proud of their writing--many of them needed TWO sheets of paper for their writing, which is a BIG deal for them :)

So, so cute :)

The Water Cycle!

Yeah, yeah. I know it has been awhile since I last posted!! As I said in my last post, I was gone a few days before spring break, and last week was the first week back and I felt like I was just trying to get caught up! I fiiiinally feel somewhat caught up (even with it being conference week!!!)

We started our weather unit for science last week. The kids are sooo into it! We have been reading a LOT of nonfiction books about different kinds of weather, and many of my kiddos are checking out weather books in the library to share with the class! Love it!

We have been focusing a lot on the water cycle. Everyday we have been singing this little song with hand motions that goes to the tune of She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain... It goes like this:

"Water travels in a cycle yes it does,

 Water travels in a cycle yes it does.

(move hands around in circle)

 It goes up as evaporation.

(palms up, rise hands up to head)

 It forms clouds as condensation.

(form cloud-like shape over head)

 It falls down as precipitation, yes it does!

(wiggle fingers and make hands go down like it's raining)

I promise my kids will know the water cycle for the rest of their lives because of this song :)

I made this water cycle poster for our weather bulletin board:

We have done a lot of reading about the water cycle. We made little moveable water cycle diagrams. We also sequenced and illustrated the steps of it.  As with many science concepts, just reading about the water cycle was a little difficult for my kiddos to really visualize, so I found a great Bill Nye video about it, and I heard a lot of, "OHHH!!! I get it now!"

After spending a few days on it, I had my kids write about the water cycle and illustrate it using yarn, sequins, and cotton balls. They did a fabulous job :)

My kids' parents just loved these at conferences tonight! :)

We are going to start learning about different kinds of clouds in the next week or so! I am really excited :)