I have been a busy bee this weekend! We did our taxes and you know when you think you are getting a certain amount back and it doesn't quite turn out that way...well that was us. With everything that has happened to education in Wisconsin let's just say we needed to adjust how much we were getting back in our check to cover our bills. Now, for the TPT busy bee thing... I figure that the more I have in my store, well the more I have out there for potential buyers.
So, the other side of the coin, I am starting Levers and Pulleys in two weeks and I am not a fan of that FOSS kit. My least in all the grade levels. I wanted something different that would support the levers and pulleys unit, but with a twist. So, I made a unit I am so excited to use! Caine's Arcade inspired me... this video is amazing and I think is a great hook for our students to follow in his footsteps!
Here, we are Friday again. My planning day. The peek at my week and the FOSS fun I plan to do. Remember though...I am almost done with two FOSS kids so it is test time for two grade levels. Report cards are next week also, so testing is important so I have a formative assessment to use with all the little ones we did along the way.
4th graders
will come in with a model of the
digestive system They will need to make labels for their system. They will get
10 minutes to label and then each group will share their model explaining the
parts. After they are done they will then have their models hung in the hall by
our classroom adult by their room. Students will read the next experiment…starch
experiment and perform. Potatoes need to be ready. Then they read the digestive system
reading. After reading, they observe experiment. They also will do the cracker
experiment . They place a cracker in their mouth and chew without swallowing.
As they chew ask them to think about the job of teeth, tongue and saliva. They
will use notebook to write their thoughts. They will take a quick quiz on the
digestive system. When done have them put them in a bucket for correction.
3rd grade
will be working on a review
of the water cycle then take the test. Review words and ideas on the water review
sheet on table.
When the students are done…have them complete the water
cycle sheet in their notebook. Color and describe inside each part.
kindergarten
Things that are hot and cold. Have them make a
picture of something hot and cold on the sheet after making a list on the board. They will fill in the sentence ____________ is hot or _____________ is cold. Then ask how we measure things
that are hot and cold. Show them the big thermometer and how it works…hot goes
up…cold goes down. Have them pretend they are thermometers by going hot and
cold up and down.Skim over the book Hot and Cold by Jack Challenor. Now have them see how a real thermometer works. Ask what they
see and check and monitor and fill in the sheet.
They will be working on inclined planes and how it affects
speed and motion. Read big inclined plane book, then ask how inclined planes or
slopes at different heights can affect the speed. How do they know? Sledding,
car, bike… Now have them perform experiments. Walk them through it. Use the
clipboards and tubs for first two then as you need bigger incline add the
cardboard lid on a chair for the biggest slope. You will need to walk around a
ton and read and direct. At the end they can have a car race if good choices
are made. Wrap up with the little book or a discussion. If time remains they
can draw what happened in their notebook.
First Graders testing slope...inclined plane...and how it effects speed
Second grade
Students are learning about worms. Students will get
earthworm book…we use red worms. They will start by telling you what they
already know by writing some facts on a notecard. Then they will get a worm
from you…you will have to get them out for them . They will get a moist paper
towel first…then a black tent, then hand lense, then worm. Have an assembly
line on the red circle table. Then the students will be guided by you to do the
cover. Use hand lense kids. Then have them do experiment 1 by you taking
another tub of worms and using the fork turning the soil over. They watch the
reaction of the worms to light. Then they make observations in their book. They
then use worms to test light and dark and you can come around with flashlight.
They then share results and move onto experiment two. They will get a dry paper
towel from you…prepare at lunch time or before school. Have them place worms
right in the middle of the two types. Then observe. Share worms at table and
results. When done share as large group. Finish by having them write a worm
poem in notebook…Worms. ____________,_____________, ______________ Worms. (three adjectives) illustrate.
It's a hatchling!
Fifth Grade
Our fifth graders alternate classes per day with 4th grade. Otherwise, I always have the same line up each day. They will be taking a test this week to finish up Mixtures and Solutions. When they are done they will be performing an experiment with ammonia to form a precipitate. This activity can be found in my free TPT download at What's The Matter? Mixtures and Solutions activities.
Have a great weekend! Here is a shot of our rainbow making lesson from my ST. Patrick's Day Fun Pack . I did this with a kindergarten group that won an extra science class! The small cup seemed to work better at mixing the colors of the rainbow... The girls loved it!
I love seeing plans in action. We, as teachers, plan and hope what we think will work...works. We are coming to the end of many of the FOSS kits such as water and mixtures and solutions. The first graders, however are in the middle of their Balance and Motion unit with a few additions from Mrs. H. This week ROCKED. They loved the cars. Using the FOSS parts I had them engineer a car that rolled...not slid. Giving them two sizes of straws to fit together. That was the trick to having it roll. Many kiddos want to have the answer right away, but I set them up knowing that they would have to problem solve. We then measured using yard sticks. One small push between the first yard, a medium push to measure with the second ruler, and a large push to the third yard to see how force affects the speed. We learned how to use calculators to add 36 + 36 +...
I also love the engineering of the water wheel, however I think it is so important to add the concept of potential and kinetic energy as they create and build.
On to what I am doing after school. I am teaching an engineering class. The theme...roller coasters. This week, most of my kids were gone to school forest. That means, only four kids per hour. That left us with a great way to use a kit I bought and wasn't sure if it was going to be worth it. Was I wrong! The kit was awesome. We didn't use it the way it showed...we build our own model using whatever we needed from around the room. Check out one of the groups. We needed to add vocabulary words and use them as in our conversation. Three of the after school kiddos...take a look at the chairs, boxes, and anything they could find. Gotta love it.
It always amazes me that I get my currently post up on March 2nd and there are already a ton of posts. I can't wait to read them over the course of the month. It is nice to see so many different blogs out there. Currently, I should be finishing laundry or even starting lunch for that matter, but I would rather hook up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade. Her new blog is oh so cute. Love the dear deer! Here is Wisconsin our poor deer are stuck in way to much snow and more is on the way. We are planning a trip next year, but I sure wish I could get some sun for just one day over spring break...the snow and cold is getting to everyone. Our kiddos have had over 45 days of indoor recess this school year. We broke the record last week for most snow and below zero days! Yea...us...NOT. So, currently I am doing this instead and sitting next to my third daughter...lovely Sarah as we waste our day away.
I haven't really had one on one time with my kiddos lately. We had conferences this week so gone for two nights. Glad my daughter is hanging with her mom. Here she is after showing me how to edit pics.
Loving that I have time to catch up on everything. I think I might even pick up a magazine and read it this weekend. Life has been way to busy.
There is a lot of thinking I am doing about our farm to school grant that I am in charge of at my school. As a science teacher, last year I planted a garden for the first time and it was awesome, but now the pressure is on to plant even more veggies and get them into our lunchroom for our kiddos to eat. I will be planting seeds with as many kids as I can...primarily kindergarten...they are growing a kinder"garden" this year! 2nd grade with FOSS and now 4th grade with the new NGSS standards. I will also teach an after school garden class. Not sure what the plans are for that...that is my next goal. Would love to hook up with any other farm to school school!
I so want to keep making more TPT goodies for my store. I am trying so hard to make some good stuff for myself and others. I watch some of the great bloggers out there and think...how do they find the time...and they also have great ideas, too. Wanting to finish some things I started...needing to find the time to do just that. My plan...get up earlier, take my computer to school and work at lunch, and then finally late nighters! We shall see.
I have to say I NEED some warm weather. I think everyone NEEDS some warm weather. It has been AWFUL this winter and they are predicting over 50 more inches of snow in March. I can't see over the snowbank to drive out of my driveway and I am always cold. I NEED summer and warm weather FAST! Anyone else having a bit of cabin fever?
On to my ?????
My oldest daughter is coming home for spring break this Friday! I can't wait to have all of my kids under one roof again. I am planning something special for my girls...trying to make some special memories. We shall see! All I know is that Paige wants good home cooked meals...I will have to crank open the cook books! Can't wait!
Have a great March! Enjoy your spring break! Ours isn't until April this year...said good thoughts my way for the snow to melt!
Another week has gone by and again a week without outdoor recess. Today, here in Wausau, Wisconsin we broke some records today... lowest temperature...-50 windchill. Another record...most negative degrees in a season...55 days last record set was in 1916. It is snowing now and I am SICK of cold weather! Someone just told us at lunch that March is suppose to have a ton of snow....UGGGGGG. So, it got me thinking about what I could do with the kiddos to get them active and "playing" a bit. I tested some of the lessons out with my two classes I have on day 5. SWEET!
Kindergarten- We read the book Playground Day! We will make a list of playground fun. We will then engineer playground equipment for my Polly Pockets. We talked about hot and cold weather fun and how to find things to do even when it's cold out.
First graders-
We are working with the motion part of FOSS. We needed something fun to build so I have the kids making cars out of cans and bottles, the blue straws, white milk straws (the axle), tape, and red wheels. The trial group LOVED it. They will use the sheets I have below to help learn about speed and Newton's third law. They got calculators out to add big numbers when it went past 36 inches. We then made a homemade top to take home. We used a milk straw and a FOSS top pattern on cardstock so it was stiff. Make and takes rock!
Second graders-
Second graders are going to be working with worms again. We are using some sheets that I got from a great site...No Doubt Learning and The STEM mom. The sheets are great and the art activity is a stitch.
Third Graders-
We are going to be doing the Water Works FOSS lesson, but I have added my own sheet to learn about potential and kinetic energy. Get Your Water Works Sheet Here.
We are also using two videos. The first for introduction the second for what they could do at home.
Here is a simple fact sheet about the history of the water wheel. I think this is easy enough for our 3rd graders. Water Wheel History
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Fourth Graders-
Time for the digestive system. Found some great sheets on TPT. I will be using some sheets from Rose Doerkson's Digestive System Sheets. I am using the sheet that goes with Bill Nye's video:
We also will be using her fourth sheet...making a model of the digestive system after filling in the sheet by Brandy Resman. This lesson has got a little bit of everything. Video, labeling, science journaling, and an engineering project. I love getting ideas from others. Got any ideas to share to make FOSS more fun?
Fifth Graders-
Well...my fifth graders are having an interesting week. One class will have science while the other class will not. They are going to what we call 'school forest'. Lots of science happenin' there. Deer necropsy, owl pellets, wolf predator/ prey scent lesson, deer drive and deer capacity activity, native Wisconsin animal museum scavenger hunt, fire building and so much more. The fifth graders stay over night for two nights in cabins. Fun stuff. The teachers stay with them the three days they are there. Not fun stuff. So that means a filler of sorts. I made some lessons for a free download on my TPT store: What's The Matter?
Have a great weekend. I am working on some new stuff...stay tuned!
I found my camera folks. I snapped some quick pics of the afternoon groups working hard in science. Here it goes...
Fifth grade is learning about chemical reactions. We watched a bit of Bill Nye and then did the vinegar and penny experiment. 6 scoops of salt cleaned the pennies right away. We set up a control and variable diagram to help us organize our plan.
We learned some new vocabulary in 3rd grade this week as we prepare for the FOSS water works lesson.We learned weathering, erosion, and deposition. We used gobstoppers to learn about the 3 words, too. We even placed one in water to watch it weather away.
One of our 4 worm bins we have to teach vermicomposting. The kids love worms!
We used Herman the Worm's website. I used a sock to put on my hand to talk as if I was Herman. I read the different pages that Herman's site has and they got some great information on the parts of the worm, cocoons, the gizzard and more!!!! We wrote in our science journal what we remembered and drew a diagram to use our new words. Herman The Worms Site
We were toy makers this week and we build tops...FOSS, but next week we are engineering a new toy with the same parts...check out my new idea for motion...speed...force...and friction...
I am making a sheet for tomorrow's FOSS Friday! Stay tuned!
Another week has gone by and big celebrations, too. My husband and I celebrated our 20 year wedding anniversary this Wednesday. Wow...20 years... so to celebrate 20 years... on February 27th and 28th, I am throwing a 20% off sale on all items at my TPT store.
This week, in my classroom we will be: Kinders:
Are learning the four seasons. Boy was predicting the weather hard by the way this week. We were suppose to get 12 inches...then 10...then 6...now just 2 as it moved west of us. I am glad there isn't another snow day! We will be in school until July making days up. Okay, I digress. Back to kinders.
We will be reading the book:
We will be creating a graph to represent our favorite season. I am guessing we are so sick of snow that summer will win hands down! I know that is my vote! We will then use a page from my TPT weather unit that shows the four seasons and can be made into a book.We finished off with a short song and video:
1st graders:
We are starting our motion part of the FOSS kit. I bought a to of cheap dollar store tops for kids to use. We will make a chart listing toys that can show motion. We will define motion and what it is. We will read the book Motion by Rebecca Olien.
We will add our new word to our science notebooks and illustrate it. Then, we will be spinning tops. We will make the tops that FOSS describes, but we will add a make and take using the FOSS patterns and a straw they can add. We will wrap up by playing a game of simon says...using motion words (verbs).We also reviewed the words from the book with these posters... Motion words and posters
Here is one for starters...
2nd graders:
2nd graders just finished up their unit on solids and liquids so we are testing out some STEM activities that I am working on that goes with the House That Jack Built. Our second graders will be building different structures helping Jack build a town. This will help our teachers with Social Studies lessons on our town.
We will start with this version and discuss what a house needs. What a neighborhood needs, and what a city needs. We will the build structures to start our town using cups and cardboard to see how big our house can get. We will measure the height and width of our structure.
3rd graders:
Will be learning about erosion, weathering, and deposition. We will be using ideas from the Science Penguins pack I bought as well as the activities and games from Laura Candler. Great game idea, sheets, and vocabulary. We will then do an experiment and this fun vocabulary idea from mailbox...Erosion and Weathering Words.
Here is our activity...
4th graders:
Our fourth graders will be doing day two of the cardiovascular system using my Heart Healthy Science Stations. We will be taking our pulse, learning about our heart rates, and we will be getting our blood flowing. We will then take a quick quiz.
5th graders:
Our bigs are going to be learning about chemical reactions. You know...the fizz quiz. They love chemical reactions...who doesn't! We will start with a list of what we might see, hear, or smell. (wafting technique). We then do the fizz quiz in the cups and make observations...then I demo it in a baggie to show things they might have missed. They love to feel the temperature changes and see the bag expand! We finish up with a bit of Bill Nye.
I am working on the quiz this weekend...typically Friday is my BIG prep day, but we were short subs, so I taught 3 hours of Phy. Ed. I was told I should be a PE teacher because I was FUN!!! It got me thinking am I not fun is science? Or do they like me in different hats? My hubby, the Phy Ed teacher thought that was pretty funny...I am not quite sure I would want that job everyday. I will stick to science~ have a great weekend.
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