The Wind and Snow is Blowing, Yuck!

I am working on the next kindergarten lesson and am really excited about what we are adding to our kindergarten curriculum. We are still in our weather unit, so looking outside and just finishing up on the water cycle...let's focus on different types of weather and experiment with each. We will be focusing primarily on wind, it is spring tomorrow anyway. We will start with a fun windy weather book...

 I am working on making more hands on activities for my littles. Here is the sheet we will use:
What Does the Wind Blow?

Happy Spring!

Getting Ready for Spring

This week, we are getting ready for spring...right? I am sitting here in a conference and it is snowing outside. We are focusing today on STEM and the new NGSS science standards. We are going to be focusing on 2nd grade with the FOSS air kit. We will be working to add a wind energy activity. With our 3rd grade water unit we will be focusing on hydroelectric energy and as we look to the new standards, we look to add solar energy at the 4th and 5th grade levels to tie in the planets and space focus.

Here is one thing that we will look at for solar power as well as solar cooking.


As for another activity with solar energy...cooking. We will be building these type of boxes this summer to figure out a lesson that we can use in our one hour class period.


On to hydroelectric power...
This kit is expensive, so how can we make our own water power model? 

Now, for that wind energy to get me ready for this summer's institute... we are each building one of these this summer for our rooms. Ours will be out of PVC pipes. I have been given inspiration for an energy unit.

Here is a link to what we worked on with sound creating a stem lesson to go with FOSS.
A Sound Bite mini-unit

Happy Monday!

Peek At My Week...FOSS Friday...oh where did the time go? It's Sunday...

Hey...We made it! It is Friday. Okay, it's Sunday...where did the time go? It was the last few days to spend with my college daughter and the whole family. I took advantage of it! We went to the Eastbay sale! Here in little ol' Wausau is one of the greatest outlets...Eastbay. You know Nike, Adidas, Coverse...but, when it is a sale everything on sale is another 50% off. Nike's for $30.

My kids are set for track...baseball...softball... you name it...deal!

I was looking forward to sleeping to catch up with that hour that I lost last weekend. Anyone else felling that way? I took all of my girls to the spa this week, girls night out. We loved it soooo much. We had tea in beautiful cups, finger foods, and amazing things done (back massage, foot massage, hand and arm massage, and more) We are definitely going back! That is when I have some extra dough. We also were able to go out to eat, and let me say that is a real treat when we can do that as a family. We even had one of the boyfriends along. Always room for one of those cuties that are so wonderful to my girls. Of course, dad picks Buffalo Wild Wings. It was great to look around the table and see my family laughing and talking and just being together! Ahhhh.

Okay, enough already...time for this week's sneak peek... I have a sub on Monday... I am part of a science and math teachers' grant. Off to CESA to hopefully bring something amazing back...I won't hold my breath. I am sad to miss St. Patrick's Day Fun! However, I will post some pics next week of our leprechaun hair and our traps. If I remember.

Time to link up with other bloggers and take a peek at my week. Not only can you link up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings but you can also link up with Mrs. Will's Kindergarten.


4th graders are working on our school set of chrome books. They will be working on a body systems review by going to How The Body Works facts and quizzes. I made a sheet for them to use that I left at school. Sorry.

3rd graders are working on sound for the first time this week. They will start with a list of what they know about sound and ears. Then they will watch Bill Nye and Sound to get them thinking.  They will use their science notebooks to write down 5 facts that they learned along with illustrations and labels. They will finish up with the sound chambers as an introduction to sound discrimination.

Our kinders are working on the water cycle. I read on a website, can't find it again after a massive search...that they kids could simulate the cycle. I set out blue cubes to represent water. Some of our kiddos were clouds, while others showed evaporation as they picked up the water and placed it into the clouds hands showing condensation, when the little clouds (hands) couldn't hold any more, the rain would fall...precipitation! The water once again accumulated on the ground. When we needed to change jobs, we sang rain, rain, go away... We then made Water cycle bracelets by Katie Hess using the sheets and ideas from Meaghan Kimbrall. Cute stuff.

The Water Cycle in Action!

Our first graders are making roller coasters today! I practice on these kiddos and then do another 4 rounds:) We will start off by asking students if they have been on a roller coaster, we added that onto a graph. We shared how it felt as we were standing in line waiting, how it feels when you aren't tall enough, and how it felt on the ride. Then we read Roller Coaster! Awesome book!
 
Students needed to show a safe hill and a loop. When they had time to build a workable roller coaster we met to share our creations. Then, the students shared what they learned about making a successful coaster. We even discussed potential and kinetic energy.

FOSS roller coasters!

How to get a loop to work? Where should the loop be?

Our second graders will be wrapping up the worm unit by learning about the food chain and producers and consumers. This is a great way to move into our plant unit which we will start next week...even though we have over two feet of snow here yet.

Our fifth graders will be starting their simple machines unit using Caine's arcade as a springboard. I am actually looking forward to this unit this year. Check out why at my TPT store...Simple Machines Unit...building an arcade.

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! 

Busy Bee TPT

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 is a sneak peek at my newSimple Machines Arcade STEM unit. I am even looking forward to this unit this year!

Peek At My Week...FOSS Friday!

Time to link up with other bloggers and take a peek at my week. Not only can you link up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings but you can also link up with Mrs. Will's Kindergarten.

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.

4^th 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.

 3^rd 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.

Using a thermometer!

                                                   Hot and Cold Sheet

 first grade

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!

Picture This

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.

Tomorrow is planning day! Until tomorrow. 

Currently March Already!

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!