Product Makeover

I'm excited to be part of a TpT Seller Challenge.  Thanks to Third in Hollywood, Sparkling in Second, Peppy Zesty Teacherista and Teach Create Motivate for starting this.

Here my new product cover for my Media Literacy Unit on Deconstructing & Constructing a Commerical:

It looked like this previously:

The contents include:

·      Deconstructing a Commercial Graphic Organizer

·      Guiding Questions for Commercial Viewing

·      Brainstorming Chart of Commercial Requirements

·      Camera Shots & Angles

·      Sample Storyboard

·      Storyboard Template

·      Storyboard Guiding Questions & Planning Sheet

·      Storyboard Rubric

·      Techniques of Persuasion Chart

Planting "Fuzzy" Creatures

Here's a fun way to wind down our unit on soils.  Students have created their own "fuzzy" creatures.  Here's a list of items you need:

• soil
• grass seed
• knee high nylons (one per creature)
• spoons
• baggies
• measuring cups
• pans or trays
• spraying water bottle
• pipe cleaners, toothpicks or googly eyes

1.  Give each child one full cup of soil.  Add 2 heaping spoons of grass seed to each cup of soil.  Place soil and grass seed in baggies that can be zipped.

2.  Have students mix the soil and grass seed together.  Make sure the baggie is zipped tight and have students shake until thoroughly mixed.

3.  Scoop mixture into knee high nylons.  Spritz water when nylon is filled half way.  Add more mixture.

4.  Seal nylon with a pipe clear.  Decorate creature with embellishments.

5.  Place creature on tray.  Spritz with more water.

6.  Place creature in direct sunlight.  Sprintz daily.  Soon enough you'll have your own fuzzy creature. 

Summer Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  I'm super excited to be taking part in this summer blog hop.  It's my first one ever.  Thanks to Rachael Parlett from The Classroom Game Nook for starting this! 

I don't know about you but it has been a very long academic year.  I am looking forward to summer this year.  Here's a few things I'd love to share with you:

1)  I plan to create some resources for my classroom.  Last summer I began creating my own clip art.  Earlier this year, I invested in an iPad.  I have learned to create some fun images to add to my new product covers.  Here's one of my favourites:    

2) A huge patch in my garden awaits me.  Last year we had skunks living under our garden shed.  At one point, they were very comfortable coming out during the day.  We had to remove the shed because our problem became progressively worse.  My husband blamed it on my "welcome" sign on the garden gate!  Here are some of my favourite flowers in my garden:

3) I often have a short getaway.  I love NYC.  Although it won't be there this summer, I can't wait to visit again.  I may take a road trip instead.

4) I started taking Barre classes last summer and love them.  I would love to explore some other fitness classes too.  It's on my "to do" list.        

Here's my flash freebie located at my TpT store.  Just click on the image and it will take you there. Get it while you can.  It's only available until May 29th. 

Ends May 29th 

This is a fun way to end your school year.  Students can write some poems that include acrostic, diamante, haiku, cinquain or free verse.  Templates are included.  You can even end the year on a fun note with a poetry cafe.  PLUS One product from my store.  Your choice!!!

Off to the next blog.  Happy summer!

Cross Curricular Math Writing

I have used cross curricular math writing tasks on several occasions with students from grades 3 to 6.  It has been welcomed with enthusiasm.  My goal is to give the students choice when writing.   

        Students are engaged in a cross-curricular activity that elicits creative thinking, research skills, application of the strands in Mathematics and creative writing.  Mathematics strands include:  Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Data Management and Probability, Geometry and Spatial Sense as well as Patterning and Algebra.  Please note that the content of my writing project aligns with the Ontario curriculum.  However, you are free to adapt this task as you see fit with your students or geographical location.  

        Here are two examples:  If Math Were a Sport and If Math Were an Animal.  

Prepping for a Poetry Cafe

Now that April is coming to a close, it's time to celebrate our wonderful poetry writing activities with a poetry cafe.  We have worked on developing wonderful poems for our open house next week.  As a final task, students will be asked to choose their favourite poem to read out loud. My goal is to transform the class into a fun cafe setting.  Here's the plan:

1)  Have students choose the poem they are proudest of.  Place the poem in a folder.

2)  Have students practice reciting their poems.  Some may choose to do this from memory.  Others may decide to use the page that's in the folder.

3)  Talk about voice projection!  I usually have students stand opposite a partner across the room.  They can project their voice.  Then the partner moves to the halfway point of the room. Voices are then projected to the halfway mark.  The partner moves close enough (within an earshot) for the last reading.  Voice projections are important.  I start with a warm up such as "Today is a wonderful day."  We practiced this yesterday.  Students were encouraged to put on their best voices.

4)  So, poetry cafe day arrives.  Then what?  Make sure you have some tealight candles.  These must be the ones that you don't have to use a lighter to light.  I bought mine around Christmas when they were readily available.  They are distributed around the room.  Our desks are transformed into cafe tables.  You may choose to turn off most of the lights.

5) Have an author's stool or special chair for your budding authors.  Students are encouraged to wear author hats and dark clothing.

6) Students will come up and read their poems.  No clapping after that!  We use our snapping fingers.

7)  End with some cafe treats.  I often serve baked goods and juice boxes.

Above is a list of the poetry forms studied.  

    

Ending Science Units with a Culminating Task

I have started to end each of my science units with a culminating project.  The projects I assign offer a wide range of themes.  So far, I have developed units on Magnetism, Food Chains, Animals, Plants and Forces and Motion.  Each unit is broken down into several components. These includes a project outline, criteria, terminology, evaluation rubric and feedback page. Here's a glimpse into my Food Chain Project:

A sample food chain poster.

A words to know list.

Components of the project:  written information, a diagram and an oral presentation.

I've added covers to showcase what the projects will be about.  Here are some samples.

Spring Cleaning!

When the sun begins to shine and the snow melts away, you know it's time for some spring cleaning.  That means classrooms too!  Here are some things you can do to organize your space. Your kids will thank you for it.

My desk:

This is one of my personal favourite creations!  I took an old gift soap holder, painted in black and added some teaching decals and stickers.  A mug and a tin can are inserted to catch all my desk top tools.  This could easily be done with a basket or loaf pan.  

Math manipulatives:

I love these bins.  I bought them for under $2.00.  Each bin has a set of pattern blocks in them. That way when it comes to math work stations, the bins come out easily and are returned to their shelf.

Student's Books:

Students have their own magazine files for their independent reading selections. Our classes only have tables.  That means no storage.  So, I invested in some good quality magazine files at the beginning of the year.  So far, things are nice and neat.

Bulletin Board Letters:

My bulletin board letters (too many to mention) have been stored in envelopes.  The envelopes are then placed in a shoe box.  I used to store them according to themes and patterns.  That became chaotic.  This system is much easier and quicker!