Shell Advetures

I just got back from GYTO in Orlando.  We live in a small rural community 2 hours north of Chicago. So a warm weather getaway is just what my teach heart needed.  I attended with a great group of teacher that I am blessed to work with every day.  We decided to leave early and drive to St. Petersberg.  We spent a day on the beach.   

While walking on the beach one day, we saw SO many shells. We decided to collect shells to bring back for our students.  When I returned, I told my students that I  brought something back for each of them.  I had them play 20 questions to infer what I had brought back.  The students had some really good questions and they used the information they gained from my answers to drive their next questions.  By the end of the game, they figured out that I brought back shells. 

Next, I had my students buddy up and write adjectives that described their shells. 

While I was at the beach I also saw these adorable tiny shell creatures that would bury themselves into the sand after the waves would wash it away.  This reminded me of the Disney short film titled, Piper.  This is an adorable film of a little bird tries to get shells that bury themselves in the sand.   I showed this short video to my students then showed them my real life video.  We talked about how movie makers and writers use real life experiences to get ideas.  

Lastly, I showed my students a shell I found that had been broken.  We talked about what could have happened to this shell.  We visualized it what it might have looked like before it was broken.  I had my students write about the adventures the shell had been on to become broken and washed up on the beach.  Click the picture below for you FREE copy of this fun writing activity. 

The Water Cycle in action!

I love LOVE LOVE teaching science.  Last week we started our weather unit. Today's topic was the water cycle.  I started off reading from our science big book, useful, but no real memory burn there!  I had my students stand up and I taught them the water cycle song. (video to come tomorrow!)

After our wonderful rendition of the water cycle song, I called my students over to the table.  I poured some warm water into a cup and placed plastic wrap on top, securing it with a rubber band.  I asked my students what happens to accumulated water?  We came to the understanding that it evaporates.  Then, I asked my students, what happens when those water droplets (water vapor) meets cooler air?  Again, we came to the understanding, it condenses and forms clouds.  This is when I placed ice cubes on top of the plastic wrap.

Ice cubes on top of the plastic wrap.

I had my students go back to their seat and draw what they observed so far on their experiment sheet.

Click on the picture of the document to printout your FREE copy.

This document is great for explaining each step of the experiment to the teacher and to the parents when it comes home!

While we waited for 15 minutes, I had my students make a water cycle movable diagram. It showed the different stages of the water cycle with a raindrop that attached in the middle with a brad.  I would upload a free copy of this as well, but it is copy righted at I can't. (Insert Debbie Downer music here!)

After the 15 minutes was up, I called the students back to the table and I took off the ice cubes.  I asked a student to share with me what they noticed. She shared with us that there was water on the plastic wrap. I also asked, why did the water collect on the underside of the plastic wrap?  One of my sweet little ones, said that it was like the water collecting in the sky to make clouds!  WHAT?!  I was floored that she made the connection so quickly! 

I had my students go back to their places and draw in the second circle, what they predicted would happen next.  After prediction, we observed the container to see if our predictions were correct. I placed the container under the document camera so everyone could get a good look!

Apparently observing the container upside down is scientifically necessary.

Slowly, but surly we saw some drops fall from the plastic wrap and into the water.  My students were so excited to see this happen!  I had everyone return to their places to draw the outcome in the third circle.  We discussed that when water vapor that forms clouds is cooled, it condenses.  The droplets combine and adhere to other small particles in the atmosphere.  (Just like the droplets combined and adhered to the plastic wrap.)  When the droplets become heavy, they drop from the clouds in the form of precipitation.  Precipitation can be in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow, depending on the temperature.

Strategic Thinkin' in 1st

 

 

I am in LOVE with this FREE game that I found on TPT!

My class and I had so many good discussions about strategy and probability from one adorable little game.  I was amazed at the thinking my students did...and they are ONLY first graders!

If you want to see what my Wonderful Whales and I did with this game, click on the link below to read my classroom blog: www.wankeswonderfulwhales.blogspot.com 

 

 

Mrs. Wanke's Wonderful Whales: "Sum" Halloween Fun: Yesterday we played a Halloween Addition game. We had to roll a dice. Move that number of spaces, in any direction, on the game board. ...

 

 

 

Click on the picture below to download your free copy and begin strategizing with your firsties! 

 

A Moon Good Enough to Eat!

"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I remember." ~ Benjamin Franklin

With today's lesson, I really took this to heart!
Today in class we watched a video clip that showed the phases of the moon.  Then, I read the portion The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons that discussed the phases of the moon.  Together, we made book to world connections.  Our connections were very interesting, we even made a connection to various historical events such as the moon landing and Galileo's invention of the telescope.  (This was a great connection to Common Core Standard RI.2.3 which states, Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.)



What better way to involve students, than through their stomach?!  After we read and watched the phases of the moon I gave my students the following worksheet.  (I found this on Education .com)  Click on the image below to take you directly to the site for your FREE download.

 I gave each student 8 Oreo cookies. They placed a cookie on each moon.  We started with the first moon phase, New Moon.  After reading about the phase, we twisted apart the Oreo cookie, placed the part without any filing back on the worksheet, then we ate the rest.  (This was their favorite part.)  We made each Oreo cookie resemble each phase of the moon.

After all Oreo moon phases were complete, I would call out a moon phase for students to find.  After they found that moon phase on their worksheet, they had to color the moon on their worksheet. Then they were allowed to eat the "moon."  (Some of the kids said they wanted to save their cookies for later.  Never thought I would hear those words out of a child's mouth.)

All in all my students LOVED this activity.  I think this one will leave a lasting impression!

Borrowing Blues!

I love teaching math!  However, there is one unit that I dread teaching and that is subtraction with borrowing! Cue the dramatic music...dun dun dun!  Every year I have students that want to subtract up and forgo the borrowing all together!  I will probably go bald from pulling my hair out.
This year I have tried two different things with my students that seem to be helping them and my hair.
First, I make my students repeat over and over Bottom Bigger Borrow.  This reminds students that if the bottom number is bigger they have to borrow.  I even made a poster to help remind them.  You can click on the poster below to download it for FREE!

Secondly, I have shown my students the website National Library of Virtual Manipulative. (This website is FREE and great to use with interactive whiteboards.) On this website, there are virtual base ten blocks for students to subtract.  When they move the blocks over from the 100's or 10's column they will break apart!  The kids love the "magical" block change before their eyes.   This visual representation has really helped my students understand why we are borrowing.  (This website also offers virtual base ten blocks for addition, students lasso the blocks together to make a ten.)
I really hope these two things will help you, your students, and your hair. Please share any ideas that you may have as we we teachers must band together. :)

Freebee Friday!

Yes...yes I know that it is not officially Friday yet, but close enough. Next week, my students are going to be doing some Earth Day activities.  Today, while planning for next week, I couldn't stop thinking about how my students really needed to brush up on some dictionary skills.  Specifically, using guide words and alphabetizing.  In wanting to stick to the Earth Day theme...I had some sudden inspiration!

 First I would laminate all the pages.  Then I would cut out each of the word cards.

Students then use the guide words at the top of each mat (5 total) to sort the word onto the correct page.  After all the words are on each page, student will put them into alphabetial order.

Well, I was pretty darn excited about my idea. So much so that it's 9:00pm on a Thursday night and I am posting this for all of you.  My restlessness is your gain.  I hope that you all enjoy this FREE resource. If you have time, take a look at the other items available at my TPT store.

The Purge Continues

I am slowing moving all my documents from the Teacher Web website to TPT.  All the documents will be FREE for download on TPT.  While you are there please check out the other items available at my store.

Shapes Island

Penny/Nickel Equations

Penny/Nickel Equations Part 2

Lucky Name Tags

Instead of using the desk plates for my student's "Irish" names, I made name tags they could wear. I made these in publisher so you can either write the names or type the names onto each tag.  Simply print the document onto Avery 5163 labels. 

Click on the image to download your FREE copy from my TPT store.  While you are there check out the other items available. 

FREE printable lessons

Well, I am deleting the Teacher Safari page off of my class website!  I have decided to merge everything with my blog and TPT.  All items that were Teacher Safari will be available for free on TPT.  While you are there please check out my store.

Below are all the literacy items that I had on my website. Click on the item name for your FREE download!

Introduction to Text to Text Connections

Christmas Text to Text Connection Lesson

Inferencing Suitcase

Introduction to Visualization

Main Idea Backpack

St. Patty's Day FUN!

Every year I give my students an Irish name for St. Patty's Day.  I simply add Mc or O' to their last names.  When they come into class on the morning of St. Patrick's Day, they are so excited, curious, and giddy to see that everyone, including me, has a new name for the day.  I go by Mrs. McWanke for the day.

If you would like to do this with your class, click on the image below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store for the FREE download! While you are there check out some of my other items at my store.  I am new to Teachers Pay Teachers, so check back often for new items.

Click picture for your FREE download from Teachers Pay Teacher!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!