I Found A New Series!!

HELLO!  IT'S HOT AND I MELT OVER THIS WEATHER WITH HAPPINESS!  93 degrees!!!

But, not only am I sunshiny smiley about this weather, I am beaming because I found a new series in our school library!!  WHO WAS....books!  Have you read any of these?  Not only do they meet some of my social studies standards they fit very well with the Common Core Standards!!  I read Who Was Daniel Boone? and am currently devouring Who Was Sacagawea?  Next, Who Was Helen Keller?


 

Literacy smiles,

Sing-alongs and Econ!!

Thursday has made it!!! SUN IS OUT AND MY SMILE IS ON!!

In need of social studies sing-alongs that have to do with economic topics? Needs and wants, budgeting, services, goods, producers, consumers, and saving oh my!!  Another blogger friend recommended this site
to me and now I recommended it to you!  I have printed many of the Sing-alongs which I am going
to make into a Sing-along book for my students and also laminate them to use on the overhead
for whole class reading and finding parts of speech, word endings, rhyming, etc.  They can also be used for two or three students to transform into skits!  Multiple topics and multiple uses-something to sing about!

Smiles,

Mooing, Milking, and Munching!

Hello!  Ahhh it's Saturday!  Ahh it's Saturday!  Repeat but needed to type it twice!  

Yesterday we had a presenter from Brown County Diary Promotions!  She presented the program Mooing, Milking, and Munching.  Alright, can you guess what we learned about?  Our topics of conversation?  Anyone?  Yes, you are right.  Cows, milk, and milk products-cheese, cheese, and more cheese!  HUNGRY?

We used our Smart Board to watch her presentation, which corresponded to the book she was reading, and then she showed us some equipment and supplies used on a dairy farm.  We had several farming families so they were able to connect to all the items.  In fact, many of our kiddos could expand upon her points and where the young experts!

We were also given a CHEESY treat-Colby cheese-invented in Wisconsin!  By the way, did you know WISCONSIN in the cheese capital in the world?

Calcium Smiles,

Our Trucker Buddy Came!!

Saturday, Saturday, and SUN!!!

Hope you are able to say the same!

Yesterday our Trucker Buddy visited!  WE WERE ECSTATIC AS THE GUY WE WERE WRITING TO AND EMAILING "CAME TO LIFE" AND WALKED INTO OUR CLASSROOM!  Donita, his wife also came!!  What a HOOT it was to have them both of them here!  They shared trucking stories, laughed, and reminisced about past experiences!  K-5th graders were able to listen to these delightful tales and then he gave us a "tour" of his truck!  We even got to go inside the cab!  May I also mention, TOOT the horn-not once, twice, but many students pulled the cord!  I think the whole village heard us!

Again, what a delight and an experience of a lifetime!
Smiles,

VOTING TIME!

Happy Wet Thursday!

Today we learned about reasons we elect and vote for for candidates!  We answered questions like:  Why do people for one candidate over another?  What characteristics do those candidates have?  How does a candidate persuade you to vote for them!

Next, I typed up a "mock ballet" with 17 characteristics that each student then had vote on.  They needed to match up each student to a characteristic.  For example, Best Smile, Creative, Math Brain, Game Player, etc.  They also had to vote for themselves.

Finally, we shared our results and discussed the outcomes!  Many were surprised with the results and were pleasantly surprised by what their peers thought of them!

  

Red, White, and Blue Smiles,

Colonial Times

If I look outside I see something bright that makes me squint my eyes if I continue to peer out my window.  What is it?  THE SUN!!!  Hooray it is visiting us this morning!!

Our Time Fair at school was anything but a quick leap back in time!  Each class got to choose a theme-Prehistoric, Industrial Revolution, Medievil, the Digital/Future, and ours-Colonial Time!

Everyone was absorbed into their "characters" and truly undertook the life of the Colonial people!
Here are some photos from Friday when we had our All School Time Fair!

Future meets Colonial!

Smiles,

Barefoot Island Renditions!

Happy Marvelous Monday!

We have knee deep in map work in our classroom!  We have three different map projects going on!  Confusing...no just structured chaos!  But, educational chaos!  My Youngers- 1st graders skills have taken off like Google Earth!

One map project that they gave a round of applause to was Barefoot Island!  Thank you to Kyle Knips who Pinned this activity:  Barefoot Island 

Sorry that this one is turned!

Smiles,

Rosie

Me on the Map

Happy Monday, Teachers!!!

We have been 100% dedicated to completing and presenting our Me on the Map activities.  This has been a project in our classroom for the past month.  Little by little, page by page, my Multi-agers have proudly been completing, presenting, and displaying their projects!  

This project all began with reading   

Next, we watched the book on You Tube:  Video.

 We discussed how our publication would be different and similar to hers and why.  Finally, I passed out the project and we went through the project and identified our country, state, state capital, town, address, house number, and what we would draw on the page of what is in our bedroom! THANKS, DOUBLE THANKS TO Erin Eberhart WHO SHARED THE Me on the MAP PROJECT....Me on the Map

They were so proud of their completed projects!  I am amazed at their art skills and how they transfer their mental images to paper!  FASCINATING project to connect my Multi-agers to their world!
SMILES,

Where Can You Be and Be in Four Places at One Time?

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday!!!  How was it for you?  I am still in awe that on Saturday we embark on December.  If you figure out how that can be or what you did to feel like time was taking it easy on you, let me know ;)  I am also hoping that the winds and weather take a turn; we are expected to get freezing rain tomorrow-that means gray hair and hands clenched in the stirring wheel driving!

Today we worked feverishly with geography-making the Compass Rose, outlining borders of states, discovering similarities and differences with state sizes, discussing our travel experiences, and trying to connect how our village is part of our state, country, continent, and wonderful world!

I have a secret passion for our laminated maps.  On one side is the USA and on the other the world!  We used these maps to put our cardinal directions understanding into play.  I had my Multi-age students find a state, trace its border and then travel East, West, North, or South and outline the states borders.  I also asked them to find the largest or smallest state E., W., N., or South of another state they had already found.  They all wanted to beat one other to be the Map Wizard!  I also asked them to find a certain state and tell me how many states bordered that particular state!  BUT...the hallmark question I ask every year- where can you travel and be in four states at one time (in my years of teaching only one student has found it...this year 2 did).

Where or where can I be in four states at one time?

Put your right arm in Colorado. Put your left arm in Utah .  Then put your right leg in Arizona and your left leg in New Mexico!

Here's one student's attempt-He asks, "Did I get it?  Is it here?"--precious!

Safe travels if your upcoming expeditions mean contending with inclement weather!!!

Smiles

Directions and the Compass Rose

It's Thursday!  AHHHHHHH...I just got home from class; I am enrolled in a book study class!  We are reading

Have you read this?  Very interesting and informative read!  We jigsawed the 1st chapter!  I'm always a happy camper student/learner when I am able to discuss the material I have to read versus just trying to absorb it with my own digestive system.

Now, on to directions and the Compass Rose!  I love teaching N, S, E, W and don't forget the intermediate directions-NE, SE, NW, SW (can't leave them out).  I integrate them into our entire day.  Print your name on the north part of your paper.  Look south to find the page number.  Who is sitting to the west of you?

Yesterday, I taught my student a song (ok...they helped me get in tune once they got the beat down and new the lyrics).  It goes to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. 
North, South
West and East, West and East
North, South
West and East, West and East
and
North and South
and West and East
North, South
West and East, West and East!

Are you singing it yet?

Oops, forgot the motions- For North touch your head; for South, touch your toes.  West is your left hand extended and East is your right hand extended. 

Got it?

Here are some additional links for you to try:
Interactive Map
Directions
Geography games

Now, I am headed Northeast to go to the fridge to get some YUMMIES!

Smiles,