Christmas Around the World Unit

I created this Christmas Around the World Set as part of our celebrations and traditions unit. My students have enjoyed learning about the different ways that holidays are celebrated. It was originally supposed to go in our Social Studies Interactive Journal, but I thought it would be awesome to create a book out of it.

 

Here are pictures of what is included:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



This set also includes the information that goes under each flap, a Venn diagram, and an interactive assessment.

If you would like to purchase this set you can grab yours here.


Until next time,

Eat, drink, and be merry!!!

Handprint SnowmenTealight Candle Holder- Christmas Craft



 



I just love this time of year. I have so many fun and festive activities for my students to do. This is one of the crafts that my students create to give as a gift to their parents. I took the idea of the snowman hand print on an ornament and combined it with the tea light candle holder that is made out of a baby food jar, and combined them. 

Materials Needed:

Blue Tissue Paper- cut into small pieces

2 Part Elmer's Glue mixed with 1 Part Water

White Paint

Ribbon

Black, Red, and Orange Sharpie Markers

White Paper Bags

Glitter

Snowman Poem

Snowman Poem

This isn't just a snowman

as anyone can see,

I made it with my hand

which is a part of me.

Every year I'm growing,

and I'll be grown someday.

But these five tiny

snowmen will never melt away!

 

Directions:

 

1. Apply glue/water mixture over the entire jar, except for rim.

2. Apply tissue paper over the glue and cover all empty spaces.

3. Gently apply another layer of glue over the tissue paper, and allow to dry.

4. Once, the glue is dried, have students put their handprint using the white paint, and allow to dry.

5. Decorate your snowmen using the Sharpie markers.

6. Finally, you can add some pretty ribbon, along with a poem inside.

 

I had each student decorate a paper bag to put their gift in.

 

 





Well, I hope you guys use this idea with your kiddos, I know they'll love it,  and parents will love it too!!!

 

Until next time,

 

Eat, drink, and be merry!!!

Science Station: Properties of Matter

In science we've been focusing on properties of matter. So I came up with some activities to go along with their Science Interactive Notebooks. I love, love, love my Science Station. I have so many activities to go with my units; The kids can't get enough. This is one of their favorite stations to visit!!!

 

Here I used a veggie tray with a label in each compartment. I had my students sort through the items and place them in a slot based on the properties of matter asked for.

This is what it looked like after my students were done with it. Of course, I had to tidy it up for my snapshot. ;P

 

I use this classifying activity to go with my Properties of Matter pages in my Science Interactive Notebook.

 

They can use this page to fill in their information from the Science Station Properties of Matter Sort.

I let them use this page for a scavenger hunt either outside or around the classroom. My kids love the scavenger hunts we have!!!

This is an I Spy game, where I give students specific properties of matter that they will look for. This is just an extra activity to enforce the concept.  



Along with that activity I have trays that I use for sorting and classifying.

 

Here I have them sorting rough and smooth items.

 

Here is the finished sort.

 

Here I have them sorting round and not round.

Here is the finished sort

 

Well, I hope you guys like these simple, yet effective activities for your science station!

 

Until next time.....

 

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!!

Thanksgiving Interactive Notebook

Okay, so I have been MIA with all of the chaos of work, kids, etc... But I'm back! You guys know how it is when you don't even want to see a computer. I've been so exhausted with everything! I literally feel like the walking dead sometimes. Uuugghhh!

So I know Thanksgiving has passed, but I still wanted to share what we did, just incase anyone needed ideas for next year.

 If you'd like to purchase my Social Studies Interactive Notebook- Thanksgiving Unit just click here or click the pic below.

So my students have Social Studies Journals for all of their interactive notebook activities. Sometimes I'll have them complete an activity or two on a piece of construction paper if I want to display it.

 

Here are the Indian and Pilgrim description flaps. We read some books and watched some videos about Thanksgiving. Then, as a group we came up with some answers for each flap.

 

After we discussed the Pilgrims and Indians, I had the little bambinos complete this Interactive Venn Diagram. It was a great way for them to compare and contrast the two.

 

 

 It was perfect time to incorporate past and present into this unit. So we compared the differences in technology, clothes, etc... After we had our discussion we completed this cute sort, and I had a daily grade for my grade book, YEAH!!! :D

 We also made this cute pie flap. The kids colored it and wrote a menu for their Thanksgiving Feast. My kiddos came up with some pretty yummy stuff!

 I also had them complete these activities:

People they spend Thanksgiving with...

and Food they eat on Thanksgiving.

 I couldn't complete this unit without a Thanksgiving Foldable book. The kids loved coloring and reading these to each other.

 

If you like this unit you can grab your at my TPT Store.

 I am going to post some pictures soon of some finished products, but until then....

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!!!

ELA Focus Wall

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

So this week we were working on Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. We did some really cute activities to go with the story. You can grab your set at my TPT Store.

I created this Lilly template and used it for a writing activity. Here I had my students write about their favorite part of the story.

 

I used the same template and had my kiddos fill in the rest of her body.

Look at my girl going to town with her Lilly pic!!

In my set I also have Lilly's Purple Purse. I've include several reading activities to go inside to help build their literacy skills. My students loved bringing this lovable character to life!

 

Parts of a Book

Story Variants

 

Mental Image

Making Predictions

Story Retell

Characters

Sensory Language

Well, there you have it. If your looking for something new to add to your Kevin Henkes Unit, then this is a great resource to add to your lessons! You can grab yours here.

Johnny Appleseed Interactive Notebook

What's up peeps! So I know how much you love my interactive notebooks, which is why I've been busy working on some more interactive notebooks for you guys. I've started a Social Studies series with thematic units. This is my Johnny Appleseed Unit. Check out the pics to see what's included. 

This is a pamphlet style foldable about Johnny Appleseed. After a  read aloud and group discussion about Johnny, I have my students fill in all the information.

This is an apple flap. I had my students glue apple seeds inside! They were so excited to have real life apple seeds.

The apples activity to the left was used as a little science experiment. I had my kids describe real life apples using their senses.

Here is an apple slider. His goes through the steps of growing an apple tree.

Apple Acrostic Poem

Here is a flap book with an apple poem. I had my students illustrate their own pictures to go with the words.

My students absolutely love working in their interactive notebooks! This is just a sample of what's included. 

Click the here to grab yours, also check out my TPT store for other great interactive notebook sets!