October 14, 2012

I've been BOO-ed and a treat for you!



Do y'all do the "boo" thing at your school? We do, and I am on the social committee which means I am one of the people that get to start it off each year! So imagine my delight when I saw I had been bloggy boo-ed!

Christi over at Ms. Flutz's Corner boo-ed me last night and I am so excited that I get to pick out a special treat from her store... she has awesome products, I think I am going to pick her three digit subtraction borrowing game... I know the kids will love to make such a difficult concept more fun!

Here are the blog rules to this little game. Boo one blog that has more followers, one blog with less followers and one blog with about the same number of followers and send them a little treat from our store! 
With so many blogs to choose from, this was tough. I decided to choose Ashleigh from Ashleigh's Education Journey. I seriously love every.single.thing in her store. I may just break down and buy it all before too long! 

Ashleigh's Education Journey

Next up is Gina from Beach, Sand and Lesson Plans. Don't you just love the name of her blog? She is a fellow 3rd grade teacher and a brand new blogger. I have enjoyed her posts so far and it looks like she's got some good stuff in her TpT store. Go over and give her some bloggy love if you can! 

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans
Lastly, I wanted to boo Stephanie from 3rd Grade Thoughts. Okay, so I didn't follow the rule, maybe one day I'll have as many followers as her, but I love reading her blog and thought she deserved a treat! She has fabulous information about Whole Brain Teaching and I am always inspired after reading her blog. 
3rd Grade Thoughts


Here is a little "treat' for those of you working on place value right now! I made this little Halloween themed comparing numbers game. Click the picture below to grab it from Google Drive!




Look Who's Been Boo'd


October 10, 2012

Winners!


Congratulations Patrice and Leighla... I already sent you an email!! Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and follow my blog, I appreciate every one of you!

If you really like this kit, head on over to my store and grab it before the price goes up. I am putting it on sale for $3 until Sunday.

Toodles

October 7, 2012

Traveling Scientist and Scientific Method Freebie

                                                  
Hi friends! I am so excited to share with you my Traveling Scientist pack. This is an idea I have used in my classroom for the last 3 years and the kids LOVE it. My third grade teaching buddies us it now too with great success!

So here is the deal. You decorate a composition notebook and a canvas bag. Add a parent note and any other items you feel like should be included (I like to add a child sized lab coat like this one, safety googles, and a book of easy science experiments.)


Tell the students that they get to be traveling scientists for one week. Explain that they will conduct one or more science experiments at home with their parents (grandparents, siblings, etc...) As they complete the experiment(s) they should be recording their findings using the scientific method steps you use in class. Then they record their findings inside the included notebook and I encourage my friends to be creative with their page. They are told to add pictures, stickers, color or whatever they feel like to make it their own. When they bring the bag back on Thursday, they present to the class. In the past I have had everything from students reading what they wrote in the journal, to having parents come to help recreate the experiment in class. I only ask that the presentation be 15 minutes at the most. Most can present in under 5.
science INB idea
You would not believe how excited the kids are for their turn and how excited they are about listening to their classmates presentations!

Here is a preview of the pack. Inside you will find front and back covers for the notebook. An editable page for the inside cover where students can cross out their name after they've had their turn, a parent letter and step by step directions on assembling the bag. There is also a printable logo you can use to create an iron-on transfer for your tote bag. Many of the pages are editable within Powerpoint in case you'd like to use your own words.
science INB Traveling scientist 
If you would like a free copy, enter the giveaway below. I will randomly pick 2 winners on Wednesday evening! 


Alright, now for the freebie! I have been using this Scientific Method Chant for years and it is a fun way for the kids to remember the steps. Here is a poster for you class.... if you print it out onto photo paper, you will be pleased. Seriously, it makes the posters so much prettier (yes, I said prettier)

Click here to get your copy 
of the poster and foldable


Any who, also included in this freebie is a scientific method foldable and directions for creating them in class with your own students. I use this same format for every experiment we conduct in class.


Here is a picture of one I modeled in class at the beginning of the year.
You can create the same foldable with notebook or computer paper if you'd prefer. I just like the look of the words typed on the cover! 





**edited to link up with Freebie Friday!

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Currently October!

I've linked up with Farley again over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade... for this month's currently. I can't believe it is october already!
My daughter (5) went to a cheer clinic last weekend and got to cheer at the varsity football game last night. Oh.My.Word. She won't stop clapping, jumping, cheering! It is cute though....

We had a cold front move through and it actually feels like October. Super Pumped!!!

My house is a messssssssssss and I need to have a date with my husband that doesn't involve leaving in the middle of the meal to use the potty or telling the little people next to me to, "sit down, sit still, use your napkin, shhhh." You get it, don't you?

I am LOVING that I get to go to my cousin's wedding in Ohio next weekend. I have not been home in the fall for 9 years. I have all sorts of plans that include a trip to my favorite fruit farm. Can anyone say apple pie, apple cider, apple dumpling?? But, before I can go, I need an outfit to wear to the wedding. Not looking forward to shopping... I have gained some weight. (do you think always thinking about apple desserts is a problem?)

I love Twas the Night Before Halloween to add to our purple poetry folders in class. I also love anything Junie B. for fun and she is wonderful for teaching about voice and conventions!

Toodles


October 6, 2012

Product Swap: Measurement Madness!

MrsStanfordsClass
I am so excited to be part of the product swap this time around. When you are finished learning about the awesome product I reviewed, be sure to click the button above to see what other products people reviewed!

Here we go, hope you like pictures!!

I was lucky enough to get paired up with Krista from Stellar Students. She is a third grade teacher like me and I adore her blog.

One area my students always struggle in is measurement, so I jumped at the chance to try out her Measurement Madness Station kit.

click on the picture to purchase this product!
Inside there are 6 different station activities and some links to online measurement games! I had my handy dandy helpers (A.K.A. my son, daughter and husband) try out a few of the stations.
 

First up was "How Far Does Your Plane Fly"  
Students will have all the directions they need with these super colorful direction pages. 


I had a little mini lesson on making paper airplanes! 



 Once we had them folded, we were ready to go! I placed a piece of tape on the floor and had his sister count, "one, two, three, go!" Students will take turns flying their paper airplanes and I could even see this turning into a mini science lesson about variables. I found myself wondering what type/size of paper airplane would fly the farthest. You could also have students investigate how making the planes differently effects how far it will fly. 

                                                   
                                                     Daddy got in on the action too!
Now it's time to measure! Krista has included a cute recording sheet where students are expected to measure in 3 different units. I love this as it will really help them see which units are bigger/smaller and will also help them understand why we pick a particular unit when measuring.  I loved watching the kids figure out the best way to measure how far it had flown. I can see third graders really starting to "get" why measuring accurately is so important.



 More of a laid back approach to measuring....
Using this recording form is very higher order. Students will have to think about converting from inches, to feet to yards. 


Next up was an equally fun station called, "How Far Can You Jump" Again a colorful direction page and recording sheet are included. Students will stand at the starting line (a piece of tape) and see how far they can jump. Perfect for all our kinesthetic learners!



The partner comes and places a piece of paper where they landed so that you can measure how far you've jumped. 




There goes daddy again...


And we measure. Again, students are measuring in 3 different units. I only had a tape measure but at school, I would give kids a yard stick and ruler. 

My kids wanted to keep jumping to see if they could beat their last jump!

The last one we practiced was called, "How Much Hot Air Do You Have?"
For this activity, students will place a pattern block on the starting line and blow as hard as they can. In our case, we used a cotton ball because I didn't have any pattern blocks at home.


We were laughing so hard because little missy here could not get hers to go very far at first!

Then we measured and recorded on the sheet provided. 

Here is a little look at the direction page as well as a recording sheet. 


We had lots of fun. The kids thought they were playing but they were getting practice measuring in different units. They were making hypotheses' and testing their theories. All while moving which, as we know, helps them retain the information.

I can't wait to use all 6 activities with my class. It took very few supplies and was all set-up ready to use within 5 minutes, that's my kind of learning station! The other 3 stations that are included are a sort, board game type activity and measurement scavenger hunt that I know the kids will truly enjoy. there is a lot of room here for enrichment. Some of the activities will be very challenging but I know they will lead to great discussion.

 Head on over to Stellar Students to see a review for my Scientific Tools Kit
and then head to her TpT store to get your copy of these awesome measurement stations, you won't believe the price!




October 4, 2012

Missing Numbers Freebie!

I know I am a third grade teacher, but I have a kindergartner of my own and she is working on finding missing numbers in class. I made a little task card activity to help her practice in a fun way at home. Here it is if you are interested! 





If you do download it, please leave me some feedback.. I love to hear what you all think!
Happy Fall Y'all


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