Baseball Season and Poetry

Are you ready for some baseball? Baseball is big here in St. Louis, home of the World Champion Cardinals. Since it is still Poetry Month we squeezed in some more poetry writing. Up to the plate came the "Diamante Poem." Poems in the shape of a diamond, just like a baseball field.  With a little prep work of creating word lists, the kids had an easy time writing their own poems. 


I introduced "diamante poems" by using the Read Write Think website.  They have a couple of great examples and an explanation of how to set the poem up.  You can even create your own poems online and print them out.  My class warmed up with a few examples on the SmartBoard and then took the field to practice on their own. 

Here is the link for the Read Write Think Diamante Poems.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/diamante/

 Here is how a "diamante poem" is set up.

First line - one word, the topic, Baseball

Second line - two words, Adjectives describing baseball

Third line - three -ing words

Fourth line - four nouns or a short phrase

Fifth line - three more -ing words

Sixth line - Two adjectives

Seventh line - one word, synonym for baseball, we wrote Cardinals!


Here are some pics of my team's poems!
I forgot my jump drive at school with my files on them, so I will upload the pages at school tomorrow, if you would like a copy. 
 I created a generic baseball writing page to use with any team.

Lovin' April Linky Party

Jodi at Fun is First is hosting this fun linky party!

What are your 5 Favorite things about April?

Join in the fun and link up.

 Just click Here to check it out!

I'm Lovin' April!


1. Woo Hoo!! April 15 or April 17 (this year) Tax season is over.
My husband is an accountant and he is crazy busy from January 1st until now. We have our life back.

2. Tax season over, that means vacation. My husband and I always take a Mini - vacation, long weekend in April. We don't go too far, and keep it low key, but at this time of year it is nice to just have a break.
I don't know where we are going yet, but we are going!

3. The weather is beautiful! 
Time to get outside and smell the flowers.

4. I can see my class ready for second grade.

 They have grown so much!

5. I know the school year is coming to an end, and summer camp excitement is in the air.
I run my school's summer camp program. Summer Camp is FUN for everyone!

Measuring with Sea Creatures

This is the second part of Measuring with Sea Creatures. Read yesterday's post to see what we are doing. I surprised my class with the sea creatures today. After passing out their Observation and Data Collection Logbook, I explained how the sea creatures are suppose to grow 600% of their original size. Do you think that is true? How big is 600%? So we began measuring and weighing each of the 6 sea creatures as a class and documenting our data. After today, students will work independently or with a partner to collect their data.  At the bottom of each page students wrote brief observations using adjectives to describe each sea creature. My students were pretty calm when we placed the sea creatures in the water. Just wait! When they see them in the morning all "woohoo" will break loose! Let the excitement begin. Each day they won't be able to contain their excitement to see how big their sea creatures have grown. The news will spread like wildfire!

Would you like a copy of the

 Observation and Data Collection Book?

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More graphs and math activities to come.

   

Here are the Sea Creatures just after being placed in the water.

Sea Creatures and Dollar Tree Deals

Are you like me?  I ran in Dollar Tree to grab some fish for a new unit I am starting tomorrow and came out with 2 bags full of things.  I always find great teacher things there, and with them only being $1, you can't go wrong.

This is what I was looking for!

This is what I bought!

As the school year begins to wind down, I try to have a few fun units for the students to keep their interest high. In math we are studying measurement, volume, and weight. In science I like to begin a unit on oceans. So I begin with the "Sea Creatures!"  I have used this unit for the past 5 years in kindergarten and will be using it in my first grade classroom this year. To be honest, you could do this in most grades and do additional math using percentages, various units of measurement, and analyze the weight and growth changes. I do a lot of graphing with this unit, and for higher grades you can get even more specific. My classroom was very popular before school with the older students wanting to see how much the sea creatures grew. So I think upper grade students would even get a kick out of this.

Day 1 Sea Creature Observation

I like to begin this unit on a Monday, but it really doesn't matter. In the morning I will introduce my class to our new "class pets", the sea creatures.  They are the small rubbery ocean fish that grow 600% of their original size. Before placing them in the water we examine them using all of our senses. Next students measure and weigh each sea creature and document this information in their notebook.  At the bottom of each page I leave a space for students to write in their own words what their observations were for each sea creature. Students may draw their observations. In kindergarten, I had a few that could only draw pictures and write a few words. Some things to take note of are; the color, how they feel, and how they smell. Have the students generate a list of adjectives they may use in their data collection notebooks. The sea creatures are then placed in a large tub of water to begin to grow.

Stay tuned! Tomorrow I will show you what happened.  I will also be sharing my Observation and Data Collection Notebook that I made for each child.

  Now go to Dollar Tree and buy these Sea Creatures if you want to have some math and science fun!

You can use the same ones year after year.  The ones out of the packages are the ones I used last year.  They shrink back to almost their original size.  

I will be using this 66 qt. clearview plastic container made by Sterlite for the 

Sea Creatures.

What do you think do you 

want to grow some?

Followers Needed!

I had set a goal of 50 followers by April 15.  I will then have a giveaway.  If you are visiting, please take a moment to follow.  Thank you so much.

CH...CH...CH...CHIA!

Here in the midwest, spring has arrived and it is time to cut grass again.  I started doing this project with my class years ago in kindergarten, but it is fun for any grade.  My students started calling them their Chia Pets, so I just went along.  They grow so quickly and are a great addition to a Plant Unit, Earth Day Unit, or I even used it to go along with teaching the "ch" sound.  They are very simple to make and every kid loves getting their hands in dirt!

Here is what you need:

1. One pantyhose leg or knee high nylon for each student.  If you have old pantyhose with runs in them, Great! We are recycling them. Just cut off about a foot. You will only use the foot part. Throw the rest away. If not, you can buy the cheapest knee high hose you can find.  I watch Walgreens for their sales. I can get enough for my whole class for $2 - $3.

2. Potting Soil

3. Cups or scoops for the children to get the potting soil out.

4. Grass seed  (any kind, I just buy a quick grow variety)

6. Styrofoam plate or bowl (you can buy new Styrofoam bowls or use recycled meat trays)

7. Tray for the dirt to fall on instead of all over your table.

I work with a few students at a time.  I hold open the nylon as they scoop the dirt and start to fill the nylon. Put about 3/4 inch of soil in the foot, flatten it out to about the diameter you want. Mine are big, about 5 inches. Now let the child add the grass seed.  Make sure there is plenty, it should completely cover the soil.  Then fill the nylon with more dirt until you reach the size you want.  I press the soil down so it is compacted into the toe of the nylon.  I tie a single knot using the rest of the nylon.  After you make the knot, cut off the excess nylon.  Place the nylon, knot side down on your plate or bowl.  Students should water it every day.  It should grow in about 2-3 days.  Then it will take off like crazy! It continues to grow after haircuts which the kids love to give.  It's like mowing their own little lawn.

If you want to add a face, you can use sequins or cut felt pieces.  The easiest way to attach the pieces for the face is to use pins with the small colored heads. (Glue does not work.) I talk with my class about the safety issue ahead of time.  I also send a note to my parents warning them about the pins in case their are younger siblings at home.

If you have any questions please email me at swideman123@gmail.com. 

Your class will love watching these grow. 

 It is also a great way to see the root system as the plant becomes more developed.

Let me know how yours turn out!

Since I did not have a picture of mine with faces, I found one at www.familyfun.go.com 

Sequins and felt cutouts look a lot cuter than these.

Tulips in Bloom!

My class has been working so hard.  I am reviewing everything I can think of before the big standardized tests. I thought I would give them a little crafty fun project to work on while I pulled math groups today.  I sometimes think we focus so much on academics and paper / pencil tasks that we forget that the creative projects are just as important.  We are studying about spring and plants, so these little(actually big) tulips fit right in.  I am one of those teachers that doesn't care if the room gets messy and glue gets on the tables and desks. It wipes off. You can clean the room up. Better yet, the kids love cleaning.  I know the fine motor skills are at work when crumbling bits of tissue paper.  I'm building those fine motor muscles for great handwriting.

Here is all you have to do to make these Blooming Tulips!  They look great in the windows.
Cut tissue in approximately 1 inch  squares, they do not have to be exact.  Cut the tulip shape out of poster board or I used old file folders.  I am cheap and I recycle everything. Students smear glue on a small area at a time, about 2 in. by 2 in. They then crumble individual pieces of tissue squares and start sticking them on.  I tell them I do not want to see any white spaces. Once the flower is covered, students cut a long strip of green construction paper for the stem and cut 2 leaves and glue them on.

Here are the finished TULIPS!

Spring Poem - Guaranteed to Be Cute! and FREEBIE

This is Guaranteed an easy poem for your kids to write!

With April being Poetry Month, I am trying to have my students write their own poems.  I have used the following Goodbye / Hello Poem in both kindergarten and first grade classes.  They always turn out cute and are so easy for the students to create.  The Goodbye / Hello poem is about saying goodbye to winter, and saying hello to spring.  I start by brainstorming the differences between winter and spring with the students.  We create lists on the SmartBoard or on chart paper of winter/spring opposites or analogies.  Think about the weather, the environment, animals, clothing, sports, holidays, foods, and activities.  Here are a few word combinations my students came up with;

ice skating - rollerblading

winter coat - jacket

snow - rain

animals hibernate - animals are active

Christmas - Easter

hockey - tennis

snow drifts - rain puddles

snow boots - tennis shoes

You get the idea.  

After brainstorming and making lists of winter words  in  one column and spring words in another, it is time to write.  Start the poem with 

Goodbye ___________(insert a winter word or phrase)

Hello _________________(insert a spring word or phrase)

Goodbye __________

Hello ______________

Keep repeating to the end.  If the students ended up with one line left over, they wrote "Hello Spring!"

Mount the poem on 12 X 18 construction paper.  I created some colorful "Hello Spring" titles for them to choose from.  Students then used fun foam shapes such as bugs, frogs, and flowers to decorate.  I had some  diecut shapes for them to use also.  

The students had an easy time creating their poem and they loved decorating their page.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Here is a FREEBIE!

I have created a packet of  bordered papers and the "Hello Spring" titles. It has several papers; plain lines and penmanship lines, depending on your grade.

Please become a follower here and on my Facebook page.
Click Here for to download paper and titles.

Tagged and Be Tagged!

 Tag I'm It!

How fun, I just found out that Sandi at 

Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes tagged me.
  Check out her great blog and be sure to follow her.

Could it be she picked me because I'm another Sandy?  I get to answer her 10 questions and then make up some questions (I think I will make them a little fun) and tag 10 new people.  Anyway here are the rules.

Rules

Post the rules.

Answer 10 questions.

Create 10 questions. 

Tag 10(ish) people and link them with your post. Let them know they have been tagged.

Here are my questions from Sandi that I have to answer.

1. What grade do you teach? I currently teach first grade.  I taught kindergarten for 5 years, second grade for 6 years, and owned a preschool for 10 years.

2.  What advice would you give to a new  teacher?  Have fun!  Teach your students to enjoy learning and develop a sense of curiosity. Constantly challenge your students to learn more and to do their best.  Be a good teammate by collaborating and sharing ideas. Remember every teacher has their own style of teaching and their own strengths.

3.  What classroom item could you not live without? Art supplies and lots of children's  books.

4. What is the last book you read (non professional)?  That is a tough one because I usually read books to improve myself, which all have something to do with teaching.  I read Reading with Meaning by Debbie Miller recently. I am constantly referring back to The Daily 5, and The Cafe by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.

5. Flowers or chocolate? Flowers for sure.  

6. If you one day woke up and decided you didn't want to be a teacher anymore, what would you like to do? I would own a business.  I have owned a business in the past and it is extremely rewarding. It is hard work, but you have a sense of accomplishment.

7. How do you spend your time outside of the school day?  Lately I have been engrossed with learning about blogging, and watching videos from Teaching Blog Traffic School! Boy there is so much to learn.

8. What is your favourite TV show? The competitive side of me likes Survivor, and for a relaxing laugh at the end of the day I like Big Bang Theory.

9.  What's your favourite time of year? Summer

10. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?  I would love to go on an Alaskan Cruise or visit Australia.

Here are some great bloggers I love and visit, but would like to know more about them.

Tag, You're It!  I would love to learn about

First Grade Teaching Tales

The Teacher Garden

The Teaching Chameleon

Krazy about Kindy

Educator Designs

The Math Solution
Teaching with Love and Laughter
 It's LMN Tree
The 3am Teacher
Frog Spot a Blog from the Pond

Here are your 10 questions.

1. What grade do you teach and how long have you been teaching?

2. How long have you been blogging?

3. If you could have lunch with any person in the world, who would it be?

4. List 3 words that describe you.

5. If you were a Disney character, who would you be?

6. Everyday I need to have ...

7. Would you rather have a manicure or a pedicure?

8. What is it about you that your students love?

9. What are you going to do this summer?

10. What do you like to do on weekends?

A friend shared this on my Facebook page.

It is taken from the Facebook page of Begin with Yes by Paul Boynton.

Check out some other insightful quotes at his facebook page.

www.facebook.com/beginwithyes

The boy you punched in the hall today,

committed suicide a few minutes ago.

That girl you called a slut in class today,

she's a virgin. The boy you called lame,

he has to work every night to support his

family. That girl you pushed down the other day, she's already being abused at home. The girl you called fat, she's starving herself. The old man you made fun of cause of the ugly scars, he fought for our country. The boy you made fun of for crying, his mother is dying. You think you know them? Guess what? You don't!! Please stand with me against bullying. We have to teach our kids better before one more child, or adult, commits suicide because of bullying. It has to stop. It begins with us. ♥

Cute and Free Digital Paper

If you need some cute digital scrapbook paper or embellishments be sure to check out the link below.

http://persnicketyprints.com/digifreebies

I thought this centerpiece on Pinterest was so cute.

Have a Happy Easter!