Freebies

Go check out Corkboard Connections and their Comfy Carpets giveaway....TOTALLY worth the time.  They are giving away a classroom rug of your choice...http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2014/04/classroomcarpets.html

Thanksgiving

It is hard to believe that it is time to start looking for Thanksgiving ideas...yikes!
Here is a cute song I found...love love

http://youtu.be/N_F8XSsd5OM

5 senses

As we are finishing our unit on the 5 senses...I am going to try to reflect on some of the things that worked the best so I can keep them in my hat for next year!

Of course the book list first.....
Our library has many books on the senses but these are a must for next year.

5 Senses overview:

*Aliki 5 Senses
*Magic School Bus Explores the Senses

Seeing:

*Arthur's Eyes

*DW gets glasses

Hearing:

*The Ear Book

*Website Scholastic.com (magic school bus hearing.....you match sounds)

Smelling:

Touching:

Tasting:

*Lentil

Some additional teaching ideas for the 5 senses:

First and foremost:

Pinterest Board on 5 Senses

Overview of the senses:

My kids have LOVED using Mr. Potato Head to relate to the 5 senses.  I have used their "toy" daily and we have added parts to him as the unit has progressed.  At the end of the unit the children make a potato head of their own.  One thing I have noticed is how this has changed the way that they play with the potato head toys.  In the past they dress them up and then start playing rough with them, this gives them a conversation starting point...."what eyes do you want to see with today".....kinda funny!!

At the end of our unit we also make a flip book to review the senses.

Seeing:

We go on a "sight" walk and record results in our journal. 

I was visiting a McDonalds in North Carolina and they had Braile menus.  I asked if there was an old one that I could have so I could take it back to my class and show my kids...they very kindly gave me a brand new one!!! My kids have enjoyed having the hands on experience of the menu.

Hearing

Use scholastic.com (Magic School Bus sounds)

Smelling:

Smelly jars

Touching

Texture T

Tasting

Tasting party

Time Fillers

There is always a point of the day that your plans don't quite fill up the time slot.  I have always been good with singing songs, reading books or playing games.  This post is for those days that I am NOT there and the substitute needs to keep my "munchkins" busy every minute of the day...in order to keep their sanity!!!

Here are a few clips that are great to use...all year long....and more than once a day if needed...lol

And here are a few books that the children will enjoy!!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Number Sense

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qMQpyjFkdtA

Tally Marks Concentration/Matching

Not sure how long the creative juices will continue to flow but for now they are flowing strong.  Here is the latest creation.  I am planning on using it when I do tally marks (I never seem to have enough resources for tally marks).  It can be used as a concentration game or just as flash cards to match.

Click HERE to get the file.

Composing/Decomposing numbers

Well....I have always seen the importance in representing numbers in different ways...and I have always felt I have done that.  BUT........I have decided that I am going to do an even better job with that next year.  And since I am ready for this year to be DONE, why not go ahead and start on next year.

I have had wonderful luck and found many many things on Pinterest to use during my "Math talks" and many of these show numbers in different ways.  However, I am a person that gets tired of things very quickly and I want some fresh things for next year.  I have attached the file that I made that represents the numbers 1-10 in 8 different ways.  My thoughts....when I introduce the numbers I can show each way (plus more in needed) and as a spiral review I can place all cards in a basket and let the kids pick a card or two, sort into the correct number or representation and then order them by number.  It will be a good jumping board to discussing more, less......and so forth.

Feel free to use, share, change or disregard!!!
 Click HERE for file:-)