Inspiring Inventors {FREEBIE}

The countdown for Spring Break has definitely been on for awhile now! We are down to 3 days...and counting of course. I know I'm *jinxing* myself even saying this, but my kiddos have been gosh.darn.good these past 2 weeks. I guess they aren't as anxious as I am?? I plan on doing lots of relaxing while I'm off so I'm already planning for when we come back.

Our story from our basal reader covers an illustrated non-fiction version of Ben Franklin, so I thought what better time to talk about inventions and inventors than now! I figured covering 3 basic BIG-time inventors would spark their interest.

I created this {FREEBIE} packet to go along with my lessons.

 

It includes a graphic organizer (circle thinking map) and a 3 Facts and a Fib sheet to go along with each inventor.

I have done 3 Facts and a Fib for MLK, President's Day, and now Inventors. If you've never heard of it, your students just write 3 facts and then come up with 1 fib about the person. Of course, I have a group of sillies and they like to come up with CRA-ZZZ fibs. For example: "Abraham Lincoln died being attacked by a dinosaur."  This is their time to use their creative little minds!

 

If your school, or you, have a subscription to Brainpop, they have a short video for each inventor on their website:

Thomas Edison

Ben Franklin

Alexander Graham Bell

If you click on the pictures above, they will take you straight to my TpT store where you can download this Inspiring Inventors unit for FREE! Enjoy friends : )

Blogs by State {Link Up}

I don't know about ya'll but I LOVE my state! Fifth in the Middle came up with this fabulous idea to have bloggers link up by state in order to find other bloggers from the same. She also made these *uber-cute* buttons to put on your blog once you link up.

So head on over to her blog, link up with your state, and make some new bloggy friends!

Currently in March

Excuse me March, what did you do with February and how are you here already!? Holy smokes...did February literally f-l-y by or what? I know it's the shortest month and all and it sure did seem like it.  I'm not complaining by any means...March=hello spring break! I can't believe I am doing the 3rd currently this year already! So here it goes...

 

Listening: I LOVE all things 90's including my music...Nsync, BSB, Christina, Britney (in her good days), Spice Girls, Destiny's Child. Makes me smile : ) 

Loving: The weather this time of year in Texas is absolutely amazing! I do love cold weather (for a short period of time) and I'm thinking I'm so over it with this perfect combination of sun and early spring!

Thinking: We are going to a friends' wedding tonight and I need to go grab my polish and get these fingers looking classy!

Wanting: I gotta convince the hubs (and myself) to go for a run...who am I kidding, a jog or more like walk...shortly! Like I said earlier, loving the weather!

Needing: I love all things Katie King makes including her most recent March math and literacy centers. I usually make my own centers, but hers were just too good to pass up. Thanks Katie!

Like: Who doesn't like to laugh...it just makes you feel better and enjoy life!

Love: I love me some leisure time, especially if it is on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean...can we say summertime!?

Hate: I know I'm not the only one...laundry, which is currently waiting for me in both the washer and dryer...ugh!

Happy March!

Where are my TEXAS friends?!

You know what they say, everything is bigger in Texas...the hair, the BBQ, the rodeo, and the units we teach about our state. Can I get a yee-haw?? We normally spend a week or so on a science or social studies topic/unit...but not for Texas!  We dive in deep for 2 whole weeks. The kids l-o-v-e learning all about their state.

Last year, we put together an All About Texas book and let's just say...it was "old school".  Nothing really cutsey about it.  Knowing myself, I had to revamp it and give it some "new" flair! Since Go Texan day was last Friday, the rodeo parade Saturday, and opening night of the rodeo started yesterday (in Houston that is), I think there is no better time to introduce to you my new Texas baby:

Yeehaw! A Texas Rodeo Unit

This is an integrated language arts and social studies unit.  It's so easy to use: print, copy, and teach! The only thing needed to accompany this unit is a few non-fiction books.

 

Here is what is included:

*All About Texas Book--each symbol has its own page (flag, flower, bird, tree, animal, motto)

*Let's Locate Texas--a map skills activity using the US map to locate Texas & its surrounding states

*Fixin' Those Mistakes--students will read the sentences and rewrite them with no grammatical errors

*Texan Style ABC Order--students will put Texas words in alphabetical order

*Rodeo Roundup--students will sort the words into the correct parts of speech category (noun, verb, adjective)

*I'm a Texas Star poem

 

 

All About Texas book: I like to cover one page (or symbol) per day.  We start off by talking about our state flag.  This book does not include a cover so my plan is to make one out of construction paper and staple it on top. Each page has a place for students to write down 3 facts about the symbol. On the back, I'm going to have them illustrate the symbol.

 

There are lots of other things we do in the classroom to celebrate our great state of Texas.  I will be back to share those ideas with you sometime this and next week {one of them includes food!!!}. Until then, this unit is for sale in my TpT shop!

 

 

A HUGE Giveaway

As I am edging closer to 100 followers (so exciting), Tonya over at Tonya's Treats for Teachers has totally surpassed my climbing number and has reached 700 followers! I am part of her HUGE giveaway along with 25 other great bloggers. There will be 2 winners chosen from this giveaway.

Head on over to her blog {by clicking on the picture below} to enter her giveaway! Good luck!

 

 

Hall Pass Linky!

I'm linking up with one of my favorite Texas teachers for a linky party to share ideas on great products, favorite classroom areas, signals, and strategies for keeping our sanity! In 1st grade, this time of year is great! The kiddos know what they should be doing, and most need little guidance when doing classroom activities....how nice would it be to have a "hall pass" during this time to get a little relaxation in....and then there are those who will always need your attention, so back to reality!

 

Product- My favorite product I have made is my 'How-to Writing Prompts and Templates'.  So here is the low-down...I {use} to hate teaching writing, that is until I found my own groove and through a few ideas together and viola! Now, I don't struggle teaching writing or just pass it up because I didn't have time (horrible, I know).

 

Teaching writing step-by-step works best for me and this is exactly how this product is laid out. Plus, it has 11 different writing templates to choose from! Catch up on my posts about my recent successes in writing below:

 Writing for Dummies {AKA me!}

Writing for Dummies {Part 2}

 

Area-This year especially, I have grown to love meeting with my small reading groups.  My kids love the attention they get, we laugh while we learn, and it's a great way to get to know your sweeties better! I have my reading table in the back corner of my room so I am able to still keep an eye on all the others while they are at centers during this time.

Take a tour of my room {here}!

 

Signal-I would LOVE to have some new signals to get kids attention at important times. The ones I use are ok...but recently I have noticed they aren't working like they use to. I have a bell on my desk I ring if I have something important to share. The students are supposed to freeze, look at me, and listen. They can't move again until I say "Thank you for freezing." It just doesn't have the same effect this time of year. Sitting here, I came up with this...teacher says "Can I get a...." students reply "ooooo ooooo"  (better known as the annoying squeaking sound). Thoughts? Maybe I will try it and let ya know how it goes!

 

Sanity-  Need I say more? I LOVE me some chocolate. I have a bag of Hershey's kisses on my desk and my candy jar (supposed to be for the kids) always finds itself dwindling down as time goes by. My kids are always asking 'Why do you always get to eat candy?' Guess I should take the hint...



 

Can't wait to read up on and get some new ideas! Click on the hall pass above to find Reagan's original post! Happy linky!

 

 

The Day After Valentine's=more sugar!

Who would want candy the day after the biggest candy holiday all year?  Well, besides me....my 21 firsties! Not all of them actually, I had a few out (probably with tummy aches).  So...being the chocolate lover that I am, I decided to have a taste testing experiment with Hershey kisses and hugs.

 

I gave each student one hug and one kiss (candy of course).  All together, we taste tested one at a time.  We then took a vote of which we liked better. I passed out their choice cards and we graphed our class results.

 

 

We recorded our data on our own graph.

 I then read the story Froggy's First Kiss to the class. In the book, Frogilina kisses Froggy.  So we did a little reader's response.  The question was this: Do you like getting hugs or kisses from your family? We added a little craft to the reader's response and viola...a cute post-valentine's activity!

 

 

 

{This idea came from Cara Carroll' blog The First Grade Parade.  Head on over *HERE* to get all the free printables to go along with this activity. Kudos to Cara for sharing! My kiddos ate this up....literally and figuratively of course!}

 

What do you do with your class the day after Valentine's to re-coop??