Beach Sand: winter

Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts

Empty your wishlist! Ready those carts! It's a TpT SALE!

January 20 & 21 my store will be 20% off. Use the TpT code, START16, for a total of 28% off!

Don't forget to leave feedback on your paid products to earn FREE money to spend on TpT. Check out my MOST RECENT products and activities you will love for the WINTER.

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

It's FIVE FOR FRIDAY time with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

I have had this post started for the last couple of Fridays so here's 5 random things from the last few weeks...

My students completed a multigenre writing project after returning from winter break. The task was to write in three different genres about one topic. Our topic was snow/winter. First they had to write and explain some aspect of winter...how snowflakes are formed, explain the season of winter, etc. Then write a how-to piece like how to build a snowman, how to make a paper snowflake, how to bake snowflake cookies, etc. The narrative piece was a story or poem about winter/snow. They worked in groups of 2 and 3s. I liked this project and plan on using it again with a different genres.

A group research project that we have been deep into for the last couple of weeks has been our United States regions project. The students had a good time working on this and so many teachable moments came from it. I divided the class into 5 groups and assigned each a region of the U.S. Their first task was to read the pages from the social studies book about their region. Other resource they pulled from were atlases, books about the states, and the internet. The idea was for them to become "experts" on their region. They were required to learn about various aspects of their region: landmarks, climate, natural resources, vegetation, etc. They created a poster and then had to present their findings. I told them they were going to be the teacher. Once I said that then new ideas started flowing. They wanted to make Keynote presentations and even worksheets. It turned into more than I had intended, but it was great...all student lead. It was so much fun and they did a great job!!

I decided to offer a FREEBIE for my regions project because I liked how their work turned out. I think you might, too! Check it out HERE if you are interested!!

You can find more products for social studies HERE at my TpT store.

Text structure and text features have been a huge focus for us over the last month. Third graders need a lot of practice with these skills. We read lots of books that are patterned after various text structures. I use graphic organizers to model and for the students to practice. I created a text structure pack with posters along with organizers that have been very helpful for my students.

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears is a great mentor text for cause and effect. We went a field trip to see this play so it was perfect!

My text features posters and activities have also been very helpful this last month. Students were able to refer to these during the U.S. regions project since they had to include 3-5 text features on the poster.

And we had a little class picture fun this last week! Their faces just crack me up!! I emailed this to my parents and they loved it! How can you not smile when you look at it??

That's been my January! I CAN NOT believe it is February already!!

Stop by tomorrow and check out the Stop, Swap, and Roll linky that I am participating in! I will be showcasing a fun unit to accompany Dear Mrs. LaRue from my friend Kelly over at An Apple for the Teacher. Join the fun! Find some new products and blogger friends and enter to win some great products!!

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

Happy New Year friends! Can you believe that 2015 is here? I can't! How will you be celebrating? We will be hanging out with our besties, enjoying good food, shooting off fireworks, and ringing in the new year together.

While I wait for midnight to arrive, I'm joining up with two linkys. First visit with CaseyJane at Primary Powers for her ONE WORD Resolution party. Here's mine:

I love thinking about just one word. Too many resolutions bog me down and I never follow through anyway, but I think this year will be different. Persevere means to keep going and work hard. Over the last several months, I have been focusing on my weight and overall health. I've lost 17 pounds since September and I'm very happy! My goal is to lose 25 total, so only a few more to go...I need to push through to get those last pounds off. It hasn't been difficult so far. You read that right. It HAS NOT been difficult. My mind was ready for the change. I think that's the only way to do it. You have to be ready mentally. I've been following Weight Watchers Simply Filling plan and I love it! I don't have to count the points, just eat the power foods. I've been able to make changes to some favorite recipes and my family doesn't know the difference, so that's a bonus!

Persevere is also the perfect word for my school life. I have to remember that between 8am and 2pm my students matter most. I have to let go of all the outside forces that can get in the way of teaching. My students come first. (You can all probably relate!) I need to work hard and push forward with teaching what I know is best for them and not let the other "junk" get me down.

What is your ONE WORD for 2015?

The second party I'm attending today has to do with a little shopping. Head on over to my TpT store for 20% off December 30th and January 1st. Visit Molly at Lucky to be in First to link up your store or to find other wonderful sellers! Stock up and get ready for 2015!

Check out my newest product and grab it while it's on sale. It's a perfect activity to start off the new year. Your students will think about reading resolutions, as well as personal goals for the new year. Make a cute 3D display or bulletin board for January.

Thanks for stopping by today. Be safe as you celebrate the new year and enjoy the rest of the winter break!

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

It's the first day of....

And I'm lovin' life right now!! Shopping is done (not wrapping though). Cookies are made. House is clean. I'm ready to enjoy the next two weeks!

On our last day before the break, we enjoyed a Snow Day. Yes. A snow day here in Florida. The kids dressed in their winter best. Hats. Scarves. Mittens. (And their shorts!)

We enjoyed a day of Minute to Win It games, crafts and a fun sweet treat.

The students made their own melted snowman cookies. So adorable!

I took their pictures using some fun snow hat props. They transformed themselves into snowboys and snowgirls! Using a white ink pad, they used their finger prints to create the falling snow. These really made them giggle!

We also made these clothes pin snowmen. (THIS IS NOT MY PHOTO) I put a magnet on the back and used grosgrain ribbon for the scarf. Forgot to take photos of the finished products.

One of my teammates went all out on these adorable crafts. She used CDs to create glittery snowman ornaments...all that glitter makes cringe! LOL! She was very clever with the snowman spoon craft. To cut cost, she used a styrofoam cup instead of clay pot. The kids painted and decorated the cup and then added cute details to the snowman spoon. How fun are those??

Check out more fun winter ideas for the classroom HERE on my Pinterest board. I think many of these activities can be done into January and February. After all, winter lasts until March 20th.

Looking for some winter research and activities for your lesson plans? How about a reindeer mini unit? Just because Santa has come and gone doesn't mean your students can't learn about these fascinating animals. Check out my Wild About Reindeer pack. Students have a chance to conduct research and read about reindeer, as well as write about them to create a mini-book. Assign all or just some of these activities.

Look for all my winter products and freebies here on TpT.

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing time off!

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

We have been working on short research projects all year. My kids have loved bringing in their own devices and learning how to peruse the internet. Being 3rd graders, they still need guidance and support. There is a lot of information out there to shift through!

To help them narrow down to the pertinent information, I have created these Winter Holidays Around the World Research Cards. Students are asked to find specific information about winter holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Santa Lucia Day, Las Posadas, and Chinese New Year. After they gather the research, the cards can be stapled together to create a cute little mini book that fits nicely in a spiral or composition book as part of an interactive notebook.

Along with the research cards I've included two foldables. One is a compare/contrast activity and one can be used to showcase the information researched about one of the holidays. Have students take their research to writing using the graphic organizer and writing paper.

Provide books as well as computer time to conduct research. I like this series from National Geographic.

I think your students will enjoy learning about holidays around the world and sharing their own traditions!

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

January is upon us and so is a new year! I can not believe that 2014 is here! 2014??!! Really??! I wish time would slow down. I am so very thankful for 2013 and all of the good things from the past year. I have my health, happiness, and lots of good friends and family around me! I am especially lucky to have 2 wonderful kids! My son is practicing very hard at water polo and doing so well. He is currently participating in the Olympic Development Program and he'll be part of the Southeast Zone team. He'll be traveling to Texas in March for a tournament. (Keeping my fingers crossed that he is selected to be part of the National team!!)
My daughter continues to dance her heart out. I am so happy that we were able to take a trip to NYC together. It was such a special experience. She is more motivated than ever to get herself to Broadway!
I'm looking forward to the new year, filled with new adventures!

Now on to some of my favorite reads for JANUARY!!

Grace Lin is such a wonderful author and illustrator. Bringing in the New Year is a perfect read for the Chinese New Year on January 31st.

I love her beautiful artwork!

The story tells of a family preparing for the special day.

Sam and the Lucky Money is about Sam who wants to buy something with the money he received for the Chinese New Year. He finds that most things are too expensive and he ends up using the money for something much more special.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr. are lovely picture book biographies. Each one is simple enough for our youngest learners to understand. The illustrations in both make these books MUST READS!

The Snow Globe Family is lots of fun and very retro! The book is about a family who lives inside a snow globe in the home of a family just like them. The only one that can see them is the baby, but she can't reach them on the shelf. The Snow Globe Family is waiting for someone to shake the globe so they can play in the snow. Love this little story and the old fashion illustrations.

The Night Before New Year's is patterned after the poem Twas' the Night Before Christmas. This book is best suited for our youngest readers and is perfect for helping kids understand the excitement of the night.

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution is about a squirrel (obviously) who is learning about the meaning of a resolution. She travels around the forest helping her friends make their resolutions while she tries to figure out her own.

Here is my new FAVORITE book by Jon Scieszka. Battle Bunny. Alex receives Birthday Bunny as gift, but decides he needs to turn it into something more exciting! With the help of his imagination and a pencil he turns the Birthday Bunny into Battle Bunny! The layered pictures and scribbled words make this story so much fun to read. I can not wait to share it with my class!