Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts

Monday, January 20, 2014

A Day in the STEAM Lab

My school day this year is drastically different than it was when I taught third grade. My day flies! With only two minutes between classes, I can easily go hours without finding my way to a chair.

STEAMScheduleSheet

Second Grade
My first class comes at 8:05. Last week my second graders were making state of matter posters to compliment what they are learning in the regular classroom.

matterposter 

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Planning
Planning usually involves setting up for Kindergarten. This week I also finally hung up the big bulletin board I’ve been putting together for the last month.

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Kindergarten
I am so happy to have a planning period before the little ones come in. They are almost always the class that requires the most set up. We usually do small group activities. I did not get pictures of our splatter painting adventures last week. (They will eventually be owls.) On Friday we were using the colAR app.

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I plan to do a whole post on this next week. I told the kindergarteners that we were doing magic. They couldn’t argue! You print the coloring sheets and then use the free app to bring the pictures to life. Coolest. App. Ever.

Fifth Grade
The craziest part of my day is the switch from kindergarten to fifth grade. There are supposed to be two minutes between classes, but I usually end up with 2 seconds between those two classes.
Last week the fifth grade spent a day finishing up their Famous Frosty Faces.

FrostyPin

I have just finished posting this to my TpT store.

Famous Frosty Faces

It is on sale right now in my store. I love the way these came out!

Lunch…then First Grade
After fifth grade I have lunch. I usually eat at my desk after trying to get set up for first grade.

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They are comparing numbers up to 120 in class, so we used the Wii to compare bowling scores. Those waiting for a turn on the Wii played SumDog. They were all thrilled!

Fourth Grade
My fourth graders did not get to make snowflakes for the big hallway display, so they worked together to make 3D paper snowflakes to hang in the hallway.

snowflakes

I printed these directions. Students were less than thrilled to learn that I was going to make them READ and FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. They eventually stopped begging me to just tell them how to do it.

Third Grade
My day ends with third grade. Last week I decided to reinforce some of the fraction activities they were doing in the classroom with some SMART board practice.

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One of my favorite parts of my schedule is that I repeat the same activities for three days in a row. (Once with each class in the grade level.) By day three I might be sick of it, but I feel like I have ironed out all the kinks in my plans.

I know I’ve said it before, but I love teaching in the STEAM lab. It is still a work in progress, but the room and the curriculum are largely based around my vision for what a STEAM lab should be. It is fantastic!

Be sure to go check out other schedules!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Winter Planning Giveaway Stop B-1

 How did it get to be December already? My Pinterest boards are brimming with winter projects to start on Monday. Speaking of winter planning, I’m excited to be part of the Winter Planning Giveaway hosted by I’m Lovin’ Lit.

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This is my favorite kind of giveaway. Everyone wins! If you haven’t been there yet, go visit I’m Lovin’ Lit for all the details. Prize Pack B has two of my favorite things: Math and Clip Art. Love it!

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For those of you who might be new to my site, I teach at an elementary school in Florida. After ten years in third grade, I am now teaching in a K-5 STEAM Lab. (Think STEM + Art.) It has been a big transition, but I am LOVING what I do!

As for my contribution to the prize pack, I’ve donated my Merry Measurement and Writing.

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I’ve made applesauce cinnamon ornaments with my class for years. When I was student teaching (over a decade ago – goodness!) my kindergarteners talked about the senses as we made the decorations. Teaching in an older grade, we added some measurement activities and then wrote about observations we made using our senses. Last year I got some great clip art that I used for writing organizers and paper for publishing the student writing. I hope you enjoy this activity as much as I have in past years.
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For my part of the giveaway, I’m asking you to please follow me:


While you are there, be sure to check out my Math QR Code games. I have several in my store, but this might be my favorite:
 
Operation Snowball Fight
I love self checking activities. My students love the games. It is a win-win! (End of shameless plug)

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Here is my secret word:

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Thank you for stopping by!