STEAM Lab Pumpkin Patch 2014

I've always loved using pumpkins in the classroom. This year I again bought 40 pumpkin from my local Walmart for the STEAM Lab pumpkin patch. This year, in an attempt to add a little more math and science, we created a "baseball card" for each pumpkin.

Using Google Drive, these pages were printed and posted in the hallway. They have been a big hit! I'm already thinking about how to improve them for next year.

I have a Pinterest board I use for inspiration. Several of the push-ins were bought last year on clearance. Instead of paining, we used colored tissue paper and a glue/water mixture. I find it stays nicer than the paint and it makes it easier to have 18-22 students participate in the decorating process.

So, here are our pumpkin creations.

The pumpkins were auctioned off during the Halloween Howl. I am still waiting to hear the total raised, but it was a big hit!

Dot Day 2014: STEAM Dots

I love The Dot. International Dot Day is September 15ish. I love the story and the idea behind Dot day. If you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it!

Last year my students just made dots. It was my first couple of months in the STEAM Lab, and it was my first real art project. It went well, but this year I decided to change it up a bit. My upper elementary students made STEAM Dots.

The science dots were made using sun prints. The students got to find an object that would leave a "dot" shadow. Once in water the students were amazed as the colors set.

This was a big hit! I have more sun print paper left over and will definitely use it again for another project later in the year. It would be a great art connection after studying our WeatherSTEM station's UV sensor.

I love colAR. I let all my 375+ students make one of these dots. They each got to see their dot come to life using the app. I compiled each class' dots into a book that I posted in the hallway. Augmented reality still amazes me!

For engineering dots,  I was inspired by these 3D color wheels. I wasn't picky on the colors used, but I liked the idea of students figuring out how to transform 4 paper plates into a 3D shape. Other students chose to use this printable soccer ball template to create a paper ball dot. Both were a litle challenging, but worked well.

For art dots, I left out crayons, markers, texture plates, and tempera paint. They had lots of options, but most of my artist prefer paint. I had a number of Jason Pollock inspired dots.

Math was the area I had the hardest time to figure out. I brainstormed and I provided students with die cut pattern blocks. Some students used the blocks to create dots. The more popular math dot was compass painting.

My 3-5 students all made a technology dot and then got to choose one other dot to make. I'd planned to do the same with some of the younger grades but after making the colAR dots, I decided it was too much. Instead I opted to try something else.

 

 My K-2 students made these coffee filter dots.  I really enjoyed the project and the finished results.

My favorite part of out Dot Day celebrations this year was having the kids work outside. We've really worked on our outdoor learning space. I love opening my back door and having students work on the patio.

So, the post might be a little late-ish, but there you have it!

Last Day to Enter

Just a reminder that there are only a couple of hours left to enter my Birthday Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, be sure to do so for a chance to win an awesome gift set from LoveBird Soap and a TpT Gift Certificate.

Birthday Giveaway: LoveBird Soap and $25 TpT Gift Certificate

Today is my birthday. I decided over the summer that I wanted to have a giveaway for my birthday.

I spent too long making a 'quick' little button. It wasn't what I wanted, but it will do! What really matters is that I am giving away a $25 TpT gift certificate and a prize pack from LoveBird Soap with two large soaps, a lotion bar, and a lip balm.

When I was in middle and high school, I did a lot of babysitting. I had enough regular clients to not need any other jobs. I feel really old admitting that I used to babysit for the owner of LoveBird Soap. Last year I ordered from Katie's store for the first time. I bought several bars of soap, a lotion bar, and a lip balm. I loved everything so much I ordered more to give as Christmas gifts.

I use the Morning Madness soap each morning. The tea tree spearmint lotion bar is fantastic for when I have a migraine. It is also great on my feet and hands. I custom ordered lip balm with cinnamon and clove that has replaced my old Burt's Bees. I love it!

I haven't seen her since the late 90's, but I know Katie is working hard to grow her business, and I was thrilled when she said she would donate to my birthday giveaway. Please be sure to visit her on social media.

Oh, and I'm also giving away a $25 TpT Gift Certificate. Just because can.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
**Disclaimer: Katie is sending me a bar of her yummy smelling pumpkin soap as a birthday present, but all opinions are my own. This stuff is awesome. That is my honest opinion.

Index Card Self Portrait Collaborative Art Project

I went on Pinterest right before school started to look for some inspiration. I wanted a project for the first day of school. Actually, because I see students on a three day rotating schedule, I needed a good project for the first DAYS of school. I fell in love with this post I found through this pin.

The end result, was this collaborative project.

To start, we practiced drawing faces using white boards and markers. From there I handed students an index card with a colored dot on the back. They went to a bin full of crayons, markers, and colored pencils in the assigned color. Like the original project, my fourth and fifth grade students were assigned two colors to help the colors blend in the finished project.

I placed the cards on a long sheet of black paper. I spent almost two hours using rubber cement to attach the index cards.

 Here are a few up close pictures.

I am in love with this project. It was the perfect way to start the year!

Unfortunately it is still looking for a home! The clothesline was not strong enough to hold it up in hallway traffic. It is HUGE. Right now the plan is to hang it was up high in the school entryway. We'll see how it goes!

In other news, be sure to check back next week. I have a birthday giveaway planned that you will not want to miss!

Outdoor Learning Space Update

Last year it was just a space with potential.

While it is still a work in progress, it is well on its way to being a true outdoor learning space! The overgrown grass has been replaced with mulch. The aquaponics system has been installed. That blue tank? There are ten coy in there. The grow beds have herbs and a few vegetables.

The middle school science class is going to take care of the fish and testing the water. The elementary STEAM classes are going to take care of the plants.

Did I mention that I do not have a green thumb? I've emailed the local garden club for help picking plants. It is a little outside my comfort zone, but I'm ready to give it my all!

My students voted on names for the outdoor space. With over three hundred votes, it was a tie! We will have to have a run off to decide between "The Burrow Lab" and "The Owl Hideout." They also had suggestions for other things to add to the space. The suggestions went from monkeys and sharks to butterflies and ladybugs. We are going through the list looking for those that might actually be possible.

I was on Pinterest before and am suddenly consumed with the idea of making a plastic bottle cap mural. I actually forgot to eat lunch today because I was sending messages through ClassDojo to all 18 classes asking them to send in plastic bottle tops.

 

I've set up a Pinterest board here. I would love to see one of these bright, colorful works of art in our new outdoor learning space!

Back to School

I submitted my last assignment tonight! It took all summer, but I finished all 80 assignments.  I am so happy not to have that hanging over my head.

Last week I attended the Drive-in Conference at P.K. Yonge Developmental Lab School in Gainesville.  I presented on Technology for Classroom Management and Using Technology in the Elementary Math Classroom. The presentations and links are available on my Portaportal Page.

Teachers reported back on Monday. Yesterday my son got sent home from day care for tummy issues. Due to the 24 hour rule, he joined me at school today.  I was worried about how he would do, but the little guy quietly watched videos on my iPad through the bloodborne pathogens training and a review of the crisis response plan.

He "helped" me print a big poster for my bulletin board. It has a weather theme. We had WeatherSTEM installed yesterday. Our school site is here. I am looking forward to watching the sky video tomorrow.

My teacher's helper took a nap mid afternoon. I was able to get a few things done while he slept. I *might* have put a sign on my classroom door announcing "Napping 3-year-old."

Tomorrow is our "Meet the Teacher" day. I can't believe it is already time!