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!

Irish Summer

I've been to Ireland many times. My husband is from Cork, so I've made about eight trips over the last 10 years. This was my first summer trip and it was by far the most fun!

We spent two and a half weeks with my in-laws. The days were long, the weather was lovely. My kids spent time with cousins, aunts, uncles, Nana, and Grandad. We had a picnic at the beach and fed cows on a farm. From exploring the city to "Christmas in July" with the Irish family, it was the trip of a lifetime.

Now I have a million things to do. I have over a thousand pictures I'd love to edit/print. I have only finished 19 of 80 assignments for my online classes. I somehow managed to get myself locked out of my school e-mail tonight. I think I'm going to cave in to the jet lag and head to bed.

Making Plans

What a summer! I am working 25 hours a week at summer camp. I teach drama, songs, and games in my regular classroom.  The work is fun and easy, but it still means my time is taken. I am also taking two online classes required for my certification. I have put it off for too long and now I have to complete 80 assignments by the first week in August. I have only turned in 6 so far. Sigh.

I am off to work on that, but I've been invited to several demonstrations and meetings in my "spare" time this summer. It could lead to some amazing things next year and while they are all still in progress, I wanted to share them here.

Aquaponics
The middle school science teacher and I talked about starting a garden next year in the shared area outside our classrooms. We were planning to put in a few raised plant beds. On the first day of summer vacation I got pulled into a meeting with our STEM coordinator about aquaponics. It looks like things are on track for us to get an educational victory garden system. If all goes as planned, we will have a tank of tilapia and raised beds that filter out the fish waste. It should be pretty impressive! I've already warned them that I lack a green thumb, but I'm will to try.

WeatherSTEM
At FETC I saw a demonstration by WeatherSTEM. I was impressed at all the easy to use data gathered. They install a weather system with cameras and tools that feeds the information to a web based site. The graphs and information available is amazing. The weather system even has its own Twitter account to post auto updates about the temperature and rain for the day. (Here is an example of a site in action.) It looks like we will be getting WeatherSTEM for next school year. My mind is spinning with possibilities!

zSpace
Yesterday I went to a demonstration of zSpace. This video explains it better than I can:



I got to try it out and I can tell you it really is a cool as it looks. It is pricey, but they are looking at the possibility of acquiring funds to set up a lab where we can bring our classes.

Meanwhile, I'm back to my online classes. I hope your summer is going well!

Fifth Grade Owls

 Every year I end up wrapping up a project the last days of school. Every year I swear I won't do it again. This year was no different!

My fifth graders won't have STEAM classes next year, so I decided to end with a ceramics project. After consulting Pinterest, I decided on this one. We followed the tutorial.

Days later, I loaded the owls in the kiln. It was my first time running the kiln without help.

Thankfully, all came out okay! The original plan  had been to glaze and refire. Due to time constraints, we used acrylic paint and a spray finish.

We were painting up until the day before school was out.

It was more than a little hectic, but I was thrilled with our owls!

 

 

 I'm working on a mini grant for next year that will allow me to do a ceramic project with each of my classes next year. I'm currently researching ways to make ceramics work with the other letters of STEAM. I'm brainstorming ideas involving 3D printed rolling pins. Fun Times!

End of the Year Fun

We have 2 and a half days left with kids. This year has flown by!

I brought home a chrysalis over the long weekend. I expected to have a butterfly by Monday. Of course butterflies always come on their own schedule. My house was full of excitement as we were trying to get ready for school on Tuesday morning. I took the newly emerged butterfly to the day care with my kids. I left school a little early to release it for an audience on the playground.

 

The thing wouldn't fly away. I was scared that it was injured or dying, so I coaxed it onto the tree high above the kids' reach. Thankfully it flew away after a few minutes!

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Tuesday also meant a pizza/pool party for my SumDog champion first graders. Our students take swimming classes during PE, but they still love an extra free swim! My fourth graders were on a field trip so I got to sit poolside for a while.

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 My CHANGE Club students created a wrap up presentation using Google Drive at our last meeting of the year. I have not yet used shared presentations with my classes, so it was a good chance to try it out with some of my 4th and 5th graders. It was amazing to watch them work together in real time.

I really want to look at Google trainings and tests this summer. I have dabbled enough this year to be sold on the possibilities for using GAFE next year. I'm even looking at starting a PLC.

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 My 5th grade students made ceramic owls last week.  I actually loaded and turned on the kiln all by myself. I'll post a pictures after we paint them next week.

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 I was at the FCR STEM Conference this week. My last session of the day involved making this cool little thing.(Directions available here)

 

My sub sent my this picture today. I bought this building toy with some money from the PTO.

They LOVE it! It really makes me feel like I'm doing something right if my K and 4th grade students beg for the sub to send me a picture of their work!

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Enjoy your weekend!