Dino Dig!

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much!  This school year has been CRAZY!  We went remote for about six weeks from November through December.  We came back face-to-face after Winter Break and have been ever since!  

Last year, we didn't get to do our big Dinosaur Unit due to being quarantined.  I am SO happy that I was able to start it last week!  We kicked off the unit by reading "Dinosaur Lady" by Linda Skeers.  It's about Mary Anning, the first Paleontologist!  I am still amazed that this year is the first time in my life that I've heard of her!  She's pretty awesome!  Then we worked on a flip book about her life!  The next day, we talked in-depth about paleontology and the job of paleontologists.   The third day is when the real fun began!

I ordered {THESE} kits and {THESE} cute hats (from Amazon), as well as disposable tablecloths, and eventually, disposable cake pans (more on that later)!  

DINO DIG DAY 1:  EXCAVATION

The kids each got the following:  1 plaster egg, 3 tools, a hat, and a clipboard with their recording sheet (below) and a paper ruler.  Apparently I'm a bit of a hoarder because while I was looking for rulers, I found a stash of 6" paper rulers from the ISAT test when I taught 6th grade!  They came in handy!  I went over the directions and then I let them start  digging!  They had about 45 minutes to dig and only two kids were able to get their fossil out in that time.  Also, this was WAY messier than when I tested one out in my kitchen!  The tablecloths helped out a bit, but there were still pieces of plaster everywhere!  The kids were pretty messy too, they had been wiping their hands on their shirts and pants and were covered in white dust!  I gave the kids a gallon sized ziploc labeled with their names to hold their tools, clipboard, and egg until the next day.  That night I went to the Dollar Tree and bought foil cake pans to try and contain the mess a bit for the next day!

DINO DIG DAY 2:  EXCAVATION, IDENTIFICATION & RECREATION

I set everything back up while the kids were at recess and I made sure I had plenty of time for the kids to work - it was Friday and I wasn't dragging this into the next week!

After extracting their fossils from the egg, the kids had to record how long & tall their fossil was and then record it's characteristics - long or short neck?  4 legs or 3 back legs?  spikes?  neck frill?  horns?  etc.

Then they had to look at pictures of dino skeletons and identify what dinosaur fossil they had.  

Once that was done, they were given clay (that came with the kits) and got to recreate their dinosaur!  I let them pick their colors and they got pretty creative!

The kids were getting done at different times, so I had a few Bitmoji classrooms ready on Google Classroom for them to explore - all about dinosaurs, obviously!  Overall, I feel like the kids liked this activity and I would for sure do it again!  I wouldn't call this a total classroom transformation, but close!  

XOXO,

Rachel :)

Hello again! (and FREEBIES!)

I haven't blogged in forever!  In my defense, 2020 sort of went downhill after I posted last!  What a year it has been!  After being remote for the last quarter of last year, I decided to learn all things Google!  I have been using Google Classroom a lot this year - even though we're face to face - as an exit ticket after math instruction.  Considering things have been so crazy for every educator, I've decided to share my Math Google Slides activities with you!  

These activities are drag & drop and fill in the blank!  I've learned that it work best if I have the kiddos click on the item they are moving and then use their arrow keys to move the item where they want it to go!  Also, I'm super new to Google and I *think* I have the sharing settings correct, but if not, please let me know and I'll fix it!!

I assign these in Google Classroom and set it to make a copy for each student.  So far, my kiddos have really enjoyed them! 

Addition Stories (pictured above)

Model Addition (Part Part Whole)

Addition Number Sentences

Vertical Addition

XOXO,
Rachel :)

Grinch ELA and Math Activities!

I like to have a "Grinch Week" right before Christmas Break! 

We read The Grinch and do ELA & Math activities that are Grinch themed!  We also make a Grinch ornament, so we can all remember how much fun we had!

The {Grinch ELA Bundle} includes:

*Making Words - students will make words using the letters THE GRINCH and CINDY LOU WHO!

*Long & Short Vowel Sort - students will sort words by their vowel sound!

*Roll, Add & Write - students roll two die, add and write the word from the story with that number!
*Write the Room - students will write words from the story that are displayed throughout the classroom!

*Roll, Find & Highlight - students will roll a dice, find * highlight the corresponding word!

*ABC Order - students will put words from the story in alphabetical order!

*Ing Ending Match - students will match up a verb with it's present tense!

*Sequencing - students will put events from the story in order!

The {Grinch Math Bundle} includes:

*Hundreds, Tens & Ones Memory - students will match up flats, rods and cubes to their corresponding number!

*Count to 120 - students will count to 120 and count on starting at any number!

*Tens & Ones Match - students will match up tens frames or coins with the corresponding number!

*Ten More, Ten Less - students will show ten more, ten less, one more and one less for a given number!

*Related Facts Memory - students will match addition number sentences with their related subtraction fact!

*Compare Using Symbols - students will compare numbers using <, >, and = symbols!

*Addition Strategy Review - students will review how to add using a number line, make 10 to add, add 3 numbers, use near doubles to add, use related facts to add, and adding in any order!

*Subtraction Using Symbols - students will review how to subtract using a number line, using doubles, using missing addends, and fact families!  

FREEBIE FRIDAY!!

FREEBIE FRIDAY!!

Today's freebie is for a file of stand-up turkeys! That may sound strange, but hear me out! I'm using these little guys for a STEAM project the week of Thanksgiving. My kiddos are going to have to build a "hide out" for their turkey using a number of different supplies! I can't wait to see what they come up with!!

You can use this lil guy to make turkey traps, add numbers for math games, add words or letters for ELA games, even as place holders for your class Thanksgiving feast!

To get this super fun FREEBIE, please subscribe to my email list and I'll send it straight to your inbox!

Click {HERE} to subscribe! 

Turkey Time! 🦃

My kiddos used my Turkey Fact Family Match activity yesterday and loved it!!  

Check out all of my turkey resources:

*Turkey Fact Family Match🦃 Find it {HERE}

*Turkey Math Bundle (Addition & Subtraction through 20)🦃 Find it {HERE}

*"Turkey Trouble" ELA Bundle (Blends & Diagraphs Review)🦃 Find it {HERE}

I'm Back!!

Hello there!  I know it's been a bit since I've posted here!  I'm working on using the blog more, so don't give up on me!

School has been back in session for over a quarter, can you believe it?!  This fall, I added a little quote above my hallway bulletin board, using 4" googley eyes from the Halloween section at Target! 

 They were too cute not to use!  

You can snag the bulletin board above (minus the eyes) {HERE}.  

If red & white dots aren't your thing...

If the red and white dots products don't match your classroom, take a look at the products I have in wood grain & turquoise!  

I have editable job chart jobs, labels and teacher binder organization in this theme!
Check them out {HERE}!  Everything is editable for you to customize!

We Made It!

I have been MIA for a few weeks - is it just me or is the end of the year crazy town for everyone?!  End of the year celebrations, closing out my classroom, moving Yurtle, the class turtle, graduation parties, cookouts, etc!!!  

I ended the year with my classroom with {THIS} writing activity!  It was so fun to see what advice my kiddos had for next year's first graders! 

Even though the school year just ended, I have been thinking about next year already!  I have done my job chart the same way for 6 years and I decided to change it up!

I created my job titles on circles, and my plan is to print/laminate them and use clothespins with students' names on them to show who is doing what job!  You can find my Editable Job Chart Jobs in Red Dots {HERE}!  I have also made matching labels, as well as a couple of different versions of this...check them all out {HERE}!

I hope you enjoy your summer break!  I'll be posting new resources every once in awhile!

Cats in Hats!

My classroom is Dr. Seuss themed, so I like to start the year off by having the kiddos make Cats in Hats!  This is a great way for me to see what kind of fine motor skills my new students have, or don't have! :)  It's fun to see how different they each turn out, even with the same materials & directions.

You can grab this project {HERE}.

More Math!

We've moved on to 3-dimensional shapes this week!  So {HERE's} another free resource for you!

My kiddos love to play Memory on ANY topic!  With this freebie, you just have to print onto card stock, or, my favorite, AstroBrights, then laminate and cut out!  

If you end up downloading, leave me some feedback to let me know how I'm doing!  

Mother's Day Thumb Print Heart Keychains!

For the last several years, I have made thumb print heart key chains with my first graders for Mother's Day.  At first, I used clay, but now I am using wooden heart cut-outs.  I found the cut outs {HERE}.  

I put paint on the kids' thumbs and have them stamp one on each side of the heart. 

After they are dry, I add the key ring.  I found the key rings {HERE}.  We'll attach them to the poem and that's it!  You can find this poem {HERE}.

Insta-Inspired End of the Year!

It is crazy to think that we have less than 20 days left of this school year!  

It's time to think about those end of the year projects!  

This resource is a Writing activity that the kiddos can do to #latergram all of their favorite memories from the school year!  Print off as many pages as you want, and attach them to the cover page!  

I plan on starting this later this week.  I can't wait to see what the kiddos think!  

You can find it {HERE}!  

Another Math Resource!

Can you tell we're learning about 2-D shapes in my classroom??!
I've just added a 2-D Composite Shape Challenge resource to my TPT store! 

I needed a way for the kids to show me they understood composite shapes.  In each challenge, they will make something - another shape or an object.  Then they have to tell me how many of each pattern block they used.

For early finishers, there is an added challenge - make the same item in a different way!

You can find it {HERE}! 

Harbor Freight Teacher Finds!

My son wanted to go to Harbor Freight last night to look for some things for his dirt bike. 
I have gotten paint brushes for school there before, and could use some more, so I was happy to take him!  

I found paint brushes!  I found small, skinny brushes, (think water color brushes), that come in a 20 pack for only $1.99!  Check them out {HERE}.

I also bought some medium sized brushes that come in a 36 pack for $2.49!  Check them out {HERE}.

I am most excited about the 3-D dino puzzles I found for $1.99 each!  These are wooden puzzles that make a standing dinosaur when completed....for $2!!  I bought the triceratops, pterodactyl, stegosaurus and brontosaurus!  They didn't have a T-Rex in stock, but I found it {HERE} on their website.  

I added the puzzles to my steam bins this morning, but was a little worried they'd be too hard.

Well, one kiddo completed the pterodactyl like it was nothing!  The puzzles are actually larger than I was expecting too!  Definitely a win/win all around!

The Lorax & Earth Day!

I know I'm a day late for Earth Day but I didn't have school yesterday! :)

I generally read "The Lorax" during our Earth Day unit and the kiddos love it!  

At the end of the unit, I like to have the kiddso make a photo frame with a few truffula trees!  

You can find this activity in my TPT store {HERE}!

The trees above have colored cotton balls as truffula tufts.  Most years, I have the kids use tissue paper squares, wrapped around pencil erasers with a drop of glue.  

The pictures in the frames change from year to year.  Some years it's a picture of the kiddos with Lorax mustaches.  Some years it's the "Unless" quote from the story.  

Either way, the kids love making these!

My TeachersPayTeachers store!

I've decided to start sharing the resources I create with world! :)

I've started a TeachersPayTeachers.com store!  You can find me {HERE}.  I haven't added a ton just yet, but stay tuned!  I have big plans!!  

Be sure to check out my FREE 2-D Shape Memory game and leave me feedback!  

It's DINO time!

Spring means DINO time in first grade!  We put on a Living Dinosaur Museum for the kiddos' families and friends in May.  One of the projects displayed are Dino Fossils!

The kiddos are given an outline of a dinosaur on black paper.  My teammate made these outlines for another project, but they work great for these.  I made "skulls" to fit each dinosaur that are copied onto white paper.  Each kiddo is given a picture of their dinosaur's skeleton to use as a guide, as well as a LOT of q-tips!  

The end results are always adorable!

Everything in our classroom gets dino-fied this time of year!

The kids chuckle at this every time they walk by it!

Do you use Chatter Pix??

The STEM teacher in my building shared the app Chatter Pix with me and I LOVE it!!

With this app, you take a picture of something - a drawing, a person, an animal, anything - and bring it to life with audio!  

My first graders have made drawn teeth talk about dental heath.  Last week, the had 2-D shapes tell about their attributes! 

If you have not tried out this app, you need to!  The possibilities in the classroom are endless!!

TIME for an Egg Hunt!

In the spirit of Easter, and wrapping up our unit on time, I had the kids go on a time egg hunt!  I originally purchased {THIS} resource, but then realized it was too hard for my kiddos!  We only covered time to the hour and half hour.  So I just adapted it to make it work for us.  The idea is that the kids find a time on either a digital clock or analog clock.  They have to record the time they found the opposite way.  So if I found 6 o'clock on an analog clock, I'd record it digitally as 6:00.   

The kids loved the idea of going on an egg hunt!  

And I love when they are learning and don't realize it! ;)

PEEP round-up!

 I have been obsessed with all things PEEPS this Spring!  I couldn't pass up {THIS} super festive bulletin board idea from Coffee Fueled Classroom.   I copied the Peeps onto AstroBrights card stock and done!

Then I saw {THIS} science project and couldn't pass it up!!  Not only was it super interesting to see what happened, but the kids absolutely loved checking in on the Peeps each day!!

The icing on the cake was this adorable Peeps tee!  I got a ton of compliments on it from other teachers and the kiddos thought it was pretty cool too!  You can find similar shirts {HERE} and {HERE}.    

Have a wonderful Easter!! :)