Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Craft

I'm all about making learning fun and integrating subjects. I decided to take a science lesson about the life cycle of a pumpkin and turn it into an art project. I came up with this 3-D life cycle of a pumpkin craftivity. Plus, it makes a perfect "non-Halloween" craft for all your students on Halloween and an even better table decoration for Thanksgiving.

Swing by Sweet Tea Classroom to learn more.

Thanks,

Robin Sellers

Martin Luther King Activities and Resources

I love teaching my students about Martin Luther King Jr.  He was an incredible man, and stood for peace.  Although I'm giving away my age, I remember when he was shot.  I was a little too young to understand the impact at the time. (I was far more interested in the boys than the politics of the day.) today I can't watch his speech without tears rushing down my face.  It disturbs me to think that a man who worked so hard for non-violence was killed in such a violent way.

At my blog, Elementary Matters, I have a variety or resources including this freebie that will spark a lot of valuable conversation about Dr. King and the principles he fought for!

Calendar Math in the Upper Grades

I don't know about you, but during my winter break I always seem to revamp things in my room.  I look at what is working....and what isn't....and start to tinker with things.

One area that I am always trying to make better is math instruction.  A few years back, during one of these winter breaks, I came up with something that I really feel has made ALL the difference in the world in my upper grade classroom.  I started doing Calendar Math...and I don't regret it for a second.  In fact, it is THE thing that I feel really cements my math block and helps my kids succeed.

Come on over to my blog to see how I have adapted this concept usually reserved for the primary grades into my class so that my students are receiving daily standards based review.  And pick up your free forms to get started on your own!

Twelve About Twelve

Did you realize this Wednesday is 12-12-12?  Did you realize this won't happen again until December 12, 2112?  We won't have triple numbers like that until January 1, 2101, and I have a feeling I won't be around by then!

When I realized 1,212 was my the number of "likes" I have on facebook, I thought I might have some fun by brainstorming 12 things we can have kids do to celebrate 12-12-12! Come on over to Elementary Matters to download this Cuisenaire Rod freebie, and see lots of other ideas to celebrate 12-12-12!

     
                                               

Illustrating to Build Reading Skills

I often have my students do some illustrating when I want to make sure they really "get" a concept.  It forces them to visualize what they're learning.  Brain research tells us that visualizing helps the memory.  Brain research also tells us that adding an element of fun helps them remember as well... and don't kids love to draw?  Add some classical music in the background, and the brain is more activated! Want to add a little more assurance that the kids are learning?  Let them talk about what they're drawing and why!

These sheets for illustrating are great for centers, or great for the Sub Tub!

I have several items in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that involve children illustrating.  Come on over to Elementary Matters to see some of these items that will help make learning permanent!

Of course, any illustrating is enhanced by music.  May I suggest this one?  (Click image for a link to Amazon!)

3-D Life Cycle of a Christmas Tree Craftivity

I've been busy creating more 3-D Life Cycle Science Crafts. Just in time for Christmas, I created this 3-D Life Cycle of a Conifer Craft. It's a super way to teach about life cycles and it works really well for a science holiday craft that all students can participate in. 

Head on over to Sweet Tea Classroom to learn more.

Thanks, Robin Sellers

Hanukkah Board Game Freebie

Hanukkah begins December 8th at sundown! Looking for a little something to help your kids celebrate Hanukkah?  This game can be used in many ways in the classroom!  Brain research tells us that frequent repetition helps bring information from the short term memory to the long term memory.  (Rather than "Practice Makes Perfect", I prefer "Practice Makes Permanent"!)   

I use board games like this to practice sight words, math facts, sentence fluency, or any skill that needs practicing!  The children just roll one die, but before they can move their place marker that many spaces, they have to perform a task.  I sometimes have a selection of cards the children can choose from, and sometimes I have a specific skill for them to practice.  

Come on over to Elementary Matters to download your Hanukkah Board Game Freebie!

Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown

Ever notice that wonderful feeling that comes from doing something for others?  I suspect you know it well, since that's what teaching is all about!

I decided, instead of just a "Countdown to Christmas", I wanted to do a more special countdown.

I made this Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown Set, which is a paper chain countdown with a twist - each link of the chain is an act of kindness to be done by the child, each day between now and Christmas!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to learn more about the Acts of Kindness Holiday Countdown!

I have to admit, I'm excited about my new product, and can't wait to put them together with the kids!

Can you tell I'm getting excited about the holidays?

Freebie for Teaching Decimal Multiplication

One of the most searched for subjects on my blog is for decimal operations. We just finished with decimal multiplication, so I thought I'd share with you how I teach it. This link it to a blog post and a freebie to help you teach the number sense of decimal multiplication. The freebie is a 10 x 10 grid with example to work with your class. I hope you enjoy it and can put it to use. 

 

 

My Favorite Holiday Activity

Click image to download Nutcracker freebie.

Ever have one of those activities that's a win-win?  It's something that works so well, you keep bringing it back year after year.

That's how I feel about this one, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.  I've done this activity with second graders for about 15 years now.

Every year, the children have loved this activity, and it practices some valuable skills:  visualizing, summarizing, and sequencing.  Plus, it gives them some exposure to classic holiday literature and classical music!

Come on over to Elementary Matters to enjoy this freebie!  It's one of my favorites!

Seasonal Brain Breaks

Brain research tells us that students need to move.  Experience tells us that students need to move.  Teachers have been working in Brain Breaks for years.  Now there is scientific evidence about how important these brain breaks are!

With little ones, I try to squeeze in frequent brain breaks, and I often try to make these breaks somehow connected to what's going on so the learning continues.
 

After each brain break, they are focused and ready to get back to work.  That's just what you'd want from a brain break!  It doesn't hurt if there are a few giggles in there, too!

Come learn more about seasonal brain breaks on my blog at Elementary Matters.

Earth Science Glog

My class’ new unit is focused on Earth Science. 

One of the activities we are working on is our Earth’s Materials Glog project.  My students are using books like Rocks and Minerals and Usborne Geographical Encyclopedia, as well as websites like http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/ and kid-friendly search engines like www.factmonster.com to find information about a material they chose.  Some of the earth’s materials they have chosen are: clay, gold, granite, diamond, pearl, ruby and sapphire.  When they finished with their research by the end of this week and then they will use http://edu.glogster.com to create a glog about their material.

Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources – for more Earth Science ideas.

Winter Holiday Show

I teach at a small, International School in Morocco.  We are so small that we are our own Enrichment teachers (Art, Music and Drama).  While this sounds like extra work, it’s actually a cool way to get to see a completely different side of our students. 

Since I’m the “Drama Teacher” at this time of the year, I got to play the Holiday Show. The International School environment can be tricky when it comes to winter holidays.  My students are very diverse and I want them to have a chance to appreciate that diversity, especially during the holidays.  I looked and looked for a Holiday Play that would celebrate the extreme diversity found in a school like mine, and not just the big three winter holidays celebrated in the US – Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza.  When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I decided to write it.  So, here it is, “a truly multicultural holiday play”.  Named “Light Up the World with Celebrations” this holiday play, complete with 3 songs, celebrates light as the common factor among so many holidays celebrated worldwide.  Some of the holidays included are:  Christmas, Diwali, St. Martin’s Day, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Hanukah,  Winter Solstice, Eid al F’tour, Kwanza and St. Lucia’s Day.  Download a free script from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Life Cycles for Kids - 3-D Life Cycle of a Frog Craft

Are you ready to make your life cycle unit fun... and cute? If so, I have the answer. Here is my latest: a 3-D Life Cycle of a Frog Craftivity. Head on over to Sweet Tea Classroom to learn more about this frog life cycle activity. See Ya There!

Thanks, 

Robin @ Sweet Tea Classroom

Build Those Math Facts

How do you recognize your students achievements in math facts? I have created a pictograph on my door to help my students keep track of their achievements.  My students earn a sun for each level of multiplication they master, a cloud for each level of division they master, and a moon for each level of mixed multiplication and division they master. Stop by my blog – Raki’s Rad Resources to find out more details and to find out how to download this system for free.

Brain Fitness

Since everyone knows I'm interested in the brain, I thought I'd do a post on Brain Fitness.

Here are some ways I teach the kids to keep their brains fit:

1. Exercise!  Get the oxygen to the brain!  We often do exercises in the classroom.
2. Eat Brain Food!  Sometimes I bring in some healthy snacks for the kids.  (probably not fish or spinach, but maybe some carrots and berries!)
3. Ease stress!  These kids certainly understand what stress it!  I often do some Yoga moves and breathing exercises with them.
4. Listen to Music!  I've got a wide variety of music to play in the classroom, from "party" music, to mellow music for concentration. 
5. Laugh! I recently posted Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine, and  listed some of the benefits of humor in the classroom.  I have a whole box of joke books that I usually bring out on April Fool's day, but I think I'll bring them out early this year!
6. Drink water!  I encourage children to bring in water bottles and refill them throughout the day.  Of course, we have a bathroom in the classroom, too! 
7. Keep challenging your brain!  I have a variety of games, puzzles and riddles for the children to choose from.  I'm a big fan of Sudoku, so I keep a few of those for the kids.  I also found a couple of cool websites: ABCya Tangram Puzzles has  tangrams that can be done at the computer.  Puzzle Choice has tons of puzzles for kids and adults- go to Kid's Choice for lots of possibilities for printing as well as puzzles for the computer.  

How do you help your students keep their brains fit?