Simple Machines

We have been working on a simple machines unit, and so far we have learned about all of the simple machines.  We looked at one simple machine each day, reading a short book and then doing some hands on exploration.  Lastly, the students filled in a graphic organizer to help them remember what each simple machine does.  We will be working on the Edheads website this week, and students will need to track their progress as they work through the games.

Mapping Skills

As part of our unit on mapping, the students had to work with a partner to create a map of the first floor of our school.  They were given a rubric to help them with remembering all of the parts they needed to include on their map.  Once the maps were complete, they had to write out a specific set of directions to tell someone how to get from one location on the map to another.  We then collected and redistributed all of the maps and students got to follow their new directions using their new map.  Once they arrived at what they thought was the final destination, they wrote it on a sticky note.  Then they wrote out "A Wish and a Star" (something they are familiar with from peer editing in Writer's Workshop)... something they wish the other group had done better, and a star for something they really liked.  The groups then got their original map back, along with the feedback.  Only about half of the groups were able to find the correct destination, which the kids were shocked about!  Here are a few of the maps and directions, along with the rubric they used.

 

 

Third Grade Tweets

My third graders were excited when I posted my Third Grade Tweets door for them to write on.  Each child has their own tweet board that I wrote their name on, and there is a card that tells them the "tweet topic of the day'.  I will probably change the topic once a week for the kids.  I have posted the different papers as a freebie on my TpT store, and also included a header for fourth and fifth grades.

Me On A Map

We have been doing a mini unit to review maps and map skills.  The students created their own poster to show where they are on a map, including themselves, their street, town, state, country, continent and planet.  They also created a world map labeling the continents.  We took each child's picture with them pretending to hold up the world and added that to their posters.  The final products turned out nicely, and were something the kids said they wanted their parents to look at during Back to School Night.  I put the templates up as a freebie on TpT.

Mad Libs

We are reviewing sentences and parts of speech this week, and what better way to do that than with some Mad Libs!  I always love seeing the silly outcomes, but it is so hard to be creative when the story is right there in front of you.  So, I created my own set of four, school-themed Mad Libs (Lunch Time, In the Library, Time for Recess, and Substitute Teacher) and made separate recording sheets for the kids to fill in before they write the answers into their stories.  I can check their understanding of the parts of speech that way, too.  I'm looking forward to their silly stories!  You can find all four stories with the recording sheets on my TpT store.

Dodecahedrons

It has been a busy first week of school.  After just 6 days, it already feels like we are well into the swing of things.  We spent some time doing 'get to know you' activities, including creating group dodecahedrons.  The kids had fun trying to figure out THAT word, especially when I wrote it in cursive for them!

Students worked together in groups of 4 to complete one dodecahedron.  First, each group worked together to complete the 4 sides with questions.  Then, each child in the group completed two sides independently (one with their name/picture, and one about what makes them unique).  Each group ended up with a total of 12 sides.

Once all of the sides were completed, students worked together to cut out the circles, and fold on the lines with the tabs being folded up.  Some students found that they were better cutters, and others were better at folding, so they had little production lines set up.  Once they had all of the sides folded, I went around and stapled the tabs together to create the 3 dimensional shape.

The day after I hung them up, two of my students were doing read to someone and reading a fact book about insects.  It was an interesting conversation to listen to as one of them realized that the compound eyes of the dragonfly looked similar to our dodecahedrons.

If you would like a copy of the dodecahedron, you can find it on my TpT store.

Writing Process

Monday we are introducing the writing process, so I created a poster outlining the steps of the writing process.  I also made a b&w version for the students to keep in their writing binder, and a tracking sheet where they can document what they are accomplishing each day.  I also created an I Pick poster since we are introducing that during Daily 5.  Both of these resources are available on my TpT store.