Measurement Ideas

Hello friends! Just a reminder, I'm having a little giveaway and you can enter HERE!!

Okay, onto the point of today's post...

Since I can't get into my classroom until next week, I've been trying to calm my "I'M NEVER GONNA BE READY!!" nerves by preparing as many lessons as I can.  You know the kind, super cute, super engaging, the kiddos love 'em, but you require a TON of work on our part in the form of cutting, laminating, etc., etc. 

This summer, my team and I got together a lot to talk about and find activities for common core math lessons.  One of the ideas we came up with for measurement 1.MD.1 (Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object) was to have yarn cut to the average length of some common animals and then allow the students to sort the animals from shortest to longest.  

Each pair of students will be assigned an animal from the list, stretch out the string, and then work with their classmates to figure out what order they should be in.  You'll probably want to go outside to give them room to move around and figure this out.  Plus, a few of these animals are really long! Several of the animals are close to or the same length, so you can even graph the results when you are done if you wish!

Here's a couple literature ideas to tie into the lesson as well. I have used both before (borrowed from the library) and the kids adored them since they have fantastic pictures. 

There are three versions of this book including an aquarium version that I'm gonna have to check out.

If you'd like to give this activity a try, you can download the picture cards below for free. The average length (found by a Google search) can be found on the last page.   Of course you can use any animals you'd like.  I tried to come up with a variety and after I cut each piece of yarn, I wrapped it around a piece of cardboard and put it and the picture into a Ziploc baggie so it's all set to go.

Download by clicking HERE.

I suggest you find a better helper than me to cut the yarn:)

Now I'm off the tackle this mess...

that's a whole lot of laminating to cut:(

Have a great day!

~Carrie

Two Linky Parties!

Today I am joining up with TWO linky parties because well...they are so much fun! The first is
where you share one memory from the grade you teach.  My best memory of 1st grade besides having the most AMAZING teacher (she was a ROCKSTAR teacher in the days before the internet and pinterest) was our Halloween party.  It was the 80s and apparently we weren't concerned about germs back then because we were all taking our turns bobbing for apples.  Gross huh? Everyone putting their open mouth in the same barrel of water EWWW!!! Anyways, I remember it being super fun except that I had recently lost all 4 front teeth.  If any of you have every bobbed for apples you would understand that by not having front teeth I was at a serious disadvantage in this little competition.  Yep that's right, we were being timed to see who could do this the fastest.  Well, after about two tries with no luck and no front teeth my super competitive mode kicked in and I literally put myself into the barrel to get an apple!! Funny that I don't remember if I won or not (I probably didn't) but I DO remember being soaked like I had just jumped into a pool.  I seriously wish I had a picture to share of my toothless grin, it was quite a sight!  Needless to say, I don't think bobbing for apples will ever be part of my Halloween classroom festivities.   I'm also linking up with I haven't been able to get into my new classroom yet, so I'm not in full on back to school craft mode.  I did work on a much needed Book Boo-Boo Bin for my library area.  In the past I have kept the books that need to be repaired under my desk in a old copy box.  Well, I realized I needed to make something to put out in the classroom because at the end of this school year I had Halloween books still needing repair!  OOPS:)  Next year, my little repair bin will be in the classroom library and  since it will be visible, I will hopefully (fingers crossed) remember to take it on our weekly library trip.  While my kiddos are checkin' out books I can fix mine with all the tools in the school library.  Here she is and sorry for the horrible picture quality. I just slapped the sign onto the front of a bin I got at
Target for a dollar.

You can download the little sign here

I also made this little sign for my desk, but I forgot to save it of course. I love this little message that I've seen all over pinterest.

Can't wait to see what you all made!

Conference Update

So I went to the Daily 5 and CAFE conference this week and it was awesome. Holy Moly do they shower you with their favorite things!  It's like your on an episode of Oprah's favorite things. I left after two days feeling really energetic that I can implement this into my classroom.  If you are thinking about starting these programs in your classroom, I would recommend attending they are highly entertaining.  
1.  Super cute owl clipboard to use when checking kids in for D5 choices.  You can see the back of the clipboard in the picture the front is polka dots and note cubes to match!  All purchased at Home
Goods.
2 & 3. Loot from the conference.  Love that check-a-roo, it's much better than the paper ones I've made before.
 Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect binder for my pensieve and fun sticky notes for my CAFE board.  
Here are some owl signs to match the CAFE signs I posted earlier these are also made with clipart from Michelle T. from The 3am Teacher. http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com 

Click the link below the picture to download!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9-Y1EbfcCR2MGRzY0NSeXk5Y1k/edit

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Let's Get It Started....

Here we go... my first blog post for my zero followers. Ha.  Well maybe soon I won't be writing to myself.
ANYWAYS, back to school is soon upon us.  I laughed out loud today when I saw the music teacher is back on the Target commercials this year singing once again about denim.  Here it is in case you haven't seen it.

Maybe it's just me, but that's funny stuff.

  With about a month of vacation left, my brain is already starting to think about next year.  Probably because once again I will be tackling a new grade level.  After 3 years in 2nd grade, I'm off to a new school and a new grade.. FIRST!!! I'm super excited, mostly because I know my new team is going to be AWESOME and everyone is in the same boat since we are rolling out the new common core standards in our classrooms for the 2012-13 year. I'm also super excited to implement the Daily 5 and CAFE next year.  My teaching partner and I are going to a two day conference with "The Sisters" tomorrow.  

I have been thinking about my classroom set up for next year and decor.I've decided to keep my polka dots from last year ( I <3 polka dots!!) but I will be adding some owl accents.  I'm obsessed with all these owls I'm seeing everywhere.  I made these cute little CAFE signs to use in my classroom.  They were made with clipart from Michelle T. from The 3am Teacher. http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com

Click the link below the picture to download!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9-Y1EbfcCR2R2J0TWptUnJ3elU/edit

I'll be back with news from the conference and Daily 5 posters to match as soon as I get them finished.