Solar System Unit!

My Solar System Unit is done! I started the unit a few weeks ago with my kiddos and so far they're having a blast with it. 

We did the crater labs today and my students had a blast. Their thinking was very in depth too!

Phases of the moon flip book!

Planet lap book

Here is what is in the unit:

Moon KWL Chart
Crater Lab 1
Crater Lab 2
Phases of the Moon Flip Book
Layers of the Earth Dessert
Layers of the Earth Labeling Worksheet
Layers of the Earth Graphing
Layers of the Earth Graphing Questions
Planet Lap Book Overview
Planet Lap Book Organizers
Report Graphic Organizer 
Review Sheet
Assessments

Hello there!

I've been working hard on a Solar System Unit. I'm hoping to get it finished either tomorrow or Wednesday night. I LOVE teaching about the planets and we're studying non-fiction in writing so they'll be writing a planet research report.

It's getting pretty close to the 100th day! If you missed my post last year, you can read it here.I'm pretty much doing the same activities. I LOVED the pizza fractions and this year we're going to have a pizza party to go along with it. I got 100th day plates and cups on clearance over the summer. Psyched!

Anyone else completely addicted to Pinterest?? I have sooo much blog reading to do because I have become more preoccupied with Pinterest lately.

I'll be back in a couple of days with some classroom updates. We've been doing some fun things with inferencing and the Planets.

Time for the Bachelor. Who do you think he'll choose?? Doesn't that Courtney girl remind you of that weirdo Michelle from 2 seasons ago? I personally think Ben is as dry as his wine.


And... just wanted to leave you with a picture of my cutie pies. :)

How to Make a PBJ Sandwich!

In January I focus on procedural writing. The best way to learn is by doing, I think, anyways :) Last week each student wrote a "how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich" guide, which can be found here. Today the students were given somebody elses guide and had to follow the directions to make the sandwich. Can I just say they LOVED this?! They also learned that it's important to be very precise when you are giving somebody directions!

I gave each student a dixie cup with peanut butter and jelly to make it easy.

Following the steps...

As the students were following the steps they made comments on ways the writer could have been more specific. What a great way to provide feedback!

And.... the best part... EATING it!

Earth and Sun printable

I love teaching about the solar system, but before we get into that, we always spend a few weeks learning about the Earth and Sun. I put together this little supplemental book for the students to keep track of what we are learning about. Feel free to download it for free. Happy new year!! Next month we head into the solar system. Any fun activities or websites out there??

Procedural Writing and A Toast to the New Year!

I hope everybody had a great holiday! Today is my designated workday which will consist of drinking diet coke, and eating cheeseburgers, pizza, and wings while I lesson plan! Mmm!

Anyways, my first order of business was preparing a couple of writing activities for the month of January (I'm curriculum mapping today!). In January we work on procedural writing. The first thing I do is bring in bread, peanut butter, and jelly and we do a "how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich" tutorial. The kids really see how important it is to be accurate with their explanations. I put together a packet of 4 writing assignments here and you can get them for 75 cents. Bargain! I end the month by doing a "how to blow a bubble" project which you can read about here. This is a super fun way to end the unit. 

If you missed my post last year, you can see it here and read about what I do with my kiddos after the holidays. They write "toasts to a New Year." Adorable.

Oh, and how do you like our Grinch Day celebration?? It was SO fun. 

 Shirt made by my husband!

Look at all that green food!! Pickles, yum!

Christmas activities!

I KNOW you all must be as busy as I am because it is certainly THAT time of year. I know I"m feeling it at my school. Anyways, I'm doing many of the same activities as last year, so if you missed my December post last year you can check it out here!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Well snow is in the forecast and I'm not going to lie.... I would LOVVVVE a snow day or even a delay! December is just all kinds of cah-razy! Here is a peek at what's been going on in 2nd grade. 

The kids wrote what they wanted for Christmas inside of their "gifts." Super adorable. This template and many more ideas are in my Winter Bundle packet on sale through Sunday. 

Welcome to our Gingerbread house! I LOVE those big candy canes. Dollar Tree! Woot.

Isn't the tree delightful?! I have to work on wrapping their gifts. I got these AWESOME calendars at Michaels for $1.00. 

Christmas stockings! Another Dollar Tree goodies. 2/$1.00!

Adorable rug from Target! $2.50... A cozy corner in the classroom library. 

What's new in blog land? It's been SOOO quiet on my blog lately. Do people still read it?? :X