Five for Friday November 22!

Thank you, Kacey, from Doodle Bugs Teaching, for hosting Five for Friday! I always look forward to linking up.

 

 

 

 

Was it really only ONE week since last Friday? It wasn't a rough week- but long. I had my observation, conferences, a class after school, and several meetings- plus just busy life stuff.  You know how those extra things seem to each add a day to the feel of the week?

 

Don't you love him?

 

 

In honor of the letter Pp, we polished pennies.  First, we learned about the penny and Abraham Lincoln.  I used this book from Scholastic, because it is simple and has great illustrations.

 

We talked about the penny being worth one cent. This is a great lesson for so many things- word problems about buying candy that costs one cent (um- there is none now, so they were really easy problems), counting the number of pennies it takes to make one dollar, grouping those pennies by tens and counting tens to a dollar, how many more pennies would you need to make ten... on and on!

 

I also love to tell the kids that I still look for lucky pennies all the time, and I am thrilled when I find one.  One boy said, "If it is heads up, it's lucky!" But I think they all are. 

 

I read once how each penny we find is like God's way of reminding us to TRUST  in Him when we read "In God We Trust."  I loved that, and I think of it every time I find a penny.

 

I love cleaning pennies with the kids, because they gasp, and they love it.  I'm sure you have all done this, but if you haven't , that means you didn't watch ZOOM when you were little. 

I still remember the address for Zoom!  "Zoom... Z- double O M- Box 350 - Boston, Mass. O2134!" I wonder if that is still the address 35+ years later?!  Here is a little memory if  you watched it.  If you are old enough. Otherwise, it's just for me.  It made me happy.

I should put all the addresses, grocery lists, and other important things I need to remember to music, then maybe that would work.

 

Anyway, back to my pennies,  all you need are a lot of dirty ( normal- just not shiny)  pennies, vinegar, and salt. 

Put some vinegar and salt in a bowl- and you have made some Magic Penny Cleaner.

 

I show the kids the magic by putting half the penny in the vinegar as we count to twenty- and TA-DA!

 

Next, they each drop in their penny. 

Don't forget the magnifying glasses so the children can examine everything there is to study about a penny- Abraham Lincoln, the date, the Lincoln Memorial... 

 

Speaking of the Lincoln Memorial, have the children use that magnifying glass to see Lincoln inside of the Lincoln Memorial on back.  It is much easier to see him in newer, shiny pennies (after 2000), so I have some of those just for this "research." 

 



I staple the "recipe" for the Penny Polish onto their piggybank paper, in case they forget  those two ingredients.  The kids did some crayon rubbings over their papers, too, which was fun. 

I have had this piggybank paper for.ever.  Probably from  a ditto somewhere.  Not really.  But I don't know where it is from. Any pig will do.  I had the kids draw and label what they might save their pennies to buy, then I taped their cleaned penny to the top of the bank.

 

 

Oh- also for the Letter P, we had our Popcorn/Pajama Party.  I had conferences in the afternoon, and thought the parents may prefer that I was NOT in cozy pajamas, so I didn't wear mine. Although now that I look at my sweater that I thought was pretty, it looks a lot like pajamas. Hmmm.  Oh, yes- I do see Mr. Upside Down in the front row.  He did that each time the flash went off, so...  Finally the Physical Therapist who was taking the picture for me had to leave and take her little guy, so we were done.  The one I sent home to  him had him upright and my head cut off.  It's always something.

 

 



We made cards for our heroes this week!  The kids loved making them.  Here were some cute ones from the first day. They enjoyed it so much, I kept out the supplies during Free Choice all week. I have quite a package to send out!

 

 

 

( He was adamant that I write this. He knew there was something going on during that War of 1812 with England trying to take away our flag... that he should be thanking these soldiers for...)

(MOTION LINES! :)

 

 

 

This week, my Shake Break Prezi and my Character Education Prezi are both FREE at my TPT store! I would love you to have them if you would like them. I put together my favorite videos and links, so I have them all in one place. This Prezi makes it really easy to click on a quick song during transition times.  We use them every single day on the Smartboard.  

 

My Character Education Prezi has videos- songs and stories- on top, and then has Character Education anchor charts below that.  On the bottom  are the Whole Brain Teaching class rules. Beside them on the far right are the rules again, with videos of Chris Biffle explaining the "why" behind each rule, as well as some other favorite WBT videos I love.  I also put some links on the bottom for teachers.

 

 

I am thankful for each of you and want you to know it!  I would be so thankful if you would leave me feedback, too.  :)  ENJOY!

 

 

I put this bulletin board up out in our hallway.  I wanted to put it in my classroom, but I have Z.E.R.O room.  We have fun with it out in the hall. Before lunch or specials, we walk by and read the words on the bricks. After break, I am going to take small group out with clipboards to Write the Bricks.  Soon there will be some stockings hung by the fire!  With care, of course...

 

 

 

Mrs. Hodge and Her Kindergarten Kids shared this on her facebook page. I loved it and wanted to pass it on.  Speaking of Facebook, I would love you to visit my facebook page if you get chance!  :)

 

 

 Have a fabulous weekend. 

 

 

Five for Friday November 8th

 

I am linking up with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five For Friday. Sooo happy it is Friday!

 



This was the week of the key chains!  I love giving the kids their sight word key chains.  I hook them onto their backpack, so that if they have some time on the bus or waiting for the bus, they can practice reading. I also tell them that they won't lose them if they keep them on their backpacks. The last few days during bus time the kids have been reading through their words, not even knowing they are "learning." Of course, there are always the ones who are SURE their key will unlock the classroom door, can't wait another moment, unhook their ring, and accidentally make it rain sight words all over the classroom. That usually becomes a "lesson."

 

 

We are beginning to learn about Pilgrims and Native Americans.  We always have fun learning about the different Native American tribes that lived in the different regions of the United States. I made this activity that I use each year.  Feel free to use it, use part of it, or  change it if you would like. Usually, I focus on three regions- the Northeast Woodland, the Plains, and the Southwest.

 

Mine is quite simple, but it is a good way for the children to remember the different regions of Native American cultures.  Here are some pictures of the different pages. Just click on this image if you would like a copy of the packet.

I print out the map and information page, then copy that  onto one two-sided page.  This way, parents are able to read about the information the children have learned, in case the children forget to tell some wonderful detail!  I have the children cut and glue the correct type of Native American home onto the correct region, like in this picture:

The last few pages are larger size pictures of the Native American homes. I print these in color and have them laminated. You could have the children put these up on a big map of the US on the Smart board.

I wrote a post at PreK and K Sharing about everything I do for our Native American Pow Wow celebration.  There are lots of ideas and LOTS of freebies!

 

 

Happy Veterans Day!  We learned all about the National Anthem this week.  I posted about it here.

After we sing  through the book, we take one page at a time and delve into some fabulous vocabulary.  Here is a paper I made (just for me) with a quick history of the song (that I condense for my kids) and the vocabulary and phrases we discuss.  If you would like a copy, just click on the picture.

The children learn it so quickly. We review it every time we sing the song, so they really know what the song means.  I think that is important for them- and they love knowing it.

Last night we went to a basketball game fund raiser with the Harlem All Stars Vs our Firefighters at our school. (NOT the real Globetrotters because we are a small town, and NOT to be confused with the Harlem Superstars, yet another team... Apparently Harlem is where it's at if you are a comedy basketball team!) We had fun.   Anyway, a sweet little girl from my class was there with her family across the bleachers.  When we stood for the  National Anthem, she turned around to me and BEAMED- like we had a special little connection because we knew the song.  That was one of those "moments" for me.  I loved it.

 

I found this AWESOME Star Spangled Banner Freebie at the Crafty Classroom blog!  It is wonderful. I laminated the pages and made a couple classroom books. The illustrations are wonderful and really help with the vocabulary.

We are going to start working on our Christmas cards for our heroes soon.  Here is an address if you would like to make some, too!

 

Here is random number five.  Our cat, Peanut, is twelve. It must be the year of losing teeth. Poor thing.  He had an issue a few months ago when we were out all day (of course). We came back to what looked like some sort of mini horror movie in our kitchen.  Apparently, the blood from his tooth was all mixed in his saliva. It bugged him, so he shook his face- and shook, and shook.  I felt like if Dateline had dropped in, I would have been in trouble. Ew. "My cat lost a tooth."  Sure...  Anyway, we thought he was dying, but it was a loose tooth.  (Great cat parents...)  Well, yesterday, I noticed, WHEN I got all the way to school, that my car hood was pretty much covered in blood.  No wonder everyone seemed scared of me yesterday.  We will be going to the vet soon.  How did I not notice until I got all the way to school?  Ew. He is just fine, and we babied him with lots of great, soft food. He is really spoiled anyway, so he is loving this (minus the missing tooth part).

 This is still my favorite picture of him. He was busy being cute on his sunny rock, posing for the camera- and he rolled over in joy.  oops. 

 

 



Have a wonderful weekend!