Friday, February 24, 2012

Green Eggs Clipart

Well, after tossing around many ideas and having a good belly laugh over someone's suggestion about the feline in the fedora, which I completely forgot about, here is what I've decided:

The Cat and His Hat, Goo-bleck, and Bart and the Goo-bleck for the same thing, (new name) items.

Since there have been so many restrictions limiting my creativity when it comes to clipart :)~ no matter how much I have, I don't have enough! So, I have enlisted the help of my very artsy and talented friend, Einstein DNA, with some much-needed green egg clip art. Wait till you see what he came up with! This is too funny not to post! He calls it Green Eggs and One Ham! :) Maybe you can use it for one of your creations!



Yes, this is commercial license clipart! He just asks that you give credit and provide a link! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Einstein-Dna

Dr. Seuss Day-Making Oobleck

This year for Dr. Seuss Day, instead of Green Eggs and Ham, we are going to have a good old gooey fun day and mix up some Oobleck! It's so easy to make and a blast for the kids. Just a warning-it can get a little messy but no more than cooking green eggs! I'd love to know how you are celebrating Dr. Seuss Day! Feel free to leave a comment or two with your creative ideas!

 I just added a literacy unit to Teachers Pay Teachers that I know you and your students will love! It's based on the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck! Read below for the Oobleck recipe!





Making Oobleck

1 cup of water
1 to 2 cups of cornstarch
Mixing bowl
Food coloring (optional)
Pour one cup of cornstarch into the mixing bowl
Now pour the water in, mixing slowly as you go. Keep adding more water until the mixture becomes thick (and hardens when you tap the surface). Add
more cornstarch if it gets too runny, and more water if it becomes too thin.
Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. (It’s easier to add the coloring to the water before you mix it with the cornstarch.)
Mixing can take a while and gets more difficult as the mixture gets thicker! Spoons can bend while stirring!  Consider digging in and using your hands or calling on kids to do the mixing! Allow at least 20 minutes for mixing or do this ahead of time!

****Put the ooblek in a Ziplock bag after it is mixed! It will last well and the kids can still play with it even through the baggie!


 This is the sequencing activity we did to retell the story.




Sunday, February 19, 2012

Do You Like Green Eggs and Ham? Dr. Suess Day




It's been a number of years since I've been able to have my traditional green eggs and ham day because in my school, it is reserved as a kindergarten activity. Still, I am thinking of all of the fun times around the green egg taste-testing and silly stuff I once enjoyed with my class. I am working on some new items for everyone getting ready for Dr. Seuss Day!


Getting Ready for March Reading Month!

Our theme for March Reading month is famous authors. Each grade level is selecting a different author for all of the displays and activities.

Here are some things I have been working on for the books by Laura Numeroff:





We are planning to focus on a story each week. Most subjects will be themed for which ever book we are working on that week. We will also have moose/muffin tasting day, mouse/cookie crunching and comparing day, a pancake breakfast pig-out and cat/cupcake decorating day and dog/donut day! Can't wait! I will post pictures of all of our crafts, celebrations and bulletin board displays throughout the month.  


Valentines for Veterans





Our community service project this year was to make Valentine cards for the disabled Veterans at the VA hospital. The great grandfather of one of my students came to talk to the children. He was so thankful for the cards we made!

Presidents Day

Lucky us! Our district has the week off for mid-winter break, but we were able to squeeze in a few fun activities for President's Day and will continue our unit the week after next.


These are our Abe Lincoln masks! I made a hat pattern, cut a paper plate in half and the students cut out the middle. Then we spread a layer of glue on the plate and pressed on some of that crinkly gift bag stuffing! If you don't have stuffing, you could glue down torn paper or sponge-paint the beard. Glue a large wooden craft stick to the back to be used as a handle. Next year, I will add some facts about Lincoln or a cute poem to the hat!



Wow! Welcome Friends and New Followers!

I woke up this morning and as usual, with my morning coffee, opened my email to find a wonderful surprise~ 20+ new followers in one night!!!! Thanks to Cheryl :)crayonscurls.blogspot.com  who found my blog, pinned my Valentine owl and encouraged you all to visit my blog! I am so happy to have you as my followers! I am really looking forward to visiting your blogs and sharing ideas!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Whooo Loves You?

This was our adorable Valentine craft! The owl is our school mascot! I traced various plates and cups to get the right size patterns for the owl and hearts.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Valentine's Day Candy Math Activities and Project Idea

Look at these adorable panda bear hugger bags for our Valentine cards! I found a version of a mini-bag and modified it to make a project large enough to hold all the goodie bags and Valentine cards. The panda is hugging a medium-sized white gift bag with the handles cut off. I found the idea but my student teacher (being the artistic one) made the pattern pieces. We traced various paper plates, round objects and hearts until coming up with the perfect pattern! Rachel drew long ovals for the arms. The head will be glued to the back to peek over the bag.






I'm so excited for our Valentine Day Activities! I try to theme the entire day and for every subject, a Valentine activity of some kind! Over the years, I've collected lots of worksheets and put them in a file. In my overflowing February box are many outdated and "dirty" copies of my favorite learning activities so I've started to revise them, make them more challenging and definately much cuter! Here are my candy heart, m&m graph and penguin Smartboard activities.







I prep my materials a week ahead of time, so it is really helpful to have a way to keep candy manipulatives stored until redy for use. I use a Sterilite container that fits about 28 dixie cups perfectly!











Saturday, February 11, 2012

New February Items on Teachers Pay Teachers

Wow! February is a busy month in first grade! We just celebrated the 100th day of school and now it's on to Valentine's Day, Black History and finally, Dental Health!

I've created some cute new items and posted some freebies at my stores.






We sponge-painted hearts in various skin tones and added this inspiring poem.




Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Valentine Printable Freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers

I just added a cute freebie to my store on Teachers Pay Teachers! Follow the link to download it!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-Your-Words-ValentineTheme

I also have a great Valentine candy heart math packet and some cute valentine penguin themed Smartboard activities for February!