I think it's been ages since I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for this linky party! (Click the graphic to visit her fabulous website!) It's time to get back on track! Here are a few bright spots from my week...
BeanBoozled! We wrapped up our figurative language study with a super fun review! Inspired by Hope King from Elementary Shenanigans, the kiddos reviewed five figurative language types using the game BeanBoozled. If you haven't heard of BeanBoozled, check it out here. To play the game, each kiddo had to choose a figurative language card, spin for a jellybean, and then describe their jellybean after eating it using the type of figurative language they chose. It was awesome! A few notes... What I didn't take into account was the smell. Jellybellies use smell just as much as taste to create their flavors. As soon as my kiddos bit into their first jellybeans, the entire room started to stink. It was so gross, but added to the drama considerably. Also, be sure to have a little cup or a trash can nearby so that they can spit out the gross ones immediately. Afterwards, I asked the kiddos if they would like to use the game for something else at some point or if they were grossed out and over it. They enthusiastically wanted to play it again. So, we will...someday when they least expect it.
I finally started organizing my math materials! While most of my resources are kept in Google Drive, I do have bunches of games and paper resources. I've been keeping them in file folders and that just isn't the best. I created this Common Core Math Standards resource to help keep me organized in a binder. I discovered after loading the first four standards that I was going to need several binders. I'll likely create a binder for each strand, but for now I'm still in the first binder. I plan to slowly work on this project and load each standard's "stuff" as I teach it. Baby steps. If you need a resource like this for fourth grade, you can check it out in my store. If you'd like this resource for a different grade level, I wouldn't mind creating it for you. Just let me know!
Speaking of math... We worked in small groups to model multi-digit multiplication with base-10 blocks. The kiddos were thinking and working and really building a solid understanding of the process. Next week, we'll build on this knowledge by learning the partial sums algorithm. I loved watching the kiddos talk it over and work through each problem. There were so many lightbulbs! If you'd like the try the activity, click here.
Why is the past important? How do archaeologists use artifacts to learn about how people lived? We spent our social studies time this week digging into these questions. First, the kiddos each brought in a personal object that told about their and their family's history. The biggest takeaway was that one artifact doesn't tell the whole story! Archaeologists have to use each artifact as a clue to make inferences about people and their culture. Next, I collected garbage (not gross garbage, of course...it was all clean-ish) from various sites at home and at school. Each group received a bag of trash from a different site--bathroom, kitchen, art room, or library. They analyzed each artifact, and logged it onto a chart. Then, they had to answer several questions and infer where the trash came from and who created it. They did a really good job! Now that we understand why the past is important and how archaeologists go about learning about the past, we will dive into a study on the first people of North Carolina over the next few weeks. If you want to try out these lessons, click here and here. If you're really interested, let me know and I can share some Google Slides that I created to support this lesson. I love to share!
One of the best things about this week is that I've returned to this blog! It's been far too long since I've paid any attention to it. I've wanted to! I really have! There are just so many other things that I've had to make time for. I'm hoping that I'm better able to manage my priorities and time so that I can spend more time here. This is my second post this week. I have a couple more in the works, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to build some momentum and stay on track. It's good to have goals, right?
This week was fabulous...as usual! I can't wait to see what next week brings! (Besides turkey...)
This week was fabulous...as usual! I can't wait to see what next week brings! (Besides turkey...)