Introducing the weekly version of Dollar Days! I started this in April--planning on doing it monthly--then May came with all its craziness--then June came--and I had some surgery--so now I'm better and I want to do it weekly!
Post anything you find, buy, sell, love, or make that is a dollar. If you use dollar items on a craft--that counts as well! Please link up to your web page only! If you find great things on TPT or TN for a dollar, please share!!!!
I have been working on a wonderful comprehension package for One Cool Friend, by Toni Buzzeo.
It's so nice to be back every Monday with Monday Made it at 4th Grade Frolics! There are always great ideas! Please come and link up with me on Wednesday for Dollar Days. Where you share things you find, sell, or love for only a dollar!
What do a bunch of gym socks have to do with lego math?
Each sock has a bunch of legos inside. The goal is to use your multiplication skills to to find how many studs are found in each sock!
Sock #8: there are four legos each with four studs. The equation:
4x4=16
As students feel their way through the socks--they gain number sense, and really learn about multiplication. An added bonus--it is a quiet activity. No dice falling on tile floors.
4 groups of 8 = 32 studs
7 groups of three = 21 studs
When I did this with a small group, I had the students tell me the equation. After a few times, you could designate it to centers. And the students could fill out this worksheet--writing an equation in down on the sock. They had a lot of fun--and I think they were really thinking about coming up with an equation, not just rote memorization of skills--but applying skills.
One Cool Friend, by Toni Buzzo pictures by David Small
This is a wonderful book! It was nominated for the Monarch Award, and is a Caldecott Honor Book. You can see why: the illustrations are superb!
Elliot built Magellan and ice skating rink.
Elliot and Magellan
This book is also superbly written. Elliot and his father go to the aquarium. Elliot brings home a souvenir: Magellan a Magellanic penguin. As a reader, I drew one conclusion. Now that I have read the book many times, I believe that there are many different conclusions can be drawn, discussed, and believed to be true. What a great book to share with students that there isn't always one answer: but many. How long did the father know about Magellan? Was Elliot trying to hide the penguin from his father? Did he hide it from his father?
I remember when we did try to hide something from my mom--for how long we hid it, I will never know, but I was certainly surprised when she found out!
I grew up in a big family. We rarely had cold cereal, crackers, chips, or any junk food. One treat we made
was peanut butter balls: the recipe consisted of powdered milk, peanut butter,
and honey. The second treat was better, and we named it Nothing. Now Nothing is
a wonderful mixture of butter, brown sugar, and oats. We would cook it up on the
stove (then eventually the microwave), eat it, sometimes with milk (powdered at
that) and clean it all up. We called it nothing, and we thought we were so
clever because our mom never would know that we made it! Well, then one night we
were down in the basement and my mom goes, "Hey let's have some nothing!" We
couldn't believe our ears, she knew, for how long we don't know.
I am working on a packet for this book. The ideas are flowing. But in the meantime, I want you to look at this packet from my good friend at Joy in the Journey. She did a really nice packet, and you can get it free from her Teacher Pay Teacher store!
My favorite sections are:
B-M-E Organizer
K-W-L Charts (on the explorer Magellan and penguins)
Character Profiles
I'm going to take a different approach, but I hope you will enjoy this as well!
I admire John Muir: he had a tormented childhood and found healing in nature. He saved much of California's wilderness for us to appreciate!
If you read The Camping Trip that Changed America, you will love the YouTube video with Muir's voice, pictures, and a narration. A wonderful companion to the book!
This YouTube video shows the pictures and the actual story of the book! It is a six minute portion of Ken Burn's documentary focusing on the camping trip of Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir. Enjoy!
The Camping Trip That Changed America: book and youtube videos.
This final YouTube video shows the splendor of Yosemite valley. I have yet to visit, but it is now on my bucket list!
Being an Illinois resident, I look forward to the Monarch Award's every year. The Illinois School Library Media Association compiles a list every year. Librarians across the state have the student vote on their favorite Monarch book. If you had to ask me to choose--I could never choose! I love the variety of books that are included in the nominations. The list is up, and I'm in love!
I just read this book, and I'm inspired to read, learn, and discover the National Parks! There are so many resources on the internet.
The Camping Trip that Changed America, by Barb Rosenstock
President Teddy Roosevelt went camping through Yosemite with John Muir. At first, Muir was reluctant to take Roosevelt because he thought it was a political stunt. However a friend convinced him that Roosevelt truly loved nature and the trip did inspire Roosevelt. He designated five national parks during his term, and created the Antiquities Act of 1908. This enable Presidents to declare historic or prehistoric areas and National Monuments.
President Roosevelt and John Muir
Camping Trip
Giant Sequoias
John Muir in his book Yosemite wrote this about Yosemite: "But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic repose; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousand of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them."
Don't forget to enter my giveaway! You could win the best classroom pencil sharpener!
I love books. I can never have enough suggestions, or good books to satisfy my hunger for books. So what better way to find great books, but through a linky. I want to learn about your favorite informational books. I have many--so I am just going to focus on one author: Steve Jenkins!
I love this book! Each drawing is the actual size, rather than scale, so you may only see part of the animal. Its head, hand, teeth, or tail. Or you may see the entire animal, just depending on the size of the animal. You can put your hand on a gorilla's hand and realize how large their hands are compared to them. I love the hands on interaction this book creates with its readers!
Actual Size, by Steve Jenkins
The actual size of an ostrich
Jenkins brings the reader into the animal world by giving safety tips for each animal.
Never Smile at a Monkey, by Steve Jenkins
Here is an example: never bother a blue-ringed octopus!
Never bother a blue-ringed octopus.
This book is wonderful for anyone interesting in skeletons. With skeletons on everything from swimming suits, to hats, I think it covers about everyone.
Bones, by Steve Jenkins
You can preview one of the pages. I love the colors, the layout, and of course, the information. Bones are very important. Did you know that a penguin doesn't have hallow bones--they need heavy bones to dive deep in the ocean. But the crow, has lightweight bones. Cool!
Moving On, inside of Bones, by Steve Jenkins
This is a fun book, the goes deeper and deeper into the ocean!
Down Down Down, by Steve Jenkins
Instead of taking my word for it, you can watch the YouTube video. Enjoy!
I saved the best for last! This book was nominated for the Caldecott Award. It is so innovative of how it incorporates different body parts to help teach the readers about the different animals.
But once again, you don't need to take my word for it! Watch and learn!
Steve Jenkins also has a great website. Head on over, and find more of his great books! I can't wait to see the books that you love. Share as many as you like, or feature your favorite author!
I think some of these books are wonderful books to read in small groups. So I am also linking up with Ideas by Jivey for
listening: I love when it is so quiet, and the only thing I can hear is the clock.
loving: being in northern Illinois, we have had a very cold wet spring. It was so nice to hit 80 degrees the past two days. We are back down to 50 degrees today.
thinking: I'm always caught up in, moving on the the next thing. When I hike, it's all about reaching the peak and not enjoying the journey. I want to learn how to enjoy the journey, and not just aim for the destination.
wanting: I just want it to be warm and sunny for more than one day at a time!
needing: I have so many gifts, I just want to appreciate the time I now have.
summer bucket list: last summer we built a kid's wash. I really would love to make it bigger! There are many other things I want to do: go to Chicago, sleep in, get a job, train for a spring triathlon go to a water ski show, make pesto, and make bruchetta! I'll be busy!
So link up with currently--and come back and link with me too!
I can't wait to see your favorite informational books and authors!
I first came across these pencil sharpeners last summer through the rave reviews by teachers everywhere! I was so excited when I was able to receive a pencil sharpener and review it! It surpassed by expectations. Now its my chance to share my joy with you! Please check out these awesome sharpeners at reasonable price at Classroom Friendly Supplies! They come in four basic colors: Midnight Black, Cool Blue, Groovy Green, and Firehouse Red. I loved mine so much, I ordered three more. I can't wait until I have a class of my own, and I will order the midnight black. It is now my favorite color choice!
These pencils are: Smart Handy Accurate Really awesome Precise
So check out the best sharpener in the world! When I found that pencil were always sharp, and the sharpeners themselves were quiet. I bought and gave away three more. One to the teacher I work under, and two to my sons' teachers. Why make the teachers inferior sharpeners, when they could have the best! Now you could have the best, for free!
