Animals, Animals, & More Animals

Good Evening!
Well I am officially on spring break and I hope to get some cleaning, organizing and some much needed time with my family.  The weather looks like it is going to be a little cold here in Ohio but that's okay.  It will motivate me to get things done instead of wanting to be outside.

I do want to share what I did with my kiddos at the end of the third quarter.  For the fourth quarter I teach health to my fourth and fifth graders.  To end the third quarter we completed my Extinct, Endangered and Threatened Animal webquest with my fourth graders.  If you are interested in the webquest you can find it HERE. 

Partners were given an animal from a children's museum website so they do not have to go anywhere else to do the research. I link up the URL through my Google Classroom but you can make a QR code, email the link to your students or use an URL shortener site.  They were then given a graphic organizer to help them search for answers in the museum article. The partners needed to then turn that information into a poster that would be presented to the class as the animal expert.  Oh was I pleased with their work. Take a look...

What have you been doing in your classrooms?  I love to hear and see what wonderful creativity is out there.

Happy Sunday,

There Is A First Time For Everything!

Ok I should have blogged about this last week but I think I am still a little star struck.  I went to my first ever Insta/ Blogger and Teacher Meet Up last Friday.  I am telling you I was so out of  my comfort zone I was in another time zone!  Not knowing,  I mean really not knowing a single person and driving an hour and a half by myself to meet these strangers was a scary as H-E-double toothpicks!  But I am so happy I did.  The positive energy and sharing was wonderful and extremely motivational. These ladies were awesome.  They LOVE teaching as much as I do!  So refreshing!!!

 Tami over at O-H So Blessed planned, organized and hosted this wonderful 2nd Annual NE Ohio Blogger Meet Up.  She was so welcoming and warm when I wanted to hid in a corner ( I am normally very shy in new situations).  Then Ashley from Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd was the first person to introduce herself.  When I figured out which blog she wrote I was star struck!  Ashley was one of the first bloggers I started to follow! OMG  There was quite a few others that I follow too!

As you can see by my tri-fold I was trying to write down notes on things the other ladies were sharing without looking like a total nerd / stalker.  BTW I did get the book Essential 55 that Diane over at One Giggle was talking about.  I can't wait to read it this weekend.  Thanks Diane!!

What a great weekend!  I can't wait to go to another.  I just wish I was going to Vegas in July for the TpT conference!  Now talk about star struck....

Happy Friday!

Washing Machines, Copies & Spring Break - March Currently

Well I have officially posted twice in one day! I know the unwritten rule is only once a day but I could not pass on Farley's Currently Linky Party
I love looking at everyone's post and can lose hours of time when I should be doing school stuff.

Listening - Of course to the washing machine.  I am always doing laundry with a family of 5.

Loving - The light at the end of the tunnel, spring is 18 days away.

Thanking - I should have went up to school and did copies.  The copier is always crazy in the morning especially Monday morning. I like to have that all done if I can. Oh well:(

Wanting - The snow to stop.  We just got another 4 inches and I so want to see flowers, grass and buds on the trees.  I know, I know another 18 days.

Needing - I new outfit for the Ohio Blogger Meet Up next Saturday.  I am so nervous about going to the meet up.  I never been to one but have been seeing other bloggers' meet ups and am very curious. Was hoping a new outfit will give me some confidence.  I will blog about it next week.

Spring Break Plans - I hope to do some deep cleaning and organizing.  My hubby took off a few days too since we are all off the same week.  I hear a road trip calling us.  Who knows what adventure lies ahead of us.

I can't wait to check out everyone's Currently posts.

More SNOW and Science Stations

Happy March 1st!

Spring is right around the corner right?!?! Uh here in Ohio we are projected to get another 4 inches of snow!  Boooo!

But it has to be coming soon.  Right?

I wanted to share what I have been doing in science this month....

In science we have been studying light and sound in fifth grade and in fourth grade weathering.  With 31 kids in each class it is tough to do experiments even in groups.  Too many needs or behavior issues (off task, not following directions...)  and only 1 me.  So I started doing stations to move the kids through each experiment/activity. 

Last week in fifth grade I want them to test objects if they were transparent, translucent or opaque and why they knew.

Station 1 - Flashlight Lab - Test for light in a straight line & what happens when it hits certain objects; Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, waxed paper & a scratch plate (very cool results).

Station 2 - Sound & Light Sort (preview to this week's sound lessons).  It is FREE HERE.

Station - Study Jams Light Video & Guided Notes on the Google Classroom

In fourth grade I wanted them to really grasp the weathering, erosion and deposition process.

Station 1 - WED Crawl - The group had to pull cards to see what role they would get, weathering, erosion or deposition.  Then weathering had to "break" apart Mega Blocks (Larger Legos), erosion "carried" the blocks on their belly and crab crawled to the deposition group who "deposited" the blocks into a landform.  I did find this idea on Pinterest so it is not my own.

Station 2 - Weathering Sort - Sort cards into weathering, erosion, or deposition piles.  I found this Weathering Sort by Laura Chandler and it is FREE!

Station 3 - Study Jams Landform Slideshow and guided notes on my Google Classroom

Each group spends about 10 minutes at each station then they move to the next.  I am then able to float between stations to answer questions, check on comprehension and manage any behavior issues.  The next day I go over all the answers to each station. 

This seems to be working well.  On to light and different mediums and fossils this week....



Happy Sunday,