Candy Cane STEAM!

 Hello Everyone!!
We had an awesome week last week and I finally have a second to share!! Getting so close to our winter break can make for some challenging focus issues for our little learners.  We have to do our best to keep them engaged in their learning.  One way to accomplish this almost impossible task is to include STEAM activities in their day!  We were able to get organized enough to make our way through our new unit...Candy Cane STEAM!  Here are some pics!

candy cane science- solid, liquid, molecules, heat energy, etc

Candy Cane Engineering! Trapping an elf!

Here are some quick pics of some of the printables in the mini unit.












If you need to let off some STEAM and want this little unit, CLICK HERE!!!



The kids had a blast with all of this!!  This week we'll have fun with that infamous green guy!!  Talk about engagement!!!   Hope your last few days before break go well!  This is such an exciting time of year for all!!
Look for that excitement and just go with it!!
Till next time...

Joyfully!
Nancy

Hello Everyone!!
Welcome back!  We have been busy in our little classroom! We had a blast coming up with ideas to help get Santa "unstuck" from the chimney. The kids are getting so creative with their lit. responses!!And to add some flair, we of course needed to do a hands on visual to go with the fun ideas!  I have been doing this little activity for about 10 years now and each year they turn out cuter than the year before!  I posted the unit that includes the details to this last week. Look for Santa's Stuck on the sidebar.

We also worked very hard on adjectives, using "Must Be Santa" (also in the Santa's Stuck unit). That song has over 30 adjectives in it!!  After really enjoying the song and the special words included, we created these cute little Santas and wrote the sentence to go with it! The patterns are included in the unit, too!

We have a lot of fun learning opportunities coming up over the next 3 weeks! Keeping the kids focused on learning is always a challenge this time of year.  Literature-wise, next week we will enjoy "If You Take a Mouse to the Movies." The kids absolutely love Laura Numeroff's books. I have shared this unit before, CLICK here if you need to download it again!

It is packed with ELA, math and science activities!

I do want to share what we have coming up before winter break in math.  We will be working on personal finance including needs and wants, spending, saving, giving, etc.  We used to cover this objective in the spring, close to summer break, but this year we are hitting it this winter. Last year I created a personal finance unit with a lot of fun summery lemonade components and decided that wouldn't work for this year, so I transformed it into a unit with a wintery feel. Some of the learning opportunities use the books "If You Take a Mouse the the Movies" and "Ox-Cart Man." 

These are just a few examples of the many that are included.  If you think you might be able to use it, you know the drill...

CLICK HERE!!! It won't cost you a dime!!!

 Let me know how this unit goes for you! I'm kind of excited about it!

Now, finally, I've had a ton of e-mail questions about updating my New Year Unit!  Thank you to all those who are keeping me on my toes and are planning ahead!!  WOW!! You guys rock!! 

Here's a peek at my 2018 New Year Unit!

Here's the link to the free downloadable unit!!!

Well, there you go, friends!  I hope this post has helped you organize for the next few weeks! Don't forget to take time out to enjoy those sweet little faces. Their joy and anticipation is so abundant! Have fun with that!!

Let me know if you need anything else.

Joy to all!!

:)

Nancy

  

Santa's Stuck and Grinch Stuff!!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonder-filled Thanksgiving!  I am so grateful for this time with my family.  We were able to go up to Cleveland to help my oldest son move into his new home.  He has taken a new investigative reporter position at the ABC affiliate there!!  I know all of you in Indiana are going to miss him, but this is an amazing opportunity for him! Yes, he is now further from his TEXAS home, but…whatever it takes, right?!  We did have a little time to visit downtown, and I have to say…It is beautiful!!!  There is so much to do in this vibrant city. I think he is going to love it!

Thanks for letting me brag about him a little!  We are very proud of him.

But now it’s time to think about school again. These next few weeks are my favorite times of year to teach first graders. The wonder and innocence they bring to the season is such a beautiful reminder of the joy and love that comes with this time of giving.  One of my favorite books to enjoy with the kids is Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene (readily available on Amazon). I have shared my unit packed with ELA, Math, and Science, but I have added some more to fit with what we are working on right now as our curriculum continues to evolve.  If you have used this unit before, please download again to get the new activities.

For your free 100 page printable unit, CLICK HERE!!!

And the season would not be complete without some time spent on that iconic GREEN GUY!! You know who I’m talking about! I’ve added more to this unit too!! Download again, friends!!  

These are just a few pieces to the unit! There is so much more!

For your own 100 page printable unit, CLICK HERE!!!!:)

Thanks for stopping by for this quick update!  I hope you have a great week back and you can enjoy these next few weeks with your kids!! Keep doing what you're doing, and don't forget to find the joy in this journey!!  

Joyfully!!

Nancy