Candy Corn Connection Part 2

Hello Everyone!
I just wanted to share a few pics from our math lesson today.  We have been working hard on place value, standard notation and expanded notation. I wanted to see if the kids were really getting it, and decided a hands on visual was what we needed!  We made some giant candy corn shapes that were two sided.  Then I gave each kiddo some random 2 digit numbers. They had to write that number in standard notation, show the place value and expanded notation. On the other side of the candy corn, they had to write the math vocabulary words that went with each section. I think they got it!!

I also wanted to let you know there was a silly typo on my Candy Corn Connection pack I shared earlier this week. (Page 19) If you want the edited version, here's the link again. 

CLICK!!!:)  A mini version of the hands on visual is included in the pack.  

So sorry for the inconvenience!! 

Hope you're having a good week!!  We're gearing up for our annual Chili Bowl tomorrow!!  Each class is responsible for making a pot of chili. The moms have been working hard to come up with just the right recipe. We will make it in class in the morning and let it cook all day!  Yum! Can't wait!!  The Chili Bowl is part of our PTA meeting! Our PTA rocks!!

So, till next time!!

Thanks for taking a peek at our day!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Candy Corn Connection

Hello Everyone!!
My little mathematicians are really growing their brains!  We are working hard on place value, standard notation and expanded notation. This week, it's all about the candy corn!! Gotta add some sweet fun to the mix once in a while, right??!!  And you know how much I love a mini lesson that is life sized! Well, very quickly I created a giant candy corn shape from numbered paper plates and dug out my candy corn plates and puff balls.  We took turns tossing the 2 balls onto the game board. The kids then, had to decide which order the numbers should go to create the largest 2 digit number.   In groups they chose their number, wrote it (with an expo marker) in standard notation, showed tens and ones and wrote it in expanded notation. We reviewed that the number in that tens place is representing that many tens. (In the number 63, the 6 means 60.) We played that several times and then got busy in our math tubs which were all candy corn place value related.  Have a peek!!

 Here are a few pics from the math tubs.

And Here is your free math packet!! Click HERE!! :)
I can't wait for tomorrow!!  We will try the game using the smallest number!! 
Hope you had a great day!!  Till next time, thanks for stopping by for a peek!! If you grab the pack, let me know!!  I love to read your comments.  Sometimes I need another pair of eyes on my creations to help catch errors.  
Joyfully!
Nancy

Author's Purpose

Hello Everyone!
Ultra quick share today!  This week we'll be working hard on Author's Purpose.  I wrote a quick little chant to help kids remember to be aware of the reason the author wrote the piece they are reading.  It will also help them understand that they should write for a purpose! Here's a quick peek!

Here's Your Printable!! :)

Stop by tomorrow for some place value and expanded notation fun!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

"Moon Over My Firsties"

Hello Everyone!
We are finishing up our science unit about observing objects in the sky.  Kids are busy documenting the moon's phases, and reading a lot of moon facts on Pebblego and BrainPop.  We, of course, had to read a fun fiction book about the moon, Mooncake by Frank Asch.  We did a quick reader's response in our journals.  In the story the little bear thought he had landed on the moon in his rocket.  Instead, it had snowed while he was asleep in his rocket. His mooncake tasted like...you know...water!  The kids had to imagine what the moon might taste like. We know that it is dust and rocks, but we got some imaginative  little responses!!!

The moon is made from cotton batting and then we cut little spoon shapes.

Friday we invited out third grade reading buddies to join us for "Moonlight Reading!" The kids brought their flashlights and I brought a light up moon!  The calm feeling in the room was absolutely beautiful!!

I found this moon light in my son's closet!!  So glad he saved it from his "astronaut phase!" He's 21 now and I don't think he will miss it!!  It has a remote that changes the lighting to look like the phases of the moon!! The kids loved it!!

Then, for our SCI FRI, we, of course, had to do the infamous crater activity. Our team has been doing this for years and it is one of the favorites!! After researching the reason for the moon looking so bumpy and dented, we set up a representation of the moon (tub with flour and cocoa powder) and dropped various sizes of rocks from different heights.  Love the reactions and the connection to other thinking!!  We are growing as scientists!!

A recording page can be found in this little unit.CLICK HERE!

At the end of the day we found ourselves with a little extra time. we decided to create our own moons.  A dab of white and a mini dab of yellow paint in the center of a piece of black paper.  We swirled it around to make a circle.  Some kids decided to try create some craters. We then sprinkled a bit of sand and silver glitter.  I think they turned out so pretty. These hands on visuals remind me of the moon in Ralph Fletcher's book, Hello, Harvest Moon. I may need to pull that book out and explore his beautiful words to go along with our moons!  OH!!  Next week's lesson plan just changed!!!  That seems to happen a lot!  

Well, that's what's going on in our little world.  Thanks for stopping by for a peek!! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Cinderella

Hello Everyone!
We are having a great week!  I actually got in some guided reading groups today!!  Yippee!!  I love it when all the training and expectations for incorporating D5 actually settles in and works like a well oiled machine!  Sometimes I just look up from what we're doing and just smile because most of the kids are doing it!! Really doing it!!  I am so excited for tomorrow! Way to go, guys!!!

The week after next we will begin our fairy tale unit (integrating our reading and social studies) and I wanted to share what we've been working on. This little unit is more than just reading (retelling, fiction/nonfiction/ poetry, inferring, reader's theater) and social studies.  I've included some word work, writing, hands on visuals, and some math as well. 
Here are a few pics:

Wave your wand here for your free 90 page unit!

If you can think of anything else you want added to this, or if you see something that needs fixing, just leave me a little note!! I hope you and your kids have as much fun working on this as I did putting it together!!  

Thanks for stopping by!!  Til next time!!  Have a great rest of the week!!
Joyfully!
Nancy