Live Cams Are A Great Addition To Your Classroom!

This summer flew by...as all summers do!  I tried my absolute best to ensure that everything my own kiddos learned last year would remain fresh in their little brains over their three months off.  We did Math facts, practiced sight words, read books, and practiced tying our shoes!  All of which was usually met with the moans and groans of my children who would much rather be outside riding bikes and swimming!  However, there was one amazing learning experience that kept us intrigued and attentive this summer. 

My kids LOVED watching the live animal cams!

Click the picture above!

There are lots of different animals to view live...bees, polar bears, whales, and more!  But our favorite seemed to be the salmon and the bears in Alaska! 

Check it out and see what is your favorite!

I know I will showing this in my classroom this year! 

Welcome Back!

http://explore.org/

Earth and Space Unit

To Infinity and Beyond!

That's where we traveled this past quarter as we rocketed through our Earth and Space Unit!

We covered our Earth, Sun, & Moon!

We learned about shadows...

and the phases of the moon!

We explored our stars and constellations!

We explored eclipses!

We discovered our planets!

And, of course, we did fun projects!

I am always amazed at the effort put into these projects!

So for today's Flash Freebie, you can download this whole unit including the Power Point for note taking!

Enjoy!

Our Family Fav Toys

Our family got some fun new toys this Christmas season and in holidays past.  Here are some of our favorite learning toys that can be played with at home or in the classroom!  These have been tested and approved by my own kiddos!  (and they can be tough critics!)

 

 

First up...and probably our #1 favorite...is our Snap Circuits!

This is the set we have...

It comes with a book that gives step by step instructions on how to create awesome circuits.  This is my 8 year old daughter doing it all by herself and getting my 1 year old son involved as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up...our Learning Resources Gear Set.

We have the Light and Actions Set, however there are many different sets to choose from.

Again, my 8 year old can pretty much put the gears together on her own.  Sometimes she will ask for adult help because it can be challenging...but isn't the challenging part the best part?!?!?  How else do they learn???

 

 

Our set comes with an electric gear turner which my son absolutely LOVES!

Not all the sets do include this...so if you are planning to purchase...do your homework!

Our next favorite thing is our Laser Maze Game.

My 11 year old daughter actually prefers playing by herself and just making laser beams even though the game is met to be competitive between more players. 

   The idea is to get the laser beam to reach your target using a series of mirrored angles.  It is hard to see the beam in the pictures, but the piece with the red button on top is where the beam comes from and she is directing it to her target pieces below. 

Finally, our last favorite toy is the Lego Fusion.

 

The idea is to build a Lego home, take a picture with your iPad, and it uploads and becomes a virtual reality.

 

All they need to do is download the Lego fusion app, snap a picture (the app gives you hints), and play!

 

 

If I had all the funds I could ever hope for...I would buy each of these in bundles for the 4th graders in my room!  They would make AWESOME centers!  But for now, we settle for playing them in our home!

 

 

 

 

 

For our Friday Flash Freebie, let's ring in the New Year FROZEN style! 

 

 

 

This is a fun and easy prep writing craftivity...Perfect for New Year's Goals and Resolutions!!

 Students will write an essay on their goals for the year using the quote, "It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through" as a reflection. This Unit has student templates to fill in as they go through the writing process to get their final published piece perfect!

 

 Also included are templates that can be copied to make your very own "self-portrait" Elsa or Kristoff holding your essay!

Everything you need is included so prep is as easy as making some copies!

Common Core Aligned

 

Enjoy!



Electricity and Magnets Unit and a Friday Flash Freebie (It's a Big One!)

and

 

My 4th graders are wrapping up a quarter long unit on Electricity and Magnets!  They have spent weeks creating circuits, breaking circuits, creating magnets, finding conductors, and learning TONS!

We learned about Static Electricity!

What is attracted to balloons that are full of static electricity?

Our hair...

feathers...

tissue paper... 

index cards...

and ourselves!

We learned about making and breaking circuits!

We learned about conductors and insulators!

We learned about series circuits and parallel circuits!

And then we learned about magnets!

We learned what is attracted to magnets...

And how the magnetic field strongest at the poles...

And how to make our own paperclip magnet!

Download the whole unit for FREE as part of this week's Friday Flash Freebie!