TWO Easy Thanksgiving Art Projects: See It, Do It Turkeys

Not sure if I mentioned this but this growing season I was invited to work a chunk of garden at my friend's place.  I had such a great time weeding and watering - l learned a lot about plants and how they grow.  Here is a little of the bounty I collected from the garden.  Crazy how much there still was, even in October!!  You should of seen me try to wash the kale.  Looked at youtube videos, asked around.  Finally found out from my mom that you put a little salt in the water and boom, the aphids off!!!  Ack!! LOL.

As Thanksgiving has already come and gone here in Canada, I wanted to share the two crafts my class did this year.  The Grade 2's did these cute pinecone turkeys courtesy of my partner teacher Meg:)

What to gather:

large pinecones

colourful feathers

google eyes

red felt for the waddle

orange construction paper for the feet and beak

You will need white glue bottles for the kids.  Direct them to put on lots of glue and hold pieces in place while counting to 100 - it is a little overkill but it makes me laugh - they slow down a little bit - the room gets awfully quiet - LOVE!

Last, I hot glue gunned the google eyes and any feet, feathers, etc. that would not stay put!  Gobble, gobble!  

The Grade 1's got together with the other straight Grade 1 class and made a twist on last years apple turkeys.  Check out my post from last year!  Our pear turkeys turned out SO cute!

You will need to gather:

unripe pears

baby marshmallows

toothpicks

large marshmallows

carrots - shaved and stored in cold water

raisins or craisins

This is a flying turkey I am told!

We gave the kids the pictures of the apple turkeys from last year and the materials and the kids went at it!!  I love this method of See It, Do It art!  The kids get so used to us telling them step by step what to do, even though often if they just looked they would be able to figure it out.  In this case no instruction was the best instruction!  Critical thinking!!  Oh yeah!!

Not sure where this guy's feathers are coming out but they do help him stand!!  lol

Hee, hee, precious!!

Turkey cuteness, right there!

Hmmm - it actually kind of works!!!

Happy Thanksgiving all!!  I am very thankful for the many blessings in my life!!

Hilarious Yes Day!! Writing Freebie

YES!!!  Wouldn't that be easy?  If every answer was yes, I mean?  My muffins would surely love it...for awhile at least!  We actually read this book last year when I was teaching a straight grade 1 class.  Last week one of my 2's found it and wanted to read it again.  My goal this year has been to have my students write about topics they are excited about and they LOVED this book - never mind the theme we are working on!  BINGO - writing activity!

I decided we would make a class book.  Also, I wanted to review the use of question marks since each page has a new question.  Here is our little book we made:

  

I was confused by this one at first but then I realized he meant actually sitting on his desk rather than in his chair.  LOL

Oh yes!  ToysRUs is going to LOVE us!!

Absolutely!!

This one cracked me up!  Yes!  If you really want to - go for!

I had to ask what an alucorn is...apparently it is a cross between a unicorn and a pegasus - who knew!

YES!!  Sounds like teacher heaven!!!

Click HERE to download this for FREE!

Also, be sure to check out my newest packet.  I have really began to explore inquiry based learning and it has really made each learning experience for my kiddos individualized.  Their interest in their project is increased to the max because they have had a part in developing their own question to inquire about.  My packet details the steps needed to implement your own inquiry based unit.  I did mine on animals but it would work for any topic you were researching with your class.  It also covers a broad range of curriculum.

Here is one of the final projects one of my grade 1 students did last year on the lobster!!

Included are writing and colouring assessments, pictures, materials for mini-lessons etc.  I would say that these materials would stretch all the way to grade 3!

Can I take a break from blogging now!! YES!!  lol!  Even though I love it!

Beautiful Easy Art and Student of the Week V.I.P.

This week was my first back and it has been so refreshing!  I have a new, brighter classroom.  I feel like I am finally getting good at this whole teaching thing!!!  Thank goodness!!  I thought I would share a few of my favourite things about this week!

The first thing that I had to buy was a new baking sheet!  I had two and I lost one doing a melting experiment over night - outside - someone must have had the urge to bake cookies!!  I use these ALL the time.  I put out stickers, googly eyes, buttons, etc. for students to choose from.  I use it for students to play with playdough.  It is ESSENTIAL and cheap at the Dollar Store!

This week I used it when we made our sand name pictures!!  This is such a cute and easy art project for the beginning of the year.  Have your students use their brand new glue bottles to write their name and decorate a piece of construction paper.  They may have to do one or two drafts before they get one they are happy with.  Encourage them to write their names big so they don't all mush together.

Then, have students come up to the sand station.  I laid down a tablecloth and I put out the cookie pan for extra sand.  Then, each student poured different colors of sand over their picture.  Encourage them to use colours that will pop out on their chosen colour of construction paper (Notice how my choice of aquamarine doesn't stand out very well above:)  After they have covered their paper in sand they dump the excess into the cookie pan! Voila!!  Beautiful, easy art!!

Since I am teaching a combined class this year with some of my students from last year I had to create a new Student of the Week program.  I came up with V.I.P.  So far I have been the first V.I.P - super fun!!  I chose the alien sunglasses to wear - I had a bunch of crazy sunglasses at the Dollar Store!

Check it out!! It is free for today on my TpT store!

Get it now!

Back to School Triple Threat Linky!

The Back to School TpT Sale is here!!  I thought I would highlight a triple threat from my store!!  All three have been quite popular lately!!  I'm going to be doing my own shopping tomorrow.  Link up with your own triple threat in a blog post or just your top seller and I'll check them out!!

Make sure to link back to my blog as well as leave a comment on the previous two link up blogs before yours.

Top 10 Back to School Tips: Tip #1 Know Your Muffins!

Us teachers all know that getting to know your muffins is one of the most important aspects of classroom management in the first days of school!  I can't believe I'm writing about the first days of school right now when mine is a month away still but I want to support all those that are starting soon!  Here is a little funny my mom sent me that got me laughing!!  Hope this brings a smile to your day!

SO anyways - here are my Top 10!

1. NAME GAMES!!!  Me: I'm Miss Nutini, who are you? Student: I am __________, how do you do?  Me: Why thank you for asking!!  You look very nice today in your new shirt!!  Glad you are in our class!!  Repeat!  AND OF COURSE - Who Stole the Cookies?  My kids cannot get enough of this old faithful!

2. Keep it simple - make sure all activities are easily doable!!  Kids are just as nervous as you and they want to feel happy that they can do what you want them to do!!

3. Feed THEM!  No, I am serious!  Ever heard that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach....well...the door to your students' hearts is CANDY - shameless I know but a little treat to keep them sweet can't hurt or a little cookie icing activity can only make things light hearted and fun AS WELL as feed their overloaded, summer addled brains!

4.  Ask questions about each of their family members.  Mention if you have taught one or more of their siblings.  Try to remember names of siblings, parents and dogs!!  This simple task is an amazing rapport builder!

5.  Keep those parents happy and involved.  Open the conversation and keep it a-flowing.  I always say to my parents to come in and contact me anytime.  I say, "Please come to me with any questions or concerns anytime!"

6.  Plck a really, and I mean, REALLY FUNNY, FUN opening story!!  This will get the kids laughing and set a really great tone for the year!!  Sitting on the Farm by Bob King is such a fun audience join-along book that my students have always enjoyed!

7. Show them where the bathroom, washroom, restroom is located!  This will alleviate a lot of anxiety!!

8. FEED THEM!! - I know I said this already but it is so true!  Give them lots of time to properly eat their snacks!!!  I give them at least 10 minutes to sit at their desks and eat their snacks before we go out for recess.  This routine sometimes lasts one to two weeks!!

9.  Go through their backpacks at recess time/lunch time!!  I'M SERIOUS!!  LOL!!  You will be amazed at what school supplies/important notes, etc. are tucked away in that sweet little muffin's shiny new backpack!!  This will save you time and energy reading notes, talking to parents ect. wondering where school supplies are, figuring out who is going home and when, etc.!  It is worth it!!!  This also can last the whole first week or two.

10.  Try to be prepared enough for the week that you can leave the school early!!!  This will save your sanity and your health!!  Nothing worse than being sick during the first month of school!!!  How many muffins develop stomach aches and limps when you are away!!!  Be good to yourself please!!

If you need a little more help you can find a lot of these ideas and more in my Getting to Know You back to school kit!!  Check it out by clicking below!!

Just Be Friends!!! A Million Acts of Friendship

So I am really excited to be involved with this new company called Just Be Friends!  I first met Janice Taylor, founder of Just Be Friends, when she came to our staff meeting to convince us to pilot their new program, A Million Acts of Friendship, at our school.  I was blown away by her enthusiasm and her desire to help families, parents and teachers, as well as to make our schools better for our children. The basic premise is that the focus in schools should move from anti-bullying to friendship. Furthermore, families need support from other families, parents need support from other parents, and teachers and parents need to work together to help raise our children.  A Million Acts of Friendship helps connect all parties with one another and get the conversation going in a positive direction!!

Here is a quote that says it all from the JBF website:

Just Be Friends (jbfkids.com) is all about helping families and children connect, with each other and with their community.  On Just Be Friends, parents create a detailed family profile and are matched up with other families. The goal? To connect families and build community.In a time when more and more kids face increased negative social behaviours,  Just Be Friends empowers families to play a more active role in their children’s social development and connect to their community in unique and fun ways.  By celebrating friendship and bringing like-minded parents and kids together in a safe, online environment, we hope to change lives, one friendship at a time!  Just Be Friends includes a social networking website for families, the Just Be Friends Foundation and programs such as A Million Acts of Friendship, a school-based program which rewards healthy social behaviours and acts of friendship with special weekly friendship badges and much-needed school resources

Our school worked on our goal of a million acts of friendship the last month of school and it was so great to see everyone coming together to think about each other, and work together to earn each act of friendship.  Badges that could be earned included Just Be Brave, Just Be Kind, Just Be Masterful and Just Be Outgoing!  Students in our school went out into the community and encouraged businesses to get involved as well.  In my classroom we cleaned our grade 4 buddies' classroom and left them a gift for Just Be Kind.  For Just Be Brave we did something we were scared to do, videoed it or performed it for the class.  I have two students bring their violins to school to perform a piece and they ended up performing an impromptu duet!!  One student was participating in her year end ballet performance and sent a picture of her all dressed up, ready to go on stage!  So cool!!

After four weeks, we were well on our way to a million acts of friendship.  We celebrated with a dance party, ice cream, and money towards a new sound system for our gymnasium.  What was more exciting was the feeling that seemed to spread throughout our school - we were excited to earn our badges and plan our acts of friendship.  As a teacher, it was super easy to implement - all materials were provided for us - poster, stickers, ideas, etc.  My little muffins loved the stickers and badges.  It'll be a breeze to continue the program at the beginning of our next school year!

This summer Just Be Friends is hosting a video contest!  Check out the link for more information! There is over $2500 worth of prizes to be won!

Favorite Pins Friday!

Thank you Cara Carroll for this awesome sharing idea!!!  Bring on the pins!!!  I have read everyone's so far and the ideas are a'flowin'!!

 

 Pin #1: This year I will be teaching a 1/2 combined class which MEANS that I get to teach about oceans! OH YEAH!  We will be making these critters for sure!!!

Pin #2: I know my muffins will eat this up and I forgot to do it this year!!  I am picturing a LEGO scoop and add or maybe in groups of 3, each kiddo chooses 2 legos, puts them behind their back and the other student chooses a hand and then must add them together??

Pin #3: This idea is genius and so simple - totally forgot about it but I will definitely use it for expanded for next school year!

Pin #4: LOVE this for my geometry unit!!!  So simple and fun!!

Pin #5: Gotta have a little fashion!  Love the colours in this outfit - so soft and simple!!

Pin #6: This is my motto lately!  Fear tends to rule so many decisions in life - gotta face my fears!!