Ocean Animals

We are wrapping up our Under the Sea theme in summer school this week. We made Orca Whales using paper plates and construction paper. These are in Deanna Jump's Ocean Unit, but she got the idea from Mailbox Magazine. However, she does not include patterns, so I created my own since we are working with young special needs students. You can get them below by clicking on the picture below!!  

We also made the sharks and crabs. The sharks are also from Deanna's Ocean Unit with patterns included! The crabs are a project that I did with my kindergartners this year that I found via Golden Gang Kindergarten.

Job Update: I'm still looking for a teaching job here. I had to interviews, but didn't make it past the first round. UGH. Everyday after summer school, I search the same websites for possible new openings. Up here, the school districts are by city & town, not by county. This makes the job hunt even more work because you have to apply to each individual district. I'm not applying for jobs at private schools as well. I'm desperate for anything. All I know is I have a calling and I'm waiting for an answer. I keep believing that God has a plan for me too. 

I'll keep you all posted and I really appreciate the positive messages that I've received from some of you. In the meantime, here are some more great giveaways to check out. 

Lori from Teaching With Love and Laughter is giving away this! Click on the picture!

 

Rachelle from Life is Sweet....in Kindergarten is having a Back to School Giveaway! 

 

Beach & Pool Kids + GIVEAWAY!

We made these Beach & Pool Kids from Deanna Jump's Ocean Unit during the last week of school. It was a long project which made it perfect for this time of year. First, we completed the graphs and analyzed the data. Only one kid liked swimming in the ocean while everyone else chose pool. I thought that was interesting since we live next to the Atlantic, but I would have chosen pool too. I don't like the saltwater. I'm sure I won't be saying that once I move back to Buffalo next weekend though.

Here are some pictures of our glyphs!

We had to take a break to go to PE so this is what my classroom looked like!

Last, but certainly not least, Lori at Teaching With Love and Laughter is having a B-I-G 500 Follower Give-a-way!!! Click here to check it out!!!

Happy Sunday! :)

Cindy

 

More House for Hermit Crab & a Freebie

My first graders completed text to self connections to go along with A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle. After we read the story, introduced the activity, and had the kids share some things that they have outgrown, the fire alarm went off for a drill. After spending approximately forever ten minutes outside, some of the kids were worried if we were going to be able to complete the activity before switching to their next class. Thankfully, we were able to start it that day and finished it the following day. Here are some examples of their work! I love all their different ideas. :)

 I outgrew my bed because it was too small. My feet were at the end of the bed so I got a new bed. It was bigger than my old bed. I like my new bed.

 Once I outgrew a blue and white striped shirt. It was very old. It was size small 12. There was a hole in it so we threw it away.

 One day, I put on my socks, but they did not fit. So I put on new socks. They fit. I like them.

 I outgrew my shoes because they were too small. I got a new pair and they fit me. They had shoe laces,

I outgrew my baseball helmet so my dad gave it to my cousin Brent.

To get this activity, click the picture below. Please leave me a comment if you download it!

9 days to go!!

Cindy

Seahorses & a Freebie!

I started my mini-unit on seahorses with my kindergartners today. First of all, I was thrilled to walk into the book fair and find this book...

For only $3.99, you can't go wrong! I snatched it up right away. This book is full of great seahorse facts and has bright colorful pictures. Before we started reading part of the book, we talked about our schema. I put everything on sticky notes and stuck it to this chart. We moved a few things to "Our New Learning" after reading and added some additional facts.

These little cuties are from Deanna Jump's "Ocean" unit. My students really enjoyed this project!

Here is a freebie from my Seahorses unit! It's a text to self connections sheet that you can use with Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle. Click the picture below to get it! Please leave me a comment if you use it. I really enjoy reading comments and getting feedback. :)

I hope your Monday was well. I had a surprise observation by my principal. Thankfully, it went well!

Cindy

Nonfiction Book Reports, Seahorses & a Freebie

This is a nonfiction book report that I assigned to my second graders a few months ago. They had to read a nonfiction book, make a poster, and include the author and/or

 illustrator and five facts. They also had to present this to the class. Here are some of the posters that were turned in.

Now onto the freebie! Click the link to download the handout that I typed up to tell my students and their parents all about the book report. I hope you can use it!

I'd also like to share with you this little 20 page mini-unit on seahorses. Click the picture to see it in my TpT store!

Hope your Monday is a happy one!

Cindy

A House for Hermit Crab & Some Ocean Stations

Today we read....

After reading this great book, we completed this little jewel from Jennifer over at First Grade Blue Skies. Click the picture to go to her blog and get this great freebie!

Here are a few examples of my kindergartners' houses for Hermit Crab!

I also wanted to share some of the station activities that my students are working on. These are from my ocean unit. Click the picture to find it in my TPT store!

My kindergartners completed this book independently this afternoon. This is in my TPT store for $2.00. Click the picture to get it!

My first and second graders are working on making words using the letters in "THE OCEAN".

Here is the game that they are playing at another station. It goes with A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle.

 

 14 days of school left for me and a million things to do! How many days do you have left?

Cindy

Is This a House for Hermit Crab?

We are working on an ocean theme this week and will continue into next week. Today we had a shared reading of this book......

......then we made these adorable hermit crabs from Deeana at Golden Gang Kindergarten.

There is a freebie book to print from her blog to go inside as well. It's great for sequencing! Here are what some of the pages look like.

No, it's too heavy.

No, it's too deep.

Yes, this is just right.

I hope to be back tomorrow with some more ocean activities that we are working on! I'm off to concentrate on this season finale of Criminal Minds.

 Cindy

TPT Sale & Mother's Day Freebie

I just wanted to let you all know that I am participating in the TPT Teacher Appreciation Sale from May 6th-8th. I am offering 20% in addition to the extra offered by TPT. Just enter the promo code: TAD12 at checkout to receive your additional discount! Happy shopping! :)

Here are some items from my store that may help you in the upcoming weeks! They will all be on sale.

Mother's Day emergent reader w/ scaffolded writing

Mother's Day Literacy Unit

Ocean Literacy Unit

Ocean Animals Emergent Reader w/ scaffolded writing

This is a Mother's Day freebie in my TPT store! I can't take credit for the idea, but please feel free to download it.

Cindy