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Wednesday Works (Thursday edition) - Creepy Crawlies with 1st grade

Just two more Wednesday Works for this school year, today we feature the Creepy Crawly Critters from 1st grade.
 I use Crayola Model Magic with these guys for fast clean-up and ease in keeping parts together until they get the hang of slipping and scoring techniques. 

First step - "define" creepy crawly as something with 6 or more legs, then draw a few ideas on a piece of sketch paper.  

I cut 2-3" pieces of a hank of Twisteez wire for legs or antennas and various clay tools to give them texture.

At the next class we paint.   Here we've tried our tempera paint cakes, which the kids all liked this year but I've used watercolor paints in the past and that works just as well.

Between the forming day and the painting day I add names to the bottom with a Sharpie marker.

I'm planning on writing up a school year recap post so we can see how much we've done this year, and I can review what went well, what was just "ok", and what may have been a flop, lesson wise.   Then I'll post sporadically in the summer with some basic classroom organization and management tips as I find the time. 

Is there anything you'd like me to focus on? 
Something you're having trouble with and would like suggestions?


Send a email or comment on the blog!

Thanks for following along for this 2012-2013 school year.   I've already put some ideas down on paper for next school year so stay tuned!

from Time For Kids - the Meaning of Memorial Day

Time For Kids - the Meaning of Memorial Day

DANIEL BENDJY—GETTY IMAGES

 

Memorial Day honors the men and women who serve our country.

              Technically, summer doesn't start until June 21. But many people consider Memorial Day to be the unofficial start of the season. This year, we celebrate the holiday on May 27. Many families will heat up the grill, head to the beach or take in a big blockbuster movie. But Memorial Day has the word "memorial" in it for a reason.

EDMUND D. FOUNTAIN—TAMPA BAY TIMES/AP

Soldier Donnie Terrell, a member of the U.S. Army, carries his daughter Hailey during a parade at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

              The holiday got started on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day an occasion to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Twenty years later, the name was changed to Memorial Day. On May 11, 1950, Congress passed a resolution requesting that the President issue a proclamation calling on Americans to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. President Richard M. Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday in 1971. Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday of May. It is an occasion to honor the men and women who died in all wars.

Remembering Those Who Served
                It is customary to mark Memorial Day by visiting graveyards and war monuments. One of the biggest Memorial Day traditions is for the President or Vice President to give a speech and lay a wreath on soldiers' graves in the largest national cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia. Most towns have local Memorial Day celebrations.

 Here are some ways you can honor the men and women who serve our country:

- Put flags or flowers on the graves of men and women who served in wars.
- Fly the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon.
- Visit monuments dedicated to soldiers, sailors and marines.
- Participate in a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time.
- March in a parade.

Friday Photos - 24 May 2013

Wednesday Works - Ice Cream Tints - 2nd grade

I'm still trying to get some new lessons into the curriculum book before the end of the school year.  We have just a few more days left so here's a new one for 2nd grade.

Since the 3rd grade version of Tints and Shades moonlight landscapes was such a hit with both kids and faculty alike, I picked up this one to give it a try with some younger students.

Using an extra large piece of paper, we used our hands to help space out 6 blocks for painting.

Each student used a small cup with white and added their table color in small spoonfuls, painting inside the divided sections of their papers.

After the paper dried, we cut out the squares and traced ice cream scoop shapes on the painted sections.

Final assembly is on a black piece of paper with scoops in order from light to dark, plus a cone and a cherry on top.

And an aside - this leads onto a Eric Carle lesson with those painted paper scraps, don't you think??  That's next years plans......

Monday Motivations -Jeff Depner - 20 May 2013

 www.jeffdepner.com