More Dino Work!

The kids have LOVED learning about dinos and I can admit when I was little I did too.  I had posters on my wall and could name them all.  My dream was even to be a paleontologist.

We've learned about Stegosaurus and Allosaurus this week.  Here's their work!

Reading Strategy Posters

I was looking for a way to display ALL the reading strategies the kids have been learning this year.  I created these posters and review them on a weekly basis.  As we learn a new strategy, the poster is added to the board.

I also have one on summarizing.  I must have forgotten to hang it up!

Good Readers Infer

We've been focusing on making inferences.  This weeks mini lesson has been, "Good readers infer.  They look for clues and make conclusions on what they know.

I introduced this work with "What's Inside the Egg?"

Today, I read Bark George by Jules Feiffer.  I told the kids this dog made funny sounds and by looking for clues while reading they should be able to make a prediction of what type of noise George would make next.  The kids LOVED this book!!

While I read, I wrote down what they thought would happen.

At the end of the story, George says "Hello."  The kids had to infer who he had eaten.

I had them complete a worksheet inferring who George might eat next.

Oviparous Animals

We started our unit on oviparous animals.  I began with the read aloud below.

Then, the kids picked an animal to add to the egg to show they knew an example of an oviparous animal.

Next up...DINOS!!

Space Art

We're finishing up our Space Unit.  Today the kids listen to a read aloud and completed the chart below.

Then, they completed Space Art.  I found this idea on another blog (Ugh, I can't remember which one) and HAD to try it with my class.  I LOVE when I don't have to give too many step by step directions.  I like when they create their own art and are happy with how it looks.  They traced their feet and hands.  Then they created the rest of their bodies.  They colored in crayon and added the black water color at the end.

Look how CUTE these came out.

I'm not sure why I'm smiling.  I'd be TERRIFIED!

Homophones

This week we've been learning about homophones.  I was hoping to come up with a more creative way to teach this.  I have large cards that have homophones on them but wanted it to be more interactive.

I found a cute idea at First Grader at Last.  She used a "pair of pears" chart and had the kids write and illustrate homophones.

The kids each picked a pair to write and illustrate on pears.  Next week for Daily 5 they'll have the option of trying to use them in sentences.  Here's the worksheet I'll be using.

Homophone Sentences

Space Riddles

I absolutely LOVE when my kiddos are excited to write.  This year they have really enjoyed the Writer's Workshop Model.

Today, we brainstormed a quick list of facts for each planet since we're finishing up this unit.  The kids picked one to write a riddle about.  After they completed their writing they each made a picture of their planet and cut it into puzzle pieces.  Buddies worked together reading and solving the riddles.

I plan on putting this as an option during Daily 5 next week since MOST kiddos wanted to write another riddle.

Tower Building

The kiddos have been right into tower building!

Visualizing with Poems

I always start my visualizing mini lessons with poems.  They're short and sweet.  The best part is the kiddos can read most of the poems with me.

Our lessons have been, "Good readers visualize."  Today we read "Bod, My Fat Cat."  After reading, the kids highlighted any words that help to paint a picture in their heads.  Then they illustrated.  That's the best part!  Here's their work.

Moon's Surface vs. Earth's Surface

We've been learning about the Moon's environment and comparing it to that of the Moon.  The kids learned the moon is made up of rocks, sand, and dust.  They also learned the dark areas on the moon are called seas.

I used sand, flour, and coco powder to make the Moon's surface.  We talked about rocks in space and how meteorites create craters.  The kids used magnetic marbles (meteorites) and dropped them onto the moon.

After they spent some time doing this we discussed the results.  If the marble didn't hit the moon at a high rate of speed it left a little crater while a more direct impact left a larger crater.