A Nature Hike

It's great having a bike path right behind our school because we're able to go on nature hikes!  Last week we went on a scavenger hunt, looking for fall items.  You can find the FREEBIE here (Scavenger Hunt Checklist).

Using these items, students made a squirrel home which is called a grey.  We also did a directed drawing on how to make Scaredy Squirrel.

Can YOU Making a Connection to Scaredy Squirrel

If you haven't read the Scaredy Squirrel books you need to!  I absolutely love them and wish I had come up with such a brilliant idea for a book.

We made connections to Scaredy.  Everyone has a fear!!  Once we shared our fears students filled in the connection paper.  It's a FREE download at my TpT Store (Scaredy Squirrel Connections).

Once the students filled in the worksheet I showed them how to draw their very own Scaredy Squirrel.  I wish I had taken pictures!!  They came out great and are hanging in the hall.  Students made their very own Emergency Kit using their connection worksheet to help them.

Here are a few pictures of students working.

Scavenger Hunt and Squirrels

We've been learning about squirrels this week.  We've been reading informational and fictional books.  Students wrote their own informational book.  They wrote an opening, 3 facts, and a wrap up. In computer lab they created a Squirrel Diagram.

On Friday, we went on a scavenger hunt on the bike path.  They were looking for fall items to use when they made their squirrel homes.  Did you know a squirrel's home is called a drey?

Here they are hanging up in the hall.

I've also uploaded the scavenger list I used for free in case you'd like a copy (FREE Scavenger Hunt Checklist)!

A Look at Our Week

We've been quite busy this week!!

Students wrote informational books about Squirrels, made dreys and compared a real squirrel to Scaredy Squirrel.  The kids have LOVED these stories.

We also focused on pumpkins.  We completed the life cycle, wrote "How to Carve a Pumpkin," and completed an experiment.  Pumpkin Jack will be hanging out in our room for a few days.  Kids will be observing what happens as the days pass.  I'm hoping he doesn't get too stinky!  They also planted pumpkin seeds and are making observations.

We met up with firefighters this week.  After talking to our class they took us outside to look at the fire truck.

To finish up the week we painted some SILLY pumpkins.  I did this for the first time last year and ABSOLUTELY loved how they turned out. Students used a white oil pastel to outline the pumpkin and draw the lines.  They used red, orange, and yellow paint.  Once dried, they added silly faces.  They're now hanging in our lobby to greet visitors.  

Click to enlarge.

All About Squirrels and Take Home Journals

This week we've focused on learning more about squirrels.  We've been reading informational books, writing facts, and we made dreys today.

For writing this week students made an informational book. They had to create an opening, write 3 facts, add a digram, and write a wrap up sentence.

Of course when learning about squirrels we also had to read MY favorite squirrel books...Scaredy Squirrel!!  Have you seen the new one about him going camping?

I truly love this little character and can make many connections.  My husband often tells me I'm scared of EVERYTHING!!

I did a directed drawing with them on how to make this little guy. They came out adorable and they were so proud of their work.

For reader's workshop we focused on, "Good readers make connections."  We all connected with Scaredy and shared our fears. The kids came up with some pretty creative ways in which they would conquer their fears!!

This FREE worksheet is on my TpT store (Connections to Scaredy Squirrel Worksheet).

We've also been working in our Take Home Journal each Friday. Students write a letter to a family member sharing what they've done during the week.  I don't edit their spelling (unless it's a sight word) but this is a great time to boost their confidence to write more.

We've been focusing on capitalization, ending punctuation, and adding details.  When I meet with them we highlight the periods and count up how many sentences they've written.  I write the number at the top and they try to write more the next week.

As you can see below many wrote about our field trip and good ol' Scaredy!

Next week we'll be completing a Venn Diagram, comparing a real squirrel to Scaredy.

A Real Squirrel Vs. Scaredy Squirrel

We compared a "real" squirrel to Scaredy Squirrel.  Students filled in their own Venn Diagram and wrote on sentences strips to add to our class Venn Diagram.

Squirrels

We've been learning about Squirrels this week.  After listening to informational books the kiddos filled in Squirrels Can, Have, Are.

They also made dreys, which are squirrel homes.  It is built in a tree with twigs and leaves.  We built our dreys using paper plates.

This week they'll be writing an informational book all about squirrels.

Next up, we'll be reading ALL the Scaredy Squirrel books which I LOVE!!  Students will follow directions to create their very own Scaredy Squirrel.  We'll also complete a Venn Diagram to compare a real squirrel to Scaredy.  

Real Squirrels Vs. Scaredy Squirrel

We completed this work last week but I wanted to show you our finished work.  We read informational books on squirrels and then read the Scaredy Squirrel series.  The kids completed a Venn diagram to compare the two.

Our mini-lesson was "Good readers make connections."  We talked about Scaredy Squirrel and ALL of his fears.  The kids and I brainstormed what we're afraid of.  I told them even adults have fears.  I'm afraid of heights and flying.  Yikes!!

Students completed a worksheet, stated their fear, and showed what they'd need in order to face it.

Side note...I found these CUTE lion tags at the Dollar Store. They fit perfectly into my classroom!!  I plan on displaying work of students who do their best!

Scaredy Squirrel Worksheet

The worksheet we completed is on my TpT Store for FREE!!