Summertime . . . makes me feel fine:)

{1} Watermelon Art

Super, simple watercolor fun!

The best thing about this art lesson is that the wedge size and precise shape doesn't really matter. When your students rock red and green watercolors and some marker-drawn seeds, you can almost taste this juicy fruit!  

{2} Volunteer Gifts - check

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft came through with yummy smelling, monogrammed hand soap, cutesy bags and craft paper. Don't you just love one stop shopping?

{3} Open House - check
Africa in the house

{4} No Prep Idea-of-the-Week

Write the word "summertime" on the board and have students make as many words as they can out of the letters.

{5} Freebie of the Week
Kamp Kindergarten's CVCe Write the Room is
perfect for the end of the year!

Now head on over to the Doodle Bugs linky for more inspiration. 

Mother's Day Cards/Five for Friday

For our Mother's Day cards, we will be doing a version of this post from last year.

I love the illusion that these sweet photo cards create. When you think the arm and fist have jumped right out of the photo, you'll be doing a double take!

 

Step 1/Pose

Have your subject stand with an outstretched arm and tight fist. Their arm should angle upward, with your camera being higher than their head. 

Step 2/Shoot

To enhance the illusion, take your shot with your camera close to their fist, so that it looks out of proportion to the size of their head.

Step 3/Cut

After printing your 4X6 photo, using a utility knife, cut small slots, slightly inside the top and bottom of the fist.

Step 4/Insert

 Weave a flower, handmade or real, through the two openings. 

Step 5

Mount the photo on cardstock or construction paper for a finished touch.

My students made these cards for Mother's Day. They would also make great birthday cards, get well cards, thank you cards etc.  I have seen them with lollipops for Valentines' Day as well. What other ideas do you have? How about a candy cane at Christmas time?

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Mother's Day!

Link up time with Kasey!

Spring Break Eve

So this is going down today.
{then the real celebration begins}

The best part about having spring break detached from Easter is that Peeps are almost free now!

Peeps Catapults are prepared and ready to launch. More info can be found at Playdough to Plato, HERE.

Link up time at 

Just Happy Spring!

Springtime Decomposing and a Freebie!

Whaaaat??? We just had St. Patrick's Day and Easter is already knocking on my door?? Well then, today I would like to share ways to work on discovering combinations that make sums of 5 through 20, aka decomposing 5-20. This works for K-2 common core standards K.OA.A.3, 1.OA.A.1, 2.OA.B.2 and uses some inexpensive, fun manipulatives for spring!

{1} Jelly beans and portion cups, styrofoam cups, sample cups, or whatever you have handy

Count out a set number of jelly beans (10 in this case), separate them in and out of the cup, then record findings. You can find the printables HERE.

{2} Dollar Tree

These were Dollar Tree finds. The blue and pink cups are ice cream cups from the party section. They are 8 for $1. I love the little green one because it has a handle and resembles a basket! It's from the baby shower section and is also 8 for $1. Here it is with the jelly beans.

OR... {3} My Favorite
No more lost eggs (if the bag stays zipped:))! This is a cool method because students get some extra practice with fine motor skills. They push the "eggs" around in the sealed bag, putting some in the basket and pushing some out. 

I drew the baskets on ahead of time. Older students could do this part if you trust them with permanent markers:)

{4} Eggs in the Basket Printables
If you would like all of the printables for all combinations of 5-20, hop on over to pick up this product HERE for just $3.

{5}  Freebie/Editable Sight Word Chicks

If you want it, click HERE, then chirp on over to HERE to find multiple ways to use these cuties with your own sight words. 

Thanks for stopping by Room 10. Now take a look at some other fresh spring ideas HERE.

 

Five Cool Ideas for St. Patrick's Day

Top o' the Mornin' to you!..or whatever time it is where you are:)

{1} Decomposing 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 with "Lucky Pots o' Gold"

I have a new product in my store, just in time to paint the town green! We have been using it this week and I've heard two different students, say "I love this!"...unsolicited. Doesn't it just warm your heart when your kiddos affirm your hard work? 

You can purchase this product HERE for just $3.

 

{2} Another Option for Pots o' Gold

I found these coins at Dollar Tree, with 30 in a bag for, you guessed it, $1! The adorbs little pots are from Oriental Trading ($3.99 per dozen). Amazon has them as well. Stock up for next year!

{3} Shell Game

Grab some large cups and decorate them with your current sight words. Add some fool's gold (spray painted rock) or a small toy. My students LOVE this game. Unlike the traditional shell game I don't shuffle the cups. Instead we work on reading and memory. I (or a parent volunteer) hide the gold and students must read the word before I lift the cup. This is very motivating for students who need more practice with sight words!

{4} How to Make Tiny Leprechaun Footprints

 Photo from B-Inspried Mama. Been doing these prints around my classroom for years. Works every time!

{5} Freebie

Grab this freebie and some Lucky Charms

for some magically delicious graphing!

by Sarah Shelton

Wishing you the luck o' the Irish!

Be sure to visit HERE for more fabulous ideas.

 

 

Five for Friday, Winter Fun, A Cell Phone, Super Genius, and a Little Love

{1} Winter Art

We're wrapping up our snow theme this week, but still enjoying our classroom art.

16 students?...said no public school teacher ever:(  The rest of these cuties are on another wall!

{2} Snow Day

We had our annual "snow day" (a.k.a. scraped ice from the local rink), California style. Yep, these three pathetic hills of snow were more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Our friend "Snowy". Don't judge.

{3} Cell Phone

Wow, it happened! I thought I might make it to retirement before a cell phone popped up in my kindergarten classroom and became a distraction. It somehow kept finding its way out of the owner's backpack!

I'd been told this day was coming. Forth and fifth grade teachers at my school deal with it quite frequently.

But even I couldn't resist capturing this special moment in history:)

{4} Super Genius/First Words

I discovered a new game over the holidays and it is truly my favorite way to practice CVC words now. The engagement rating is OFF THE CHARTS! My students LOOOVVVVE to play Super Genius/First Words.

There are actually several versions of this game, but we play "Face Off", which is just like the game Spot It. There is always one match between any two cards. We play as partners, or in small groups. Simultaneously, two cards are turned over. The first player to find the match calls it out and points it out. We all win, because we all work so hard on decoding! You can find it at Amazon, HERE.

{5} Love is in the Air

My vintage chalkboard is taking on a simple message this month. 

Less is more (or lazy?)

We will soon be getting ready with some "hearty" decorating. For more info on these photos, hop on over to HERE.

Thanks for visiting and be sure click HERE for more inspiration.