Ladybugs

    We began our study of Ladybugs by sharing our schema (what we think we know) and then we added to our new learning all week.

    We read From Larva to Ladybug and charted the life cycle. Then students created their own ladybug life cycle.

    We read Ladybug Fiery Red and Bright. Then we graphed our favorite color ladybug and analyzed our data.

    We used a leaf mat and ladybug counters (ladybug stickers on index cards, laminated, and cut out) to tell addition stories. We recorded in our math journals.

   We went to the science lab to find out which temperature ladybugs like better. We graphed our predictions before we did the experiment.

    Students used a hand lens to observe the ladybugs in the tubing.

    Then we put one end of the tubing into ice water and one end into warm to hot water and observed where the ladybugs went.

    Then we recorded on a small sheet of paper where we observed our ladybugs once we put the tubing in the water cups.

    For teachers who are interested, these activities (and more) can be found in my Ladybug Learning Fun  unit.

Celebrating Dr. Seuss

Here's our Dr. Seuss work we displayed for Open House.

President's Day

    We read Celebrating President's Day by Kim Jordano. Then we completed a nonfiction reading response. The students copied the word presidents and illustrated themselves as President. Then we talked with our partners about what we learned about the President's job from the book. We shared out and choose three facts to write. We stretched out the words together and I filled in the chunks you can't hear or they didn't know. 

   We created Uncle Sam hats. Then we rolled dice and used the students to act out addition stories. Then students went to their seats and played President's Day roll and cover addition with their partner.

Addition Fun

    We read Snow Day and as we read, we added a student in a line for each snow day activity the family participated in. Then we modeled addition stories together using a large cut out of hot cocoa and marshmallows. We got our numbers by drawing two cards. As the students counted out the marshmallows and then added together, I wrote the addition sentence on a small whiteboard. Then we read our addition sentence and counted again to check our work. Then I passed out manila paper and we did a quick directed drawing lesson of a mug of hot cocoa. Then students returned to their seats, colored their mugs, and worked out/recorded the addition story their two cards told. Of course, we enjoyed some yummy marshmallows when we were done.

    We read Peanut Butter, Apple Butter, Cinnamon Toast. It's a book of food riddles about children's favorite foods. We talked about our favorite food to eat for breakfast with our partner. Then we told addition stories using Froot Loops, which is a favorite breakfast cereal at my house. Once again, we drew two cards, students used Froot Loops to act out the addition stories as I wrote the addition stories. We read our addition sentence and then counted to check our work. We had another directed art mini lesson on drawing a cereal bowl. Students returned to their seats, colored their bowls, and then acted out/recorded the addition story for their cards. Then they read their addition sentence to their partner and counted to check their partner's work.

    I taped off a blank domino on our carpet. Then we read Adding Animals and worked out the addition stories by putting the students on the domino board. When we were finished, we drew a domino out of a bag, put the students on the board, and solved our addition story. I modeled drawing the domino on the recording sheet and filling in the addition sentence. Then students went to their seats and practiced recording and solving addition stories.

    In the background of this picture, you can see the blank domino board I taped off on the carpet.

Valentine Math and Literacy

 Valentine addition with us as the manipulatives.

 Independent practice

 We read I Love You! by Deanna Jump and then played "Bee the Word" by putting the sentences from the book in order.

 We worked in math stations...

 ...while friends passed out their Valentines.

 Then we sorted, graphed and added our Valentines.