Boats, Shapes, 50's day and Thanksgiving oh my!

Many moons ago, I went to grad school and received my Masters Degree in Math, Science and Technology in Elementary education. Yes, that is what we now know as STEM. I've had my thesis in a file to be published on TPT for about 4 years. I can't seem to part with it. I don't know if I will ever have the guts to put it up there, fear of rejection maybe?, although my professors loved it. It was months and months of research and work... It was 13 years ago, maybe one day I will be ready to share all that hard work. 
In the meantime, I have a much smaller scale unit that I just did with my class for Sink and Float. I'm just testing the waters (pun intended) with this one.

This unit will take you anywhere from 6-8 days depending on the time you have for science. I currently have it listed for 40% off. Head on over and grab it now! We had so much fun with this little Will it Sink or Float? Elementary STEM Unit... I hope you like it!

 Also this past month we got to do one of my favorite math activities of the year.... Geo Panes from my Common Core Geometry Unit. 

 

First we build and record. I use gum drops I find at my local grocery store. They hold up great in the soapy water.

Students choose which shape they want to dip into the water.

As you can see, it creates these great panes of flat bubbles for the faces of the shape.

I've recently updated this unit, I added a template for creating my dear friend Miss Poly Gon for you and a smaller version for your class. You can also just get the template for her if you don't want the whole unit--How to Make Miss Poly Gon

 This is the first year we decided to celebrate the 50th day of school. We had a lot of fun with this day. My teammates found so many free ideas on pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers. (That's me over on the left--trying to be Too cool for school, lol)

Here's my Too cool For school partner.

This year for Red Ribbon week we had a decorate your door contest. My sister created these adorable graphics and i just love them. I decided to use my Candy Corn in Disguise. "I mustache you to be healthy"

Here is something easy and FREE. After reading several Pete the Cat books, I decided to do a directed drawing with my students. Using the document camera I walked the class through the drawing step by step. They then wrote to describe him.

As we  head on into November, we will begin learning about the Pilgrims and Native Americans. I think it's important for my firsties to understand how life long ago, children long ago, etc... are different than things are today. I created this unit to help my students compare and contrast differences and similarities between themselves and Native American and Pilgrim Children. There are a variety of Venn Diagrams and Double-Bubble Maps to choose from, depending on your preference.

Thanksgiving Comparisons unit

Teacher Week: Favorite Subject

I'm Linking up with Blog Hoppin' to talk about my favorite subject to teach.
I think it would be more appropriate to say, the subject I feel I am the most creative is Math. I love using all manipulatives and a hands-on approach. In math, I feel like one of those teachers you see in the movies inspiring students to conquer the World! Lol! Ok, Maybe not conquer the world, but I definitely feel the most enthusiastic teaching Math.
It all started when I got my invitation for my informal observation. the first of its kind in our new Marzano evaluation guided system.
We were going to be starting our unit on Geometry and that's when Miss Poly Gon came to life: Free Intro. to Geometry Unit

Needless to say, I continued the lesson into a unit that would engage my students and help them learn all about 2D and 3D shapes. You can read about it here: Shape Zoo USA

  I mean who doesn't love gum drops?  This was something I did in grad school at Hofstra University back in 2000. It's a hit every time!

Then there's the number scroll! For all your early finishers, how high can you count? It just keeps going and going.....

 And this word? I did not know this word until I was already teaching and being trained by a math wizard. Now my first graders know it! Gosh, who doesn't love to teach math?
 

Upside down and Right side up!

I'm back!!!
Have you ever gotten so busy that it feels like up is down and down is up? like You don't know which way to turn first?
That has been me for probably the past month.-I think I even missed my blogiversary! oh well :o( It's my blog and I'll whine if I want to.

About 3 weeks ago, I had my Formal Observation. Anyone who knows who Marzano is, knows that a Formal is not just your regular observation. The administrators have an idea of what they are looking for when they watch the lesson, but there are so many possibilities. The whole process, between planning, pre-observation conference, teaching and post-observation conference can take 2 weeks.

The lesson went great and my class did amazing.. I previously posted that this lesson is free on TPT. I "planned" on adding more to this unit--but time has gotten away from me, and I have not done 1 thing having to do with Geometry -or anything else for that matter to post on TpT-as far as creating something from my imagination goes.

I did however, make Geo-panes with my class which I really can't take credit for. I was given this activity when I was taking my Master's classes. My professor at the time did this activity with us--and it was so much fun. It is from a 1996 AIMS book. Basically you build 3-D shapes with gum-drops and toothpicks. The gum-drops are the vertices, the toothpicks are the edges. Once the students make a prediction and complete their chart, they tie a thread around one of the toothpicks. You will mix a soapy concoction of water, dish-soap and bubbles. The students take turns dipping their shapes. Here are the awesome results....