Two Hoots and A Holler

Hoot #1 

Our school recently held a Science Fair.  The students worked very hard on their experiments and presentations.  The fifth grade students were so proud of their projects, they wanted to share them with their housemates in kindergarten.  So we had an impromptu house meeting for these wonderful kids to show off their hard work!   Our kinders were so engaged and fascinated by what they were saying! 

Hoot #2

 We recently celebrated our 100th day of school!!  We cannot believe how fast this year has flown by!  We had several activities planned for students to do to celebrate being 100 days smarter!  Check out some of the things we did in our classrooms!

We made a 100 day snack using Kit Kat Bars and powdered donuts.  YUMMY!  
We also made a 100 day trail mix by having students count out 10 items of 10 different snacks (Goldfish, M&Ms, marshmallows, pretzels, cheese balls, Cookie Crisp, Whoppers, Bugles, etc.).  Somehow, I failed to take pictures of the Rockstars making their trail mix!

We made  a 100 day necklace with Froot Loops.  I learned that if you tape the string to a paper plate, the cereal doesn't fall off of the end of the string.  It also allows for them to stand up and move around without worrying about ripping the taped string from the floor or table.  We also made 100 day hats to wear.  The hats have 10 strips of paper with 10 dots on each one.  They LOVED making and wearing their hats!  They didn't want to take them off!!

Theses Jitterbugs we super excited to show off their 100 cup tower! The cups are small drinking cups. I find that these are easier to store. We did several 100 Day centers. These do not take place in isolation. It all happens at the same time.Yes, it is a little chaotic, but it is organized chaos. The students used their check list to hop for one activity to another. This allows them to be responsible for the order of their experience.

Here we are counting 100 items for snack.

On the floor students are making their 100 day hat. We were so busy, I forgot to take pictures of them actually in their hats!!

As you can see, they are very busy and very engaged!

At the yellow table, students drew a picture of what they look like now that they are 100 days smarter!

This Week's Holler...

This week's holler goes out to our students!!! These Jitterbugs and Rockstars are 100 days smarter and it shows! They have become more responsible. They are more willing to take a chance and they are succeeding. We couldn't me more proud!!

 

Science, Science, Science!

One of our viewers asked us to address how we fit science into a schedule that is already jammed pack!  I was so excited about this question.  I know with everything that is demanded of us, I think I can not fit one more thing in!  The following is ways that I (Jitterbugs) fit science into our routine.  I hope this helps.
Mississippi is a Common Core state.  Usually at the beginning of the year, I look over the standards and see how I can incorporate the standard into the theme that we will be doing.  Right now I have 9 tubs, in each group,  as work stations.  Students have a choice as to what tubs that they would like to do.  One tub is a science tub.  It meets one of the standards that I would like my students to meet. These activities stay in the tub until I am ready to move on to another science standard. 
In the afternoons, I alternate science and social studies.  I find that most of the time, these co-inside with each other and it always incorporates writing.  Once we discuss the topic and do a couple of activities with it, I put those games and activities at the stations.

 

 This is one of my science book that I tend to fall back on.  I will be the first to tell you that it is "old school".  There are plenty of cute ideas on the internet to meet these standards.  But these are simple easy to set up and easy for the kids to put away.

 I hope this answers your question!  Thanks for your question!

Jamie