May Poetry Notebook Pages

This Month's Poetry Notebook Pages!

(Click on the image above to download.)

Please note:  I typed these poems for classroom use.  I did not write these poems.  :-)

Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Going Green!

We are learning about the environment and how to identify and protect our Natural Resources.

I used this book with six students during small group guided reading instruction.  It provided an overview of various aspects of geography and geology, including the poles, dinosaurs, glaciers, islands, continents, volcanoes, water sources, forests, deserts, caves, mountains and canyons.  Students enjoyed discussing their favorite parts and they were quickly able to make "text to real world" connections.  The book became a favorite choice during our read to someone time and a student choice for "take home" reading!

Here's a quick look at some of our projects!

front side of the Earth

back side of the Earth

Here's A Look At A Writing Project 

Students wrote about ways in which they can help make a difference in the world around them.  Students painted the edges of a blue circle to resemble land on the Earth and then they designed a cut out of themselves to glue at top of the world.  

After reading a darling post over at the First Grade Parade, I modified my original project to include the student's handprint in the center of the Earth!  The green hand is featured in one of Mrs. Carroll's fantastic ideas!  I am so glad she shared it with all of us.  My first graders LOVED adding their handprints to the design!  

Want to try this project with your favorite students?

We also focused on the 3R's!  We wrote about ways we can recycle, reduce, and reuse to take care of the Earth!

A Great Read Aloud for the Classroom

Going Green Kids

Students designed a t-shirt to demonstrate their understanding of limited natural resources and the ways in which they can make a difference.

We are also learning about plants and trees!

Here's a look at our "Trees Are Terrific" project! 

 Just in time for Arbor Day!

Finger Paint a Tree!

You'll need an 11 by 17 lightly colored construction paper background, brown and green tempera paint, green construction paper strips for grass, and a title.  Students can add background details with crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.

Here's a title for the art!

Click above to download.

Here's Another Great Read Aloud

And I just have to share the cover of this book as well.  It's a beautifully illustrated read aloud that encourages the creation of an outdoor habitat!  Perfect for Spring, Earth Day, and Learning Through Nature!


We even managed to have some "Going Green" fun with probability!


Here's a math activity, if you are interested!

Click above to download.

Students cut apart the cards, place the cards in a small brown paper bag, and shake the bag.  Students pick a card from the bag and graph the card.  Students continue picking and graphing ten times.  Students compare results and discuss their findings.  Students were asked to reuse the bags for an at home as part of a "green" project ~ ideas my students shared with me included bag puppets, snack bags, and a trash bag to pick up litter from the yard!  

Hope you've had a great week!

Thank You!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making my first giveaway a success!


An Extra BIG Thank You to My Friend {and Outstanding Teacher} For Sharing Your Sewing Talents With Us!

You are all wonderful!

I really enjoyed reading each and every of the heart- felt, fabulous comments!

All My Best!

The Winner Is...

Contact me at firstgradebest@gmail.com so that I can mail your prize!

Soon To Be Given Away!

The Giveaway ends at 6PM on Tuesday, April 26th!

Good Luck!

Baby Animals

San Diego Zoo Photo Credit at ZooBorns Today!

Here’s A Glimpse At A Few Images From A Favorite Website We Love To Use In Our Classroom!

I use daily digital images to promote oral language skills among my first grader students.  I share the image with the entire class.  We generate some questions and facts {...and opinions...} about the photo and then the fun begins.  Using a Kagan Structure, the students stand up, pair up, and engage in conversation with a partner.  The daily image can be used during a transition time or when a "Noisy Nora" break is needed!

We just can’t seem to get enough of these cute baby animals born in zoos and aquariums around the world!

Be Sure To Visit the ZooBorns Site With Your Students!

Cute books, too!

 

Check Out My Giveaway!

In Case You Missed It!

Look What Is Up For Grabs!

 front of the bag

 back of the bag

Here's What You Need To Do!

Go To The Original Post To Comment Please!

1.  Make sure you are one of my followers AND post a comment about how you would use this fun bag.

For additional entries you can . . .

2.  Blog about this giveaway and then post an additional comment with a link to your blog.

3.  Tell me about your favorite Eric Carle book and how you use it in your classroom

AND here’s your chance for yet another “EXTRA” entry….for all you techies out there…

4.  If you can offer any advice as to how to get my follower button to work in Internet Explorer, please let me know!  It has not worked since day one ~ I know it’s silly, but it drives me crazy!  I’ve tried using my Mac, my PC, my husband’s PC, removing, adding, and moving the follower button, as well as using the direct html from Google and NO LUCK!  Any suggestions are welcome!

Check back on Tuesday, April 26th to see if you are the winner!!!

The giveaway will end at 6:00 PM EST.

Click below to enter the giveaway!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Since it’s April we're writing about RAIN!  

Here’s a look at our rainy day poems that we completed while studying the water cycle.  

Scholastic's Instant Poetry Frames

On the raindrops, we wrote about healthy and fun ways to use water.

Smiles!

P.S.  Click here for the patterns if you want to add some rainy day fun to your classroom.