Language and Geography

An interesting article about the development of language and sublingual groups based on geography and natural barriers and borders.  Working with children from around the world, it's fascinating to hear who can communicate with one another.  I had an Iranian student, Nepalese, and Pakistani student the other day in my classroom, insulting each other in Hindi.  Amazing ; )


Link to article on languages

Biodegradable Pots

In honor of Earth Day and spring, we recently planted seeds with the children.  We made biodegradable pots using newspaper.  Here are directions to print and a link to a Youtube video showing the process.  Fifth graders were able to do the folding to create the pots, though they planted with their first grade buddies.

We then used popsicle sticks and paper from the recycling bucket to create flags for the plants.


Folding pots link video.

Another, easier variation on newspaper pots:  Rolling newspaper pots step-by-step directions.

Some books (there are SO many) to connect to this activity are:  

From Seed to Plant- by Gail Gibbons

Titch- by Pat Hutchins

Plant Package- by Susan Blackaby

The Carrot Seed- by Ruth Krauss

Sunflower House- by Eve Bunting

Easter Egg Bunnies

I found this activity in Family Circle magazine.  It's quick and easy and inexpensive.

Completed bunny.

Materials needed: 

• plastic Easter eggs (the larger ones are easier to use & make sure they have holes on top and bottom)
• pipe cleaners
• a Sharpie or permanent marker
• pom poms or cotton balls for a tail
• a hot glue gun and glue stick
• (goodies for inside if you are so inclined)

Steps for making the bunny:
         
Open the egg and feed the pipe cleaner through and back through the same hole to create an ear.
Pull it back through and do the same with the other half of the pipe cleaner.
Do the same for the feet.  (You can also cut the pipe cleaner in half for the feet).
Draw a face on the front with the Sharpie.
 Glue the pom-pom on the back, with the hot glue gun, for the tail.

Some books related to this activity: 

The Bunny Who Found Easter- Charlotte Zolotow
The Easter Egg- Jan Brett
The Story of the Easter Bunny- Katerine Tegen

Multistory Construction Article

An interesting article from Language.com written on using storytelling when teaching vocabulary to ESL students.



 Link:  Multistory Construction

Fraction Flip Books

When I'm teaching fractions, we do a lot of work with fraction strips and manipulatives.  Another way I have them compare fractions is with fraction flap books.  This year we started with using them for equivalent fractions, so I had them simply glue color the strips of a printable.  (I found the printable by googling fraction strips printable).
Later, as we begin decimals and percents, we will go back to the flap books and under each flap, we'll add the decimal, percent, and a picture depicting each.
Below is the model I made.  I usually make the flap books ahead of time, especially if they have a large number of flaps, such as for this activity, which has nine flaps.  Some kids can make them easily, but for others it's frustrating and takes away from the activity we are doing.

 To make the flap books, you count the number of flaps you will need and divide by 2.  Take the first sheet of paper and fold it so that the corners are not lined up- so there is about two inches difference between one side and the other.  The next piece of paper is placed underneath that piece, and folded so that it is less than the top piece and longer than the bottom piece.  You continue doing this until you have finished all of your flaps.  If you have a long armed stapler, that works better for opening the flaps.  If not, staple the top (as I did below).

The kids colored the strips and glued them on.  Then we cut each strip on the corresponding line.  Now I can ask questions such as, "1/2 is equal to how many fourths?"  They can use the flaps to determine the answer.  Some children need a ruler to line up the 1/2 and see the equivalent fraction.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Mice

Here is a fun snack to make after reading The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear, by Don and Audrey Wood.

They can be made with young children, though the decorating may need a steadier hand.  There are variations on this activity.  I have seen the mouse ears made with leaves from the strawberry (though then they're not edible).  Licorice lace is a fun variation on the tail, however, it has been hard to find in the stores lately!  

Not our best attempt but fun to make!

Ingredients and materials:

Strawberries, dipping chocolate, raisins (or candy) for ears, icing tube for decorating, wax paper, baking sheet

1. To make the mice, you can leave the strawberry intact, or cut off the top with the greens.
2. Prepare any decoration/mouse part that needs to be affixed with the chocolate.  For instance, I use raisins for ears, so I cut them in half beforehand.  
3. Melt the chocolate (I cheat and use Dolce's Dipping Chocolate found in the produce section of our local grocery stores).
4. Dip the strawberries one at a time and lay them on a baking sheet (it helps to put down wax paper or parchment paper first).
5. Affix mouse parts to wet chocolate.
6. When the chocolate is dry, use icing to decorate the rest of it.  

Butterfly Snacks

I have seen this done in a variety of ways, with cheesy snacks, popcorn, veggies, or with different baggies or a clothespin caterpillar center.  I just did a quick and easy pan of popcorn on the stovetop, put it in a snack baggie and tied a pipe cleaner around the middle.  It is looped at the top to create antennas.  These can be as detailed or simple as you want.