We’ve Been On Safari…For Three Weeks!

This has been us…

Slide6   Slide7

For three weeks!

Hence the reason I have posted very few pictures and/or why I have not been able to do a weekly rewind. It would literally look like this {at least during writing time}. We have our big academic celebration coming up on Thursday, and  we have been hard at work preparing work/papers/projects to show parents that we really do work and learn at school! ;)

So, where did three weeks of work get us??? Drum roll, please!

Slide7   Slide8

Slide9   Slide10

Check out the cutest safari men {and women} in 2nd Grade! I saw this adorable little craft on Pinterest and knew that it would be perfect for our final 2nd grade project! Thanks to Buzzing About in Second Grade for such a fab idea! She also has an entire unit on these little guys, which you can check out HERE!

Now, let me break down our interpretation and show you all of the things that we have learned out on safari!

Slide12

We worked on classifying animals into six groups {mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects}. The front of our vests includes facts that allow us to better categorize creatures that roam our world!

Slide11   Slide16   Slide17

We also focused on a few of our nonfiction text features. Some of the students chose to label their pictures to show characteristics that allowed each animal to fit into a specific class.

Slide14   

Next up, the students each chose a specific animal that they were interested in learning more about. We began with a little research which we used to write animal riddles. We published these riddles into a class book and sent it off to Student Treasures Publishing to make us legit authors! :0) We will be having our author signing this week, so I will be sure to take lots of pictures to share! Since we enjoyed writing our riddles so much, we also included them in our safari guides!

Slide15   Slide19   Slide22

After our riddles were complete, we dug a little further into research about our animals. The students organized and wrote a five paragraph essay to provide all of the information that you could possibly want to know about their animal. They were beyond excited about all of their new learning! I seriously had to hide the computers at one point, because they could have gone on for months instead of weeks! {I loved every minute of their excitement.} 

Slide13   Slide18

Then to finish it all off, we researched the different ways that animals use camouflage to protect themselves from predators in the wild. Another component that the kiddos could have spent days on! They were SO into this camouflage business!

Here is a look at the finished projects!

Slide1

Slide3

Slide4

The students were beyond proud of their work. So much in fact that many were sad! SAD! They didn’t want for the project to be over! Me on the other hand…sat back and breathed a huge sigh of relief! Ha!

Slide2

Lovin’ our hallway display!

Now…this is what is waiting for me…

Slide5

These will hopefully {fingers crossed} be transformed into a complete safari…with live animals…you know…the whole nine yards! Can’t wait to share pictures!

And don’t forget, my EOY {end of year} packs are on sale until tomorrow night! Click on the pictures below to check them out!

Preview

Slide1

Preview

Happy, happy Sunday! I hope that your day has been as beautiful as mine! Have a great week, y’all! :)

22 comments:

  1. These are AdORabLe! Like lapbooks with pizazz!

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks like the kids learned a lot and had fun along the way!! I love the safari men/women!!
    Connie:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, you sure have been busy! I love your safari people....too cute!

    Elizabeth
    Fun in Room 4B

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my gosh! Those safari people are SUPER cute! We just had a safari right to read week. Those would have been perfect to make!!!!

    I will have to remember it for next time we have that theme. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your safari people are fabulous and I am totally pinning this RIGHT NOW!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Adorable and such a wonderful research actvity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hope,
    Your safari boys and girls are so adorable. I bet the kids have had a blast learning this unit. (I'm still jealous of the field trip to Atlanta!) hahaha

    Cynthia
    2nd Grade Pad

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow, so cute. Love the safari people. Really adorable.. Many thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So cute! Can't wait to teach this unit next year and make those precious little safari people!

    Jamie at 2nd Grade Stuff

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks like a TON of work. Very fun looking, also.
    ~Aidyl

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh goodness... I love those safari men!! What a wonderful idea :)

    Katie
    Dirty Hands and Lesson Plans

    ReplyDelete
  12. You have some wonderful ideas. To say Thank You I am passing along this award to you.
    http://madlylearning.blogspot.ca/2012/05/what-blogging-community.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow!! How do you have the energy?? Sounds like so much fun! I'll have to add that on my things to do next year! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my these are so cute! I can't wait to make them in my summer program. I went to the Teachers Notebook site to download her unit but it is different from the unit you used? Where can I find the worksheets that you used for this activity? I plan to be making these next week. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am also looking for the worksheets you used as well?

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love love love this! Where can I find the worksheets that you used for this activity? Also, when you say that the kids researched the animals, camouflage, etc. what exactly do you mean? Did you use library books, internet, textbooks? Thank you so much for any help!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Is there a safari template to use?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Loved your idea and adapted it in my classroom. Thanks for the creative post.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is adorable and I absolutely would love to do this! I'd love to know more about your process. How did your organize the research groups?

    Laura

    ReplyDelete