Sunday Rewind…{Animals and Poetry}

This week, we began our final science unit on animals.  I CAN NOT believe I just said final. Where did this year go?!? Wow!
When I heard that I was moving on to 2nd with my kiddos, I was super excited for many reasons, but mainly because I would finally get to teach animals. The students have been eagerly anticipating this unit as much as I have, and we are already having a blast!
This past week, we began with a little study of the six classes of animals. We did learn about these in first grade through a book study, {I had to get animals in somehow} so the kiddos were already ahead of the game. To review animal classifications, we created animal windsocks.  Each strip on their windsock identifies a different class and it’s description.
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We also began discussing vertebrates vs. invertebrates. The students illustrated an animal that would fit under each category. Then, we used Q-Tips to create the backbone in our vertebrate animal.         
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This week, we will continue learning about all things animals! To bring a little excitement into this unit {as if it needs any} I just couldn’t help but make these adorable jeeps for the classroom. Found them on Pinterest {of course}.  The original idea came from Buzzing About in Second Grade! Be sure to check out this super cute blog!
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If you would like to incorporate some of these ideas into your room, stop by my TPT shop and check out my On Safari Unit



Last week, the students also finished their poetry unit, created their iphones {with their poetry apps} and presented! How cute are these phones? My student teacher did a fab job with this unit and the students were ALL…and I do mean ALL about iPoetry!
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Click {HERE} to take a closer look at my iPoetry unit. 

Then our Friday ended with our 3rd nine weeks academic pep rally. Here is how my celebration went…
 
I guess that is what I get for being super competitive during our card sells this year! Ha! My little man was super nice. That may or may not have had a little something to do with the fact that I threatened to take his recess for the entire year if he was anything but nice! :)
Our faculty also prepared a flash mob to prove to our kids that we are in fact…still…super cool! Our students assured me that I’ve got moves! That means a lot coming from a 2nd grader! :) This was probably one of the highlights of our year! So fun and such great exercise! I was a huge puddle of sweat at the end! I think I need to do this dance a couple of times a day to prepare for the summer! :)
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My student teacher and I dressed like 80’s twins because our kids always say that we dress just alike. Remember…we only had 30 seconds to change…flash mobs do not provide you with the time needed for elaborate costumes…AND…I was just pied…notice the stickiness on my face!
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So glad that the hubs teaches at my school so we can share “special” {emphasis on the special} moments like this! Ha! Ha! :)
On that note…I am out! I will be announcing my Spring Fling winner tomorrow evening! Also, for all of you who have asked…I promise to get my poetry and measurement unit out ASAP {hopefully within the week}.  I try not to bore you with personal information, but I have had some med. issues here lately and so my computer time has been super limited! No worries…I am on the mend, but it has been super irritating!  I never want to share anything with you that is just thrown together, so as soon as they are completely finished, I will be sure to post them on TPT.
I hope that you all have a wonderful week of learning with your kiddos! Not many left, so let’s make them our BEST!!!!
Happy Sunday!

Super Sunday Sale!


You Need To Glogster!

Have y’all seen Glogster? Seriously one of THE coolest sites I have seen lately! I was introduced to this a few weeks ago during a training session and again today during our faculty meeting! I just thought I would share all of this coolness with you! It is SUPER, SUPER kid friendly and would be oh so awesome to let the kiddos make and prepare presentations, research, etc. It will also be awesome to use for lesson prep instead of your every day PP presentation. You can add videos, link websites, add pictures or one of their adorable graphics!  Plus, you can link to blogs and websites. Several of the school districts around me actually have a “glogster” as their website! Super cool! Seriously…when I say it’s amazing…it is AMAZING!

Here is an example presentation on the website!  I could only fit a portion of it onto my browser, but you get the idea!

Here is a little presentation that I began. You can choose your background, etc.

You can add and delete as you go!

We began our animal unit today, so there will definitely be some Glogsters in our future! I hope you enjoy Glogster as much as I do! I can’t wait to get into it with the kiddos!

Also…don’t forget to enter my Spring Fling Giveaway! Click on the picture below for more details!

Spring Fling Giveaway!!!

I have missed the blogging world, but it was oh so nice to have a whole entire week to set the computer aside {a must of the hubs… at first I panicked…I am now thanking him} and enjoy my family and some beautiful beach weather! {Can I go back…now?? Please???} BUT back to reality tomorrow and I am so excited to wrap up these final 8 weeks of school! YES…8 WEEKS! {Cue teacher panic attacks! Ha!} BREATHE! I know that these final weeks are always completely packed, but there is still learning to be done and fun to be had! This week we begin our animal unit and even I can’t wait to see what’s in store! {That’s probably because I haven’t planned it…yet!} So, I guess I better get moving! Good thing I can do a lot of work in a short amount of time!

Since I am LOVING all of the spring that I see around me, I am going to have a giveaway to celebrate.

 

To enter, you only need to do two things:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow my TPT shop.

Then, leave a comment that you have done both, and you will be entered to win! The fling will end Saturday at 12:00 midnight!  Good luck, friends!

If you would like one more entry, you can use the graphic above and share it with your friends on FB or in the bloggin’ world! Leave an additional comment if you spread the news! :)

Wishing you all a VERY blessed week!