It's That Time Again....Take Me Back Tuesday! {A Linky}

I never realized how quickly Tuesday rolls around each week until I started this little linky. These weeks are seriously flying by, and before we know it, Christmas will be here. I love the holidays. Plain and simple! 

So, for this Take Me Back Tuesday, I am going to share a little graphing...holiday style! 

**********************************Originally Posted December 2012*********************************

Hey everyone! It is going to be super short tonight, but I just wanted to share my newest unit. So many of you have asked for another graphing unit similar to my It's Snowing Graphs, and just because I love you so much...I give you...Tis the Season for Graphing! You can check it out on TPT right now! I have also created a bundle with both units. So what are you waiting for??? it's time to get your graph on! 

Tis the Season for Graphing

This unit includes seven vocabulary posters and seven classroom graphing activities (two of which would be perfect to add to your holiday math centers) that will get your students in the holiday spirit. The five classroom graphing activities include writing paper to allow students to interpret their data through writing. Here is a look at what is included in the pack.

1. How do you eat a gingerbread man? A great connection to one of my favorite holiday stories! 

How do you eat a gingerbread man? For this grativity, I gave each student a gingerbread man and we all took one bite. Then, we recorded the results together on a tally chart. We have been working on number scales and bar graphs, so after the results were in, we graphed the results. The students decided the number scale {we counted by twos}.

To integrate a little writing in with this activity, the students used sequencing words {first, next, then, finally} to describe the way that they like to eat their gingerbread man. I don't have any pictures for this, but some of these writings were way too funny. This was a perfect topic for a little quick write.

2. Our Favorite Reindeer (Also included in my Run, Run Rudolph Unit): Your students will love this activity as they truly get to know all of Santa's famous reindeer. 

Our next graphing activity was not centered around gingerbread men, but the kids loved it just the same. I used the cutest little website to introduce my crew to those sleigh guiding reindeer {Click on the picture to check it out!} We all voted on our favorite reindeer and recorded our data on a tally chart. After the results were complete, we turned our data into a pictograph. While creating pictographs, we were really zoning in on the key. On our graph 1 reindeer = 2 votes. The students loved cutting the reindeer in half when we had to represent an odd number of votes.

3. How do you like Polar Express hot chocolate? Take an imaginary ride on the Polar Express and graph how your like hot chocolate best! 

4. What will Santa do now? (Literature Connection) During this graphing activity, the students will predict what Santa will do on his vacation time after the holidays. 

5. Our Favorite Holiday Song: Prior to this activity, the students will enjoy a little caroling in the classroom. Then, they will select their favorite holiday tune and graph the results. 

6. Decorate the Tree (Center Activity): The students will draw Christmas decorations out of a bag and graph the results. Then, they will design their very own tree. 

7. Will this Christmas be white? (Center Activity): The students will drop a double sided tree. They will graph their results to predict if we will have a white Christmas this year! 

It's Snowing Graphs: 

Includes:

~7 Vocabulary Posters

~6 Graphing Activities to practice pictographs, bar graphs, tally charts, and line plots.

Graphing Activities: 

-Favorite Winter Activities

-How do you like your hot chocolate? 

-Snowman Shake-up

-It's a Wild Snowman World

-A Button Nose?

-Snowman Punch or Hot Cocoa?

You can check these out by clicking the links below: 

Tis the Season for Graphing

It's Snowing Graphs

Winter Graphing Bundle {Both Units}


And here is a few pictures of the unit in action!

  

Graphing our favorite winter drink. My students agreed that snowman punch is where it’s at! We had a blast with these winter graphing activities!

P.S. If you bought this unit over at TPT and are planning on doing this little activity, I couldn’t find any eggnog. Shoot! {And yes…it was going to be alcohol free…naughty teachers!} Ha!  So…move on to plan B…milk and french vanilla snowman marshmallows. Worked like a charm! :)

Have a great week, y'all!

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Don't forget, you can pick up both of these units ON SALE...AND...Today is the last day of the massive TPT sale, so take advantage of the 28% off and stock your computer with tons of teaching goodies!

Visit my shop {HERE}. 

Run, Run Rudolph: Fun Reindeer Games

I wanted to quickly share another holiday unit just in case you are looking for more holiday goodies to snatch up during the HUGE TPT SALE {Going on RIGHT NOW!} ;) 

Run, Run Rudolph is a collection of all things fun, engaging, and most importantly, reindeer! Take a look at a few of the projects included in this pack below...

Imogene's Antlers: 

Not only do I love, love, LOVE this story, but I also love how descriptive the language use is throughout the text. After reading the book, students write a "tell me" piece to describe their antlers. This piece is very boring, lacking descriptive language and vocabulary. THEN....they take that same piece of writing and turn it into a "show me" piece where they use all sorts of wonderful details to describe their antlers. This is a great way to show students what is expected in their writing and how they can take a boring piece and turn it into something fabulous. 

Reindeer Buffet:

We all know the excitement is near and so are those wondering minds! :) This little behavior management technique helps keep your students focused on their learning while they earn money to purchase reindeer chow. Each day, the students can earn coins for good behavior and work ethic. Then at the end of the week, they count up those coins and get ready for some grub. Each ingredient costs a different amount...and of course, the best ingredients are the most expensive {they've got to work for it!}. 

Wanted: Reindeer for Santa's Sleigh:

I have done this little writing assignment for years and it is always a hit! The students find out that Santa's reindeer are out of shape. They must create a wanted poster to find new reindeer for the sleigh! 

Run, Run Rudolph is a standards based  unit that encourages valuable learning experiences and brings in a whole lot of holiday cheer! As  many of us know, the holiday spirit in many of our students becomes a little…well…at times…crazy! (It is what it is…right?J) With this unit, you can bring out the best in that sweet spirit and keep students engaged and excited about learning. I hope that you and your students enjoy this little piece of Christmas spirit! And the best part??? It is on SALE, along with all of my other products in my shop. If you would like to check it out, you can swing by my TPT store. Or you can click {HERE} to see all of my holiday swag! 

Now what are you waiting for? Go get your shop on! ;)   

HOLIDAY IDEAS! The Ultimate Holiday Writing Bundle, SALE, and & Little Giveaway!

It's time! It's time! The holiday season is here, and it is time to bust out the holiday spirit in the classroom. I always love the magic that can be brought during these few weeks before Christmas break. The kids are always overly excited, and I am constantly searching for ways to keep them engaged, motivated and learning up until the very last minute. 

I just finished up my Ultimate Holiday Writing Bundle which includes five of my students' favorite holiday projects. These writing prompts get your students excited about writing and the crafts are perfect for adding a little holiday cheer throughout your room and school. 

If you are looking for a way to keep those holiday hungry students all about their learning, check out the preview below...{All ideas can be used in any grade level.} 

1. Dear Santa...I Can Explain

I began this lesson by telling the kids that Santa had messaged me to bring them a very special gift. Then I continued by saying...don't shoot the messenger! 

They were each given a lump of coal (Rice Krispie Treat). Let me just say...our room went into a total uproar. They immediately inferred that they were no longer on the nice list and were completely shocked by the news. {I had no comment! :)}

Immediately, they were ready to write Santa a letter to let him know that he had made a big mistake. This activity really got the creative juices flowing...or maybe it was the slight anger that they felt. Either way, I was so, SO impressed with their writings. 

We finished this lesson by creating a bag of coal to display with our writings. Then, I told the kids that they could take these home before break to play a little joke on their favorite brother/sister. They were thrilled to say the least! 

2. Baby Face or Beard {My Favorite} 

Have you ever thought about what Santa would look like with a baby face...or a mustache? Let your students decide which look will best fit such a jolly dude! This unit will have your kiddos graphing and writing their way into the holiday season. Of course, their must be a cute craft to boot! 

Here is how they turned out in our classroom last year! 

Check out that mustache...and the freckles! Love! :) 

Here is a look at one of the writing pieces. Our main focus was transitional words leading into a new paragraph. I was really pleased with our progress! Plus, their ideas were hysterical and of course, they had it all figured out for Santa! 

3. Save the Gingerbread Men

During this writing, the students were asked to write a persuasive essay from the perspective of a gingerbread man (or woman, boy, girl, cowboy...you get the idea) begging their maker not to eat them. We began by reading one of our favorite gingerbread stories called Gingerbread Pirates. Then, together as a class, they came up with persuasive ideas to convince their audience. I couldn't believe what they came up with (diabetes, cavities, calories, baked with salt instead of sugar). Hilarious. Then, they got to work on their essays focusing on their transitions between paragraphs, as well as their content. These turned out so cute! 

Then we created gingerbread men to bring our writing to life. I gave them their gingerbread man template and they went to town with construction paper. 

I have to say that I love the peg leg and the crazy hair on this little guy! 

4. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas 

Have y'all heard "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"? Probably one of the cutest songs ever. We *may* have listened to it 4 or 5 times during this writing. Seriously...cute! Listen for yourself...

  After we listened to the song (which includes great persuasive language), the kiddos wrote an essay to persuade their mom/dad to give them their very own hippo for Christmas. We finished with a little craft! 

These just makes me laugh! 

5. Pack Your Bags with Christmas and Other Holidays Around the World

I am so excited to include my newest unit in this bundle.  Holidays around the World...need I say more? This is always one of my favorite studies. However, I always had trouble figuring out what to do with all of the crafts and activities. I have been trying to think of a way to consolidate this study into a book that could extend beyond our study in the classroom into the homes of the students.

This unit is filled with all of the resources needed to study 16 different countries and cultures. Each page also includes a QR code so that students can continue their research and learning at home. This is a perfect resource to get in some holiday reading practice at night with families. You can snag this unit in my TPT shop by clicking {HERE}. 

I also updated this unit this morning to include four other Holidays. 

Annnnd....that's all folks! :) 

Use the links below to check out these units in TPT and stop by my Facebook page to enter in the giveaway to win my Ultimate Writing Bundle! 

One more thing...just in case you didn't know. TPT is throwing a massive Cyber Monday & Tuesday sale. All of my Christmas Units will be on sale, along with the other resources in my shop! Stock up now! :) 

Click the image below to check out all of the resources in my shop! 

I'll be back tomorrow to share some of my other Christmas resources! 

Happy Sunday, sweet friends!