Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday. We had a
real snow day today, so I enjoyed some time with friends and catching-up on
some projects! For the past few weeks, we have been learning all about
different habitats. Last week, we focused on the ocean habitat. Here is what
our week looked like –
Starting off the week, we began with
four essential questions. (1) Do you think the ocean has layers? (2) Is coral a
plant? (3) Why is the ocean blue? (4) Do you think whales are fish? We taped
these questions to bulletin board paper and students then traveled the classroom
writing their name and answer. Throughout the week, we used these questions to
guide our learning. I had never done this before but loved it was an easy to pre-assess
student learning and it a ‘plan’ for the week!
We, of course,joined Annie and Moby
(BrainPop Jr.) for Ocean Habitats.
They did a great introduction to the layers of the ocean.
Throughout the week, we integrated our
theme learning into reading nonfiction texts. We spent time reading the books
below. We also read a book by Scholastic called “Into the Deep” that shows
awesome animals found at different ocean depths. The photographs are crazy cool
and sometimes, very gross! Unfortunately, I bought it at a Warehouse Sale, so
it is no longer in circulation. 🙁
On Thursday, we also created crayon
resists. My cooperating teacher has done these for years, and they turned out
great! Focusing on food chains, students created and wrote about their own
ocean food chain and then illustrated it during recess using crayon. The next
day during recess, students painted over their crayon drawings with water-downed
blue paint. They are now displayed in the hallway with the student’s writings
attached! Click here to grab the food-chain response.
Do you get National Geographic Kids? If
so, you’ve seen the awesome article they did on blue holes (like black holes only
in the ocean). It was a totally new concept to me and so much fun to share with
our friends. Blue Holes include awesome things like poisonous water and translucent
animals…enough to interest any
first-grade friend. 🙂 Click here
to check out National Geographic’s Blue Hole picture gallery – very COOL!
Also, have you seen this precious Whale
Clip Art by Jennifer
Kimbrall from Tech with Jen? If
not, make sure to check her and her clip art out. The best part of this set? It’s
FREE! I know – it’s crazy talk. If you grab it, please make sure to leave
feedback for her. 🙂
Wow! It was a wonderful week. It’s so
fantastic to see reading, writing, and science seamless merge, isn’t it?! Well,
I hope you had a snow day, but if not, I hope it was a wonderful Wednesday of
teaching and learning!
So much great info in this post – I don't know what link to check out first. We made ocean habitats in 2L pop bottles – the kids like making them and presenting them to the class.
Thanks for all of the great ideas!! We had a delayed start yesterday due to ice 🙂 I love those little surprise days off/late starts. I will be following along with your blog, and hope you will take a swing over to mine if you have a chance.
Nikki thecozyclassroom.blogspot.com
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Also, have you seen this precious Whale
4 Responses
Looks like a really fun unit! I bet the kiddos loved it – and learned a lot.
I'm jealous of your snow day = I hope it was both relaxing and productive!
~Jessica
Joy in the Journey
So much great info in this post – I don't know what link to check out first. We made ocean habitats in 2L pop bottles – the kids like making them and presenting them to the class.
Looking From Third to Fourth
Great idea about using those essential questions for the unit as a pre-assessment. I am definitely going to use that idea!
Amy
Eclectic Educating
Thanks for all of the great ideas!! We had a delayed start yesterday due to ice 🙂 I love those little surprise days off/late starts. I will be following along with your blog, and hope you will take a swing over to mine if you have a chance.
Nikki
thecozyclassroom.blogspot.com