This week in Theme and Reading we have
zoomed in on rocks. It has been so neat to see how much our friends love
non-fiction. Plus, hitting rocks and the earth from two fronts has been so
smooth and makes a ton more sense for our friends.
We started out with rock observations
using our five senses to learn about the rocks, as well as, making graphic
organizers listening ways to describe rocks. This was a great, hands-on way to
interact with rocks while reviewing adjectives. Now for the student who repeatedly
scratched her arm with her metamorphic rock….we won’t even go there! 😉
My cooperating teacher also made sedimentary PB&J sandwiches for snack on Tuesday (No worries, we do not have any nut
allergies!). We have a SUPER late lunch {12:35} and we must have a snack. If
not, we our friends get grumpy. The kids took the metaphor to heart and
ALL week long they noticed layers in rocks and things around the school. Who doesn’t want a
sedimentary cardigan? 🙂
We ended Friday with a cookie weather
experiment to see how the earth can be changed. Students we given a chocolate
chip cookie, a plate, a toothpick, a q-tip, and water. Then, students predicted
which would make the most substantial change to the cookie when administered for
1 and 5 minutes. I have never watched toothpicks stab or q-tips rub a cookie faster!
Two of my favorite books from the week
were The
Sun, Wind, and Rain and How
to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World. Both nonfiction, they
both hooked the students. The first uses comparison and contrast to teach about
ways the earth is changed. The second takes students on a journey to the core
of the Earth. It was SO much fun, and some of our friends were ready to start
digging on recess. I compromised and said if they got the drilled-tipped submarine,
I would help. 🙂 To show that they knew, students completed these two exit slips during centers. If you’ll be reading these books, feel free to
grab them!
Lastly, we focused on high-level vocabulary
with students. We even got compliments on our focus wall from the intermediate
teachers! We used Simply
Second’s Rocks
and Minerals Vocabulary Cards for our basic rock vocabulary and Kammy
Hansen’s Properties
of Rocks Vocabulary Cards when talking our properties and characteristics
of rocks. They are both awesome freebies!
Holey moley! It was a fantastic week.
This week we start on the ocean, and it’s going to be great! I’ll tell you all
about it soon.
Lastly, the winners for my March giveaway
are Megan Wheeler from Mrs.
Wheeler’s First Grade and Jess from I {Heart} Recess! Congrats ladies;
please check you emails. If you did not win, I am leaving my Wildly Whimsical
Birthday centers and Rainbows and Riches for 20% off until tomorrow! Click here
to grab them.
3 Responses
We love the cookie activity for rocks! We'll be starting rocks later in March. Thanks for sharing your ideas and the 2 freebies!
🙂 Tamra and Sarah
firstgradebuddies2.blogspot.com
Congrats to your winners! Looks like you had a super fun week!!
:)Kim
Great activities! Love the PB&J and cookie ideas. I have never heard of those books. I will definitely have to check them out soon!
Amy
Eclectic Educating