Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Interactive Notebook- Eastern Woodland Indians

     Eastern Woodland Indians

       As we continued our unit on Native Americans, the topic of the Eastern Woodland Indians is always interesting to 5th graders.   I needed to have a way for the students to take notes to learn about the longhouse. I found the first  illustration, the interior of a longhouse and enlarged it to fit on a standard size copy paper. I can not take credit for the art work.

 This is the base page for the longhouse.


     The top sheet or outside of the longhouse was cut out and glued onto to base page.


       My students were encouraged to color their longhouse to enhance the appearance. This also makes them spend more time, thus more learning about the topic.


       We identified the fire (#1), corn drying (#2), smoke hole in the roof (#3), etc., labeled and highlighted the number on the base sheet as a class.  The on the lines below the picture we wrote "fire in the center of the longhouse".   The children were then asked to add two more pieces of information to their sheet on their own.

       The next step was to "talk to your neighbor" and share your information. Now the kids could show their neighbor what they had found and then added it to their list. Finally, we shared the information with the entire class.

       I really like to use the "" talk to your neighbor" technique with my 5th graders.  Then when I call on a student, they have some information to tell the class instead of saying, "I  don't know."  It takes the pressure off of children that aren't sure of their abilities and makes them more confident.     

     Interactive note taking has been very successful with my fifth graders.  I hope you will be able to give it a try. Please send me a note if you get the chance.  I'd love to hear how lit works in other classes.


Beti

Monday, October 23, 2017

Interactive notebook Indians of Desert Southwest

        Desert Southwest

       This post is related to a previous post concerning the Native American Indians of the Desert Southwest of the United States. Here is the link.
http://betikempa1.blogspot.com/2015/09/desert-southwest-pueblo.html 

     As my students learn about more Indian tribal regions, I have them work on their interactive notebook pages.  Today's topic was Indian tribes of the Desert Southwest.  The kids learned about the Hopi, Zuni, Anasazi, Taos, and the Apache tribes.  Our discussion included climate, location, food, beliefs,  clothing, and shelter. 

     We glued together the base page and the top to illustrate the outside and inside of an adobe pueblo.
Base page

Top flap

     After the page was glued together, the students added information to describe the illustrations. The students could choose to write numbers or letters on the top and/or bottom sheet. Next, under the illustrations, a numerical or alphabetical list was made to label the activities or locations pointed out in the illustrations.


Climate Regions
       Another activity concerned the climate regions. These are illustrated by the students.  This shows the climate region of the Desert Southwest.  The names of tribes are written in the space under the region. I always encourage my 5th graders to add color to their illustrations. This helps the students to spend more time looking at the information which will help them hopefully retain the information. During a test, you can look back into your "mind's eye" and see and remember  an image or color to help bring back the related information.

      My 5th grade students like to work on this type note taking in addition to traditional note taking.

I would love to read your comments on this activity.  Would you use something like this in your class? 

Beti

Friday, October 20, 2017

Interactive Student Interest Board

        Our 5th graders switch classes.  I teach Religion and Social Studies. My partners, Suzanne and Kathy, teach the Math and Science classes and the Language  Arts ( Vocab, Grammar, and Reading classes) respectively. The students, 30 in each homeroom, line up at the end of each class to move to another room every 45 minutes. This area gives the kiddos something to do when they are standing in line.
        I have an interactive board for the students to work on cooperatively during their free time.  I remind them that working cooperatively does not mean you tell your friends the answers. That will not help your friends. Cooperatively means to help others understand how to solve the problem.


          This is my board that is located to the right of the door leading out into the hall.  The blue background paper is laminated.  I have found it lasts the entire year.  The papers are attached with sticky tack so items can be changed quickly by myself or a student. The kids like to go to the drawer and pick the next game or activity to be placed on the board.
 



     I change the Boggle game sheet weekly.  This keeps the kids practicing their spelling. Sometimes I give a "prize" to the students who has found the most words.







             Jumble For Kids was in the newspaper years ago.  The date on this one is 2004. You can tell that I have been teaching for a while.  The words are usually easy, but answer at the bottom has an interesting twist.  It has to do with the clue in the picture.  This can be  a pun or a play on words. 



        Hocus Pocus  also was featured in newspapers.  The directions are to "Find at least six differences in details between panels."  This is great for examining details and going back and check again.  Many kids want to be finished and do assignments very quickly.  This gives a chance to practice the skill of carefully looking for details.


           SUDOKU is a favorite for some children while others dislike it.  My students teach each other how to play Sudoku every year.  Sudoku is a great thinking game for all ages.

      

              The CROSSWORD PUZZLE  is also popular with some students. Students often work together on the crossword puzzle.  Collaborative work is so important for children. They learn how to learn from each other and teach each other. They also learn that everyone has different strengths.

      I have a variety of different activities because my students have a variety of interests, skills, and skill levels. Teach each child.


 Enjoy teaching your students every day.  
Make it the best year ever!

Please feel free to leave a comment.  I enjoy reading your thoughts and suggestions.



  • Beti

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Teaching Latitude and Longitude

       The first chapter in 5th grade Social Studies includes the lines of latitude and longitude.  I like to use hands on learning in my classroom.  Foldables and interactive lessons  are a big part of my instruction.  I found this idea a few years ago.  I can not take any credit for it.   middleschoolmouth.blogspot.com    has this foldable.  I believe that is where I found it.

  
 
The paper plate did not want to lay flat.

   Today I am linking up with Stephanie for Show and Tell Tuesday .
www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com

 

  Basically, we begin with a very inexpensive paper plate. I use the thinest paper plates I can find because they are the easiest for the kids to fold.  The plate is folded in half, opened up, and folded in half again.  Then I had the kids draw over the 1st fold with a red marker and the second intersecting fold with a green marker. Using separate colors helps my kids see the difference in the information.





        Next, we labeled the ends of each line  with zero degrees N, S, E, and W.  The line that runs from north to south is labeled Longitude Line and Prime Meridian. The line that runs from west to east is labeled Latitude Line and Equator.

      This basic foldable is great for 4th and 5th graders.  A more detailed design can be constructed for 5th or 6th graders. 


    By making a fold from the outer edge of the circle to the Equator or Prime Meridian will result in the 60 degrees line. 








        I have my students keep this foldable in their Social Studies dou-tang.  The plate is attached with glue to a sheet of paper.   After the glue is dry, the plate can be folded up for secure storage.



       My students really like to use foldables.  Foldables make the information easier for the kids to digest,  understand, and be able to explain to to their parents and their classmates.

       What do you use to explain Longitude and Latitude to your students?

I would enjoy reading your comments.  So leave me a message any time.

Have a great school year!

Beti

Friday, August 25, 2017

Helpers

 Kids love to help in and around the classroom.   

  Most teachers have a helper chart of some kind in their room.
 I have my kids made little people to resemble themselves.

Today I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and the Five for Friday Linky Party! Lots of great ideas all around.
www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com 
 
 

       The tag at the bottom is for the student's name.

Here are a few examples of this year's helpers.  After the designs are completed, I laminate the helpers and cut them out.













         I am so pleased that the children take so much time and add details to the characterization of themselves. At the beginning of the year we are just getting to know our students. By observing student artwork, the teacher can learn so much about their students. Our students wear a uniform to school, so they really enjoy wearing everyday clothes to school on special days.

        Here are some of the helper tags.  The students attach their helper person near the tag of the job they have chosen. 




    What type of Helper Chart do you have in our room?

     Please leave a comment.  I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and ideas.

Have a great  2016 - 2017 school year!

Beti

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Felt Flower Headband

        


           After my granddaughter was born, my daughter saw a headband with a felt flower.  She said, "Mom, I think we can made that."  Of course we took the challenge and made a trip to JoAnn's for felt and an elastic trim.
  
              It wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. I started with paper and pencil to make a pattern for the flower.  I cut a circle about the size of a CD.   As I stated to cut the spiral, a scalloped edge was included.



      The rectangular piece is used for the middle of the flower.  This felt piece was fringed along one side.  Then the rectangular piece is rolled to form the stamen, middle part, of the flower.  I stitched the felt as I rolled it, but you could use hot glue to hold it together.




Sorry about the fuzzy picture.


       To made the petals of the flower,  you begin wrapping from the outside of the felt circle. As you wrap, sew or glue the felt around the stamen. The flower will begin to "build" itself.




       We made leaves to add another color.  


        As it turned out, the leaves were a little too big for a newborn's head.  The leaves were removed for the finished product.  
        I do believe that my 5th grade girls should be able to make these flowers.  Maybe for Mother's Day.
        
Please leave a comment if have time. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Have a wonder day.
Beti


            

Monday, June 19, 2017

Quote




 I retired from teaching last June. This year has been great but so different from my 25 years of teaching 5th grade.  This quote kind of sums it all up for me at this time in my life.


       I found this quote, at the beginning of June a few years ago on Pinterest. We used edline to communicate with parents and students. Each of our classes has its own page.  So for the image I used this quote to send my students off for the summer.

  Today I am linking up with Stephanie at Forever in Fifth Grade for Show and Tell Tuesday.
http://foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com/2017/06/show-tell-tuesday-schools-out.html   I am not able to upload her cute graphic at this moment. Please accept my apology.

Please leave a comment.  I enjoy reading your notes and thoughts.
Come back soon.

Beti

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

5th Grade boys are weavers, too!

              I would like to feature  my 5th grade boys in this blog. 
Several of my boys worked together during their free time on the Fisher Price loom. 

          This Fisher Price loom is an "oldie but goodie".  I found it at a garage sale about 25 years ago.  My own children used it at home and then I took it to school. The kids really enjoy weaving.

         As you can see the these young men are experimenting with different weaving patterns and thicknesses of yarn.  As you can see, these three boys had become an excellent team!
If you look at the very top of their weaving you will even see a striped pattern.  The pattern has two colors, light blue and a darker blue. They also figured out how to make a checkerboard design!░░
    
Great work, men!

    Today I am linking up with
 Stephanie's Show and Tell Tuesday with Forever in 5th Grade.

 www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com

 Please leave a comment if you have a spare minute. I'd love hearing from you.


Beti

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Boston Tea Party Chest

       Last week my students discussed the Boston Tea Party.  We read from our text book, watched a short video clip, and took notes.  I also needed a prop. This tiny chest was perfect!  It is only about 2 X 3 inches. It has a little clasp and hinges on the back. 

      I cut open a tea bag and poured the loose tea into the chest.

        My 5th graders enjoy the props that I have on my desk.

                               Do you use props in your room?

      We will have a Skype field trip to the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum in Boston. The kids all dress up in their colonial outfits for the day. We get to partake in a discussion about the fairness of the tax on tea in the Colonies.  Each student portrays a historical person from Boston at the time.   The Liberty Kids episode on the "Boston Tea Party" is shown while the 5th graders are drinking tea and munching on cookies.  

     Of course there is a story behind the little chest... During Advent, the women of our parish get together for a night of reflection, dinner, and socializing.  Each table has a different theme. My good friend Ellen, who by the way I share a birthday with, helped with our table decorations.  She made these cute little chests which had  candy treats inside.  It has been on my desk all winter.  Once in a while, at the end of a hard day, I would treat myself to a piece of candy.  I realized that it would make a prefect prop to teach about the Boston Tea Party.  I believe Ellen picked these little wooden boxes up at Michael's or JoAnn's.
     Thanks Ellen,  I can always count on you! 

Today I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the 
 Five for Friday Weekly Linky Party.
www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com 


Please leave a short comment.  I really enjoy your feedback. 


Beti

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Stained Glass for Easter

          Spring is here! 
So, Easter can't be very far off.

       Each year during Lent, I  have my students work on a "stained glass" of the Crucifixion.  Years ago I found a brochure of the Stations of the Cross done as stained glass windows of a church.   I made a copy and then whited all the colors out to have a black and white copy that my students could design in their choice of colors.  



   
      This is my black and white sheet that I give to my students.
Here is what the students work looks like.  As you notice, some are a work in progress.







          These "stained glass windows" are a favorite Lenten project of mine.

Today I linked up with Forever in Fifth Grade for       " Show and Tell Tuesday".

 www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com 
    Please leave a comment on this project.  Let me know if your could use this in your class someday.

Happy Easter to all!


Beti