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

Student Journal for Lent

    As a 5th grade Religion teacher, I have my students make a Lenten Journal.  Each day at the beginning of class, my children take out their journal and write a short reflection for the day. I use a group of reflections that I collected over the years, given by to me our Religious Education director and principal.  The whole class can think about the same topic each day. The topics are very simple and can be completed in a minute or two.  Sometimes they share their thoughts and ideas.  Other days, ideas are kept private.  I give my students the option whether they want to share or not.

 

        Twelve small pieces of paper were stapled into a piece of card stock folded in half. I had the children cut the days part and then glued two to each page to save paper. We used the front and back of each page as you can see in the pictures.

       Our students will be at home on Good Friday.  Hopefully they will write in their journal until Easter Sunday.

            

The students can decorate their pages if they like. 

Have a blessed Lenten Season. 

Please leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you.

Beti

Boston Massacre

Boston Massacre      

   This week has been very exciting in my Social Studies class. We have been discussing the events leading up to the American Revolution,  The Proclamation of 1763,   The Quartering Act,  The Stamp Act,  The Townshend Acts,  The Boston Massacre,  The Tea Act,  and The Boston Tea Party.  The Boston Massacre was an especially unsettling topic for my students, especially  the fact that five men were killed.  We talked about the issue that we really don't know what happened during the confrontation, but we do know the result.  We also realized that there are always two sides to a story.

      Among the faculty at my school, I'm known as the "teacher who collects junk".  If someone needs something, they first come to ask me if I might have what they are looking for.  Nine out of ten times, I usually have what they are looking for. 

      So.... last year someone dropped off a bag of "goodies" at the school office, and of course  our wonderful administrative assistants said, " Send this to Beti's room.  She'll find a use for these things."   Inside the bag were about fifteen little wooden coffins. ( I would say that you could find these at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or JoAnn's )

      In our Social Studies text book is this picture.

    I made a photocopy, cut them apart, and glued these onto the tops of the little coffins.

 

   
               I feel that my students have a better understanding of my Religion and Social Studies lessons if they can touch, sing, of get involved in acting out the topic. These little wooden boxes just happened fill the bill for my lesson on the Boston Massacre.

          You never know what the day may bring.  So, keep an open mind to and an open door.  You'll be surprised what or who may come into your life.

        I have linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching  Five for Friday linky.  Check out all the other blogs and their great ideas.

                      www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com  

Please leave a comment on this post.  

Beti