Who am I? Explorers Flip Chart

  Flip Charts!

       If you know me, I LOVE to make  flip charts with my 5th graders!

As a study guide for the chapter on early exploration, we made this flip chart.  On each outer flap the students wrote "Who Am I?"  Then they wrote several "I  statements" to give clues to the explorer's name.  You can see that my kiddos use their notes to make sure their information is correct.

         This sample is the basic layout of the explorers' flip chart. I try to explain to the students that each statement must be specific to each person.

           The pictures of the explorers are from a set of reading comprehension sheets we used to study Christopher Columbus, Ponce deLeon, John Cabot, Hernando Cortes, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson.  The pictures can be colored. By coloring the illustrations the students spent more time on each explorer and hopefully learn more in the process.

       After the flip charts are completed, the students "share or trade"  their flip chart with another student in class. Each student reads the  "Who am I?" questions and tells who the explorer is.  This can  also be used as a whole class activity where each student comes to the from of the room to place their flip chart under the projector for everyone to view at the same time. Students can then raise their hand if they know the correct answer. Some students like to try and stump their peers with difficult questions. 

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

www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com 

       Please send me a comment if you use flip charts or these are of any help for your students.

     

Beti

Owl Amigurumi

Owl Amigurumi

        
        Crocheting these little stuffies are so easy and fun to make. If you can crochet in the round, this is a great quick gift for a child. I use up my scrap yarn so nothing goes to waste. By stitching the eyes instead of using the plastic eyes, these are an ideal toy for young children, too.

     
     Sorry this picture is a little fuzzy, but he is very sweet.

      This tiny sleepy friend is light pink and rose colored.

   My violet and pink friend  seems a little bashful.

   
        Each little owl has its  own characteristics and personality. Being 2 1/2 to 3 inches tall, they are fun to snuggle with and the right size to fit into a pocket or backpack.

     Happy Crocheting!

Beti

Creative writing with Peg Dolls

Peg Dolls and 
Creative Writing 

      

 

Let your kids take peg dolls or peg  people on vacations year. Then have your kids write stories, diary, or journal entries about their adventures together.

    Who could resist these smiling faces looking back at you.  Can't you hear them saying, " Let's play!"

    Why not try peg dolls in a 

creative writing center?   

         Go to a travel agent and pick up several travel brochures. Make sure you have a good variety of places of interest to visit. The brochures have beautiful colorful pictures to spark the interest of young writers. Even if your students can't read all the information on the pamphlets, that's okay.  The photographs will increase their creativity. 

        Place the brochures in your writing center with a good supply of peg dolls. 
Make sure the peg dolls have a variety of personalities, both boys and girls.  In this way your students will be able to pick a peg doll to resemble themselves as well as a friend or family member.

       Let  the creativity  begin and the writing flow. Students can use a paper and pencil in a writer's notebook or be creative on an Ipad.  A pictures or pictures can be added with the peg doll in front of the vacation location.

          
    Tiny peg dolls made from clothes pins are fun and easy to make.  They can be a project for elementary school children to make themselves or made by an adult as a small gift for a child.  Peg dolls travel so easily because of their diminutive size. Just the right size for small hands.  The cost is so reasonable to make.  

     
        Peg dolls don't have to be just people.  Bunnies can be peg dolls, too.  Your students can tell and write stories about all sorts of animals and their adventures.

    Why not let each of you students make a peg doll of their own. This way each will definitely have their own personality!  Then when they go to your writing center their peg doll friend will be there waiting for them ready to work!

 

      Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Beti

Amigurumi Blanket Pals

        Crochet Amigurumi are so easy to make and have delightful personalities.  I enjoy creating these little guys so much.

       A square crocheted about eight or nine inches is quite simple.  You can use a single crochet or a double crochet to work the square.  When complete, I crocheted around the perimeter with a contrasting color to add some detail.

      The head was crocheted in the round starting with a magic circle.   A simple stitched face was add.  I do not use plastic eyes for safety reasons..

       Ears were added.  Long floppy ears for a rabbit or circle ears for a bear.   Next two little arms were added.  The blanket was folded down at one corner to make a collar.  The arms were stitched and secured under the collar and then the head was sewn in place.

       These little blanket friends have been made and given as a Christening gift for my grand nieces and nephews. A small handmade keepsake is always a thoughtful gift.

      I hope you enjoy viewing these little sweethearts.

Beti

Desert Southwest Pueblo

        Desert Southwest Pueblo
Cooperative project

     While working on the unit on Native Americans, I always have my students build their own pueblo in class.  This is a cooperative project for my students. The native people had to work together in order to survive in the hot dry desert region.  So we work together to construct ours. 

      The students decide if they want to make a ladder, a room, or a kiva.  All the parts are made at home and then brought to school. You can see the variety of student work. I try to emphasize that this  is a student, not a parent, project.

     

    The pieces are  hot glued to the base and background. We try to alternate the size, shape and orientation of the boxes to achieve a more realistic appearance.

    These pictures were take in Arizona of an ancient Native American ruin.  

 

 

 

We are trying to represent the different levels of the pueblo.

 Ladders were added after all the boxes were glued together.  Pebbles were also glued on to add detail.

 Then my students attached very small people to the pueblo.

       You can even see some dried grass "plants" growing on the top.

     My 5th graders were very proud of the pueblo diorama they had built cooperatively in school.

       Three classes worked together, during their own class period.  They realized that no one person in a desert southwest Indian tribe could have constructed the massive structure by themselves. 

    I know I could have assigned this as a at home project.  The children would have brought in magnificent, elaborate projects, many of which were made by well meaning parents.  I like to have my kids realize that they, 5th graders,  can do wonderful things by themselves. 

    I hope this project gives  other teachers an incentive to try a pueblo project.

 Check all the ideas at 4th Grade Frolics link up-
              Monday Made It.

www.4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com 

Please leave a comment or suggestion if you have the time.  I really enjoy hearing from other teachers.

Enjoy your day! 

Beti 

The Best Job in the World

YES!  Teaching IS the Best and most rewarding job in the world!

        I have been teaching for more than 25 years. Second grade, Art classes, preschool, and computer class to name a few. For the last 22 years, I have been teaching 5th grade and it is the Best! There is the student that always gives you their personal best and then a wonderful unexpected gift.  A gift like this makes you realize  that  our kids are the real gift.

 

        This young lady  stitched my name onto a cloth and added a darling flower.  It brings tears to my eyes every time I gaze at it on top of my shelf at home.

Teaching is the Best and most rewarding job in the world!

      One day I was pleasantly surprised by a former student coming to visit. He has grown from a little 5th grade boy to be a wonderful, handsome young man.

I could see his boyish smile and the twinkle in his eye as he came into my room.

He gave me a big hug and lifted me off the floor. He made my day.

   

Teaching is the Best and most rewarding job in the world!

           While reading the Michigan Catholic newspaper, I read that a former student was attending Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, MI.  I had the pleasure teaching this young man. 

Teaching is the Best and most rewarding job in the world!
  

     A few months ago a former student asked me to be her sponsor for Confirmation.  I was very honored and pleased that she wanted me to stand with her to confirm her new role in the Catholic Church.  Two weeks ago I proudly stood in back of her with my hand on this young woman's shoulder.  None of this would have been possible if I had not chosen to become a teacher.

Teaching is the Best and most rewarding job in the world!
 
When I started teaching so many years ago, I didn't realize what it was going to be like.  I am so very glad I made the decision to become a teacher, the Best Job in the World!

     I hope that you had a great day, too!   

Please leave a comment if you have the time.  

Beti

End of the year note

I'll Miss You!           

            Each year I have given a letter or note to each of my students.  My wonderful friend and 1st grade teacher, Emily, has helped me whenever my technology skills were lacking. With my idea in mind, I headed off to Emily's room after school.  As always, Emily dropped what she was doing to help me out.  We sat at her desk and she listened to my thoughts. This is what we came up with.

          I personalized each one for my homeroom students. I hope this will be something that is kept in their school file with their report card.  Many years from now they can read it again and remember all the things they learned in 5th grade and all the fun we had in the BEST 5th Grade Class.

        My inspiration came from something I found on Pinterest.  Please look up Miss DeCarbo from "Second Grade Sugar and Spice" for the inspiration. I wouldn't have come up with this without her.

 I linked up with Forever in Fifth Grade for the Show and Tell linky.

www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com

       This year has been very difficult with Covid 19 and the country being under quarantine.  Parents have come to the realization that teachers have a extremely difficult job. You deserve a wonderful summer vacation.

Beti 

Felt Cupcakes

Felt Cupcakes

Yummy! 

    
        I love making things from felt for my granddaughters. Felt is so forgiving and easy to work with. So, when it was time to have a baby shower for my niece, I decided to make felt cupcakes as a centerpiece for the table. Don't they look yummy?  My niece's precious little girl will  have her first felt food treats for her play kitchen in a couple of years.

      I used a little paper Dixie cup from the bathroom as a pattern. Carefully, the cup was taken apart at the seam and then the bottom was taken off. As you can see in the picture below, I decided to cut the side of the cup down  to a little less than 1 1/2 inches. A circle of 2 1/4 inches was cut for the frosting. The bottom of the cup was a circle of 1 1/2 inches in size. 

       The side of the cupcake was hand stitched first. Then the frosting was stitched on. Some of the frosting pieces were sewn to the inside of the cupcakes. I stitched other frosting decorations to the outside of the cupcake. You can choose whichever you like best. Then I added the toppings of lace, buttons, and different designs made from felt. This is the part where you can get so creative.  Many of us have a button collection.  So, now is the time to look through all those colorful darling buttons to add to your cupcakes.

   Finally, the bottom was stitched on half way around. The cupcake was filled with poly-fill stuffing. I placed a plastic circle, slightly smaller than the bottom circle on top of the stuffing. This add stability and a firm bottom to the cupcake. Lastly, the cupcake was stitched closed.

     You can see the chocolate cupcakes frosting is stitched to the outside of the cupcake and the pink cupcake the frosting is stitched to the inside.

       Hostess Cupcakes anyone?

                 The chocolate cupcake with the butter cream frosting has chocolate "Jimmies" on top.  Who could resist? 

      In addition to the cupcakes, a felt chocolate cake was added to the small collection of goodies for the baby shower. This cake was made on a base of a Cool Whip container. The bottom on the cake, made from the plastic lid, can be opened if you would I to store other felt goodies inside.  From a distance, I hope the guests will think they are having a variety cupcakes or cake  for dessert!

     These are quite easy to make if you have some extra felt around the house.

Enjoy!


Please leave a comment if you have a spare moment in your busy day.


Beti

Michigan State Peg Dolls

  Go Green!   

         This Michigan State peg doll family is ready to root for their favorite team! They all have their Green and White ready for the big game.
Any little girl or boy would enjoy playing with this little set of peg dolls while their family is watching the game.  All four peg dolls fit into an Altoid tin carrying case for safe keeping. It can easily fit into a
backpack to be played with in the car or on the airplane during a longer trip. 

    I hope this little family made you smile today.

 Beti
   

Baby Sharks

Baby Sharks
Finger Puppets

        If you have little ones at home, I'm sure you know of "Baby Sharks".  It is a Youtube video of young children singing a song with hand motions.  It it VERY Cute! And very catchy with a great beat!  You won't be able to get it out of your head!

         

        The kids have so much fun singing and dancing to this song.  My 2 year old granddaughters and their cousins got into it while on vacation this summer. The whole family, aunts and uncles, moms and dads, and grandparents joined into the silly fun, too!

        So I had to make Baby Shark finger puppets to add to their collections.

         Sorry that the last picture is a little fuzzy. I was trying to take the picture with my left  hand and hold the baby shark in my right hand.  The finger puppets are big enough for an adult finger but still not too large for a child's finger play.

       A few scrap pieces of grey, white, and red felt was all that I used.  Brighten up someone's day with a Baby Shark! It is sure to put a smile on someone's face.  Enjoy!



Beti