Library Events 2.0 with FREEBIE

I'm so excited to share these library event cards!

I stumbled upon the idea in a variety of places but originally from The thinker Builder - Michael has some fantastic posts that I can't believe I haven't found him before! Tara and Kelli also designed their own and I used some of their ideas for our classroom!

Basically these cards will go in the adhesive 3.5x3.5 pockets from Dollar spot I have put up on our whiteboard calendar.  These could easily just be tacked up with anything though.  On the back of the cards are the descriptions of the event in case I would forget!  Here are the 18 I included for our class this year!

I plan to do these maybe 1 a week for a couple a month - nothing to heavily planned but just to keep interest in our library! Are there any others I should add?

You can download using the link below - I left editable because my printer feed backwards on other side so you might have to move the text boxes!

Here is where you can download a copy - here - I left in Powerpoint since there is no clipart and you can change the fonts if you choose.  I used KG Skinny Latte, the Fighter and Fall for you.

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QR Science Fair with FREEbie

Raise your hand if you love to incorporate technology!  I try - we only have 10 iPads to share with the WHOLE school so it can be tough. I actually planned this projects far enough in advance to get them 1 hour a whole week!  This was a highlight of my 5th grade science class - a QR science fair.

We use these planning sheets - you can grab them here. This includes a rubric.  We did a certain amount of required work at home and then filmed the experiments after we wrote scripts and I initialed their scientific method sheets.

They used  iMovie to create movies or trailers including all parts of scientific method and then air dropped the movies to me.  I uploaded to Youtube where you only can use link to view and we specifically did not use names in our films and only coded titles even if they could be found for safety.

Each student went home with a sheet similar to the one below so they could view everyone's project and  we had a day in class to watch and show younger students who would get a chance to do it next year. This was such a hit! They could be easily viewed at home - they got to be creative with the editing and learned a lot about iMovie - they got to send me work elecronically (rural teacher win!) - parents could see quality of work as well.

This really got them involved in the scientific method before testing when it is really needed as well.  We talk and do experiments all year but this really helped them see it for themselves.!

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Figurative Language Robots - FREE

I can't believe I haven't blogged about these robots!   We study figurative language in December with poetry BUT since we don't test until late April I want to make sure my kids get a review in (along with many other times!)  so we made these figurative language robots!

They were a hit with my class.  It did challenge them to think outside of the box to design.  We used this video below to create our robots.  You could also challenge them by just giving clues such as "start with a large rectangle - add 2 rectangle legs, etc..." then everyone's looks a little more different.  I absolutely LOVE Art for Kids Hub - the website and videos! They are fantastic even for 4th grade and have TONS of even cartoon characters.  It is always in my back pocket for indoor recess and projects.

We watched a video on how to draw a girl for our Mother's Day project  (if that tells you anything about my art skills!)  I love that I can incorporate art into the curriculum in a fun and engaging way.

After that we completed this half sheet on our robots and attached to make a display!  Easy peasy!

Just click the picture to grab a copy.

For some sad reason I knew I had pictures of this saved but cannot locate them.... here's the one I created.  Hope your students enjoy this activity!

If you love this idea I have a figurative language flip book that is superhero themed in my store.  My students love this as well and it dives deep into all aspects of figurative language.  Or my Poetry Portfolio also includes finding examples in figurative language. 

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FREE iPhone Table Numbers

My Facebook followers made this a FREEBIE so make sure to grab it up and leave feedback!

These would go great with my editable iPhone nametags as well!

         

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Status of Class Exit Slip FREEBIE

If you love the technology exit slips in my store! Then I have a FREEBIE right up your alley!

This was so fun to do with class and has so many uses.  It is Facebook themed and students get to create a status!  There are literally 100s of ways you could use this in your classroom.

We just started traditional literature this week. I had the students activate their prior knowledge by filling out a slip for a character from traditional literature.  I did give the subgenres (myth, legend, tall tale, fable, and fairytale) so they had some idea!

I loved how creative they were!  Some of our lit groups just read Percy Jackson and Ella Enchanted so this fit in really well!

This FREEBIE is tech themed just like my other slips in my store! Be sure to check them out!   Leave comments here if you like it!

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Fun Friday = Flashlights

I  saw this idea on another blog and had to incorporate it into our Reading Celebration this past week.

Flashlights are an excellent motivator to read even though my kids this year don't need much motivation! We had a reading celebration/marathon to celebrate each student making their AR goal from the past quarter.  

We spent an afternoon just reading.  It was glorious

We got snacks, flipped our chairs upside down to use as supports, brought in pillows and READ! 

For some of the time we used flashlights and got to buddy read (non-fiction).

It wasn't completely just reading.  I did introduce the students to their new reading response next week so reading a new book got us started on what we would be doing.  Stay tuned for how they turn out. 

This was an absolute HIT! They were engaged and loved it! What ways do you have to motivate reading in your classroom? 

You can download the FREE Invitation below by just adding text boxes to set this up in your classroom! 

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FREE Turkey Trot Writing Prompt

I'm in the FREEBIE mood lately - can't wait to do this with my students today!



For Fun Friday this week - we are going to work on this fun writing prompt: 

I wanted a little more than the traditional "Turkey in Disguise" this year - although I LOVE that idea, the younger grades already take it over so I needed something new for us to try.

I remember one of my favorite activities was when we would share writing with our class - meaning we would start a story, pass to the next person after folding over so they could only read the last sentence.  They turned out crazy and hilarious!

Since we have been using Thanksgiving stories for our mentor texts, this wasn't too far of a stretch for my older students.  

  

There is a planning page if you want your students to respond on their own with a prompt!  

This twist in writing involves the older students and gives them an opportunity to be creative.  Students really love reading these stories.  

Don't forget to leave feedback if you download! That definitely prompts me to work on more freebies for great followers like you! 

Make sure you check out my last post for a chance to win this great new poetry lapbook: 

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Extinct, Endangered, Threatened Species

Just wanted to pop in and show you a FREEBIE that I created for my 5th graders to do some quick research.  

Talking about and explaining the difference between these animals can be troublesome so I created this worksheet so they can do some research and learn about them on their own as well.

I have some websites (valid ones!) pulled up and show them how to cite their sources.  They have to write about the animal: description and habitat and then finding out why it disappeared or what threatens its survival today. 

Because some of these animals are not well known or do not exist anymore they are fun to learn about.  Click on the picture or hyperlink above to grab the FREE worksheet!

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Grandparent's Day in Upper Elementary!

We had a fantastic Grandparent's Day Celebration last Friday.  Sorry I'm a little late with my post but hopefully some of you might be able to use this or store if away for next year!

I was a little scared going into Grandparent's Day since I was with a much older grade until I remembered the "Old Fart Booth" app on the Ipad - we used for 100th day in Kindergarten but I thought it would be great for this as well - my kids LOVED this!! Best of all it is FREE!

It is basically an aging app and you can add accessories.  I limited my students to 2 accessories so that you could still see them.  They turned out hilarious!

The top left one is me....sadly I didn't even smile for my picture and I will look extremely stern when older apparently!  I discussed previously with my students what would change when they are grandparents and we recorded those and used this sheet below.  

They had a great time filling them out with their grandparents and it led to discussions of how today is different than when their grandparents were in elementary school. 

Here's a view from our hallway: 

The grandparents got such a kick out of these and the students loved working on them together with the grandparents as well! It worked out to be a great way to connect and discuss about the past and the future.

Click on the picture above to get a recording sheet for your room! 

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