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Foster critical thinking skills, attention to detail and a love of solving puzzles with this fun printable crime scene investigation activity

Before I get started, please note that a lot of the prep work can be done by the girls in a meeting. But we were going to be pressed for time, so I did as much prep work beforehand as possible, because I wanted to do all of this in one meeting. It was a lot, but was GREAT! Now, you can use the suggested activities in the Junior binder, and that's fine! But as usual, I went a little outside the box. Do what works best for you and your troop! But you might enjoy one of the activities here. It took a little over an hour and a half for the actual meeting activities (which we completed, except for the shoe prints, which were a take-home for most girls), but there was a LOT of prep time! And we were careful to keep an eye on the clock. It could've taken 2 hours to do. Or you can break it up into two meetings. Whatever works. We began the meeting with a bit of a discussion about what a Detective is, and all about different codes (including the Code Talkers), etc. When talking about Morse Code, be sure to tell your girls that when it is written as a message, the dashes should be slightly elevated on the paper -- this ensures it is read right-side-up, not upside-down. (It also makes the dashes easier to see.) Make a point to talk about the different ways Morse Code can be used: light, sound, writing, etc. My 15 girls were split into three patrols (patrols are typically Juniors and up, and the next step up from buddies/pairs; here's a bunch of info about patrols), we had three stations (one overflow area for shoe prints), and the girls rotated, spending about 20 minutes at each station. If you're moving quickly, skip naming patrols and electing leaders, etc. Just split them up randomly and go! I had two parent volunteers on hand -- it depends upon how many girls you have (we had 15 for this meeting), as to how many you will need. More parents arrived towards the end, and it was great to have several helpers! I would recommend three volunteers if possible, so you can float from station to station and continue elaborating on how it ties into being a detective. To earn our badge, we did Fingerprinting, Shoe Prints, Color (Secret) Codes, Morse Code Necklaces, and DNA extraction. (We had a scavenger hunt Halloween party afterwards, which tied in nicely to the Detective Badge, and I'll list details in Part Two.) You will need at least 3 tables for this meeting, and will have to do clean up as you go. If you're going to have a snack, do it first! And I recommend removing vests before you begin the meeting, as it will get messy. I have a big Thirty-One large utility tote that I carried everything in, atop my wheeled file box (which held things like my soft cooler for the rubbing alcohol, portable recycle bin, paperwork, flag, etc.). The activity supplies were placed in labeled gallon Ziplocs where possible, and instructions were included, so I didn't have to waste time explaining it to my volunteers. They read over the instructions during snack. The only cumbersome thing was the poster frame. All of the items listed are to accommodate 15 girls. Adjust as needed. As always, you might find a shortcut to the way I did it. If so, please post and let me know how it worked! I tend to overcomplicate things at times. . . . FINGERPRINTS: You will need the following items for this activity: (Do at home ahead of time unless you are spreading this badge over more than one meeting. You can have the girls do more prep work, but it's very messy. It's up to you): - 3-4 full sized (9"x11") sheets of sandpaper - 1 four-pack of graphite sticks (Michael's, drawing/art section, or Amazon) - 1 piece of paper that's been folded in half then re-opened - Plastic gloves (optional) (Bring to meeting:) - 5 small plastic containers (reusable Glad or other brand works well) - 20+ index cards (they might mess up, so have spares) - Pre-printed fingerprint cards (see below) - 5 makeup brushes (big and old -- these will be pretty much ruined, so use cheap ones!) - 1 small container hand lotion - Poster frame (or similar acrylic type surface -- our tables are wooden and have grooves, so we needed something very flat) - Clear packing tape - Scissors - 2 stamp pads (washable ink) - 1 roll paper towels - Access to a sink for hand-washing (soap) - Pencils or pens to write names on things Tiny Glad containers worked great for fingerprint powder Prepare before meeting: - I used one four-pack of graphite sticks from Michaels (art/drawing section). You can use regular pencils (it's a pain though as you have to stop and sharpen them constantly), sidewalk chalk, or powdered cocoa. I've not tried any of that though. The graphite worked well. - Wearing plastic gloves (optional, but it's very messy. Seriously), scrub the graphite against the sandpaper (just like you're coloring the sandpaper). Periodically tap the powdered graphite onto a sheet of paper that's been folded in half then opened (powder collects in crease). Pour powder into your small plastic container and make sure the lid is on tightly. In the end you should have 5 containers. Each one will be plenty for three girls to use. (5x3=15. Adjust yours as needed for how many girls you'll have.) - Print out individual fingerprint cards: You can use card stock or regular paper for this. Cut them up ahead of time if you'll be pressed for time during your meeting. Create a sample stamped card to use as reference. Pack up everything with instructions in case there are other volunteers assisting. What to do in the actual meeting: - Have each girl write her name on an index card. Set aside. - Have each girl write her name on the card, then stamp her fingerprints onto it. - Wash hands. - Apply small amount of hand lotion (otherwise the fingerprints won't show up). - Press fingertip firmly onto poster frame. - Gently pick up some powdered graphite with a blush brush and tap it over the fingerprint. - Use the brush to gently reveal the fingerprint. - Cut off a piece of packing tape (it's easiest to have the adult helpers doing this) and press it gently keeping the edges unstuck so they can peel it off easier. - Peel it off and stick to an index card that the girl has written her name on. - Wash hands really well. :) SHOE PRINTS: This was our overlap/do-at-home activity. So if a girl finished an activity before others in her patrol, and had already cleaned up, she could do this. You may need to use some of your graphite, or some chalk, or just have them walk around on asphalt or dirt. We did not have enough time for this for most girls, so we sent it home with them. You could elaborate on it a bit, if you want it to be a more involved activity, and have the girls leave a shoe print on paper, then have each girl walk around with the paper and try to match it to the actual shoe, etc. Because of time, we needed a quick and easy fifth activity, so this was it. Shoe prints won't work if their shoes are squeaky clean. COLOR CODES (Steganography): This was based off of some research I did into Chromatography. Which was cool! But opted instead for steganography, which is basically hiding messages in pictures or text. More info on it here. Also, steganography is a hard word to say, seriously. It look like it could mean "if dinosaurs could write" or something. Practice saying it before you get to the meeting. This is an example of a much easier way to approach it. But, it wouldn't take 20 minutes and I needed comparable time for each activity. I'm glad I opted for way more complicated. The girls had a great time figuring it all out. Do what works best for you! Here's the thing. On my versions (scroll down to the red images), I can see the Morse Code symbols on the electronic version on my computer, but when I printed them out? Could not see them unless I knew to look for them. I tested it on my Daisy. She couldn't see anything but red designs. But when viewed through red glasses? We could both see the symbols clearly. So while you might be able to see something here on this site -- try printing it out and see if you still can (or not). Hopefully these will work. If not, Google is your friend! :) A great online resource for making Morse Code messages can be found here. Please note: If you have girls who are colorblind, a steganography activity probably won't work. But they can still participate if you're using a coded message like mine below (and not just colored letters to form a message, like above). Just have them work with a partner. The partner uses her red glasses and copies down the Morse Code, while the colorblind girl translates the code. You will need the following items for this activity: - Colored glasses (I made five total. Each pair was used three times) - Colored messages (variety for each group, so not everyone is working on the same message) - Scrap paper (one per girl) - Pencils (ditto) - Morse Code Key (see below) - Helper cheat sheet so the volunteers could help prompt girls if they got stuck Prepare before the meeting: - Print out the sheets below and cut each in half (each sheet has TWO messages on it; each girl needs one message -- the last message probably won't work for your troop, so discard it) - Print out the Morse Code keys (one per girl) - Create a volunteer/helper cheat sheet with translations (keep this one folded away) - Paperclip one message, one scrap paper, and one Morse Code key for each girl in each patrol (I had three groups of five, with one left over spare for each in case someone's didn't print out well). Make sure you use different red sheets for the girls in each patrol, so they aren't all working on the same message. - Bundle each patrol's packets together, so it's easy for your volunteers to pull out a new batch for the next group - Make your glasses (see below) Red cellophane glasses: You will need the following to make your own (one per girl, per group. You don't need to make each girl a pair of glasses if you're doing these activities as rotations. Just make the total you'll need per group): - Card stock - Cellophane (I used clear pocket divider cover things; you could use thick shrink wrap from packaging, etc. Just has to be thick and clear. Saran wrap won't work. Does your school have a laminating machine? I bet there's a bunch of scrap plastic you could use.) - Red Sharpies (fresh is best) - Tape - Scissors Follow the steps below to make your own. I made five glasses, but didn't bother to put ear pieces on them. The girls just held them with one hand, and it worked fine. If you have time, add ear pieces. Make sure the marker on the cellophane pieces is DRY before you tape the red cellophane over the holes in your card stock, or else you'll end up with red ink everywhere. If your marker doesn't go on smoothly, use your finger to spread the ink around. It'll make a mess though, so wear gloves (also, rubbing alcohol works well for getting Sharpie off tables. Ha!) I traced the front shape of the 3-D type sample glasses I had on hand, onto a folded piece of card stock. Then cut out the shape and unfolded. After you've cut out the glasses shape, mark roughly where to cut out for eyes, keep the shape folded in half, and use an X-Acto knife to cut the slots for the red cellophane. Use a red Sharpie to color the cellophane, which should be larger than the eye hole, but smaller than the card stock. You're going to tape the red cellophane inside the glasses shape. Red Sharpie transfers pretty easily. This is what the inside should look like with cellophane taped in. Once you're done, close and tape the card stock edges shut. Ta-dah! Homemade spy glasses! Print out all this stuff: You don't have to use my stuff. You can find others online, or make your own! But here's everything we used for the meeting. You will cut the red cards in half, and each girl in each group rotation/patrol gets a different one (so they aren't all working on the same message at the same time): "We are a great troop" and "Girl Scouts is awesome" Each word is on its own line. "This is super fun" and "Morse code is cool" "Secret codes are cool" and "Miss Renee rocks" And okay, so that last one is unusable for your troop, unless you happen to have a Miss Renee... Ha! So, just discard the #6 and use 1-5 for your group rotations. If you have more than 5 in a patrol, have them work in pairs. Each girl gets a copy of this to use and to take home and keep. Remind them that when Morse Code is written, the dashes are typically raised slightly so you know you're not looking at it upside-down. That's why the color sheets all have raised dashes. I didn't use the numbers, but it's nice to include them for reference. What to do in the actual meeting: Make sure the girls coming from the Fingerprints table have washed their hands well. Smudged graphite can really mess with this activity. Give each girl her paper-clipped bundle and a pencil. Tell her that each line of code is ONE word and to copy down the code exactly as she sees it. Don't try to translate it until you have everything copied down on your scrap paper. That way if they make a mistake, it's easier to find where they went wrong. (Reiterate how careful detectives are!) You can have them draw one of these: "/" in between each letter, if that helps. Some of my girls used their pencils to trace/color over the code on the actual paper, which made it visible without the glasses. Very clever girls! MORSE CODE NECKLACES: You will need the following items: - String/cord (pre-cut, one per girl. Make these a bit longer than necessary, to accommodate knots) - Pony beads (variety, round) - Tube beads (like these; see below) - Morse Code sheets (see above) Prepare before the meeting: Make a sample necklace for yourself. Tie knots in between the words (or you could tie single knots in between letters and double knots in between words. Whatever you like). I used the same color beads for letters (so all my E letters were one color, etc.), but you don't have to do that. The round beads are dots. The tubes are dashes. The girls LOVED this! Bucket of (tube) beads at Michaels. Super cheap and worked great! My "Miss Renee" necklace DNA EXTRACTION: Lots of great instructions online. Here's one example. Here's another. But don't worry; it's not nearly as complicated as it sounds. The key is to do it at least once at home so you won't stumble in the meeting, since timing is key. The measurements don't have to be exact, honestly. But try to get close if you can. It's more about proportions. We finished the patrol/group rotations for the other activities, cleaned up, and then everyone did this together, in pairs. All my adult helpers pitched in, which was GREAT! This can get tricky in terms of timing, especially the last step, so having more hands on deck is good. You will need the following items: - Rubbing alcohol, chilled (I put mine in a cooler with ice the night before, and brought the cooler to the meeting with me) - Small clear acrylic cups -- we worked in pairs for this, so I had two per pair. (You could use mixing bowls and cups instead, or go super fancy and get beakers. I just went to the Dollar store and bought cheap punch-size acrylic cups) - Wooden popsicle sticks (skewers can work too. Toothpicks are a bit too small, IMO) - Plastic spoons - Dish liquid (any brand will do. I've heard Dawn works well but I used a clear liquid. It was fine) - Sturdy Ziploc baggies (don't get the cheap ones, they'll rip) - Frozen strawberries -- THAWED! (Frozen ones work best, because once they thaw, they're already mushy. Plus, they have the tops cut off). I bought two bags but really only needed one. You don't need a ton, maybe three or four per girl, if they're medium-sized berries) - Salt - Paper napkins (or cheesecloth if you have it. We just used generic paper napkins -- they were the soft, super cheap cheap, double-ply kind. Not the Disney Princess style that have a more solid outer layer. You want something that liquid can pass through easily, but that won't tear) - Measuring cups/spoons - Water - Clean up towels for spills Prepare before the meeting: Run through it at least once beforehand. I should've done it twice, because I forgot a step early on during the meeting and had to start over. Which was no big deal, but that meant we ran over a little time-wise. So definitely do the experiment at home first, and I'd advise doing it twice just to be safe. The night before, chill your alcohol and grab a cooler, so it'll still be cold for your meeting. And don't forget to thaw your strawberries! If you leave them out overnight on the counter they should be nice and mushy for your meeting the next day. What to do in the actual meeting: Talk to the girls about how detectives use DNA, and what DNA is (I was surprised that some had no idea, so we had a nice little quick intro to genetics). 1. Pass out the cups (two per pair), plastic spoons (one per pair), popsicle sticks (two per pair), and napkins (extras on hand in case of spills or tears, etc.). 2. Give each pair of girls a sturdy Ziploc, and scoop some mushy strawberries into each one. Make sure the baggies are very well sealed, with the air pushed out. Set aside. 3. Put 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup water, and 1 tablespoon of dish liquid in one cup per pair of girls. 4. Have them use the spoons to gently mix the solution. This will be the extraction liquid. Set it aside. 5. Take turns gently mushing strawberries in baggies for ~2 minutes, or until it's as mushy as possible (they loved this part!). Set aside. 6. Have them place the napkins carefully over the top of the second cup. Press down in the middle so it sags well, and the strawberries won't spill over. Set aside. (You can use rubberbands to hold it in place, or just fingers.) 7. Add three tablespoons of the extraction liquid to the mushed strawberries baggy. You're done with the extraction cup (but hang on to it in case you need to re-do one). 8. Re-seal baggy (air pushed out) and work it through for another minute or so, until it's very well blended with the strawberries. Don't overwork it! You want to be gentle -- don't make bubbles. 9. Open the bag and carefully pour into the cup with the napkin on top. Have one girl hold the napkin in place with the middle pushed far down, while the other pours the mixture. Watch it drip into the cup. 10. Very gently pick up the edges of the napkin, so the mushy strawberry solution is contained within, then gently squeeze it so you get as much liquid into the cup as possible. 11. Carefully pick up the cup, then tilt it slightly. Pour a small amount (about 1-2 tablespoons? Test it at home and see) of chilled alcohol down the side of the cup (if you pour it straight in and it splashes, the experiment won't work as well). 12. Set the cup down and watch. It should start to work immediately. See the white layer forming? The alcohol is pulling strands of DNA from your mixture! 13. Use popsicle stick to carefully dip and grab the DNA strands. Randomly Googled image. I was too busy to take pictures of our actual experiment, but it was cool! Next up? Detective Part Two -- Halloween Scavenger Hunt.

Superspeurders opgelet! Het Detective Feestje is een feest boordevol spannende activiteiten, avontuur en hersenkrakers. Los jij het Eijkenhout Hotel Mysterie op?

According to research on vocabulary, we should be teaching BOTH direct vocabulary and vocabulary strategies. When students are reading, they will come across many unknown words. Why not jump on the opportunity for them to increase not only their vocabulary, but strengthen their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills too? Vocabulary Strategies Detective Training Academy is just what you need to help students gain some life long skills of being able to determine the meaning of vocabulary words in a text through an assortment of vocabulary strategies (24 strategies all together). These vocabulary strategies will help them to develop the skills needed to crack the code to vocabulary words they come across while they read throughout the year. Nuts & Bolts of It: This unit teaches vocabulary strategies such as various context clues in depth and more, so students can have the skills to determine the meaning of those words as they read. It is not meant to replace direct vocabulary instruction, where you target specific words from a book. Keep doing that, but instead, this focuses on vocabulary strategies. Students will build their vocabulary through applying the strategies as they read. It is a complement to your guided reading, small groups, or reading workshop. You would basically reinforce them like word decoding strategies. Students then apply the strategies on their own during independent reading (includes tools to keep them focused and on task). I recommend you initially introduce each vocabulary strategy during whole group instruction with the mini-lessons included, then you can review them in small groups to differentiate instruction with them. Background Story: This resource started when I thought about how I would like to have some graphic organizers for vocabulary during independent reading because I wanted the option for a student to select their own books (another thing research says students should be doing) and the ability to glean vocabulary words from those books. I broke out the professional development resources and got to work. This resource has taken me months to complete because I wanted to craft it with care. Each vocabulary strategy has been very carefully worded and revised many times over to get it just right. Despite all the hours of work, this has been my favorite resource to create by far. I also feel this unit serves a bigger purpose because so many students and adults are lacking these skills. I had a lot of fun with it, and I hope that translates to higher student engagement and ultimately impacts students to become better readers. How It Works: •First, you set the stage with engagement. •Second, you have students put together their Top Secret Briefcases to keep them organized with the strategy cards and student trackers. •Third, you teach the strategies. I have included anchor charts that can be projected as a pdf or printed on card stock. You have a lesson overview and mini-lesson for each strategy. These mini-lessons include guided questions and a script. You can always use it as a reference if scripts are not your thing. It also includes a guided model sentence. With the guided model sentence, you do a think aloud to model using the vocabulary strategy. That is worded for you. ;) Then there is a student application sentence for them to practice as you guide them with questions. Also, I included at least two other student application sentences on the overview page that you can use with the mini-lesson or for reteaching. Additionally, I included an option where you can project the guided models and student applications on the board from the pdf. If you don't have a projector, you can always write these on the board with a dry erase marker. •Fourth, you have students work on the strategies. This is where things can be differentiated. There are student strategy cards, which are mini-cards of the vocabulary strategy posters. Students can keep them handy when they are reading by themselves. You have a choice between no-prep graphic organizers (aka case files), diy journals, and regular journals that go with each vocabulary strategy. (Note: The journals may not flap, but they are interactive in nature because students will be revisiting and interacting with the journals, so really these can be considered interactive notebooks). The case files and journals will keep them accountable during independent reading. You can always have them fill them out after they read (sticky tabs can be used to mark the pages). •Then you track students as they move from strategy to strategy. Once they complete the training course, they have a LOT of fun rewards waiting for them. They get to craft a detective hat, magnifying glass, funny disguise glasses, and a detective badge. There are also certificates that proclaim them as certified Official Vocabulary Detectives. •Finally, after students become vocabulary detectives, you will want to encourage them to continue to apply the strategies as they read for life. I included some extra extensions, and students can always refill out one of the previous graphic organizers/ journal entries. This bundle is all about making students skilled readers for life. Included: •Teacher Notes and Step-by-Step Instructions •Set the Stage to Engage with the Fun Student Introduction to the Unit •Top Secret Briefcase Craft •24 Vocabulary Strategies Anchor Charts •Vocabulary Strategy Cards for Students (Choice of Color or Black & White) •Lesson Overviews & Mini-Lessons •Projectable Guided Models & Student Application Sentences (These are also in the mini-lessons and located on the overview page, so you can always write them on the board instead.) •Prompts for Guiding Students (Great for guided reading & coaching students as they read to you) •24+ No Prep Graphic Organizers (Store in Top Secret Briefcases or add the cover for a diy journal. I included options with many of these.) •24+ Interactive Notebook/ Journal Pages (No flaps, but students will be interacting with their journals. Several extra options for some of the pages.) •Teacher trackers & Student Trackers to Keep Track of Progress with the Vocabulary Strategies •Teacher & Student Rubrics •Fun, Detective Crafts to Serve as a Reward •Certificates •Vocabulary Extension Activities What is Covered with the Strategies? All of the strategies have a FUN, Catchy Case Name. I am just going to explain the concepts that are covered here. •Stopping to Look at Unknown Words •️️Asking Questions about Unknown Words •️️Using Prior Knowledge •Using Picture Clues •️️Context Clues (This is taught as an overview and broken down into many separate strategies such as reading on for more clues, examples, antonyms, etc.) •Visualization •Inferences •Text Features •Using a Dictionary •Using a Glossary •Using Online Resources •When It is OK to Ask for Help •Reusing Vocabulary Words •Looking out for Vocabulary Words in Other Books Make sure to review the preview for a closer look! Note- *This unit spans from first grade to third grade. You may not find all the strategies usable for your grade level. In my professional opinion, twenty strategies work for first grade. All 24 strategies can be used for second grade. Twenty-two of the strategies work for second grade. Of course, you can do things differently. No matter what, you got tools to differentiate if needed. Third grade, please note, it does not cover figurative language at this time. *I included a lot of options in here. I included tips to make printing those options easier for you. Got you covered. ;) *The essence of this unit is to use it as part of guided reading and/or student conferences and independent reading. Mini-lesson can be taught through whole instruction though. *I call it an academy for fun. They become certified vocabulary detectives for fun. It's not a real academy and certification. I know most of you realize this, but you know how things are these days. Had to put a disclosure for that. ;) Extra Materials Needed: •You will need brown clasp envelopes for the Top Secret Briefcases. •Card Stock •Optional: Clear Plastic Wrap for Magnifying Glass •Optional: If doing the journals in a notebook/ interactive notebook, you will need a notebook for each student. •Optional: If doing the DIY journal, you will either need to have access to a stapler that can staple 24 pages, a binding machine, pocket folders, or you can whole punch and tie with strings. Make it Easy to Find. Add This to Your Wishlist. If using the app to view or wanting to hold off at the moment, adding this to your wishlist by clicking the green button under the cover and title will make it easy to find for later should you decide to get this. Follow the Candy Class Also, make sure to follow The Candy Class by clicking here, so you can receive notice of updates on resources and find out about when I post new ones at half off or offer other discounts. Many of these go on sale initially, so look out for the new resource email.

Enquête au collège Un professeur qui disparaît mystérieusement dans le train Paris-Venise, un laborantin assommé par un rôdeur dans la salle de sciences nat, un sinistre manoir anglais où l'on expérimente des poisons orientaux... Tableaux volés, trésors cachés, bijoux dérobés, aucune énigme ne résiste à Rémi, à Mathilde et au génialissime P.P. Cul-Vert ! Le professeur a disparu Enquête au collège P.P. Cul-Vert détective privé Les trois premiers volumes de la célèbre série « Enquête au collège » réunis en un seul livre : trois fois plus d'humour et de suspense ! Roman junior - À partir de 9 ans

Put your detective-in-training on the case with this secret-message activity.

This is Part II of our Journey from Venice to London with Belmond. You can find Part I here and Part III here. A handful of truly miraculous experiences still exist in the world that…

KRAMSKY Y MATTOTTI – Desmontando a Mr. Hyde Portadas de Green Arrow #23-24, ambas obra de Andrea Sorrentino. От http://www.zonanegativa.com/ The Rainbow Book of American Folk Tales and Legends - by Maria Leach, illustrated by Marc Simont (1958) От…

The detective and his trusty hound follow the scent to the next crime scene. Their matching plaid capes (modeled after the attire of Sherlock Holmes) are sewn from inexpensive suiting fabric with a simple pattern. Earflaps made from cloth and bias tape transform a pair of black baseball caps into a deerstalker hat.

This week started out with another cool box creation! My neighbors brought me another box, and the cardboard corner pieces begged to become a ball track. We rolled ping pong balls (yes, I rolled some too,) whenever the box was available. I finally retired the bean box midweek, when all the beans were spread all over the floor. Twenty-one ping pong balls are easier to pick up than 3000 beans! One of the things I wanted to include this week was more science. We started learning about trees by brainstorming what the children know or think they know. This is called activating prior knowledge - basically, if they're thinking about something, it's easier to add new knowledge onto what they already know. We made models of trees; a half art, half science activity. As they painted we talked about the parts of the tree, and I introduced the word "trunk" - I was surprised no-one knew that word when we made our chart! We talked about making the roots under the ground as big as the branches above, and that roots branch out too. Here are our finished trees, with all the parts labelled. Another tree project we did was one with concentric circles for leaves. We looked at Kandinsky's paintings of concentric circles, then made our own. The oldest kiddos cut out their own circles, the younger ones had precut circles. We talked about shapes a lot this week! You can see all our beautiful concentric circle trees at www.artsonia.com. Here's what the children knew about trees a couple of days later. They were very impressed to know chocolate comes from beans on a tree! They learned new vocabulary - trunk, learned about more products from trees (cardboard, hockey sticks, rubber, maple syrup), and learned that green leaves breath and make food for trees, and make oxygen for us to breathe too! I'm impressed with how much these 3-5 year old kiddos know! We also learned a lot about turtles this week - mostly sea turtles. We did an awesome art project: On the first day we water colored an ocean background with cool colors. The kiddos worked very hard to cover their papers with color! The next day they painted the turtles. I showed them a model of a sea turtle, and we noticed the shape (oval), counted flippers, and noticed that the front flippers were long and curved. They followed step by step directions to make beautiful turtles. When they were dry the teachers cut them out, and the children glued their turtles onto the ocean background. Beautiful! You can see all of them at www.artsonia.com. Our turtle study wouldn't be complete without acknowledging a certain group of 4 teenaged turtles. I knew TMNT would engage the kiddos, particularly some of the boys who often wear turtle clothes to school, but I didn't want a day of Ninja wars and t.v.-related pretend. Here's our compromise: I made a chart comparing Ninja Turtles to sea turtles, and the children told me all the answers for Ninja turtles. Next, I read a beautiful realistic fiction book about a loggerhead turtle: One Tiny Turtle, by Nicola Davies. As I read, the children listened to find out what loggerheads eat, where they live, how big they grow, and other cool facts. The kiddos remembered all the relevant facts! We finished our turtle theme with a snack that looks like one. I put peanut butter on Ritz crackers, and the kiddos added almonds for heads, cashews and peanuts for flippers, and topped it with another cracker for the carapace (shell). Of course, we did our usual activities: upper and lower case letter crafts, hand and foot prints, and our abc albums. Some of the hand and foot print art doesn't require much work from the children, and I've been thinking that perhaps I need to change that. Painting hands, and especially feet, this week, reminded me of what a fun sensory experience it is for the children to feel the brush as it spreads the paint, and the lovely squishy feeling of paint between their toes. They love this activity, and that is enough sometimes! For more hand and foot print ideas, check out pinterest. Finally, here are some trains we made while talking about and reviewing the names of shapes. This clever idea came from Counting Coconuts.

On The Rookie Season 6 Episode 4, "Training Day," the team follows leads potentially tied to the pentagram killer. Read on for our preview!

A policeman was interrogating 3 guys who were training to become detectives. To test their skills in recognizing a suspect, he shows the first guys a picture for 5 seconds and then...

Truth is, finding virtual dissection and labs isn't as hard as it used to be. We have a list of the best Virtual Dissection and Labs for Homeschoolers!

Free On-Demand Webinars Build up your teacher toolbox for classroom management, help your students be successful with centers, and gain confidence teaching Preschool-Kindergarten with our FREE on-demand webinars! Have you ever attended teacher trainings that were not really designed for early childhood, and weren’t all that helpful? You won’t find that here! Each webinar is […]

As a Title Teacher, Comprehension and Fluency are a big struggle for my students. I am finding success with them retaining their sight ...

Have you ever seen the way a kids eyes light up when you ask them to be a detective? I'll admit, I use this technique much too often. It's losing it's steam. But when something is lost (especially if it's something of mine...) we all become detectives. We go all out and get on our

Emanating a rousing melange of poignant solitude and mesmerizing beauty, our newest addition scintillates with the influencer's presence – the illustrious Edward Hopper. Known for his knack for encapsulating raw emotion in serene frames, Hopper's essence is palpable in this captivating rendition, titled 'Night Depot'. Painted on a broad canvas, the artwork sets a mesmerizing mise-en-scene of a train station; a background often employed by Hopper to portray the angst of urban life. Capturing the viewer's gaze is the solitary figure, a staple motif in Hopper's oeuvre, embodying the sense of isolation and introspection that is a leitmotif of our contemporary society. Hopper's overarching narrative of solitude in mass urbanity is ingeniously woven into the very warp and weft of the canvas through skillful brush-work. The solitude is depicted not as a pure absence, but dualistically, both a void, and yet a presence; an enigma that adds a degree of dynamism to the otherwise static ambiance. The canvas is drenched in a spectrum of predominantly nocturnal hues, blending seamlessly into each other to suggest the lingering shadows of the night. Bold, vibrant slabs of indigo, navy, and cobalt blue merge harmoniously into more muted tones of gray and black, skillfully capturing the ephemeral nature of the dimly lit train depot. The stark interplay of light and shadow infuses a dramatic edge, enhancing the emotional gravity of the scene. Simultaneously utilitarian and aesthetic, the incandescent bulbs lining the station, flooding the lone figure with a halo of light, become not just elements of the scenery, but metaphorical reflections of the individual's journey on life's track- glowing, dimming, and glowing yet again. As the embodiment of contemporary anguish and hope, 'Night Depot', thus, becomes more than a mere representation; it transforms into an immersive narrative of modern existence that resonates with all. Its structural integrity, combined with its masterful color play, ensures that 'Night Depot' seizes the viewer's gaze. It encapsulates an experience that is inherent to us all, thus becoming an insightful mirror to the viewer's self. Intrinsically sensitive yet visually riveting, the canvas unravels the subtleties of solitude, encouraging the viewer to delve deeper into the emotive contours of the artwork and hence, life itself. 'Night Depot' henceforth stands tall as an indispensable jewel in our gallery, chronicling our nuanced journey across the shifting tracks of humanity.