I have visited Illinois several times in my life. Both times it has really been to the Chicago area. I absolutely love Chicago. I have walked the Navy Pier, been to Wrigley Field, ridden the "L" through town, walked down the Magnificent Mile and in my pre-gluten-free days I enjoyed my fair share of Chicago-style pizza. Now that we live just hours away, I can't wait for the day we can take our children to see the Shed Aquarium, the Legoland Discovery Center and so much more!
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I like to spend a couple weeks each year teaching my students about poetry. We do a number of fun activities in addition to reading and writing different poems. We have a poetry battle, rank poetry, make a poetry journal, and much more! Here is a look into my poetry unit.... To kick off my poetry unit I have my students each complete this KWL Chart about Poetry. We then discuss what poetry is, what a poet's purpose is, what poems can have, etc. I use and display these posters during my unit! Over the years I have found poems that are great for young children to listen to. Instead of having multiple books that I have to search through to find the poem I want to read, I have typed the poems on individual pages and compiled them together. Each day I choose two different poems to read to my class. After reading the two poems, my students each vote on which poem they liked the best. We fill in the Poetry Battle bracket together. By the end of my poetry unit my class has found their all-time favorite poem (which is usually Brod Bager's poem Booger Love)! I also like for my students to fill out the Ranking Poetry page after listening to a poem. I like for them to fill these out after listening to poems that have the different parts of figurative language in them that we have learned about. Here are some of the different figurative language topics that I cover during my poetry unit. Each poster has the term, definition, and example. If you are looking for Figurative Language Posters click HERE to download my 23 Figurative Language Posters from my TpT Store! Each student makes their own Poetry Journal throughout my unit. They choose the cover of their journal. They color, cut, and glue it on the top of a brad folder. Each poem the student writes gets hole-punched and added to their folder! Each student also fills out the "About the Poet" page and adds it as the first page to their poetry journal. Here's a look at the different poems we learn about and write throughout the unit. I usually pick one poem a day to teach and have the students write during our allotted writing time. Word Picture Poem Who, What, When, Where, Why Poem Triplet Poem Shape Poem Quatrain Poem List Poem Limerick Poem -ing Poem I'm So Smart Poem Important Poem If It Weren't For You Poem If I Were...Poem I Wish...Poem I Like...Poem I Am Poem Holiday Poem Haiku Poem Free Verse Poem Diamante Poem Couplet Poem Color Poem Cinquain Poem Bio Poem Alphabet Alliteration Poem Adjective Poem 5 Senses Poem 2-Worder Poem Acrostic Poem By the end of the unit each student has a wonderful collection of poetry they have written. I slip a parent note in the first pocket of the folder and send each student's poetry journal home. The parent note tells the parents all the wonderful things we learned during our poetry unit and invites them to sit down with their child and read each poem their child has written. To make teaching your own poetry unit simple, easy, and fun...download my complete poetry unit on my TpT store by clicking HERE!
Rainforest Activities and Printables - My kids are going to love these crafts!
Make your own rain stick craft with these easy instructions
Stinky Feet is a test prep game with a funny name, but it provides a serious review that will leave your students begging for more. Check out this game's simple set up that can be used with any content for any subject area over and over again.
Pinay Homeschooler is a blog that shares homeschool and afterschool activity of kids from babies to elementary level.
Come study Illinois on our US state study. We make deep dish pizza, study Frank Lloyd Wright and explore the land of Lincoln. Book suggestions and crafts.
''Published, August, 1911.''
Videos from the series Earth Science with Science Mom
The beaver is an official symbol of Canada and you can find it on the Canadian nickle. It was only right that we learn all about this furry little creature. Fun Facts About Beaver's The Beaver is from the rodent animal family The Beaver's tail is thick and shaped like a paddle Beaver's spend their time building lodges A Beaver's teeth never stop growing. All about Beaver's worksheet. We read this non-fiction text to help in our research about beavers. After reading the book the boys put together their own beaver lodge craft. What you need: Brown construction paper (for the mud) String (I used brown string for the sticks) Blue construction paper (for the water) Beavers and labels for all the parts (here). During the craft we were able to go over the steps for building a beaver lodge. To end our study we watched this really cool video on beavers building lodges. Resources: Worksheet That's it guys! I hope you this craft and wonderful book. Linked Up With: After School Activities Practical Monday Montessori Monday Preschool kindergarten community
Make a bird nest using recycled materials. Your kids will love creating, learning about and play with their own human sized bird nest.
Autour d’un travail sur Van Gogh. Chaque élève crée une fleur, la colorie avec des pastels à l’huile. On obtient une très jolie composition
Preschoolers can learn a lot from deserts. It teaches them about different animals, like spiders, snakes, and camels; and plants, such as cactus and elephant trees. Topics on deserts also help the little ones understand the weather and how water is important to all living things. Teaching preschoolers about deserts can be fun and exciting ... Read more
Hi teacher friends, Some of my favorite memories in elementary school were centered around reading novels in the classroom! I’ll always remember making a glittery web with glue and black paper while reading Charlotte’s Web in third grade. (I also remember our teacher scolding us for the giant glittery mess on the
These simple Illinois crafts for kids are a fun way to learn about this U.S. state together!
Your preschoolers and kindergartners will have a blast with this Rainforest Collage for Kids. This process art activity is perfect for encouraging creative thinking, problem-solving, and of course fine motor skills.
Writing and reading anchor chart ideas for the classroom.
From videos to haiku to poetry slams, there's something to pique every student's interest.
Poetry is, let's be honest, not easy to teach at times. I feel it's the hardest genre to teach to my second graders. But it doesn't have to be something you dread to teach. And it doesn't have to be something your students dread either! Using engaging, funny poems while introducing the elements of poetry
If you've been wondering how to put together Greek Olympics games in your classroom, you're in the right place!
Hi teacher friends, I’ve been busy creating a series of STEM projects for students who are studying Medieval Times & Middle Ages.. Next stop, Late Medieval Europe! Challenge 1: The Ballista Challenge! Medieval times were a violent period in history. New styles of weaponry and warfare were introduced during the Crusades. Siege warfare
It is Ancient Greece overload in my classroom this week! Here are two fun activities that my kids LOVED! I also played traditional Greek music while they did these activities in attempt to keep the noise level down. My room sounded like a Greek wedding. These activities are simple, free, and an easy display to […]
Need ideas for a hands-on, literature-based Middle Ages unit study? This post has got you covered with projects, literature lists and resources.
Make animals come to life with our wobble animal craft. See them wiggle with a gentle tug and have a wonderful time filled with fun and giggles! As animals are kids’ all-time favorites, we have designed this simple yet cute craft to help kids make their beloved animals. And
Prairie Dog Printout. Prairie Dogs are small, burrowing rodents that live in the prairies and mountain plains of the western USA and Mexico.
Making inferences worksheets and activities aren't always easy for students, but there are fun ways to teach this challenging reading skill.
Habitat triorama Get ready to embark on an exciting journey into the enchanting world of animal habitats! Engage your students in a fun and educational activity that brings nature right into your classroom. With 10 unique habitats and four adorable animal species per habitat, your students will have a blast exploring the diversity of the animal kingdom. This hands-on craft activity is not only entertaining but also provides a valuable learning experience. As your students construct their trioramas, they'll have the opportunity to delve into the secrets of each habitat and discover interesting facts about the animals that call them home. Through this interactive process, they'll develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and its wonders. The Animal Habitat Triorama Craft is perfect for science classes or CLIL lessons, making it an ideal resource for ESL or language classes. It provides a creative and engaging way to enhance language skills while learning about animals and their habitats. Let your students unleash their imagination and have a great time exploring science and nature. Download the pdf today and add a touch of excitement to your classroom! * An extra habitat has been added: US desert. What will you find in this pack? 10 different habitats with 4 animals per habitat: Build the different habitats and learn about the animals and nature in each one of them. Fun craft and activity for kids to learn about science and nature. Hábitats triorama ¡Prepárate para embarcarte en un emocionante viaje al encantador mundo de los hábitats animales! Involucra a tus estudiantes en una actividad divertida y educativa que trae la naturaleza directamente a tu aula. Con 10 hábitats únicos y cuatro especies adorables de animales por hábitat, tus estudiantes se divertirán explorando la diversidad del reino animal. Esta manualidad no solo es entretenida, sino que también proporciona una valiosa experiencia de aprendizaje. A medida que tus estudiantes construyan sus trioramas, tendrán la oportunidad de adentrarse en los secretos de cada hábitat y descubrir datos interesantes sobre los animales que los habitan. A través de este proceso interactivo, desarrollarán una comprensión más profunda del mundo natural y sus maravillas. El Triorama de Hábitats Animales es perfecto para clases de ciencias o lecciones CLIL, lo que lo hace un recurso ideal para clases de ESL o de idiomas. Proporciona una manera creativa y atractiva de mejorar las habilidades lingüísticas mientras se aprende sobre los animales y sus hábitats. Deja que tus estudiantes desaten su imaginación y pasen un gran momento explorando la ciencia y la naturaleza. ¡Descarga el pdf y añade un toque de emoción a tu aula! Se ha añadido un hábitat extra: el desierto de EE.UU. ¿Qué encontrarás en este paquete? 10 hábitats diferentes con 4 animales por hábitat: Construye los diferentes hábitats y aprende sobre los animales y la naturaleza en cada uno de ellos. Artesanía y actividad divertidas para que los niños aprendan sobre ciencia y naturaleza. Complete your Science Unit with these 60 worksheets related to habitats. If you like this type of activity, check out the other Craftivities: Family Members and Rooms in the house Supermarket sections
Looking for a quick and easy review game? Try Pass the Chicken! Great for any classroom, this blog post shows you how to play the game and gives you a free list of music themed categories to use. FUN for music class or any classroom.
Kids hate editing and revising their work! Find out why self-editing is hard for them, and discover seven ways to make the editing process easier during your homeschool writing lessons.
