Stuck in a Snow Globe writing

Well, this is the first month in my teaching career that I have had more days off than working.  This weather is getting a little cOLD!  And these storms have creeped up on us without too much of a warning!  yikes!

{This has been the scene of many mornings lately... and recently drives home due to the drifting snow!}

 {I feel like we are in Alaska!  We were checking out the local major river---that is ice jammed.  If you look behind my biggest's head---you can see ice blocks that have "washed" up ashore!}

I wanted to start a little series on my blog called "What We're Writing Wednesdays" but, it has been next to impossible to get anything together to show you!  So, this was a project that took us a few weeks to complete, but not because it was a long project... but we had too many delays and days off!
(I'm sure you have seen this all over pinterest, especially a few weeks ago)

This is the way I completed this project with my kiddlets:
Trace the clear plates (or bowls; that you would get at Party City;  I got the big dinner plates, cause they are first graders, and need lots of room to draw!) onto blue paper.

Students drew a winter scene inside---NOT drawing themselves.  While they were doing this, I had them get on their jackets, hats, scarves, etc.. and had them pose.  They were either super excited with hands in the air or they were freezing, hugging themselves.  They got to choose.

I printed the pictures 5X7 size.  Kids cut and glued (actually, I had to save time.  I cut them out, they glued).  I laminated the pictures.

Then the students wrote.  I wanted them to write using their senses, but we just didn't have time.  :(  So, the kids wrote a "first, next, then and last" narrative (CCSS aligned!) about the day they were stuck in a snow globe.  We talked about having one of the "steps" be that the globe got all shook up (and it might have messed up a snowman they were building, etc.)  Of course, some of my babes "missed" that info and just wrote about the fun things they did while they were in there---and that was okay, because we had days in between these steps.   While they were writing their final copies, I got the globes all snowy and glued.  I took a few pics while doing it, to show you what I found to be helpful.  (PS-I got the fake snow from Hobby Lobby on New Years Day at 70% off.  I bought 10 bags, not knowing what I would need.... I only needed ONE bag for my 19 kids.  I now have 10 years worth of snow---that I paid $10 total for!  lol)

Put a few handful of "snow" in the center of the drawn picture.

Start a little hot glue on one of the sides and place the plate down.

Jam the glue gun underneath the plate and squirt away---around the plate, making sure the BOTTOM of the plate is "hole-free" and secure!  Your custodians will thank you!

Staple the writing page below.  Hang in the hall for one spectacular display!  I can't believe all the people who stopped in my room just to say how adorable they were!  (I had figured that everyone saw them on Pinterest already)

Want the printable?  Click below!

What are you working on in your writing this week?

Classroom Snowball Fights!

We've been back to school now for what was supposed to be 7 days... however we had a snow day thrown in there and another day off because of the COLD!  There may have been a delay in there too, but I seriously cannot remember!  Does anyone know how many more days till summer?!?!

All this cold had inspired me to create some fun games to keep my kiddos attention, not to mention keep them awake!  They've been having trouble getting into the swing of things, and this fit the bill!

Snowball fights!  

After a quick intro/lesson on the topic, I pass out recording sheets for the kids to write their names on.  Then I pass out the papers with what they will be sorting and/or answering.  {In the pack I have all of the words or number sentences typed out, but I also have a list of what is used so you can use scrap paper}  After going over the rules (no throwing at peoples faces... no running... etc..) the kids crumble up the paper that I had just given them (NOT the recording sheet!)

Give them 30 seconds or less to throw snowballs.  (I also crumble a few extras, because when it's time to find a snowball, there are always ones that get "lost" somewhere in the room... I mean, they are throwing them!)

I call out "macaroni and cheese" and they respond "everybody freeze!"  (Of course you could do your own thing there.  They grab the nearest snowball and head back to their desks.  I trained them to STAND and write--saves valuable seconds for this activity! ;)  They write their word (or number sentence, etc) where it belongs and crumbles the paper back up.

We repeat a few times.  (If they happen to get the same snowball, I tell them to switch it out with one of the extra balls laying around)  Sometimes we get more rounds in, sometimes less.  Depends on the day they are having.  I do NOT do it till they fill in the whole paper!

After this part is done, I allow them to take the snowball home that they had last, or they recycle.  It's funny.  I over hear my kids trying to persuade others to give them their ball.  They want to play it at home!  ha ha!

Then it's independent work time.  These activities vary, but the task is always very similar for the kids.  My goal when designing things is that it's very routine.  I don't want to spend time teaching the task EVERY TIME.  Plus, it helps them become more comfortable as well!

If you are interested in seeing what all is included in the packs, click on the pictures below.  OR I have them bundled together.  I plan on using these throughout the winter season.  No need to overkill it right now.  In fact, I may even use them as a "class reward!"

             

 **I also have a bundled version HERE**

***Important note:  I have done these at different times during the day, however---if you want your kids to go home excited and ready to talk to parents about their day-do it during the last 20-40 minutes of your day!  Guaranteed giggles and excitement.

Snowman Day!

We decided that we would have a different theme day this week, since the kids are beside themselves as it is!  Monday was a little bit of learning about different celebrations over the world.  We had a fabulous guest speaker talk about Diwali.

Tuesday was Snowman Day!  {and might I add, FULL MOON DAY!!!}  We were quite surprised by waking up to a 2 hour delay!  Of course, I LOVE those, but when your day is chock full of activities to get through the week, that really put a damper on things!

I feel like in order to be helpful here in bloggy land, I should have done this weeks ago to share, but--there's just no possible way!  I'm hanging on like a thread like the majority of you all.  Gotta say, Full Moon, week before Christmas AND SNOW----is just kicking my behind!  {Not to mention that today, one of my littles decided to TOUCH the ELF!!!!!

Okay-off topic.  Here's a quick, easy and adorable ornament to add to your pinterest board (if you haven't already!  That's how I found it!)  It fit perfectly with our snowman day.  I had planned on doing lots of activities from my Snowman at School pack, but in reality, we only accomplished 1 activity!  We will now do the rest on our first 2 days back in January.


Melted Snowman Ornament:
Materials Needed:  Salt (1 container was able to get 20 kids with a little left.... I still bought 2, JUST in case!)  Peppercorn (1 container will last you YEARS for this project!), orange construction paper (I think a 4x6 piece was more than enough for my ENTIRE class to tear a piece off), and of course, clear christmas balls.  (and some fancy ribbon--not necessary)

Step 1-pour the salt----it is VERY helpful to have a funnel!

Step 2-I added in a little "math"  Kids counted out 10 peppercorns (is that the right way to say that?!? lol)

Step 3-tear a small piece of orange construction paper.  I also had the kiddos fold or roll it.

Step 4-close it up and tie a ribbon! 

Super cute, EASY and memorable!  I was going to add something on the ball, but decided to leave it as is.   {I realize that I never snapped a pic of an individual one!  I'll do that tomorrow and upload it!}

Tomorrow is Reindeer Day in First grade (of course I'll have something to share with you about that too---but I'm just not ahead of the game with an example... It's going to be a create as I teach tomorrow-with the exception of the worksheet!  Make sure to stop back to have it for next year), followed by Polar Express on Friday!  Then BREAK!!!!  How many days left do you have?

I'm linking this post up with Simply Kinder to find some new and exciting blogs!  Make sure to go and check out all the other fabulous blogs you may have not known about before!