Let's Watch them Move... I'm Movin' and I know it...

Our Real LIfe Experience during our Bird Adaptations Unit

Tonight, this is what I found. They hatched!!

About 2 weeks ago we found these little guys hanging out in our wreath on the front door.

Phases of the Moon

                                   

                         

                                                                                  

                         

                       Click Here to grab The Phases of the Moon

The 100th Day of School in 4th Grade

Today, we celebrated the 100th day of school.  I took pictures of each student with the "Aging Booth app" on my iPhone to age them to 100 years old.  I printed each picture on a full size page in black and white as students created oval frames for a finishing touch.  Each student wrote about what it would be like to be 100 years old, what their life was like before they turned 100 years old or described themselves at 100 years old.  We all had such a great time as well as shocked to see each student age so quickly!  Next year, we might just have to dress up as if we were 100 years old and write a compare/contrast with our current age.

QR Codes in the Classroom

I have been exploring all the possibilities of using QR codes in my classroom.  Next week, I plan to teach my 4th graders how to create their very own QR code and embed it into their blog.  A QR code is a  bar code you scan that takes you to a site on the internet.  What a safe way to have students get exactly where you want them to go and not worry about them misspelling words that take in the wrong direction.  All you need is a bar code scanner found in the app store.  There are many different ones that are free.  The bar code to the left will take you to my teacher webpage.  Here are a few ideas on how you can use QR codes in your classroom:

1. Extention activities:  print QR codes on index cards for students to scan and take them to specific sites for online Math activities, research material, etc.
2. Famous People you study in class: Each code will take them to a site that students can read and research about that specific person in history.
3. Incentives:  Create different codes that will be a surprise to the student until they scan the bar code that says, "Free Homework Pass" or "Sit by a Friend today". 
4. Checking their Homework:  The QR code will be a scanned picture of the answer key to their assignment. Once scanned, they will have all the answers revealed to reflect on how they did on the assignment.
5.  Scavenger Hunts:  Students scan and reveal clues or pictures that they can add to their list of items they are hunting for.
6. Vocabulary:  Students walk around the room scanning posted codes or use bar codes on index cards during literacy stations to reveal the definition to new vocabulary.

My mind can't stop thinking of all the ways to use QR codes in the classroom.  Please leave a comment if you have any ideas for using QR codes.  What a fun way to learn and move around a Techie Classroom!  I wish I had these opportunities as a child.

Student Reactions on King George III and The Stamp Act

During our American Revolution unit, students had an opportunity to see how the colonists felt about laws King George III would impose on them when we role played in class today. First, I told them Mrs. Huggins sent us a video message that was left out of our morning announcements and it was extremely important that we take time out of our day to view it before lunch. I secretly asked Mrs. Huggins to help me out with the lesson without telling a sole. I asked her to tell them in the video message that a "NEW" school rule would begin today. No students would be allowed to bring a lunch from home, or choose an alternate lunch item. The only way to get lunch from now on was to get a hot lunch. In fact, the hot lunch was actually going to be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The good news was they could choose their jelly. You can only imagine the students reactions to this message. It worked!! I got the questions rolling. Most students were not happy about this new rule. Many students asked questions like, "what if we get tired of eating the same thing everyday?" or "what if we don't like peanut butter?". After much discussion, I told them this wasn't really a rule that was going to happen. My goal was for them to experience how the colonists felt when King George III imposed laws that they had to follow. We all had a good laugh and it really sparked their interest in our lessons on The Proclamation of 1763 and The Stamp Act. In the next part of our lesson, we divided the class into the British and the Colonists. We brainstormed a list of things that could be taxed in the classroom. After many ideas and a lot of student conversations taking place, we all voted as a class to have the British (one half the class) tax the Colonists (the other half of the class) everytime they had to use the restroom and everytime they spoke to someone other than a teacher. Wow! They are tough on eachother. I am so glad the British could tax only for the afternoon. By 2:30 pm, I believe we were all glad the Stamp Act was repealed!

Lily's Show Me on Using the Breaking Apart Strategy

This Weeks Show Me: How to Use Smaller Problems to Solve Bigger Problems

Energy Olympics Science Rotations

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

What a Wonderful Surprise for One Student in my Class

James and his sister were caught by surprise when their Dad returns home Friday afternoon from 7 months overseas.