Friday Flashback

In Math this week, we continued to practice our measurement skills - with worms!  Since they loved the clay worms so much last week, we kept the trend going.   I told them that since they did such a good job using the rulers correctly, we were going to measure worms again this week - but not those silly clay worms.

That's right.  I hinted that they were the REAL deal.  I even had them close their eyes while I went to get them (I mean,  they can't know where I keep my secret stash).  When they opened their eyes, I was holding a film canister.  I told them that I put a worm in each canister that morning - you know worms like dark places, right?  I went around and sat a canister on each child's desk, but they weren't allowed to touch them yet.  Then, once everyone had a canister, I modeled what we would do.

On the signal, we very carefully pick up the canisters (so we didn't hurt the worms) and hold them high above our heads.  I told them they would feel extremely light - possibly like there was nothing in there at all, but I promised them they were NOT empty!  On the next signal, we would use our other hand/thumb to remove the lids while keeping them held high above our heads.  I didn't want any of the girls to see the worms and "freak out."  ;)  Then on the third signal, we would turn our canisters over and DUMP THE WORMS ON OUR DESKS!

They bit.  Hook, line and sinker.  Every year.  Look at these faces!

Squeamish much?.....Then, dump!

Yarn worms??  Oh, Mrs. Madden!  You fooled us, again!

We used our "cans of worms" to estimate and measure in inches and centimeters and then make comparisons of the two units.

Pretty soon, they're going to stop believing me, but I think I have one more great worm idea up my sleeve for Monday! :)

We also started our ABC Countdown this week!!  WooHoo! Can I get a Hallelujah on that one??

In Science, we wrapped up our Matter Unit with a virtual field trip.

Our instructor was from Texas and she did some really cool experiments with dry ice and nitrogen with the kiddos.

Then they got to do more experiments on their own.  I think our record was 35 drops of water on a penny!

In writing, we did a mix of things....we reviewed "how-to" writing with a fun worm recipe - Worm Pudding - this also knocked out our "A is for Art" on our ABC Countdown calendar - boomyow!

Students used templates for the craftivity and then we glued real spoons to them.  We put black glitter in the "dirt" to make it seem more real and also added the black glitter to the spoon for a realistic effect.

Enjoying worm pudding while we work!

The finished products on display!

We also wrote and published our "pyramid poems" - onto napkins to use at our Poetry Picnic on Monday, of course!

Notice how one poem is about ME?? {heart} And, how I'm the best teacher in the world because we get to measure WORMS in math!?  I'm tellin' ya - they love some worms! :)  I'll be working to get my new worm unit finished up this weekend!

We also tackled possessives this week.  The quiz I made only had 17 questions.  I'm a 20 question kind of teacher, so I had the kiddos flip it over on the back and create a "possessive diagram" of themselves.  They turned out adorbs!  One little girl drew herself in her "mom's wedding dress" - precious!  This little kiddo drew herself wearing "Mrs. Madden's dress".

There was a lot of "Mrs. Madden's high heels" or "Mrs. Madden's lipstick" and they get all the details right, too!  Here's a pic of me wearing the dress above!

This was for "College Day" on the ABC Countdown Calendar.  Gotta love my Gamecock boys! :)

And, finally, we practiced and practiced for our "Poetry Celebration" that we're hosting on Monday.  They were so excited to have a real stand for our microphone and the little spotlight shining on them!