More Plant Fun-Exploring Inside a Seed and a FREEBIE!!

We are still exploring plants.  On Monday my students looked inside a seed.  We soaked the bean seeds overnight (note to self-NEVER-EVER-EVER-EVER soak over a weekend-they stunk smelled so bad, but my kiddos were troopers and endured the smell to dissect their seed).  They discovered what is outside and inside a seed and had to label the parts of a seed.  My little scientist got a kick out of taking the seed apart!!  

Observing the seed with a magnifying glass.

They had to label the parts of the seed after they learned about the different parts. They also had to write about what they found inside the seed in their "Inside a Seed" booklet.

We used these cute: Watch-it-Grow Window Green House from Lakeshore to plant seeds in a bag the next day.

The wrote about the steps it took to plant their seed in a bag, using the transitional terms first, next, then, last or finally.

By Friday many of our seeds began to grow and they filled out their growing bag log.

Now for the FREEBIE!! If your students study plants and you want your students to create an "Inside a Seed" booklet here a copy of the patterns.  You can print the booklet on white or tan card stock or construction paper, attach 5 pieces of paper and staple along the side.  Have students cut them out or you may want to cut them out in advance. 

Click on the picture below to grab a copy.  I included a copy of both a small and large pattern.

Enjoy what is left of your Sunday as we all prepare for the new work week!!

First Grade Common Core

Are you implementing the Common Core this year?  Well, I am and let me tell you I have been having a time trying to find activities in ELA and Math and I don't really have the time at the moment to make everything that I need.  So imagine my surprise when I heard about this workbook!!  If you are a First Grade Teacher you have got to check out

First Grade Common Core

This First Grade Common Core Workbook is the largest collection of resources for teaching the Common Core State Standards. This workbook includes over 550 pages of Worksheets, Activity Centers, and Posters that teach all the First Grade English Language Arts Common Core Standards and all the Mathematics Common Core Standards!  They also have a Kindergarten version.  I can't wait to get my hands on this workbook, it is going to make my planning so much easier!!

Lisa over at Learning is Something To Treasure blogged about this awesome Common Core Treasure Resource on Tuesday.  Lisa you Rock!!!

Parts of a Plant

We have been learning about plants in science, so of course I had to have my students create their own flower and label the parts of the plant. I have been doing this activity since forever.  They created the flower by gluing cut up pieces of crepe paper into the center of the plate and then gluing a different color around the edge of the plate. Next they punched a hole in the plate and attached the chenille stem (I forgot to get the green chenille stems so I just used brown or yellow), then added the leaves, and placed the roots (tan yarn) at the bottom of the chenille stem. To differentiate instruction I had my advanced students make their own labels and my struggling learners were given the labels already printed. They loved doing this activity.  My student teacher (Elizabeth Walker) created this cute display of the students flowers.

I'll be back tomorrow to share more information on our plant unit and some of the fun activities we are doing.  We will learn about seeds today and plant our seeds in a bag later this week. What are some of the fun things you do to learn about plants? Have a Marvelous Monday.

Goodnight Moon

Happy Fall Y'all!! We went on our first field trip on Thursday!! We went to the Columbia Children's Theatre to see their production of Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.  They used the elements from the book to create the play (the picture of the cow jumping over the moon, the dish running away with the spoon, the lamp, and the picture of the three bears). The play was absolutely adorable.

Here are a few pictures:

The Set

The mother rabbit was trying to get her son to go to bed and was reading a bed time story.

The characters pretending to go to sleep.

The Dog introducing the Cow.

The Dish and the Spoon, another Dog, and the Cow after trying to jump over the moon. Hilarious!!

If you are in the Columbia, SC area check out the Columbia Children's Theatre you won't be disappointed.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Another Blog Giveaway!

My bloggy buddy Tracey over at Third Grade All Stars is having a 200 Follower Giveaway!!

Some of her awesome blogging friends are helping her with her giveaway and have donated some great prizes.  Go show Tracey some blog love and get in on a another great giveaway!!
Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Word Family Fun and a Freebie

Each week I introduce my firsties to a new word family. When they go into their literacy work stations I want them to practice making words with the chunk each week. So, I created "Word Family Fun" packets to put in the work stations.

I found these cute containers at the Dollar Tree that I will put the letter tiles in.

The first one I created was the -an word family

I also created the -ug word family.

Then I created the -og word family. 

I also created the -ip word family.

All of my Word Family Fun  packets are in my TN store.

I also had these plastic file folder envelopes that I will put the word family units in.

Now for the freebie!! Here is a copy of the word family fun record sheet for each unit. Click on the picture below to grab a copy.

I am off for a quick run to Target to check out the $1 bins and see what goodies I can find!

We Have a Winner!!, Scrappin Doodles and more Giveaways!!

The winner of my 100 Follwer Giveaway is  Nichole C.  Congratulations!!! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I would like to thank Vicky from Keep Calm & Imagine Then Get Excited and Make Things!, Corinna from Teaching Fabulous Firsties!, Lisa from Learning is Something to Treasure , Stacy from Leading and Reading, and Heather from The Busy Busy Hive for help in making my giveaway a success!! Hop on over to these ladies blogs and show them some love.

Denyse over at Scrappin Doodles  was kind enough to create the cutest cowboy and cowgirl western theme clip art per my request.  She made them reading, writing, doing math, at recess, and at school.  Although she does not create custom orders she will take your request and make them available for anyone to purchase.  I was so thrilled when she completed them!  She created the cowboys first and then the cowgirls.  Aren't they adorable?  If you are looking for some cute clip art check out Scrappin Doodles.

Here are some awesome giveaways going on right now!

First off my girl Stacy over at Leading and Reading just launched her 100+ Follower giveaway. She is giving away your choice of an awesome theme pack!! Hop on over and show her some love!!

Next up is Tonya at Tonya's Treats for Teachers. She is having a 500 Follower Mega Giveaway!! Go check it out!

Enjoy your Labor Day and have a Marvelous Monday!