Outer Space Art

I wanted a new art project to go with my Earth unit, so after some internet surfing I  put a couple of ideas together and came up with this project. I really liked the way the project turned out, so I thought I would share the idea with you.

As you can see students basically just used a two or three different markers to make the spiral design. Then I provided students with an outer space page that they colored, cut and glued onto the page. Once the project was done I mounted it onto another sheet of paper to give a framed look.

It was really amazing to see the color combinations and the spiral designs that my first graders came up with. I would love to put these in a frame and give them as Father's Day gift, but they are going the the memory books.

I have posted the complete instructions and the outer space page on my TpT Store as a FREEBIE if you are interested you can visit the link below to download it.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Outer-Space-Art-2459772

Anna Navarre's TpT Store

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Tic-Tac-Toe with Words

I like to provide my students with fun and interactive ways to practice their words. One activity that I use during my phonics time is Tic-Tac-Toe with words. All of my students have reusable pockets and whiteboard markers, so it is easy for me to have my students pull them out to use.

Tic-Tac-Toe with words is super easy to play. I begin by reviewing all of the words that I have posted on the board with my class. Then I have students partner up and get out their reusable pockets or whiteboards, whiteboard markers and erasers.

Once students are ready to play they need to draw the Tic-Tac-Toe grid on their board. I initially had to show my students how to do this. It took them a couple of times, but they got it. The big issue was making the grid large enough for a word to fit. After students have finished their grid then each player picks a word. The game is then played much like the regular Tic-Tac-Toe, but with words instead of X's and O's. The first player writes their word in a box and says the word. The next player does the same thing using their own word. Players take turns writing and reading their words as they try to get three in a row. The first person to get three in a row is the winner. Students play again, but this time they need to pick an new word.

I hope that you will enjoy this idea. I know that my students enjoy it.


Please feel free to visit my TpT Store for other teaching resources. You can also follow my TpT Store to get notifications of new and free product postings.

Anna Navarre’s TpT Store

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Equation Roll a 6 Game

As a TpT seller and teacher I am always trying to come up with new activities. My husband helps me come up with ideas as well. This Equation Roll a 6 Game is a game that he thought up. He gave me the idea and then I put it together. It is a pretty simple game. It is interactive and fun. Basically, a student works to make equations until their partner rolls a 6. Once a 6 is rolled they need to stop. Then they try rolling a 6 while the other person works to make the equations. The first person to complete their board is the winner.

My students have really been enjoying this game. It is the right time of the year for them, because they have some foundational skills and are ready for this type of practice.  We've been playing this game as a whole class activity, with students partnering up to play. It has been a great resource to pull out when I want to give students an activity that serves as kind of a brain break, but still provides practice time.

This product is available at my TpT Store if you are interested.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Equation-Roll-6-Game-2347994

STEM Activities in the Classroom

My first grade class is having a blast with STEM activities. It is amazing to see the critical thinking and problem solving going on. We started working on the Building a Tower activity on Friday, so I took some pictures. We did our initial planning of the design, note taking, and built the towers. We plan to finish and display the towers on Tuesday.

It is kind of funny, because I initially thought that students would use the index cards to create their towers, but they had their own ideas. I didn't show them any pictures of student constructed projects ahead of time. I just showed them pictures of real towers.

I had asked my class to bring in a cereal or some other small box, but I only gave them a couple days notice and I didn't send home a note. Only about 7 of my students brought in boxes, but this worked out fine. I just threw in foam plates for them to use as a base for stacking.

My students used my STEM Activity - Building a Tower packet for this project. I have created others as well. I've included the links if you would like to check them out.

Build a Habitat 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Activity-Build-a-Habitat-2285606

Build a Vehicle

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Activity-Build-a-Vehicle-2285620

Build a Tower

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Activity-Build-a-Tower-2285613

Build a Robot

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Activity-Build-a-Robot-2314734

Build a Carnival Ride

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/STEM-Activity-Build-a-Robot-2314734

Phonics Learning Puzzles

Many years ago, too many to count, I made these puzzles to use as one of my center activities on the last day before winter break, which I have used ever since. We have a fun day with pizza, pajamas, and lots of fun activities, so these puzzles are perfect. I like that the students have fun, but still continue to learn with a festive twist.

I used a Christmas theme, but these puzzles could, of course, be done using any theme you want. They are super easy to make and very relaxing if you like to color. If you don't like to color or don't have the time then you could always give the job to someone else.

I believe when I made my puzzles I found a website that had Christmas coloring pages and then I just copied them onto cardstock. Sorry, but since it was so long ago, I no longer remember the website. I have also used pages from a coloring book, which are great for other themes such as superheroes and other trendy themes. The drawback is that they are double sided and the paper is much thinner. You could try to copy them, but sometimes the shading of the coloring book paper makes them difficult to photocopy.

After you copy and color your pages then you can write the words that you want to use on them. I recommend sticking to one word family per puzzle and writing the words with one colored marker. This makes it easier to sort the puzzles when the pieces get mixed up.

Once you have finished getting the puzzles ready you can laminate them for durability. Cut the puzzle up any way you want, but don't make the pieces too small. I think mine are about 9 or 10 pieces. You would think that this would be too easy, but since many kids today don't spend much time doing puzzles it can still be a challenge for younger students. As you finish cutting apart each puzzle you can store them in zip-loc bags. Then they are ready for students to use.

Students love to work together on these puzzles and focus on completing them, but it is easy for them to forget to read the words as they are putting the puzzle together and/or when the puzzle is finished. Fortunately, students want to share the puzzle with you, so this is a good time for you to have them read the words to you.

I hope that you enjoy this learning puzzle activity. 

Merry Christmas! Anna

Please feel free to visit Anna Navarre's TpT Store for K-2 teaching resources.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Christmas Tree Sight Word Swat

I pulled out this large math whiteboard this morning and decided to draw a Christmas tree and turn it into a fun game using sight words that some of my struggling students are still having trouble reading/spelling. It was a bigger hit than I thought.

I drew the tree and added the words. Then I pulled my students' number sticks and had them come up and swat the word that I called out. I had three mini fly swatters, so I actually had three students come up at a time. This was good for supporting students who didn't really know where the word was. I had enough words on the board to give everyone a chance.

After we finished swatting the words I decided to push the activity a little bit further and have students come up and circle a word that I called out. I gave my students a choice of colored markers and told them that we were making Christmas bulbs, even though some of the bulbs wouldn't actually be on the tree. They enjoyed this activity as well.

I had also planned to have students point to the words using a laser pen, but we ran out of time. I plan on doing it tomorrow along with some more swatting.

This was such a fun activity. It is amazing how random ideas can sometimes be some of the best ideas. 

I hope that you are planning some fun Christmas activities for your classroom. Here are some other ideas that you may enjoy. Click on the links to see these blog posts. 

Christmas Phonics Puzzles

Handprint Christma Wreath

Christmas Wreath Art

You can also visit Anna Navarre's TpT Store for Teaching resources. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Classroom Christmas Tree

One of my favorite things to do for my class before the winter break is to set my classroom up to look like a Christmas tree. My students go absolutely wild over the change in the classroom and it truly adds to the holiday spirit.

I cut a large star out of yellow construction paper and sprinkle it with glitter, which is really the only prep that needs to be done. The rest is just organizing the desks into a Christmas tree formation and then laying out the green and brown paper. The gift bags that I have on each desk makes it look like Christmas decorations on the tree. 

I've done this for several years. I would have shared the idea sooner, but I was never able to get all the desks to fit in the picture. My class size used to be much larger. This year I was able to get it done, at least well enough for you to get the idea.

I do this two other times during the year. I do it at Halloween time when I turn my classroom desks into a large pumpkin. I also do it on Valentine's Day when I use the desks to form one really large heart. I've thought about doing it for St. Patrick's Day, but that is beyond my creative abilities. Anyways, I hope that you like the idea. I guarantee if you try this your students will LOVE  IT!

Merry Christmas!
Anna

Anna Navarre's TpT Store 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre