2 Weeks of Matter Ideas and a Giveaway!

To introduce a new topic I love doing an exploratory activity where the kids really have to use their critical thinking skills.  This type of activity can also serve as a pre-assessment.  You can check out my States of Matter pack by clicking the images below!

After doing the introductory activity above, I used a variety of solid and liquid matter picture cards and we talked more about physical properties of matter.  I had each of them choose three pieces of matter and then describe them using each of their five senses.  This was not only moving forward, but also a good review!

The goal was to just see how the children sorted the cards.  They should have been solids, liquids, and gases. These cards and many other goodies can be found in Sheila Melton's store by clicking on one of the pictures.  After discussing how each group sorted the cards we read a passage from K12reader.com about the three states of matter.

On the back of the passage from K12reader.com I copied my molecules in matter page and we used dot stickers and wrote generalizations about each state of matter...it was a nice tie to the passage on the front!

The next step to studying matter was discussing mass.  I gave each child a baggie and had them bring one solid from home that would fit in the baggie.  We then weighed our items on the balance scale and wrote down how many grams were in our items.  Sorry, I didn't snap a picture of this activity....all I can say is 100% engagement!  The kids LOVED using their own items and the balance scale!  Afterwards, I mixed up the papers and passed them back out the next day and we came up with conclusions about the mass of each object.

After mass we moved on to volume!  We discussed what volume was and experimented with volume of a liquid and volume of a container. 

 I was surprised to see that many of the kids still thought the taller container was holding the most amount of water.  There were some good conversations as we decided which one may or may not have the most water.  Afterwards, we used a measuring cup and found that they all approximately 250 ML of water.  This was also a good review of liquids taking the shape of their containers.  

Anything using water is super motivating for kids of any age!!

For solid volume we incorporated solids and containers.  The learning target was for each child to understand that a container's volume is fixed.  It doesn't change no matter what product is placed inside it.  We used dirt, beans, bird seed, and grass seed.  We also took it a step further and put each container on the balance scale to see the relationship between volume and mass.  The volume can be the same, while the mass can be more or less.  These recording sheets can be found in my States of Matter pack.

 Volume of a solid was a great tie to math!  We talked about the difference between 2D and 3D measuring when you have to include the LxWxH.  There was A LOT of deep thinking going on here because they kids kept wanting to turn the boxes in all different directions.  We made sure to point out that the height meant how tall, the width meant how wide, and the length was always along the bottom.  We did not actually calculate the volumes as this was an introductory activity to finding volume.

Lastly, I had to do this soda can experiment I found on pinterest.  It was a great way to culminate mass and volume and how their relationship creates density.  Which in turn was a great review of why some small things sink and some big things float.  Once again this simple recording sheet is in my States of Matter pack.

We briefly read about mixtures and solutions in our text and then decided to make scarecrow crunch and pumpkin punch!  I made a recording booklet to go along with it!  I have added it to my States of Matter pack as well!  One thing we did to help make our graphs was take out all the broken pieces and only keep the whole pieces...if not some kids would have had WAY too many pieces.

We really didn't have near enough time for physical and chemical changes.  There were so many fun pinterest experiments learning experiences we just couldn't find time to do.  Study Jams helped us out on this one to get a lot of information in a short time.  I used this cut and paste to do a little assessment which is FREE from More Time 2 Teach.  Just click the image to grab it!

Just for making it all the way down here, enter below for a chance to win a copy of my States of Matter Pack valued at $5!

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Getting Started with Daily Five

We are well into Fall and it is actually already October!!!  We are finally settling into our routines and are starting to build relationships.  Coming from a class with some looped kids.....if feels so weird to not know who this little children are; even though we see each other for 8 hours a day.

One staple in my classroom every year is daily five.  I have tweaked it each year for various reasons.  Some to fit the age of my kids and other times to increase effectiveness.  This year is no different.  Every teacher knows there is NEVER enough time in the day, so for 3rd grade I have switched from three 15-minute rounds to two 15-minute rounds.  In my extra time I have built in a fluency block.

The other difference is the launch time was MUCH less compared to when I taught K and 1st.  We were able to launch all five areas in less than 20 days. Due to the fact that our school uses Accelerated Reader we also have a designated 30 minutes of Read to Self everyday.  Another aspect I would never skip, no matter the grade level, is building stamina.  Start small and build their independence.  Don't assume the kids know anything.

In order to manage our Word Work area I developed these tic-tac-toe menus that my kids use each week.  The A and B sheets are different from one another, however all A sheets are the same every month and all B sheets are the same every month.  The kids are already getting the hang of picking up there papers each Monday and making a plan for what they will do that week when they choose word work.  You can click the image to take you to my TPT store and grab sheets for the entire year for only $2!

We also manage our Word Work area with Word Work notebooks.  The kids each have a designated notebook to complete all the activities in.  I do not look at them every week, but they do keep the kids accountable for the work they should be completing.

I was tempted to cut the listening to reading area for third grade and so glad I didn't!  This area is FULL every single round!  I added a writing component, which you can see sticking to the wall just above the cd player.  The kids have a writing notebook where they are responding to the books they are listening to.  The questions include reading skills such as main idea, story elements, predictions, cause/effect, and more.

Although we have our afternoon Read to Self, some kids just can't help but read all day.  Here is a book addict all comfy and cozy during our Daily Five time.  I love that Daily Five gives the students the power to choose.

Back to School Activities

Whew!!  Teaching on a normal day is a roller coaster, but this past month has literally flown by!  I can't believe it is already nearing the end of September, and I am just now getting around to sharing our back to school plans.  I have been a bad blogger...I promise to do better.

One of my favorite things to do the first day of school for morning work is let the kids color their own name coloring page.  We use these all year to label our cubby spaces.  Plus these are free!  Just click the image to the left.

We also worked on a classroom scavenger hunt!  This allowed the kids to roam the room, get a closer look at the different areas, as well as find materials they will use all year.  This activity was great for the kids to get up when they usually spend so much time sitting and listening the first few days.  I also loved this activity because it opened up a lot of discussion about procedures, essential information, and any questions the kids still had about our classroom.

Every year I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read "Chrysanthemum!"  It is seriously one of my all time favorite read alouds.  This book is so great for kids of all ages because of the interesting vocabulary, plot, and the opportunities for connections.  After reading the book we did a super fun classmate connection venn diagram activity from Third Grade Thinkers.  We also started our first chapter book read aloud that tied in perfectly with this picture book, "Lone Bean."  This is an adorable book about a third grader, name Chrysanthemum, who is having trouble adjusting to her new life in third grade.

My kids are still a few years shy of being able to have an actual facebook account so I decided to give them a taste of what they are missing! Each kid was given a large piece of white construction paper and we measured a line at 2" and 8" to divide our sections.  First, they wrote a sentence or two about something they did over the summer and added an illustration.  Next, each child had 5 pictures of themselves.  They added one picture to their timeline post and then were able to walk around and comment on their friends' walls with the extra 4 pictures.  This activity was ADORABLE and it was so simple to ease into the new school year!  I got a chance to get to know the kids personally and sneak a peek at their writing abilities too.

We also took some time to talk about voice volumes.  Myself, by nature, am a Decibella.  My table talk voice is louder than most, so this is a skill that I can even work on.  This is such a fun read aloud and had the kids 100% attention the entire time!  If you are interested in some free class activities and the class voice volume chart click either of the pictures!

When I started pinteresting researching what back to school activities I would like to do, fact or fib was a quick and easy choice.  I hadn't really planned it all out and stumbled upon this book.  I was excited about how perfect the activity would correlate with this book.....my expectations were blown out of the water.  The kids were ECSTATIC about this book.  We could have sat there for days and drooled over each and every page.  Kids love fun facts!  There is a second book too that I am hoping to purchase in the near future. 

Finally, the last book/activity I wanted to share is probably the most important.

 "Mrs. Spitzer's Garden."  

This is a joyful, inspiring book that reminds teachers what is truly essential about our profession.  It is also an opportunity to build a relationship with the kids by letting them know their best interests are your number 1 priority!  We read the book multiple times and did a few writing and comprehension activities.

Making the Move

In the past three years I have taught kindergarten, first, and third and BY FAR the question I get asked most often is "What grade do you like best?"  Honestly, I am a born teacher.

Yes, you can go to college and learn all the techniques, tricks, and curriculum.  However, I am a firm believer that there are some people that are just born to be teachers....let's just say they have a knack for it! Therefore, I have loved every grade I have taught in their own way.  Each grade has its own sets of joys and challenges.  Third being no different.  With only one full week under our belt I have to say that my favorite thing about third, thus far, is the INDEPENDENCE!

We are spending the first two full weeks launching our small group time in both reading and math so don't make the assumption that this super independent age knows your expectations.  It is just nice to not have to teach things like how and when to go to the bathroom, where the lunch room is, how to line up.  The other great thing about the kids being so independent is their abilities to occupy themselves!!!  When the my grade level partner told me that you will just give them work and they will do it....I was like REALLY?!?!

DISCLAIMER:  Since we are still going through expectations and procedures this hasn't happened for me yet, but they have let me turn my back for a few minutes to get my lesson plan together.....totally different than kindergarten and first where you have to occupy them ALL THE TIME!

I am 100% sure that this will be an AMAZING year full of growth for myself and the students and I will quickly be adding to my pro's list for teaching third grade!

What's in your cart?! Linky

With the big move to third grade this year I knew my TPT cart would be full of new and exciting resources to meet those third grade standards!  I have done my research, anxiously awaited the sale, and HERE IT IS!!!  Well, in a few days anyways.  I wanted to share with you some things I will be purchasing during the Love Back to School TPT Sale.

First, don't forget to go leave feedback on all your paid purchases before checking out!  Those purchases earn you credits to be used towards future items.

Second, don't forget to USE THE CODE!!  There have been many sales where I am sooo excited to get my new products printed and ready to go that I completely forget to add the TPT code for the extra 10%!

If you are interested in sharing what items you plan to purchase please download the above image for you blog post to link back and add your link below!

All product covers have links to TPT!

I knew coming from first that my thirdies were going to need a few different activities for Daily Five.  So here are some items I am purchasing to stock my work on writing area: 

 

These prompts from The Teacher's Toolbox look sooo kid friendly and integrate a variety of writing styles! 

These editing task cards from Rachel Lynette are going to be perfect for my work on writing to integrate proofreading skills and the kids will LOVE the fun facts.  They are also nice because each card has three errors....so my students don't have to guess if they have found them all.

In first grade we were always focusing so much time on phonics and decoding that I really feel I slacked in the fluency department.  I am a BIG FAN of fluent, expressive reading, so I am hoping to get it in with my thirdies!  After much research, I decided upon these from Ashleigh.  I love that they integrate science and social studies, areas we all know never get enough attention!

Multiplication/Division EEK!!  After teaching K and 1st....this is really a new adventure.  Hoping to use these puzzles for our fact fluency math rotation!

          

I have seen EVERYONE using interactive notebooks and am thinking about giving it a half shot this year!  These are two I am planning to purchase to help me.  The language one is from Nicole Shelby and the reading is from Melissa Mazur.

We just so happen to start school on a Wednesday this year so I saw this and thought it would be the perfect activity for Friday, after we are all EXHAUSTED! Thank you Not So Wimpy Teacher.

I plan to use these procedure task cards, courtesy of Fun in 5th, as a filler for the first few days of school.  They will be a good way to make sure all procedures are covered!

Well there you have it!  Don't tell my husband about this, because he would not be happy!!

If you are interested in sharing what items you plan to purchase please download the above image for you blog post to link back and add your link below!