Thanksgiving Turkeys

 

Thanks to Kacey over at Doodlebug Teaching these turkeys were a favorite of my first graders (and mine). They were very easy to make and turned out adorable! Thanks, Kacey, for all your awesome ideas you create and share!

 

This board is outside our second grade class. Isn't is adorable?!

 

We read several stories about turkeys trying to escape Thanksgiving. So here are some of the funniest turkey legs trying to get away from the farmer. I can't quite remember where I saw this at but as soon as I find out I will mention it here. There certainly isn't a lack of turkey ideas on Pinterest. If you are still looking for an idea be sure to check it out. You will be sure to find what you are looking for .

Now, on to report cards. I guess it's that time of the year.

Happy Thanksginving!

Well, turkey day is finally here! Here are two more activities we did the last week or so. They got a big kick out of the Run, Turkey, Run! project. They came up with some really cute verbs for the turkey. Last week our reading test included a graphic organizer about main idea and details and I told them to put Thanksgiving in the main idea part. Then all they had to do was come up with 3 details about Thanksgiving. They could tell me whatever they knew or whatever they do on Thanksgiving. Well, one little lovely wrote as a detail "Run, turkey, run!"  We were laughing so hard at that answer when I started to correct them. He was right, the poor turkeys.

 

Monday we went on a fieldtrip to see the production of Pinocchio. The kiddies were so well behaved and we love the play. What a nice way to spend the holiday week. After we returned (and had lunch) I read The Great Turkey Escape to them and we went on to complete this adorable turkey activity(purchased from Foxwell Forest) Some of their answers were too funny. I loved the one that said to eat grilled cheese instead of turkey. These little lovelies have great imaginations.

 

We finished our short week with a half day of school on Tuesday and parent conferences the rest of the day. I know it's a long day but we get all the conferences done in one day and on to a long weekend. I don't know about any of you but I think is sure feels more like Christmas break than Thanksgiving break. I'm glad it's not though.

Have a great Thanksgiving, eat plenty of turkey and fixins', and get plenty of rest for the next busy month coming up.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Here are two bulletin boards you will find down our primary wing hallway. The Pilgrim hats are right outside my classroom door. The owls in the tree are outside a second grade classroom. I just thought they are so cute. What do you think?

 

Cause and Effect, Indians, and The Windy City



 

 We've been working on cause and effect and as many of you know this can be a little confusing for first grade minds. So, I decided to bring in one of our favorite cats, Pete the Cat. Who doesn't love him! I read the story to them, we made an anchor chart of cause and effect actions in the story and then we pulled up Youtube and watched the author sing the song. They loved that part. Once we were finished they picked their favorite cause and effect and wrote about it and illustrated it. After we were finished with that part (and after lunch) we made our own Pete the Cats. They are so stinkin' cute. I especially love the ones with the legs going backwards. They're too cute!

 

This is not the best picture but it's hard to get any good pics of their projects that are hanging in the window. Even with the shades pulled down the pics aren't the best. Anyway, my firsties loved doing these Indians. (Thanks, Teri from A Cupcake for the Teacher).  Last week we learned about the Indians and their homes and what kinds of things they grew and did. This week is pilgrim week and so far it's a hit. I'll post more pics of the pilgrim projects later.

 

 

 

We made these turkeys out of scrapbook paper and they turned out adorable. The pilgrim hats have what they are thankful for on them. Before you know it, it will be time to take it all down and put up Christmas. We are getting ready this week for parent conferences next week. Next week we are also going on a fieldtrip to see the play Pinocchio. Our kids are so excited about going. We do one play a year becaue it's such an easy fieldtrip to do and they really enjoy them.

 

So I'm sure many of you have heard about the wild weather we had here in Chicago yesterday. My neighborhood was one of the lucky ones. We had WIND and rain but no tornados. However, I couldn't believe the wind. I can't even imagine what some of you go through during a Hurricane. We had several towns in downstate Illinois completely wiped out. So sad and scary. Keep those people in your prayers and hope they can get back on their feet as soon as possible.

Have a great week, Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our Turkeys in First Grade!

So, what a day today was! I was completely exhausted when the kids went home. We had our pilgrim and indian feast with the kindergarten. We usually entertain the kindergarteners and they feed us. However, our school has had to put a stop to food brought into the building that isn't ok'd by parents first (we have two children who are deathly allergic to certain foods). Anyway, our firsties sang songs and read poems to them while the kinders sang to us. They also had their own snacks from their lunches. They had a blast. We then went on to sing to the preschoolers too. In the afternoon my daughter came to visit and she had this cute turkey project for them to do. We also somehow squeezed math, religion and a reading test in. I don't know how we managed that. Now, tomorrow the kiddies have a half day and parent conferences will be the rest of the day and night. Oh my! I will be glad to see Wednesday come. Now on to all the wonderful holiday activities. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful turkey day, gobble, gobble!

Mayflower boats and Trying to Catch My Breath!

I love how these boats turned out. I got the idea from First Grade Parade. If you need any great ideas check her out. I just love her blog! Back to the Mayflower, we started by reading a book about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. Each child wrote a fact they learned on sticky notes and placed it on the anchor chart. After that we made the boats. Each page has a fact abou the boat. We are having a Pilgrim and indian feast with the kindergarten class on Monday so we will use these boats as the center piece. The kids are just loving all the November activities. We only have a day and a half next week. Parent conferences are Tuesday after the kids go home at noon. We do all the conferences in one day and then have the next day off. It sounds like a long day (and it is) but it's also nice to get them over with in one day. Anyway, I'm still busy taking classes for my masters in reading and it is soooo busy now. We've had some easy classes but now the work is piled on. On top of that our school is getting evaluated by the Archdioces in February and we have a ton of work to get done by January 1st. And, I still want to do all the wonderful projects and activities in my classroom. I feel like my head is spinning. I even woke up the other morning dreaming about guided reading books.
Unbelievable, huh! So I'm off to type up a lesson plan for my classes. Have a great weekend!

First Grade is for the Birds!

Ok, I don't think my kids want to make another turkey! I saw several great turkey ideas on the blogs and just had to make them. I have been making the same old turkey every year for the past many years and I wasn't about to make it one more time. When I came across these they were perfect. First we made the turkeys along with our counting by 10's math lesson. Then we used the pattern pieces to make another turkey. Finally, we made turkeys with our phonics. I will say the pattern piece turkey was fairly difficult for some of them, they just didn't get it. Either way, they turned out cute. Life has been so hectic around her. You see, our school is getting evaluated by the Archdioces this February so we have a ton of work to do for that. I am taking classes toward my masters in reading and have a ton of reading tests to give and evaluate this week, all on top of the regular school work. AND the most important thing this week  is that my girlfriends and I are going away for a scrapbook weekend. So, that explains the craziness. I'm sure it's no different than your life. Anyway, have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.