How sweet it is to be loved by you!!!!

Well, now that all of my mom’s have all finally received their treats, I can  blog about our sweet surprises. I had so much fun with my kiddos creating these projects. I knew I wanted to make something “sweet” and one thing let to another.

I saw so many adorable ideas on pinterest, but I was trying to be unique and give my mom’s a special treat. I started with my cupcake card and then the ideas all seemed to flow around one theme… cuppycakes. I have to thank my sweet friend, Nikki from melonheadz illustrating. She is totally the bomb!! Love ya, Nikki. I used her cuppycake images to create my outline for my card. There are not enough words to say how much I loved these. They came out way too cute and what the kids wrote inside…precious.

You can snag the card for your kiddos to create over at my TPT store for $1.00. (Sorry it was too many pages for a “freebie”. It includes everything you need to create the card. (I have even included front pieces for grandma, nana, and etc.) There are step by step directions and pictures included in the packet.

After we finished our cards, we ventured into making key chains. I was at Hobby Lobby (Okay, I have to admit I have a HL obsession. I honestly have to limit my trips there. I try to only go when the scrapbooking paper is 50% off so I can stock up for my classroom makeover changes. I think I may have to join H.L.A Hobby Lobby Anonymous) and saw a packet of shrinky dinks. I loved creating shrinky dinks when I was a little girl. It was quite magical to watch those thin sheets shrink right before your eyes. After seeing these… I decided it would be fun to create a “cupcake” keychain. The kids “loved” this project. All you need is some sharpie markers and shrinky dink paper.

• Step 1: Print images onto paper, let dry overnight.
• Step 2: Have students color on “rough” side.
• Step 3: Cut out image.
• Step 4: Place onto a small brown bag.
• Step 5: Preheat oven to 325 degrees (you can use toaster over) Step 6: Place shrinky dinks into oven for 1-3 minutes. They are done when they are lying flat.
• Step 7: Upon taking out of oven remove “brown bag from cookie sheet” press down using paper. (I had students fold paper twice and allowed the to complete this portion.)
• Step 8: Add ribbon/keyring

 

Well, my sweet mama has always taught me go BIG or go home…. This led me to my next project. Some “sweet vanilla sugar scrub” for my moms to pamper themselves with. Well, let’s just say it started with small (baby) containers and moved it’s way into larger containers once I got this “vision”.

My kid’s were fascinated with this project. We used several key skills and incorporated several key objectives while completing this project. I think our vanilla scented  “cuppycake” sugar scrub turned out “darling”.

 

The vanilla sugar scrub recipe I used was

• 1 C white granulated sugar
• 1 C light brown sugar
• 1/4 c olive oil
• 1 T vanilla (real not imitation)

Directions: Place sugars into XL bowls. Allow students to measure out sugar ingredients and mix. Once lixed have them place mixture into container. Add olive oil to top- give it a chance to seep through the sugar. Add vanilla. Then gently stir. After mixture is moist. (You may need to add a few more drops of olive oil.) Cover and seal.

I added a round piece of poly filling, material, and ribbon to make it look like a “cuppycake”.

We tied these “cute”labels onto the outside bow. Snag up these labels here or by clicking on the picture below.

I hope my moms were as excited about these projects as we were. We had a “blast” making everything and even had quite a few math, science,and writing lessons.

Hope you all enjoy!!!

Always,

Melissa

The SALE-A-Bration is On!!!

The SALE-A-BRATION is HERE!!!! It’s the yearly teacher appreciation sale where you can score up to 28% off of EVERYTHING in my TPT store! (Yes, you read that correctly- 28% off) It's very simple...all you have to do is fill your cart and when you checkout enter the promo code TAD13. Wooo Hooo!!! It’s time to stock up on those supplemental reading units my friends. Trust me this is by far the cheapest way to have all the units. Happy Shopping!!!! Just click on either the sale button or my blog button below to head on over to my TPT shop!!

Thanks to Beth Ann from Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah Designs for the adorable sale graphic.

Always, Melissa

What A Wonderful World

I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

This has been one of my favorite songs for as long as I can remember. Therefore, it’s only fitting that I share a few lines to remember this AMAZING day in Room 212. Well, we actually began learning about Earth Day last week in preparation for today’s festivities.

Project One: Earth Necklaces

I saw this idea on Kindergarten Rocks and knew I had to make them. After I gathered all the necessary materials (Glue,Dirt, Paperclips, and Wax Paper) I was ready to roll. Luckily, I had a box of gloves handy. This project was a MESS!!! One piece of advice. Have the kids practice making “dough balls” out of clay or playdoh prior to completing. I was shocked how many of my kiddos could not roll the dirt and glue mixture into a ball. After a few days we were ready to paint. The kids had a blast with this part and to be honest, so did I. I added a piece of “soft” brown yarn and presto our recycled Earth Day necklaces were ready to showcase.

Project Two: Earth Coffee Filters

I love using coffee filters and this was an easy-peasy for my kiddos to complete one rainy afternoon during indoor recess. The only rules: you can only use green and blue markers. Once their coffee filter was colored, I gave them a spray bottle to mist their filter and watch the colors mix. I am not sure how everyone else completes this project but I have students lay a paper towel on a cookie sheet, mist their filter, then pick up filter/towel and let dry on a piece of construction paper. Here are two examples from my kiddos. I think they were AWESOME.

Project Three: Lorax Planters

I saw this idea on pinterest via Bird’s Party Blog and knew immediately that I wanted to make these for a parent-student “home” project.  I pre-packed the seeds into small cake pop baggies I snagged up at Michael’s. (Oh my word… I do get into some trouble at Michael’s maybe a summer job is in my future. I wonder if their discount is better than the teacher’s discount. Hmmmm… Something to ponder!)

Since I knew my kiddos were traveling with these pots I decided to package the dirt in cello bags from the Dollar Tree. They worked wonderfully. The students placed the cello bag in the pot, we filled it with soil, then I had them tie it shut with a ribbon bow. (They were awesome at this project!!!) After we completed our soil packing, we decorated our faces. I let them choose between hard felt or foam for their moustache and eye brows. They also had a choice between sparkly noses and plain. Oh my and did you notice the plethora of eye colors. I have some wild kiddos. (P.S. My boys love pink!!)

Our Lorax Pots!!! (a.k.a Our Home Earth Day Projects)

(Don’t Cha just love the bushy eyebrows on the bottom left. Sorta looks like my JaJa.)

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.” Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Since these were going home on the bus, I wrapped the pots in a piece of “recycled” bubble wrap and put them down inside a “recycled” lunch bag. We added our coffee filter Earth project and off they went.

Although, we were super busy being creative for the last few days, we had some time to sneak in a few “important” Earth Day lessons. My kiddos understand the importance of keeping our world beautiful through the implementations of the 3 R’s: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce

A few of our favorite books from this week:

Guess what we have in our room…

Watch for updates coming soon.

READING PACKET UPDATE: I know many of you are been purchasing my 2nd grade Reading Packets and I am happy to announce I will be uploading the final unit sometime this week. Next up by popular request, first grade. I will also be adding new activities and centers to all of the past units during the summer. Please watch your email for the update notice. If you have previously purchased any packet, all you have to do is go into your TPT purchases and re-download the newest version with revisions. I also want to take a minute to say “Thank You” you have all been a true inspiration to me this year with your endless emails filled with love and kindness. I appreciate each one of you!!!

Peep-a-Palooza

Oh My Word, Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday it was March 1, now its already Spring and “almost” the end of March. This entire month has literally been a whirlwind. We have squeezed in so much learning. (Double Digit Addition/Subtraction, Adverbs, Pronouns, and we even had time for a few celebrations.)

This week has flown by… Tomorrow is out last day then we will be off for Spring Break. Twelve days without my kiddos…Although a break is always nice, I will miss them dearly. (Sorry, I am that crazy teacher that LOVES her job!!)

This week we began double digit subtraction. YIKES!!! Let’s just say, this has been quite a scary week. My kids are beginning to catch on with the help of this AMAZING packet from Amy Lemons. (Thanks Amy!!)

The kids have been loving all of the various science activities I have been throwing into our daily activities. When I ran across this dissolving peeps idea from Mom to 2 Posh Divas on pinterest. I knew I had to incorporate it into our weekly plans this week.

Welcome to

PEEP-A-PALOOZA

I gathered all of the necessary materials

peeps

clear cups

apple juice

oil

vinegar

water

soda a.k.a Dr. Peeper (lol)

Prior to placing the peeps in the cups, we talked about eachliquid and made predictions about what we "thought" might happen to the peep after one day- three days. After all predictions were recorded, we begin placing the peeps into the liquids.

 

The containers with peeps and liquids were placed on our shelf and we recorded our findings for the next several days. Here is a glimpse of some of my students findings on Day 1. (Love their peep drawings)

 

 

 

This is definitely an experiment a "science" journal I will continue to use every year. We had a great time and the kids were exploring their science vocabulary with various "key" words such as prediction, hypothesis, conclusion, solvent, and etc.

Some of their predictions were quite hilarious. I should have snapped a few pictures. They have very creative imagination especially when it came to the Dr. Peeper (soda) and the marhmellow peep.

 

We tried to add some educational activities into our festive week. Have you checked out the numerous activities available at spelling city? I love this website. We have been using it for our "indoor" recess. My students have been expanding their vocabulary, spelling, and Dolch sight word knowledge. I really think this 15 minute daily activity has helped them all to increase their word knowledge. If you haven't checked it out, go ahead and head on over by clicking here.