Earth Day

Whoa.

Two updates in two days?

Try to contain yourselves. :)

I had a lot of kids out today so we took a little extra time with our Earth Day activities.  I wasn't planning on doing much but when I realized I didn't want to start a new writing and math sequence with so many people out I figured "why not?!"

We kicked it off with this www.brainpopjr.com video:

Who loves brainpop as much as I do?  The Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle video is free this week (and may be free all the time, I'm not sure).  I have a membership, it's THE BEST $8 I spend every month.  No lie.  Go ahead and subscribe right now if you haven't already.

After the video we talked about things we could do to help take care of the Earth and read Recycle by Gail Gibbons.  I would go on about how much I love Gail Gibbons and how you need to buy all of her books but I try to limit my obscene enthusiasm to one per post.  I'll throw that one at you next time.

Finally, I threw together this little writing activity asking students to make an Earth Day promise.  Some of my favorites were "I will not litter and not make smoke."  One little guy wrote "I will ride my 4-wheeler instead of drive my Mom's car to save gas."  Um, not sure if I'm more worried about him totally not getting the whole "save gas" thing or him driving his Mom's car but I definitely like the effort!

You can download it here for free.  I know it's a little late for this year unless you're planning on doing more later this week but at least scoop it up for next year! I mean, it is free!

Check out a few of our our promises!

Time Update!

Hey sweet friends!

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update.  I've been working on setting up a domain...I'm now JUST www.thecuriouscatfish.com!  I don't know why that's so exciting but it is!

You'll also see a new custom blog design going up over the next week or so!  Can't wait!

I've been working up a few new products but tonight I updated my Time for Fishing resources!

I first shared this unit in January.  All games, activities, and worksheets are black line masters and there are 6 colorful posters to display to help students with measures of time vocabulary.  In this pack you will find: 

-3 Fishing games
-3 "I have, Who has?" games
-3 Bingo games
-1 Make your own clock printable
-Black line masters and recording sheet for Can You Find the Time
-6 Worksheets
-6 Colorful time posters

The new activities include:
-3 Time Concentration games
-3 Time Snakes and Ladders game boards

All games, activities, and worksheets include separate sets for time to the hour, half-hour, and every 5 minutes.

As I was teaching this unit back in January I found myself wanting a few more activities for the time math centers my students were working on so I decided to add concentration and snakes and ladders to help round out the pack.

I feel like this has been my MOST successful year teaching time to the hour and half-hour.  All of my students have mastered 1.MD.3-Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.  I even tried to trip them up with mixed practice and they showed me up!  I'm so proud of them!

Check out some of their hard work!

Can You Find the Time

Time Bingo

Time for Fishing

 Springtime Math Centers by Rachelle Smith

Time Flippy by Christina Bainbridge

Finally, here are a few shots of the "Clock Corner" and some of the measures of time posters from my unit.

If you've already purchased this product make sure you download the revised file to get the new games and let me know what you think!

I'd love to share a copy of Time for Fishing with the first person to comment below, follow this blog and follow my facebook fan page!  Don't forget to leave your email address!