Owl Unit Freebie, Living and Non Living

Ok, Bloggy Friends here is the freebie from my owl unit I promised in the wee hours of the morning.  I decided to share my "Living and Non Living Station/Pocket Chart Activity"  so even if you don't feel compelled to teach about owls you can still incorporate this activity into your science block.  Take a peek and enjoy.............

~Alison

Woo to the Hoot! I am so excited, I just posted my first complete unit on TPT! Although I have other items posted this is my first "Big Deal"   Here's a quick preview....

You can check out the complete list of activities here on TPT.

 

This week it will be OWLS, OWLS, and more OWLS.  On Tuesday, we will have a visit from our local Wildlife Rangers who will dissect owl pellets with us.  Then on Wednesday, we will have a visit from a local Wildlife Rehabilitation group that will bring in owls that are being nursed back to health.  We have been doing this for years and it is one of the most EXCITING experiences in first grade, I learn something new every year.  I can't wait to share the pictures with you.

 

Well, it is off to bed time after a long day of celebrating my boys birthday's with family.  It was  a perfect night for a bon fire, hot dogs on the fire, and chili. 

 

 

We have spent the last few days "GETTING THE SKELETONS OUT OF THE CLOSET" AKA-learning about the skeletal system.  I usually do this lesson along with my health unit in February but when I received  this>>>>








 I thought what better time to do this little project I usually do in February........

 Students actually made the replicas of themselves during one of the first few weeks of school and I tucked them away knowing they would use them with their skeleton projects.

 

We started our mini unit by reading and discussing our Science Spin on Bones.  When we were finished we read .........

 and followed up with some labeling practice . 

Get Your Copy Here

 

We also read

and don't forget to watch the Skeleton Dance video on You Tube

 

and finished our unit with a guided drawing lesson on the bones in our bodies.  What do you think?

  Fun  Pre-Halloween Activity or What???????

 

~Alison

How CUTE are these Apples?



I have been making these apples for years but ran into a slight problem when I went to buy the fabric to make them.



 

I guess I got in the habit of making them every year and didn't even realize the world around me was a changin!  The prints aren't available anymore, discontinued, out of style, gone like the Backstreet Boys!!  YIKES!  News flash Alison, YOUR APPLES NEED A FACELIFT!  So, after about an hour at the local JoAnn Fabrics store(who by the way gives teachers a discount) this is what I came up with...........

Sorry about the bad picture, I was in a hurry.

 
 
Last week we also spent time with all of the fabulous activities Rachelle shared during her post on apples. 
 
As a follow up to our unit on apples each child made their own "Johnny Appleseed" book. Writing with my first graders has to be with out a doubt my favorite time of the day.  I really don't think there is a more amazing process than watching a first graders writing develop.  As always here are a few samples of the different levels of writing I see each day...........

 

 

 

 

 

~Alison

Elephant and Piggie SAY WHAT?

Can I just tell you how much my kids this year LOVE writing in speech bubbles????? One of the big books we read during the first week of school used speech bubbles and ever since my kiddos have been adding speech bubbles to ANYTHING and EVERYTHING they write.  So.....I decided to take their interest in speech bubbles and run with it!!!!! We spent last week reading Elephant and Piggie books and learning why Elephant and Piggie are such great friends.  On Friday my kiddos were beside themselves when they learned they were going to make their very own Elephant and Piggie!!!!!   Let me just say you could hear a pin drop while my kiddos were perfecting these adorable little characters! If you would like the template, directions, and speech bubble for Elephant and Piggie you can get them here. 

                                                       

The follow up to our art projects of course was the creation of  speech bubbles on why Elephant and Piggie are such good friends.

Top Left:  You are a good friend because you share with me. 

Top Right:  You are a good friend because you pick apples with me.

Bottom Left:  Piggie you are a good friend because you share your toys.

Bottom Right:  You are my friend because you help me. 

 

Everyone did a great job on writing what made Elephant and Piggie good friends.  These examples are of the various levels of writing students are using in my classroom.   

 

One of our next lessons in writing will be on the difference between Wif and With.  :)

 

Here are just a few of the Elephant and Piggie Books we read last week.  I also used this link to the "Elephant and Piggie" activity guide for teachers. 

 

Did you know that Mo Willems hides a Pigeon in every Elephant and Piggie book?  You can usually find Pigeon in the back cover of each book!  Once your kiddos know this you will  NOT be able to move to the next activity after reading an Elephant and Piggie book until you find the Pigeon, not even if  you have read the book 5 times. 

~Alison