Using Recycled Items

How am I going to use recycled items in my classroom???  Well how about using carpet samples that carpet stores don't need anymore?! Did you know you can get them practically free, if not totally free from carpet stores?  I paid .50 each and I am going to use them for a WIDE range of things. Here are 2 ideas for you.

This first idea is a management tool. I call this the "Magic Carpet".  I only have one piece of carpet out and I tell my students that if they would like to sit on the "Magic Carpet", they have to be listening quietly at the carpet area (our floor area where we listen to books and do calendar)  every day.  Then randomly I will pick a student to sit on it! They love being the only student to sit on the nice, comfortable "Magic  Carpet" instead of the thin carpet on our floor!

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This idea came from my 1st grade team- It's a welcome mat! It's an alternative to making Christmas ornaments and giving them as a present from your students to their parents.  I was in dire need of a new idea for the kids to make for their parents for Christmas!  It's so CUTE and quite easy. Here is what it looks like:

Tips:

• Make sure you have parent volunteers to help you do this project.
• Use acrylic paint (Roberts, Michael's, etc)
• The tree in the middle is just a sponge that is die cut into a tree!
• Use old rags and a tub of water to wash off their feet.
• To wrap it up and make it an official Christmas present, get large brown paper bags from your local grocery store.  The students can decorate the brown bag by making a tree with their hand and green paint. Just stick a few pieces of red and green tissue paper in it and you have a great present.

Here is the cute poem that you send with each welcome mat:

Click HERE for a download of the poem. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer as soon as possible!

Check out these blogs that have ideas on how to use

recycled items in your classroom:

http://seedsofnoledge.blogspot.com/

http://www.itsybitsylearning.blogspot.com

Mari at http://www.sprinkle-of-fun.blogspot.com/

www.teachingheart.net

www.storytime-storytime.blogspot.com

Kathleen at http://growingkinders.blogspot.com/

kinderpond.blogspot.com

Luanne http://putyourwholeselfin.blogspot.com/

12 Days of Christmas Math

First of all, I can't really take credit for this lesson. My eMINTS teacher, Mrs. Anderson, came and guest taught my class two years ago and taught my students how to use Excel and use the function tools to calculate the total cost of the 12 days of Christmas. However, I prefer the good 'ol pencil and paper to do the calculations. This is my adaptation of her lesson...

Task:
You’ve heard the song about the 12 Days of Christmas, haven’t you? Have you ever stopped to wonder how expensive it would be to actually buy all the gifts in the song? This fun Christmas math activity will help you figure outjust how expensive it would be.

Directions:

• Go to THIS website.
• Click on the game that says ‘Pin the Price Tag on the Gift.’
• Play the game until all price tags are correct.

Then, students will use this chart and calculate how much all the items in the song would cost.

Click here for a download of the entire student worksheet!

{Obviously this is for upper elementary students, but all you cute 1st grade and kindergarten teachers could probably adapt this somehow for your class...}

Rudolph

I have a new eBFF! 

She has the absolute cutest ideas! 

Today I tried out her cute Rudolph idea. Even though her idea was made for 1st graders, my 5th graders LOVED it! I adapted the job application to make it more appropriate for 5th graders. 

CLICK HERE FOR A DOWNLOAD!

Here are how some of my reindeer turned out:

 I made one too! Hehe!

Some of kids wrote the funniest things on their application. Here are some of my favorites...

Qualifications: What talents and skills do you have that would help you be a good employee?

• My skills are either playing video games or being lazy.
• I have a unique scence of fastion.
• I am good at resisting boredom
• I found some pixie dust the other day so I can fly really good.
• I believe in Santa and I have a shiny red nose.
• I'm kind of a night person.
• I love carrots and apples.
• I'm actually kind of immortal.
• I'm a fast thinker, I could get you out of some situations.
• I love milk and cookies so I could help santa out.
• I have very good math skills and can do multiplication, so that might come in handy.
• I'm good at dodgeball.

Why do you want to work for Santa?

• I want to know who he is and if he's real.
• Well... to be honest, I want free toys.
• I love Santa. Probably my favorite thing about him is he's sososo sneaky.
• Well I believe in everything - Santa, Heavenly Father, tooth fairy (kind of.)
• I'd also like to get to play with magic everyday.
• I don't want Christmas to be cancelled.
• I'm never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever busy on Christmas Eve.

Why would you make a good reindeer? 

• I've watched all the reindeer movies.
• I hate brussel sprouts.
• I will not whine, cry, be mean, or eat chocolate bars before or while flying.
• I do not show off and I'm not bossy.
• I would help Santa, like if he needed me to move a couch I would move the couch.
• I'm kind of sneaky and I can keep a secret.
• I've never been on the bad list or gotten any coal.
• I think I'd be a good reindeer because I can read signs (that are in English).

Once we made our reindeer and filled out our job applications, I got out my student laptops (yes, I have a half classroom set - I'm an eMINTS teacher...) and my students started making an audition video to send to Santa. I am teaching them how to use iMovie to film and edit a video of themselves. If I have enough time, I might even turn this into a persuasive essay project and have my students write a 5 paragraph essay on why Santa should hire them. 

Thanks for the great idea, First Grade Teaching!!!

Christmas Wordsearch

My students LOVE word searches! Did you know that word searches can help with letter/sound recognition, learning vocabulary words, phonics, and they are super fun?  Here is one I made for this wonderful holiday season! Click HERE for the download.

You can also make your own online!  To be honest, they aren't very cute and that's why I just make my own...but they get the job done!  Click HERE for the puzzle maker website.  They are GREAT for weekly spelling words or sight word practice.