Hey Ya'll I'm Back!!!

I took a hiatus but anxious to start blogging and sharing again!
TPT and Teacher Blogs have changed the way I plan and create my instruction!
My goal is to learn and create my own ideas and share them with you.  Whether through my blog or through TPT.

Earth Day, Everyday!

We've had a Fantastic time this month learning how to BE GREEN! My little Firsties are much more aware of the problems Planet Earth faces on a daily basis. After reading many books on Environmental Issues, Literature Selections like The Great Kapok Tree and The Lorax of course, The students began making connections that affect our world. They made Environmental Art with reusable products, created Earth Day Posters and made Flip books reflecting the Interdependence of animals and plants in the Rain Forest. We also invited our parents to share a Trash Free Picnic with us using only recycled containers, cloth napkins and silverware. Some parents stayed to help the kids create Heart Shaped Earth using recycled blue and green crayons and Bird Feeders.

Fun with Chicken Little

I hope everyone had a restful and blessed Easter Holiday. It was a little short but worth the extended weekend. We decided to add a Little Chicken to our Easter week by reading several versions of the classic story, Chicken Little. With a litte help from my friend at First Grade Blue Skies, my class had in depth inquiry into Chicken Little, the variety of characters, the different settings, the unique endings and the delicious variety of writing prompts. Here is a final sample of their Chicken Little Artwork. We fell in Love with their cute faces.

The students also had a lot of fun counting, sorting and graphing jelly beans and marshmallow bunnies during Thursday's math lesson!

I am looking forward to Earth Day activities. I will be posting pictures throughout the month. Our next IB Planner addresses how consumer products affect our environment. The students will begin an inquiry into "What Going Green" Means and produce many recyclable items.

Howdy Ya'll

Spring Fever began very early this year with Texas Public School's Week followed by Spring Break...Woo Hoo!!!! That just made us all that more excited about Summer Vacation...just 60 more days, more or less!!!
Here are a few Texas activities we've been working on. Our students have also been Inquiring into Endangered Animals of the Southwest! Enjoy!

Have a great one!:)

Affair of the Heart!

I don't know about ya'll but I happened to LOVE Valentines DAY! I know its overrated, but I just LOVE the Buzzz in the air, the adorable decorations and the "Sweetest" Artwork my students produce each year. This year we were asked to display some Artwork in the Hall. Each month we try to feature an artist and their style of Art. We were asked to do Impressionism, featuring Claude Monet. So with the help from
Painted Paper in the Art Room, I decided we could incorporate a Valentine's Piece using Tempera strokes to show movement and Details using oil pastel.
I think they turned out beautiful. Oor board isnt ready but here are a few samples!

I'm also sharing something I picked up through the years called "Productive Thinking". Whatever theme you are working on, you give the students a shape that represents your theme or holiday at the time. The students use spatial reasoning, a little crticial thinking and turned their object into something else. The are told to use the entire page, add color and detail and try to think of something no one else might. Check out some of their work! These are perfect for their GT Portfolios!!!

Peace, Love, Penguins!

One of my favorite units of the year is Penguins! I love to see my student's faces as they walk in the door after Christmas Break! The wonder and excitemnet in their eyes is priceless! After 20 years of digging out my old Penguin and Antarctica Files....I decided to leave them in the cabinet and try some new things I've bought and adopted from my fellow blogger friends! I'm thrilled!!! Not only are the children excited but I am as well. I absolutely love the fresh ideas....still the same content but done with a little modern flair! Here are just a few pictures from this week!

Tickled Pink about Penguins,

Happy Holidays and Cheers to a Very Happy New Year!

Starting a blog was a lot easier in the summer when all I had was time! This year has been quite hectic, with sending my oldest Megan to.college, to following my sons high school football career, to making sure my five year old is adjusting well to kinder, all while trying to teach first!!! Crazy but fun! I literally have hundreds of units I've bought and downloaded since the summer. I can't wait to start on my penguin unit in January. I've always taught Penguins and Antarctica so.I'm looking forward to some fresh ideas. I'll be throwing in a little Internationalism with the New Years Chinese unit I just purchased Jennifer at First Grade Blue Skies!!!

My goal in 2012 is to learn how to upload and create attractive units!!!! Cheers to 2012...may you have a blessed New Year!

Lisa
Tickled Pink for First Grade