Happy Veteran's Day with a Pringle Can

First and foremost, I want to thank all the service men and women who have and are continuing to serve our country!

My 90 sixth grade students and I recently had the opportunity to complete a project that I am so excited to share.  A mother of a student of mine is in the National Guard.  She came to me with an idea and asked if I would be willing to help.  The moment she told me what it was, I was in.  I knew my students would love the idea as much as I did!

Over a six week period my students collected over 90 Pringle cans.  At this point you are probably wondering what in the world we would need 90 Pringle cans for and what it has to do with this post.

With the 90+ Pringle cans that we collected, my students decorated them. 

Then, a dedicated mother collected our cans and with help from others filled these cans with cookies to be shipped overseas to the men and women who are serving our country.

I feel that my students learned many things during this project.  Not only did they pull through and collect the cans, they poured their hearts into it and felt as if they were contributing to something extremely important.  They were proud of their work and anxious for the cans full of cookies to reach their destination! 

Pinterest Weekly Round-Up 6

Last week's favorite pins! 

Original source:  Water Cycle simulation via Pinterest

Original Source:  Social Studies Central via Pinterest

Original source:  National Geographic Young Explorers via Pinterest

Original source:  First 100 Days via Pinterest 

 Original source:  Factors Venn Diagram via Pinterest

A Freebie for Friday

Today's freebie highlights the upcoming election.  There are those students whether they are in lower elementary, high school, or in between that want to voice their opinion on who should be President.  This activity, Find A Buddy Who, simply builds awareness around the election.  The best part of this activity, personal opinions are not needed or encouraged at all.

Download the freebie from one of the following:

A Great Geography App

Have you ever looked for apps related to Geography?  I haven't came across many that I really like until I found the free app, TapQuiz Maps.  TapQuiz Maps is exactly that, quizzing of maps.  Students have the choice of a continent and region to be quizzed on.  Once they choose the continent and region the app randomly gives them countries to locate.  Score and time is kept and hints are available if needed.

 

Today in class, I only had one iPad.  The iPad rotated between teams.  Within teams we used the strategy concept of Write 'n' Pass.  Students weren't writing, rather using the screen to locate countries in Latin America. It's amazing how much an app and iPad can keep students engaged!

Pinterest Weekly Round-Up 4

Here are a few of my favorite pins from last week!

Original source:  Main Idea Bag via Pinterest

Original Source:  Test Taking Folder via Pinterest

Original source:  Bean Plant in CD case via Pinterest

Original source:  50 States Unit Study via Pinterest 

 

Original source:  Add an Image to a QR code via Pinterest

Do you have a favorite Pin from last week?  Leave your link in the comments to share!

A Steal of a Site

I recently came across a website that I have been very impressed with.  So much, that I wanted to share with you.  The site is called iCivics and is full of free games and resource packed lessons.  Topics covered range from the writing of the Constitution to the 2012 election.  iCivics provides a scope and sequence for each topic.   A curriculum finder is also included which allows you to find what standards are being addressed within each lesson.

If you are looking for resources to support the upcoming election, simply sign-up for a free account and you have the choice of a three or five day election curriculum.  Additional lessons are available to support your own mock election with your students.

My students have played the game Immigration Nation a few times this week and love it.  Since I am implementing Social Studies stations this year, my students rotate in teams of six and use the SmartBoard to play games as a team.  They are excited to play and have worked really well in working out the scenarios that the game provides to them. 

This site is definitely worth checking out!

Out of this World

In my Social Studies class this year my students have an interactive notebook.  Our version of the notebook may not technically follow the definition of an interactive notebook, but we have adapted it to fit our needs and I do have to say it is working pretty well.

This year I have a twenty minute drive to school.  I have been used to a five minute drive, so it has been quite an adjustment.  I do have to say though, there is a lot of planning that you can do while driving 20 minutes by yourself.  It has done wonders for preparing my day.

During one of my drives, I was trying to come up with an idea of a visual to help students identify and differentiate between the Earth, continents, countries, states, and cities.  I needed something for students to complete that would fit easily into their composition notebook, also known as their Social Studies notebook.

Here is what we did:

Students made five envelope fold foldables that nestled inside of each other. In order for the foldable to fit within the notebook, I cut the paper to the following dimensions:

Earth: 8-1/2" square

Continent:  7" square

Country:  5.5" square

State:  4" square

City: 2.5" square

After students made their foldables and glued them inside each other, they then illustrated  to match what  each foldable represented.  On the very center of the foldable, inside the city, students drew their home.  Some simply sketched themselves while others cut out a school picture of themselves and attached it.  They were very creative!

Pinterest Weekly Round-Up 3

This week I have decided to do the Pinterest Weekly Round Up a bit differently.  If you are like me, you are always looking for a good board to follow.  Below you will find a few of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite board?  Fill free to leave a link below in the comments.  Like I said, I'm always looking for a good board to follow!!

Cooperative Learning

Social Studies Teaching Resources

Fourth Grade Friends

Test Prep

Seasonal Teaching Resources

Branches of Government - Find My Rule

Use Find My Rule for students to identify the branches of government.  For example give statements about the Executive Branch and students mus determine what the rule is.