My motto is "A hot glue gun is a terrible thing to waste." If your classroom is like mine, storage space is a premium and money is no where to be found.
I was talking to a friend who visited a school that had "Aussie Pouches" on the back of the students' chairs. The kids had library books, crayons and paper stored in them. It apparently looked like a wonky pillow case. However, I don't have the $10 per pouch so I googled for instructions on how to make your own.
I came up with this site. But being no seamstress and having zilch fabric, I pulled out my handy hot glue gun and scissors and an old pair of my daughter's blue jeans. I recommend size 8 girl/boy jeans. Any bigger and it overwhelms the chair and smaller provides poor storage. Also go to thrift stores like Goodwill and stock up for $1.00 jeans.
Supplies:
Hot glue gun
Size 8-10 children's blue jeans
Scissors
Ribbon (Optional)
Very, very easy....
Cut the legs off the blue jeans right below the crouch area but be sure not to cut the crouch. Get the jeans inside out and fold a seam. Glue it and let dry. Turn the jeans back (not inside out anymore). Very carefully glue the legs shut. The folded seam provides an extra glue line and it is very study.
Using ribbon or the cut off legs, tie the jeans pocket onto the back of your students' chairs. The back pockets can hold pencils/crayons. The main pocket (where the child's waist would be) is a perfect fit for a manilla folder/books.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
LP: Under and Over Water Animals
In an attempt to cover (again X 3) opposites and work it into the "Marine Animals" segment, I came up with a last minute activity.
Supplies:
White and blue construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Clip art of different animals
About 5 minutes before the lesson
and very, very important, an extra pair of shoes
Cut the blue construction paper in half hot dog style. I used a spray adhesive to glue the cut blue paper onto the bottom of the white construction paper. Your paper should be divided now into 1/2 white and 1/2 blue.
Using Microsoft clip art, I print out 4 land animals and 4 marine animals (we studied the octopus, the shark, dolphin and jellyfish). The images need to be small to have them fit on the white/blue paper. You can cut them out or if your class knows not to use the scissors to dig in their ears, have the kids cut them out.
As you start to hand out the white/blue paper and clip art, get out of your shoes because you have glued them to the floor with the spray adhesive residue. Put on your new pair of shoes.
Talk to the kids about opposites. I got in
However, there are no funds to replace your shoes. :(
Supplies:
White and blue construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Clip art of different animals
About 5 minutes before the lesson
and very, very important, an extra pair of shoes
Cut the blue construction paper in half hot dog style. I used a spray adhesive to glue the cut blue paper onto the bottom of the white construction paper. Your paper should be divided now into 1/2 white and 1/2 blue.
Using Microsoft clip art, I print out 4 land animals and 4 marine animals (we studied the octopus, the shark, dolphin and jellyfish). The images need to be small to have them fit on the white/blue paper. You can cut them out or if your class knows not to use the scissors to dig in their ears, have the kids cut them out.
As you start to hand out the white/blue paper and clip art, get out of your shoes because you have glued them to the floor with the spray adhesive residue. Put on your new pair of shoes.
Talk to the kids about opposites. I got in
- over/under the water
- blue/white
- hot/cold (the sun warms the surfaces but deep down it's cold)
- fast/slow (look at the shark and then look at the jellyfish)
- sticky/slick (try to pry your shoes off the floor)
However, there are no funds to replace your shoes. :(
Friday, February 11, 2011
LP: Underground Railroad "Quilt"
Since February is Black History Month, I wanted to do something a little different than the predictable lesson plan. I stumbled across a site about the Underground Railroad and how the lowly homemade quilt played a part.
One of the block designs was a sailboat which signaled to the escaping slaves that there was a body of water nearby. This helped to orient them toward their path to freedom.
I hand drew the sailboat on a simple white piece of paper and had my kids color their "quilt blocks". I then laminated them and tied them together using yarn. The resulting quilt was eye catching and my kids actually grasped the concept of slavery as well as using another form of communication. Fun, fun and educational!
One of the block designs was a sailboat which signaled to the escaping slaves that there was a body of water nearby. This helped to orient them toward their path to freedom.
I hand drew the sailboat on a simple white piece of paper and had my kids color their "quilt blocks". I then laminated them and tied them together using yarn. The resulting quilt was eye catching and my kids actually grasped the concept of slavery as well as using another form of communication. Fun, fun and educational!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Science Experiment: Melting Ice
Your kindergarten class will think you are a magician! And to top it off, the kids will stay glued to the experiment (melting ice) for a full five minutes.
Supplies:
Three plastic dishes
Ice cubes
Sugar
Salt
Flour
Explain that you are putting salt, sugar and flour on ice and the class must predict which ice will melt fastest.
Divide ice cubes into three dishes (Plates A, B, C). Drizzle sugar over ice on Plate A, flour over ice on Plate B, and finally salt over ice on Place C.
Of course, the salted ice melts faster. Tell them why and it's like "OOOHHH, Ms. Normal, you're so cool."
Supplies:
Three plastic dishes
Ice cubes
Sugar
Salt
Flour
Explain that you are putting salt, sugar and flour on ice and the class must predict which ice will melt fastest.
Divide ice cubes into three dishes (Plates A, B, C). Drizzle sugar over ice on Plate A, flour over ice on Plate B, and finally salt over ice on Place C.
Of course, the salted ice melts faster. Tell them why and it's like "OOOHHH, Ms. Normal, you're so cool."
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