South Carolina Elevation Maps

We are writing to you from dreary Charleston.  Normally we have beautiful sunshine, but it has been dark, gray, and rainy the last few days.  Our Headmaster always says that rain is "liquid sunshine" but I'm having a hard time agreeing to that when I'm outside for carpool!

Our third graders study South Carolina history, but our first chapter delves into the geography of our state.  We focus on the regions, the rivers, and South Carolina's natural environment.  For some reason, the kids are so good at memorizing the regions of the state.  They love it!  We did some fun foldables to keep them engaged.

After learning the regions and the different elevations found in our state, we made an elevation map using food.  Each region's elevation was depicted by a type of food that can be found in South Carolina.  We used grits for the Coastal Zone, rice for the Inner/Outer Coast Plain, split peas for the Sandhills, beans for the Piedmont, and marshmallows for the Blue Ridge. 

 The idea is that the Blue Ridge Region has the highest elevation (about 3,000 feet) so the marshmallows stand up higher than any other part of the map.

Despite being covered in glue and exhausted after this activity, I'm so glad we did it.  Our kids love it and it brings Social Studies to life. :) Do any of you do something similar with your state?

Thanks for reading!

Five for Friday!

Well, hello there!  We have been SERIOUSLY neglecting this little ol' blog.  Maybe there will be a year when we don't reinvent every lesson plan the wheel?!  Maybe there will be a year when we don't re-do 75% of our stuff to make it better whilst blogging?!  Nah.  That'd make things way too boring!!  :)

We've had a wild week!!!  Read on to hear how we raised 10K in one week and download a new freebie we put on TpT today!!  Link up with Kacey so we can see what you've been up to!

1.  South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital Fundraiser

The third grade at our school has a class mascot and since we live in the Lowcountry, we chose our state reptile.  We are the Loggerhead Sea Turtles!  A few years ago, we got the idea to raise money for the Sea Turtles at the South Carolina Aquarium.  Our students participate in a week-long Read-A-Thon and ask sponsors to donate money for every minute they read.  For example, 200 minutes at 10 cents a minute = $20.  Our class donated OVER $10,000 last Friday!  From one week of reading!  The Aquarium Staff cried their eyes out!  We cried!  It was an amazing moment!!!

 

2.  FREEBIE ALERT

Do your kids love Scoot as much as ours?  Are they obsessed?  Do they beg to play?  Will they play instead of Recess?  Okay, maybe that last one is a stretch.  ;)  Check out our latest {Rounding Scoot} game that we added to TpT today for FREE.  If you like it, please leave feedback.  It makes our day!  I swear.  :)

3.  Smiley Faces 

Who would have thought 3 little smiley faces would make such a big difference!!!  A few weeks ago, while brainstorming how I was going to start rewarding all my perfect little girls angels amongst a large group of boys I quickly thought of 3 strikes and you're out!   After remembering a pinterest idea about writing on the desk with dry erase markers, I quickly came up with the idea of each kid drawing 3 smiley faces on their desk each morning when they get to school.  Throughout the day they can lose one for not paying attention, blurting out, going ahead and not following directions, etc.  I simply just walk past their desk and wipe a smiley off.  If they end the day with all 3 smileys, they receive a "turtle tap" for their behavior chart.  20 turtle taps and they get to pick a prize.  If they lose all 3 they have to sign our Turtle Log, which is a note home.  I was amazed at how well this works.  Not only are my superstars racking up turtle taps, but my wild monkeys have calmed down.  At the end of the day, I walk around each desk with a Clorox wipe and wipe them all off.  The only down side I have found is at the end of the day my hands look like the good ole days when we were using Vis a Vis pens.  Their desks also look super cute with 3 smileys smiling at them all day!!!

 

4.   Emily found her A/C remote from school in her purse this afternoon.  She'd been looking for it all week.  Nothing says back to school like this....

 

 

 

5.  I live here?!

I had one of those moments last night.  Check out the gorgeous sunset off the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina.  Not a bad place to call home!

 

 

Have a great weekend!  Thanks for reading!

Five for Friday!

Happy Friday Everyone!  We wanted to link up with Kacey to share what we've been up to this week in third grade.  Join in and share with us!

1. Living in Charleston, South Carolina has its advantages and one of them is learning about our class mascot, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle.  Every year our class "adopts" a sea turtle at the South Carolina Aquarium & Sea Turtle Rescue Hospital.  We raise money through a Read-A-Thon and the kids have an absolute blast.  Last year we raised over $5,000 and in 2011 we raised over $3,000!!!  We are in the middle of our Read-A-Thon right now and our class has pledged to read 5,000 minutes in one week.  Fingers crossed we can reach our goal of $3000!

2. Our school has math facts requirements for each grade level.  Our kids have to master 50 facts in 2 minutes and 30 seconds.  Each quarter we master a new operation and by May we have covered all 4 (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).  If you need some tests, check ours out {HERE}.  They are FREE on TpT.  :)

Our students graph their scores each week a la Marzano.  If only all of our students could have a graph that looks like this one.  :)

3. We began our study of maps in Social Studies.  We will use One Extra Degree's Pirate Map Unit on TpT next week.  Click {HERE} to check it out.  It's so much fun!  This week we explored some maps of South Carolina and did some fun foldables.  

 4. Holy moly.  We've just discovered Brain Breaks.  Where have these been the last 11 years?  My kiddos have some serious #antsintheirpants.  BUT they will work really hard if they know they can dance and #party rock for a minute or two!  Here are our faves so far. Just click the link to check them out.

The Sid Shuffle

What Makes You Beautiful

Kung Fu Fighting

5.  Guided Math blows my mind.  It's going really well, but the control freak in me worries a bit!!  The kids are either meeting with us, playing a game, working on task cards, or playing a game on the iPad.  They LOVE it, but I *slightly* stress as I teach my small groups and wonder...are they playing the right way?  Why is that group so loud?  What app is he on??  As you can see from the pics, all looks OK!

Enjoy the weekend.  We've made it through another week!

Wednesday Workshop-Set Up and an EXTRA FREEBIE

Today we are linking up with Jivey for Workshop Wednesday.  We love reading about how you all set up your Reading Workshop!!!

We have tried a few reading workshops since the year has begun and so far, it is the quietest time of the day.  We were a little nervous about reading workshop only because this group is BOY HEAVY and they need a song and dance to stay engaged.  Seriously Kerry and I have been pulling out all the stops, even our tap shoes...ha ha ha, to keep these little learners happy.  Believe it or not, they are eating up Reading Workshop and doing so well.  I have been running late (of course).... I am long winded, but I am not complaining.  We started with lots of modeling and short sessions of RW just to get them rotating correctly.  So here is the "set up" so far...

We started the year with reading leveled non-fiction texts about Sea Turtles. (More to come about that, but Sea Turtles are our grade mascot and we do a HUGE fundraiser to support the South Carolina Sea Turtle hospital in Charleston).  Each day we introduced a new text feature for non-fiction using this packet(FREEBIE for today only)!!!!!!

It all begins with my lower group coming to my table and reading this book together as I introduce text features and discuss the facts.  

My middle group was at the reading nook reading to themselves.   My high group has to start with the activity so I usually give them the book and allow them to read it by themselves before they come to me.

I use these little signs to help us all remember where we are.   

After 20 mins we rotate to the next group.  My lower group will go to their desks and work on the activity that is in their packet.  I always have my lower group reread the section we read by themselves before they do the activity.  I then work with the middle group, while my higher group heads to the reading nook for read to self.

Finally, I get to my high group and we go over what they have read.  If it is a long chapter or section, I only assign for them to read part of it and then we read the rest aloud at the table.

By now my lower group should be done and they head to read to self and my middle group works on their activity.  When I am done with my high group their usually isn't much time left for them to work on their activity.  But since they start with the activity the next day I have them complete it then.  The activity is always on the same skill with all the groups, we just read leveled texts. We do this in the beginning of the year with our Open Court Basal to just get familiar with the reading skills and comprehension questions.  Then hopefully by the 2nd quarter we will move to our novel units.  It has taken us a few years to find what works best for us.  This is working so far this year!! YIPEEEE!!!

Still with me?  See I told you I was long winded!!!  :)

Now this isn't about set up, but I must share an app I found to help during reading workshop.  It is called Audio Note and the lite version is free.  The real version is $4.99 (Yikes!!), but I could possibly buy this one.  IT'S THAT GOOD!  It is a voice recorder and a note taker all in one.  You could really use it in many ways.   I record each student as they read a passage during RW.  Then I can simultaneously take notes as the app records.  MAGIC!    It has been amazing!!!  I am still figuring out all the parts to the app, but so far I am in LOVE!  I can't wait to show the students how different they sound after a few short months...I HOPE!!!    Check it out!

Happy Workshopping, sweet friends!! 

Monday Made It-Math Workshop Style

Oh, Math Workshop.  I love you so!  Y'all, I just have to gush about our new math workshop!  It's so much fun and working out really well!  Link up with 4th Grade Frolics and share what you've been doing lately.

First up, Tara is keeping us cute and organized.  Go download her Math Workshop signs {HERE}.  I love them!  Bestill my chevron loving heart.  :)  

We pretested (is that a word??) our kiddos at the start of our place value chapter to determine our groups.  We have 4 leveled groups in all.  Each day we teach a 20 minute lesson and then our students break up into their centers.  Over the course of the week they will visit 4 centers (iPad, teacher time, task cards, & a game). 

Today we focused on money denominations during the whole group instruction portion.  While the kiddos were setting up their foldable, I showed this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2I9AlYp2zk  

We reviewed coins, bills, and counting change.  Click {HERE} to pick up the foldable we used today.  It was easy, peasy, lemon squeezy, (and free)!

Next, we broke up into our centers.  Today we used our Piggy Place Value Task Cards.  Click {HERE} for more info.

Another group played Gator Chompin' by 'And They All Fall Down'.  Click {HERE} to download it on TpT.  It's awesome and free!

Another group played Sushi Monster on the iPads (forgot to take a pic) and our teacher group worked with play money.

I can't believe how much we packed in a 50-55 minute session today.  This group loves to move and sing and PLAY!  We have got to keep up with them, so the math games are working out perfectly!  We will be back soon with more workshop ideas.  Happy Monday, friends!

PS... Thought I'd share this funny!  This is what happens when you wash and dry a whole pad of Post-Its!  It's like popcorn in the dryer!!!  As you can see those are men's clothes, so note to self...guess I should start checking the hubbie's pockets too!  

Sticks, rocks, cars, Post-Its...what will it be next!

Thursday Throwdown and a Freebie!

We are linking up with Erin from I'm Lovin Lit for a Thursday Throwdown!  Yeehaw!  Today's post asks us to describe how we make learning more interactive.  Link up and share what you do.  :)

The first idea we want to share is quick, easy, and super fun. This technique comes from the book How To Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov.

 Celebrations (or props or shout-outs) are public praise for students that do something great.  Who doesn't love praise????  When you teach these cheers, you engage the class quickly and provide powerful reinforcement.  It can be a simple, "Uh-Huh, Uh-Huh" or 2 Snaps and a Clap or Two Snaps, Two Stomps.  Whatever it is, you are sure to grab everyone's attention!  You may say something like, "Wow!  That answer deserves a Hot Pepper."  Then the class will hold up an imaginary hot pepper, dangle it above their mouths, take a pretend bite, and say "Tssssss."  It's a ton of fun and a great way to build classroom community.  The best thing is....your kiddos will come up with their own celebrations.  Talk about taking ownership!!

We also wanted to share an INCREDIBLE read aloud for narrative writing.  Today we read the book, The Memory String by Eve Bunting.  It's a wonderful book about character, values, and accepting new situations. 

 We used it to teach the concept of "show, not tell."  If you are familiar with Lucy Caulkins' Writing Workshop you know the lesson on news reporter vs. story tellers.  This book is PERFECT!  Afterwards, we made story boards (like a movie reel) to demonstrate how to picture your story like a movie in your mind.  Our kiddos were so into the lesson and really did a fantastic job.  

If you want a copy of the movie reel click {HERE}.  We thought we'd share it in case you're teaching narratives now, too!

Have a great evening, everyone. TGIF (tomorrow!)!!!  :)

Currently & Some Updates

It's a new month and time for Currently with Farley!  Most of ours explains itself so no need to bore you with the details.  Link up and share what's going on with you! 

Kerry's Currently:

Emily's Currently:

We have been busy updating some of our novel units on TpT.  If you've grabbed our Ralph S. Mouse unit, re-download it.  It got a little trip to the spa for a much needed makeover!  Click {HERE} to check it out.

Enjoy your Labor Day!!   Happy Monday Everyone!

Are you ready for some football?!

Calling all football fans (Or teachers of football fans)!  We wanted to share a fun activity with you!

Every year we do a College Football Unit that our kids really love.  We follow 4 ACC and 4 SEC teams throughout their season and complete math challenges along the way.  Since we teach in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, our classes are typically divided between Clemson and USC.  However, we also follow NC State and VA Tech (our alma maters), Georgia, Florida, Florida State, and Alabama.

It's a great way to knock out probability/statistics and it also gets some of those reluctant math students excited.  We divide the kids up into 8 teams and they participate in weekly challenges about their football team and their scores.  It takes about 20 minutes each week and it's the highlight for a lot of our kiddos.  It is the number one thing that parents ask us about on tours and it has been known to be mentioned in a few 8th grade speeches as the best thing about third grade.  Just sayin'!  :)

Anyway, if you want to take a look at it, click the picture above.  It's in PDF form, but you can easily add your favorite teams/mascots.  There is an example of a weekly quiz, but since they change, we can't add the next one until we know the scores.



If you don't love watching football, you must love the fall fashion and tailgate food, right?!  Everyone loves a puffer vest, skinny jeans, tall boots, a beverage, and some good food!  Game on, yall!

Five For Friday...Super Speedy Style

We are so terribly sorry we have been such bad bloggers.  This week has been wild and wooly.  We are now back in full swing, no turning back now.  I really have wanted to go to bed with my children at 7:30 or 8:00, but unfortunately there are things still to be done. Right now I am trying my hardest to stay awake and watch a movie with my husband and be a good little wife.  Working on this blog helps me not fall asleep.

So far this week has been great.  We are still modeling everything for our sweet kiddos, but I think it is going to be a great year.  So here goes our linky...5 for Friday!!!

1.  We have been really pushing being "A Bucket Filler" this week.   We have read several books including

 

This is our Be a Bucket Filler bulletin board.  Anytime the kids feel as though their bucket has been filled they can write a little bucket filler sheet and we will put it in their envelope.

Today we also watched these two little videos on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5R6-2m_qHk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaddbqEQ1NE

They were great.  I love the DRIP, DRIP, DRIP every time a bucket was dipped into.  I started saying DRIP, DRIP, DRIP every time I felt like some of my kiddo weren't following the rules.


2.  Then we did this fun little game with the groups...Help Save Fred!  The goal is to help save Fred, the gummy worm, from drowning.  By saving Fred you have to put the gummy Lifesaver around Fred using only gummy worms.  It was quite fun to watch and the kids work hard at "saving" Fred.  After working in groups we had GREAT discussion on how we should and shouldn't work as a group!   We saw this on Ideas By Jivey and thought we would give it a try. 

 3.  I think our favorite activity we did this week was "Look Who's in 3rd Grade!"  Can you guess that baby game.  We had each child bring in a baby picture in a sealed envelope.  We then did a guess that baby game and had each child guess who was who.  We even hung the pictures out in the hallway for everyone to take a guess.  We then had the kids fill out a pennant about themselves to be able to share when we had the big reveal.  And boy was it a big reveal.  They were eating out of the palms of our hands to have the reveal.  It was GREAT! 

 

 After the reveal we hung them back in the all with the correct picture.  We plan on laminating them and making a classroom banner to hang around all year. 

4.   Another fun activity was "20 True/False Question About the Teacher"  Here is the sheet we passed out and had the kiddos fill out.  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Mf9aUpt97T4gwVoLEsUrQfP9yEYjh68Gr-ekzYe-5kg/edit?usp=sharing

I then took my kids outside and revealed the answers.  They were standing at one end of the playground and I was at the other.  Each time they got an answer correct they took a step closer to me.  It took about 18 questions to reach me.  

5.  Last but not least, we let our students play with the base 10 blocks.  Next week we will start place value and we all know those base 10 blocks can be fun to play with.  I gave my kids each a set of blocks and had them work as a group to try and build the tallest tower.  I gave them 10 minutes because I wanted them to get really tall and fall so they could deal with mistakes and help to solve each other problems.  It was great to do and learn to be patient with each other. 

So now it is off to the weekend.  I am super excited about tomorrow night's girls night.  We are headed to see Hootie and the Blowfish tomorrow night for a benefit concert they do every year to raise money for local schools and programs.   I am super excited..."HOLD MY HAND!!"