Fun Five For Friday!

Happy weekend!  Today I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs because

Morning Messages

I try to use my Morning Messages to reinforce what we're learning in class.  This week we started learing about fractions and fact and opinion:

One of my favorite poets is Doug Florian.  I got the  Snow Man, Snow Woman poem from his book Winter Eyes.

 More Fun With the Dyson Ideas Box

We have been chugging along with the activities from our Dyson Box.  Inside was a fan with no blades ~ we LOVED that!  One video (the box comes with a DVD) showed a balloon traveling through an obstacle course made of these fans:

If you want to learn more about the Dyson Ideas Box, click here.

My Second Giveaway!

I am taking part in my second giveaway.  To enter, click here or on the graphic:

Guest Reader ~

Last week Paige's mom came in to read one of her favorite childhood books about Louis Pasteur:

Tara read The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur.   I even learned something new:  Louis Pasteur found a cure of rabies!

Rappie Pie

The Early Harvest Diner in Wakefield, Massachusetts has a specialty ~ Rappie Pie.  This dish originated in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and is made of potatoes, chicken and broth.  People came from all over to order it, but I had never eaten it until last weekend when my friend, Patty, and I split a piece:

That is a half of a piece on the place, and according to the waitress, people eat every bit of it.

That's it for now ~ make sure to visit:

to check out more fun posts~!

0

Random Thoughts on Thursday!

Hello there!  I'm delighted to link up this week with From This Side of the Pond for:

1. "The cure for anything is salt water-tears, sweat, or the sea." (Isak Dinesan) Would you agree? Of the three, which has 'cured' you most recently?


When I'm in the need for a cure, a good work-out helps me the most.  I go spinning three to four times a week, and this work-out takes my mind off of any problems on my mind at the time.

2. What's something you can't eat without salt? Do you normally salt your food a lot, a little, or not at all?

I'm not a salt person so I don't have anything I can't eat without salt.

3. Sands of time, bury your head in the sand, built on sand, or draw a line in the sand...which sandy phrase could best be applied to something in your life right now? 

I try my best to draw a line in the sand ~ after a certain point, I need to walk away and regroup.

4. A favorite book, movie, or song with an island setting or theme? 

I love any book by Elin Hilderbrand!  This is the last one I've read, but she's written more since this one, and all her books are great beach reads!

Click on the book to read more at Amazon!

5. Yesterday-did you run your day or did it run you? How so?

UGH ~ yesterday was a tough day!  Of course, it was National Opposite Day!  Everything just kept going wrong in general.

6. You're on an island holiday. Will I most likely find you parked in a beach chair, shopping in town, on the back of a jet ski, or snorkeling off the back of a catamaran?

I went snorkeling once, and I'd LOVE to go again!

7. What do you think we humans most take for granted?

I definitely would say it's health because you just don't think about it until something hurts.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Time to stop procrastinating and go do my correcting!

1

Four Day Week Five For Friday!

 Hello!  Thanks for checking in for another edition of Doodle Bugs':

Morning Messages

This week's messages focused on a variety of holidays:

 I get most of my holiday ideas on this site.  I then try to connect the holiday to what we're learning in class. 

 *On the day I wrote about Kid Inventors Day, we received our Dyson Ideas Box.  So far, we've read about how Mr. Dyson made over 5,000 vacuums before he finalized the design on his final product. 

*The popcorn poem fit in perfectly with our "I have, who has?" game because the questions were about matter and physical properties. (Click here for the Popcorn poem Pin.).

*We've also been reading books that are in the running for this year's Caldecott Medal (read more in this post).  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Projects

We have been loving directed drawings!  This time we drew Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (click here to check it out). 

After drawing, we watched Movie of the Week on Brain Pop Jr.  Then we read about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (I used this resource.)  Finally, the kids wrote about Dr. Martin Luther King as we are working on informational writing.  I find that directed drawing is inspiring the kids to want to write ~ plus each drawing is so unique!

Clara Barton Assembly

We just loved learning about Clara Barton who was a strong woman ahead of her time.  She worked hard as a teacher and an advocate for disadvantaged and needy people.  Eventually, she founded the American Red Cross:

Sheryl Faye, the actress who portrayed Clara Barton, did an amazing job telling about Clara's life and achievements.  She made several wardrobe changes and even answered questions at the end.  If you'd like to read more about this excellent experience, check it out here.

Karate Demonstration

Sensei Herman and his crew delighted the third graders with a karate demonstration.  Two teachers - Ms. Aufiero and Ms. Verlhurst ~ even broke wood:

Thanks to Elite Freestyle Karate for this interesting and educational demonstration!

Dyson Ideas Box

When I went to the office on Tuesday, I found a BIG box addressed to me ~ how exciting ~ our Ideas Box had arrived.  Here's the information directly from the James Dyson Foundation web site:

By the time today’s students graduate college, the US will need 1.65 million engineers. To create the engineers of tomorrow, math and science class need to be exciting. But teaching engaging science lessons can be overwhelming for busy teachers.
The James Dyson Foundation developed the Ideas Box to challenge students to find inspiration in everyday objects and develop ideas. To identify problems and use their creativity to find solutions. The Box helps teachers nurture the skills needed for the next generation of engineers.
The Ideas Box is a product analysis and design kit to teach engineering. It also has links to literacy, math and business. It includes:

• 1 Dyson Air Multiplier™ fan as a case study
• Teacher’s Pack with lesson plans and instructions
• Posters for the classroom

The Box and training materials are available to classrooms completely free of charge. The Box is loaned to a school for 4 weeks at a time. It’s ideally suited for students in 4th-6th grade but can be adapted for any classroom.

If you want to request the Ideas Box, click here.

That's it for now ~ have a wonderful weekend!

0

Fabulous Puffins ~ Fashion For Your Home ~ Or A Perfect Gift For The Person Who Has Everything!

Hey there!  Tonight I'm linking up for:

and

Puffin Sweater

I LOVE puffins ~ they're such pretty sea birds with colorful beaks.  Of course, when I saw this puffin sweater, I KNEW that I would have to buy this sweater.  Unfortunately, it's sold out at Loft, but I found a similar puffin sweater here.

Trinket Dishes

It all started with this gift ~ an owl trinket dish ~ from my daughter:

I sent her back to Anthropologie to buy me another owl so I could give it to a friend who's retiring.  There were no more owls so she got me this:

Click here or on the picture to check it out!

If you think it's cute in the picture, it's even cuter in person!  Also, the same artist made these most adorable items:

Click here or on the picture.

I'm totally in LOVE with all this artist's creations!  It's like the puffin sweater ~ I have to have all of them!

Happy Friday!

 

1

Happy Hodgepodge on Hump Day!

Hello!  Thanks for checking in today.  I found a new link-up started by From This Side of the Pond:

In this link-up, Joyce poses a variety of questions that I get to answer. 

1. ASAP typically stands for 'as soon as possible'. What else could it stand for in your life right now? 

 A student answered politely.  I wish for this every day, and it usually comes true!

2. Are you the last person to speak up in a group or the first to have an idea? Why do you suppose that is? Is it a good thing or no?

I usually speak up first because I feel badly for the person asking the question.  It's so uncomfortable when no one answers a question being asked.  I think it's a good thing because someone has to break the silence.  Plus, I always have something to say.

 

3. What do you remember best about being 12? 

Yikes!  I bet I liked the idea of becoming a teenager soon.

4. January 18th is National Winnie the Pooh Day. Which character do you relate to the most, and why? If you're stumped go here for inspiration. 

My Morning Message was about Winnie the Pooh Day!  I relate most to Piglet ~ he's small and full of optimism.

5. What's an app you use that helps simplify or make life easier for you in some way? 

I LOVE Shazam so I can know the titles of songs that I like on the radio.

6. San Francisco (CA), San Diego (CA), San Juan (PR) San Antonio (TX) Sanibel (FL)...you have an all expenses paid long weekend to one of these destinations. Which one do you choose and why?

I've always wanted to go to California, and I hear that San Diego has the BEST climate so I'd go there!

7. Share with us a song that makes you feel nostalgic? For what? 

I love the song, Benny and the Jets, by Elton John.  It reminds me of loving music on the radio which I still love ~ even though my own young adult children prefer to stream music while my husband only listens to sports radio.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Tomorrow is National Popcorn Day!

 

0