Peek at my Week {Winter Birds/VA Symbols} 1-13-14

I'm here to link up with Deedee and Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for a Peek at My Week! 

 I have been a little behind lately, but feel very good about my plans for this week.  I do have them prepared and will try to share tomorrow some of the activities that we will be doing this week.  We are going to continue talking about winter birds and begin to look at Virginia Symbols (cardinal, flag, tree).  I'm in the process of making some emergent readers, flip books and other activities to help teach the VA symbols.  Stay tuned if you'd like to get them! Here's a look at my plans:

Now hop over to see what everyone else is doing this week!!  

   Have a wonderful week!! Have a great week!

Ornaments and Guided Reading

Well....here's my super cute ornaments that the kids have made.  I was looking for something to make this year without spending a lot of money myself.  They really turned out cute.  Take a look:

For the large snowman: 

I used a large popsicle stick, black and purple foam to make the hat, a piece of cloth to make the scarf, buttons for the buttons, orange bead for the nose and google eyes.  They kids painted the stick white and it dried a few days.  Then we used craft glue to stick everything else.  The kids used a black sharpie to make his mouth.  I think they turned out really well!!

For the small snowman:

I used 4 small popsicle sticks glued together.  The kids first painted all 4 popsicle sticks white.  It dried and they glued a 1/2 stick sideways to show the hat.  We painted that part black, painted black coal for his mouth, google eyes and a small orange pipe cleaner for his nose.  

After they all dried, I hot glued black yarn to the back as a hanger.  These will go in a gift bag with 3 other ornaments that my students will put under the tree for their parents.  

So...since these are oh so cute!  I decided I needed to make a set of snowmen to give to my teaching buddies and then some rudolphs, elves, and santas to give to my students and my husband's fifth graders.  Here's what they look like:

So for the reindeer: 

Again, a large popsicle stick painted brown, a red mini pom ball (the smallest you can find), green form and bell for the colar, brown pipe cleaners for the ears, light brown foam for belly, black craft paint to make eyes and brown yarn as a hanger.  (Again, I made these as the gift that I give my students for Christmas.)

For the elves, 

Again, a large popsicle stick painted green, foam for the face, hat, and belt, craft paint for the eyes and mouth, cotton ball pulled apart for the hat and a green pom for the top.

For santa:

Again, a large popsicle stick painted red, foam for the face, hat, and belt, craft paint for the eyes, nose and yellow buckle, and a cotton ball pulled apart to make the beard and hat.  

I was hoping that if I posted this early enough, some of you might still have time to make them! :)  I think they turned out awesome!!

And finally, I wanted to share a video I made that I will send to my student's parents.  As a visual learner, I always think it's a great idea to send pictures or videos when you can for parents to see what you're asking them to do at home.  Take a look at the video and let me know what you think.  

Do you use videos and pictures to communicate with parents?

I'm going to link up for Monday Made-It.  Omg...I can't believe I actually have something to share.  So go check out what everyone else has made.  

Winter Math Stations - SALE ends today!!!

Hello! I wanted to share my newest product that I have finished. It is uploaded and included in the Tpt Sale that ends today!!! Be sure to check it out!

It includes 4 different math games that I'm going to use for Math Stations.  The kids use gingerbread themed puzzles to match dominoes to base ten blocks (similar to my pumpkin puzzles in Fall Math Stations) with numbers from 21-30.  There is a stocking themed dice graphing game.  My favorite is the Write the Room where they are adding with pictures of peppermints and candy canes.  And finally, there is a snowman measuring activity that would be great to use in January.  I think the candies write the room could be used in January as well.  So go check it out.  There is only a few hours left to purchase if for 28% off using the code CYBER at check out!!