Ocean-y Beginnings & a freebie

We've started our ocean unit this week and already having a blast! We passed around seashells and was able to touch real sand from the beach. Many of my students haven't been exposed to this before so they were in awe of what I had available for them to see and feel.

 

We also labeled an ocean scene to help us during our writing time!

 

The next morning when they arrived at school, our ocean friends had shown up! I love having large animals around the room so students can see what they look like and we can add facts to them to create anchor charts. 

I also wanted my students to see what real-life ocean animals look like, before we even start talking about specific sea creatures. So I pulled up the Monterey Bay Aquarium Open Sea Cam.



Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream


We also watched the live feeding of the fish in the Kelp Forest Cam!!
You are able to actually hear the diver talk and explain what he is doing! I think I was more excited than the kiddos!!! 

Here's a picture I took of what it looked like!!

They do other feedings too for the sea otters, the open sea cam, and much much more. If you aren't familiar with this aquarium, you should become familiar with it!! It's soo awesome. One of my favorites to use each year.


After all of this fun, we listened to Rainbow Fish and then we made our own Rainbow Fish!

This is one of my favorite themes to teach so I can't wait to show you more!!



Here's a Memorial Day freebie I made last year......click to grab it!

 

Sunday Snippets

If you follow me on Facebook, you saw I posted the other day about what a horrible blogger and facebooker (totally a made up word I think) that I've been. If you don't follow me, you should....because sometimes I post free stuff there and forget to do it here! :)

It's been crazy already this month with DIBELS testing, math assessments (10 assessments per kid....yeh so that's like 210 tests I have to do...they are quick...but it's a LOT). I'm sorta kinda already know it burnt out. 

And because of that burn out...I've become a consultant with Jamberry. It breaks up the same ole same ole thing and helps me be NOT so burnt out with school. Not sure what Jamberry is? Check it out by clicking on the picture of my newest Jamicure!!!

 

That's been keeping me busy and of course my kinders!!

Check out some zoo fun we had last week!

 

 

 

Source

 We made these awesome Animal Coverings tree maps. 

Source here.

We also had fun making Flip Flap books for their mom's for Mother's Day. 

I'll get this posted this week as a freebie for you to have for next year...and I'll throw in one for Dad and Grandpa too. Keep checking back!!!

We made these adorable hand print poems.

Source here.

But for sticking by this post until the end...here's the freebie I posted on Facebook the other night. It is a FOREVER freebie but I would LOVE some feedback and hear what you think!!

 

Currently & Sale

May kind of snuck up on me. Where did April go? The countdown has begun....only 27 days left....How about you??

I'm linking up with Farley for the May currently.

The hubs is watching a biography on tv and of course laundry never ends. 

I'm excited to say that I am now an official Jamberry consultant. I'm learning and I'm new at this but I have definitely stepped out of my box and my comfort zone....so here goes nothing!

It's May---which means DIBELS and math assessments galore....and good grief at the paperwork....busy busy busy

But I'm loving the weather...it's been NASTY this week because of storms...so it's finally pretty and I'm thankful....

Here's a new little blog I found...Luv My Kinders....go check it out...

 

And if you haven't heard....Teacher's Notebook is having a 10% off sale throughout the site starting today and ending Monday. Everything in my store is 20% off plus you get the extra 10% at checkout...NO code needed.