Quote of the Week for December 22, 2013

"In education it isn't how much you have committed to memory or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. It's knowing where to go to find out what you need to know and it's knowing how to use the information you get." --William Feather

Trapezoid Art Project

My students are struggling with identifying and classifying quadrilaterals.  I am developing stations and lessons that give them more hands-on experience with them.  I want them to learn the vocabulary by using it in different activities.  Here is a lesson I taught about a month ago.

I cut twelve 3-inch squares for each student and gave each a 9X12 background.  As you can tell from the pictures, I chose fall colors for this activity, but you could easily choose a different color scheme for a different time of year.

I had them start with one square and we divided it into two trapezoids. Then I showed them how to cut two more squares into congruent shapes so they could complete one row of the completed project.

Next we arranged the trapezoids so that they would form that first row.  We talked about where the 90-degree angles needed to be arranged so the top and bottom of the row would continue to be parallel.  This was the most difficult part for some students.

The resulting shapes are rectangles, parallelograms and Isosceles trapezoids.  Once the students could complete a row, I let them glue it to the background paper and get three more squares.  They needed to show me the second completed row before I would let them glue it and then I could tell they were ready to work on their own.

All but one of my students successfully completed this activity.  They also had a chance to use their geometry vocabulary in a hands-on activity.

This activity is a part of my Classifying Quadrilaterals unit in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

 

The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier

I love mysteries and this new series by Angie Frazier looks promising.  Suzanna Snow idolizes her Uncle Bruce Snow who is a famous Boston detective.  She keeps a notebook with observations and hopes to be a detective herself someday.  When a young guest is missing from the hotel Suzanna's parents run, Bruce Snow is called in to investigate.  How can Suzanna's observations be taken seriously?


 I can't wait to read the second book in the series.  Click here for a free printable form for students to track their changes in thinking while they read.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.

Tongue Twisters -- A Drama Game

The first activity I usually do with my Drama Club students is call and response Tongue Twisters.  I tell them that actors must enunciate and project and practicing these short sayings does both.  I won't even let them work on accents until I can understand what they are saying in their normal voices from across the room.

I created an original set of Tongue Twisters that are available for free in my freelance curriculum stores:
Click here to download it from my TpT store.
Click here to download it from my TN store.

To help students practice their accuracy, fluency, and expression, model reading one of the tongue twisters, slowly at first to practice accuracy.  Next, have students read in unison after you.  Then distribute the sheets to have students practice in duos and triads.  Students could "perform" their chosen tongue twister or lead the class with call and response.

If you missed the previous Drama Club posts, here they are:

Drama Club: No Divas Allowed

What Are You Doing? A Drama Game
 

Quote of the Week for December 15, 2013

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller

Free Download: Conversation with a Gingerbread House

Last year I made these gingerbread houses with my students to illustrate our "Conversations with a Gingerbread House."  I wrote mine as a poem, but I had the students practice writing dialogue.

This year I wrote it up as a complete packet for my stores and blog.  I hope you enjoy this activity.

Click here for Conversation with a Gingerbread House at my Teachers Notebook Store.

Click here for Conversation with a Gingerbread House at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.


Exercises in Personification 2.0 is a paid product in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Exercises in Personification 2.0 is also available in my Teacher's Notebook store.

Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings

 

Guinea Dog is the classic tale of a boy who wants a dog and will do anything to convince his parents to get him one.  His mom ignores his request and gets him a guinea pig instead.  The classic tale gets turned upside down at this point.  As you can tell from the cover art, this is no ordinary guinea pig.  I can't wait to share this book with my students who love animals and humor.

July 2014 update: since my original review, Patrick Jennings has added to the series.  Click here for a free printable story plan where students can analyze a story for elements or write their own story.



 For an explanation of my rating system, click here.