What Color Do You Feel Like Today? Three Color Themed Activities

My sophomore year of school, my English teacher had a question of the day that we would answer for attendance.  Her favorite question was "What Color Do You Feel Like Today?"  We could elaborate briefly. I use that question sometimes with my students during class meeting.

I also learned a related drama game that can be used as a brain/movement break.  Students start by walking around the room until a leader calls out a color.  They continue moving but changing the movement to reflect the color. This could be used as a way to transition activities. "Move from the carpet to your desk in a purple way."

Because students need to think about color in an abstract way, this activity could also be used as an introduction for my forever freebie Color Poems.

I developed the lessons in Color Poems to teach my students about figurative language.
Download Color Poems: Exploring Metaphors and Similes at Teachers Pay Teachers, or Color Poems: Exploring Metaphors and Similes at Teacher's Notebook.

I hope you enjoy these activities with your students.

Quote of the Week -- September 14, 2014

 

The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it. -- Franklin P. Jones

Have a great week,

Is It Likely? Multiply

Last week I shared Is It Likely? Addition. Today's freebie is a similar activity except students fill in a multiplication chart.  I want students to consider what is likely, unlikely, and impossible to happen when rolling two dice and finding the product.

To download Is It Likely? Multiply from my Google Drive, click here. I plan to have students roll two dice and record their results to see the difference between theoretical probability and experimental probability. 

This is the third of six posts where I plan to share freebies to teach probability.  I hope to see you next week.

Update November 2015

 Math Spies and the Case of the Corrupt Carnival: Lessons in Probability

In this packet are seven “carnival games” students will evaluate based on likely and unlikely outcomes. I have included a tri-fold page with the words “likely, unlikely, and impossible” so all students can respond at the same time in class discussion.

Deadweather and Sunrise by Geoff Rodkey

Deadweather and Sunrise is the first book in Geoff Rodkey's new series The Chronicles of Egg.  I have only had a chance to read this first book, but I liked it well enough to find the others in the series.  I know upper elementary students will like this adventure series.

Egg's family disappears dramatically in a mysterious trip to Sunrise.  He is offered a home at the wealthy Pembroke mansion, forming a relationship with the daughter, until someone tries to kill him.  Thus begins Egg's adventures in pirate-infested waters. Egg must solve a family mystery while avoiding his enemies. 

I just linked this review to Dilly Dabbles: Book Share Wednesday.  Stop by her blog and see what others are recommending.


To find out more about my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I usually do book reviews on Wednesdays, but I read Quiet by Susan Cain this summer and learned so much personally and professionally.  I decided to devote a couple of Monday posts to introverts.  (For the record, I am an introvert.  I can be social when I need to be, but I need alone time to recharge.)

Last Monday I shared her TED Talk.  Today I want to share how I plan to implement what I learned in my classroom.

1. Susan Cain recommends a balance of activities that appeal to introverts and extroverts.  I have times where I expect small group work and other times where I expect students to work independently.

2. I want to intentionally encourage the different passions of my students.  Last year when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, some of us were over-the-top excited, but not everyone.  Introverts have deep interests in activities that may not be shared by others.

3. When I have students work collaboratively, I help my introverts by choosing pairs and triads.  If the group gets too large, they may not share.

4. Cain also recommends that I teach everyone to work independently.  This may not be my extroverts' strength, but they can learn from the introverts the value of quiet deliberate practice.

Quote of the Week -- September 7, 2014

 

Don't use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice.
-- Unknown
Have a good week,

Is It Likely? Addition

Last week I shared a freebie called Likely, Unlikely, and Impossible.  If you missed it, click here.

This week I want to start applying those words to mathematical situations.  Here's today's freebie:

To download Is It Likely? Addition from my Google Drive, click here. Students fill in the addition chart and then list numbers that are likely to occur when rolling two dice and finding the sum.  They also list numbers that are unlikely and some that are impossible.  You can extend this activity by having them roll two dice and keep track of their answers.

I have a problem solving website called Math Spies.  To find a related problem on that site, click here.

Hope to see you next Friday for another probability freebie.

Update November 2015

 Math Spies and the Case of the Corrupt Carnival: Lessons in Probability

In this packet are seven “carnival games” students will evaluate based on likely and unlikely outcomes. I have included a tri-fold page with the words “likely, unlikely, and impossible” so all students can respond at the same time in class discussion.