Man on the Moon Timeline

Hello blog world!

It's been a hot second since I posted last.  I know you all feel the pain.  It seems like no matter how prepared you THINK you are during the summer, there is a massive amount of catching up to be done as soon as school starts back.  But, the good news is that I have a fantabulous group of kids this year, and it has been nothing but fun to head into work every day.

This week, our focus reading skill is sequencing, and today we were doing some sequencing with nonfiction work.  Integration is being pushed big time at school, so we first visited a website to learn about Neil Armstrong and the first space visit.  After that, we made one large timeline as a class.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well my kids delegated tasks!  Here are a few pictures from the lesson:

Each group was assigned a specific date from the events involving the first lunar landing.

Then they delegated tasks:  who would write the sentence, who would draw what part of the picture, who would add the color, etc.

They were so sweet to each other during the work, and were definitely constructive in their suggestions!

We also FINALLY finished up our book boxes today.  They are still in need of some modge podging by yours truly, but the kids have glued down their magazine clippings.  

**Future advice I wish I had known:  Give the kids at least an hour.  30 minutes is really just not enough time:)

That's all for now!  

Reader's Notebook Book Box Project

Good Morning Bloggies!

This year, I have decided that I want to get more organized with my reader's notebooks that my kids are using.  In the past, they have kept their notebooks in their desks, but I am sure you all know that notebooks get torn up and lost so easily that way.  I have been perusing the web, and have seen lots of magazine boxes and plastic bins being used to hold the reader's notebooks, and that is the route I decided to take.

Problem.

I cannot afford to buy 25 plastic bins for my kids.  Now I know there are cheap options, and I also know that a dollar goes a long way at the dollar tree.  But, I just wanted to make this happen for FREE. 

like, totally free

Cue Homemade Reader's Notebook Book Box Project!  I have been saving up cereal boxes, and the kids are I are going to personalize our own book boxes next year.  Last night, I created my own "sample" book box to show the kids (and you) how to make them!

Step 1:  Scrounge up magazines, pictures, a cereal box, modge podge and a paint brush, construction paper, scissors, glue sticks, and markers.  I used washable markers, and ended up wishing I had gone with Sharpies or other permanent versions.

Step 2:  Cut down your cereal box to the shape of a magazine holder.

Step 3:  Cut out pictures from magazines and select personal photos to glue to the box.

Step 4:  Use glue sticks to stick all of the pictures on the box, and trim the pictures so that they are not sticking off the sides of the box.

Step 5:  Make cutesy word labels to describes the reason for choosing the pictures you chose.  Ex:  I wrote "run" and stuck it by the running pictures because I enjoy running.  You could certainly tie an inference lesson into this part of the craft.  Students could ask others use their box to infer their interests!

Step 6:  Glue the words onto your box using the glue sticks.

Step 6:  Modge Podge the box using a small paintbrush or sponge brush. 

**Note:  I used washable markers, and my words bled when I modge podged them.  In retrospect, I would either use sharpies or NOT modge podge over the paper pieces that I drew on.

All Done!!  Your dried finished product will be ready to hold books and notebooks, and is a much more personalized version of the book box than a plastic bin!

Catch ya later!  I have a lot of cereal to eat!