Julz Treasure Chest: Presidents' Day

It is Friday, which means it is time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

1. I know I already posted this week HERE about the George Washington directed drawing I found from Kindergarten Planet HERE, but I had to share how the Abe Lincolns turned out too!! How cute are they!

"If * had a tall black hat, she would put a make up kit in it because so I can put it on."

"If * had a tall black hat, he would put Blake and Jackson (his friends) in it because I can play with them."

For this activity we read the book Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner. Find it HERE.

2. After lots of practice, sorting, writing, dancing, singing and doing whatever it takes I think I am starting to break some of my little friends of the curse of the b's and d's.

We have been doing lots of the activities found in this UNIT.

3. We used some fiction books that we read about Washington and Lincoln to learn about characters and character traits. My kids thought it was so funny that they could say that Abe Lincoln was "messy" after we read Abe Lincoln's Hat. They also learned two new words/character traits- selfish and unselfish. I heard the words used several times this week...sometimes correctly and sometimes a little confused! I nearly died when I heard two kids talking in centers about being selfish cause someone was only thinking of themselves. The other student responded that it was okay for her to be selfish, because she does like herself just the way she is.

4. We started our space unit this week. The kids are soooooooo into it! Some of them know more about space than I do!! Stayed tuned for more pics and posts coming. Here is how we started our space unit. First we made spaceships (paper airplanes) and then blasted off into space. After all that hard work we ate astronaut food (mint chocolate ice cream)!!! So fun!!

5. Seuss-mania starts Monday! Yay! Monday is "Hats Off to Dr. Seuss", we will be having Hat Day in class, meeting "The Dr. Seuss" and reading the Cat in the Hat! If you are still looking for activities for next week make sure you may want to check out these centers on sale this weekend! :)

I hope you join up with Doodle Bugs Teaching!!!

Have a great weekend!

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Yesterday as I was preparing for today, I had a very cute craftivity planned to do for George Washington...BUT this morning as I was driving to work I had a flashback from last week when we did a craft and well, let's just say that I changed my mind! :) So at 7:42 this morning (3 minutes before students enter my class!) I frantically searched pinterest for a new idea (Love that pinterest is no longer blocked at school!!!). I found this activity by Kindergarten Planet and it was FREE!! Woo hoo!!

I might be the only teacher who has never done a "directed drawing" before, but today I was a "directed drawing first timer"! I didn't really know what to expect, but it was fantastic for so many reasons.

1. The students felt like artists!

2. It was simple, easy and fun!

3. It was an informal way for me to assess each student's spatial awareness.

4. The pictures turned out just like us- the same but different!

Here are some pictures-- I had to include the writing too!

"When I stole a cookie."

"When I lost Daddies flashlight." *I love how he spelled Daddy's- Dad Z*

"I lost my sisters ring and I tell the truth."

"When I spied on my auntie, I told the truth." **Hmmmm??

"When I lost the remote I told the truth."

"When my mom said do he have homework." * :) *

So next week my class will be starting lots of Dr. Seuss fun! Each day has a theme, a book, a craft and a edible treat! I thought I better be EXTRA prepared because it sounds like exhaustion to me! I prepared my center activities this afternoon. Here are some that the students will be completing during literacy centers.