Christmas Gifts

Merry Christmas!!!

Every year what we should give our students because a debate.

We used to give pencils with their names on them.

Which was great and easy. Until 3rd grade started doing them.

So...

This year we decided to buy our students Smencils and then whatever else we
wanted to add with them.

I bought the Smencils in bulk on Ebay which made them a little less expensive.


And then I put my Smencils with...

...some M&M's in a bag and a cute tag.

And added in some good 'ol Christmas Silly Bandz.

To make a fun Christmas package...

Tadaa!

Enjoy your Christmas!

Southeast Suitcase Folders

This year, we started a new Social Studies curriculum.  We get to study the Regions of the US.  My 4th grade team has been having a fun (and busy!) time coming  up with creative ideas on how to teach the regions.

We just finished studying the Southeast region.

We decided to create “suitcases” out of file folders.  On one side of the folder, we had them glue down their Southeast map once it was labeled and colored.

On the other side of the folder, they were able to decorate their suitcase.

As we visited each place, we gave them a sticker to put on their suitcase.

On the inside, were the flaps.

The folder started out blank.  Then, as we visited each place, the students received another part of the picture.  Soon they discovered that the final picture was a riverboat!

When the flaps are opened, you can read three facts about what they learned as well as a picture to represent the place.  For some places, we also printed out pictures for them to glue on their flaps.

Gobble, Gobble

Our turkeys decided that they didn’t want to be eaten for Thanksgiving dinner! 

We had fun with our 1st grade buddies disguising our turkeys so that they wouldn’t be recognized as turkeys.

Yes, the floor was a mess of scrapbook paper and feathers, but it was worth seeing all of the creative ideas.

I’d love to pair this activity with a writing assignment…maybe next year.