Planning for 2013-2014

Here's a few things I've bought, printed, copied and/or laminated for next year....


It's time for an updated alphabet!  I really like how this one integrates math. 
Math Alphabet Posters - freebie

 

 

A great book to introduce/reinforce reading strategies -
Reading Strategies Book Club Packet - by Kristine Nannini -  freebie

Reading Center Starter Kit - created by A Cupcake for the Teacher

One goal for next year is to try interactive math journals next year.  Here's one resource that is Common Core based.   Interactive Math Journals
Also for math journals - Second Grade Math Journal Prompts - freebie, Common Core based


For testing time....... I've created three reading response books to use during any of the reading benchmark times.  One is for a nonfiction book.  Reading Response Booklets - created by Amy Lemons


A new set of rules.....   Rules Freebie

New fabric for two bulletin boards... purchased at Walmart:

 

Organization:  Editable three drawer organizer labels

 

 

Brain Breaks  by Diary of a Teacherholic

 

 

 

 

Fun & Easy End of Year Science Experiments

What better way to end a school year?!  My students often tell me that one of their favorite parts of second grade is trying different science experiments (especially elephant toothpaste!). After a lot of Googling, I plan to do several of these experiments the last seven or so days of school.

 

Free Scientific Method Posters for primary grades - created by Ladybug's Teacher Files

1.  Germy Apples - link to book

2.  Surface tension penny experiment - http://pbskids.org/zoom//grownups/clubzoom/pdfs/ClubZOOMsci_G_dropspenny.pdf

 

3.  Vinegar /egg experiment http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/naked-egg-experiment

4.  Gummy Bear Lab   http://pinterest.com/pin/69383650481467987/ 

5.  Adaptations -  www.buildyourwildself.com    - will tell what your adaptations can do when finished

6.  Apple / potato blind taste test http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/smelltaste.html

7.  M&M / Skittles http://sciencegal-sciencegal.blogspot.com/2012/10/m-and-skittlesexperiment.html

Look to the right of the M & M..... a floating M!

 

 

8.  When is a Black Marker Not Really Black?  link to experiment

9.  Insta-Worms - goes with Diary of a Worm  link to Steve Spangler's Insta-Worms

10.  Pepper Experiment - The teacher includes a scientific method activity sheet to go along with the experiment.

My Favorite Math Stations

1.  Kaboom! - I found this idea on Second Grade Style.

2.  Foam Dice Equations - Students roll 2 or 3 dice to make addition, subtraction, and multiplication equations.

3.  Computer/Ipad station - Use math games on our ikeepbookmarks.com page 

4.  Jenga - Practice addition facts

5.  Power Cups  - Practice addition, subtraction, or/and multiplication facts

6.  Fractions Game - Roll Slide Cover

7.  Telling Time Memory

8.  The Serenade to Second Grade blog has 10 free math stations I plan to try next year.

9.  Coin Top-It - freebie

10.  What's My Shape?   2D Shape Game  (This one is new to me.  My prediction is that this will be one of their favorite stations!)

11.  Measurement Task Cards  - to the nearest 1/2 inch

My Math Stations Chart:

Praying Mantis Nymphs

Our praying mantis nymphs decided to come out of their egg case today!  There are between 75-200 nymphs in an egg case.  This morning they quickly changed from white to greenish brown.  Since we did not have any aphids to feed them, we released most of them in the second grade butterfly garden.  A great science experiment for any young (or young at heart) scientist! 

I ordered our egg case and praying mantis book from www.insectlore.com.
Egg Case link

CAFE and Reading Strategies Beanie Babies Board

Reading Strategies Beanie Babies Website

Personal CAFE Menu sheet for students  

Going Global!

Country and Culture Research

 

 

Students will make a research book by completing a research graphic organizer for several countries. They will write other facts and add a picture of the flag on a loose leaf sheet behind each graphic organizer. Students can also make a poster that displays facts about one country.

1.  Links to fact sheets - Research Fact Sheets - Set 1
                                         Research Fact Sheets - Set 2

Facts came from these sites:  National Geographic Kids
                                                            Fact Monster
                                                            Time for Kids

2.  Link to research graphic organizer - Graphic Organizer

3.  Link to flags (These flags match the research fact sheets.) - Flags

*Classroom decoration idea:  Scholastic Teachers Friend Bulletin-TF3081

*Integrating Music:  Wee Sing Around the World CD
CD description from Amazon: 

This collection of children’s songs from around the world helps children of all ages feel a little closer to other cultures. Each song is sung first in the native language and then again in English-Book and CD.

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Cinderella Around the World
A wonderful way to integrate literature: Around the World in a Glass Slipper!
(from the Darlin' in First blog)
This scrapbook includes:  The Korean Cinderella
                                              Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Africa)
                                              Yeh-Shen   (China)
                                              The Egyptian Cinderella
                                              Adelita:  A Mexican Story

Birthdays Around the World resources:
Link 1 - free
Link 2 - $
 

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof:  Tooth Traditions from Around the World

 

 

Around the World in 80 Tales - Tales from six continents

 



Poetry Notebooks

My students usually add one poem a week to their poetry notebooks.  This is a great tool to help students improve their fluency.  They can highlight rhyming words, verbs, adjectives, nouns, etc.  Students can use this notebook during the Read to Self or Read to Someone center.

                                              Glue ribbon to the back to create a bookmark.


13 Spring Poems  - Click here to download a set of spring poems. 

13 Miscellaneous Poems

Month by Month Poetry  -  compiled by Everything Elementary

I found 2 poetry posters on Pinterest and decided to make them for my class....