Writing

Focus Sticks .... to help with editing and revising

From : Make, Take and Teach

Step 1) Eat a lot of Pringles.                                     

Step 2)  Cover with scrapbook paper.  (This one is from Michael's.)

 

 Step 3)  Decide which icons you want on the focus sticks. 

 

 

Roll-a-Story - by Kristin Jordan

 

 

Another writing resource that is worth making is a writing mini office.  These two sites have a lot of great downloads. 

 

Writing Mini Office downloads

Teaching Heart

Busy Teacher's Café

 

 

 

Class Shared Class Journal

What a great idea!  I know my students will enjoy using these during Daily 5.  When not in use, students can read the journals during Read to Self or Read to Someone.   

link to journal covers on TpT

If Maggie could write, she'd probably write that one of her favorite places is a comfortable bed!

If Sam could write and had a good memory, he might write about how it was nice that he was adopted on July 4th five years ago!  He might also write how he appreciates that his name changed from Romeo to Sam.  (in honor of Uncle Sam!)

Writing ideas for visual learners....

Download document
                             

Weather Resources

Free Weather Lapbook  - This site includes an instructional YouTube video.
You will need Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons.
Pros - Great Project Based Learning project, very thorough weather study for second grade
Cons - Takes many copies (I would probably leave out the weather predictions and combination clouds page), may take longer than you want

Website for Kids:  What is Weather?

Water Cycle Reader's Theater Script
from www.teachers.net


From Teachers Pay Teachers:
At this time, these resources are free.

Weather Unit by Living Life Intentionally                        

Make an Anemometer  by Elementary Contessa

Fog Experiment  by Camilla Barry

Water Cycle Song  by Jaya Maharajh
 
Weather in a Cup Experiment   by The Teaching Reef

Water Cycle Bracelet  by Meaghan Kimbrell


Weather Poems: 
A Cloudy Serenade
The Thunder Giant

Common Core Pacing Guides and More

Second Grade Common Core Pacing Guide
These documents were made to help my team in Onslow County, North Carolina. You are able to edit these documents.
*Revised for 2013-2014

First Nine Weeks  - Government, Weather

Second Nine Weeks - Matter, Cultures, Beginning Map Skills, Timelines, Biographies

Third Nine Week - Geography, Map Skills, Economics, Sound

Fourth Nine Weeks - Environment, Natural Resources, Life Cycles
 
Here's another one I like from Brunswick County Schools:  Pacing Guide Link

Free printable "I Can" Common Core standards presented in a kid friendly format:




SMART Board Notebook Activities - Includes grade range and Common Core alignment:

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