Ocean

Ocean Unit is one of my favorite units and we sadly are only spending 3 days on ocean because of a short week.  However, the students have had a lot of fun making ocean things and learning and writing about the ocean.  

We started the unit off by reading the book I'm The Biggest Thing in the Ocean.  The students helped make a list of all kinds of ocean animals.  Then the students did a writing where they filled in the blanks with our word wall words and then picked an ocean animal.  They drew a picture and painted the ocean water on top of their picture.  Here a a few of my favorite.

The next day we read the book Mister Seahorse.  As we were reading the book we discussed personality traits about Mr. Seahorse and then we wrote them down on our sheet.  The students learned that he was kind, friendly, nice, caring, proud, loving.  They used a lot of adjectives that are higher level thinking.  The students got to enjoy a fun activity where they made a seahorse using tissue paper.  They look great!

Each day the students got to learn about a different sea animal.  One day we learned about sharks, fish, octopus, and jellyfish.  As a class, we would complete a tree help of what the animal is, can, and has.  Then we used the tree map to help write three sentences.  Here is what the students did when they learned about jellyfish.

 A jellyfish is a swimmer.  A jellyfish can glow.  A jellyfish has a mouth.

 A jellyfish is a swimmer.  A jellyfish can glow.  A jellyfish has a bell shape body.

MLK

Our class spent two days talking and learning about Martin Luther King Jr..  The first day we read the book Martin's Big Words and we talked about his dream and what he wanted to see people do.  We learned about how the inside of a brown and white egg are the same and how we are all the same on the inside.  We also talked about how we should love everyone and be kind.

The second day the students wrote about a dream they have for their future and then they illustrated their writing.  Here are some dreams my students have...

 I have a dream that one day I will catch a shark.

 

I have a dream that one day I will be a teacher.

 I have a dream that one day I will fly.

 I have a dream that one day I will read.

I have a dream that one day I will be a zoo keeper.

Snowglobes

We spent some time talking about snow globes.  What is inside of them, what they are doing in the snow globe, why people like them, etc.  Then the students got a change to draw and write what they would do inside of a snow globe if they lived in one.

 

If I lived in a snowglobe I will play with my dad.

 If I lived in a snowglove I will make a snowman and a snow puppy.

 If I lived in a snowglobe I will make a snowman. 

Snowmen At Night

For Christmas we read the book Snowmen at Christmas.  The students enjoyed the book so I decided to read them the book Snowmen at Night.  Its a cute book about what the snowmen do at night when everyone is sleeping.  After reading the book, the students shared with a friend what they think snowmen do at night.  Then I had them write and draw about it.  

 My snowman is playing teacher at night.

 My snowman is playing football at night.

 My snowman is drinking hot chocolate at night.

 My snowman is drinking cold cocoa at night.

My snowman flies a kite at night.

The Mitten vs. The Hat

This week we have been working on making connections to stories.  We have used The Mitten and The Hat for the students to connect to.  One thing I am working with the students on is being able to explain why they like something.  I want them to be able to use details about what they like about the story instead of saying "it's funny".  Since the students LOVED both of these books I decided to have the students pick their favorite and write why they liked it.  Here are some of their writing.

 I liked The Mitten book because the bear sneezed.

 I liked The Mitten book because the boy dropped the mitten.

 I liked The Mitten book because the bear sneezed.

"I liked The Hat book because the animals laughed at the hedgehog."