Lemonade Stand & Life Skills

This weekend the kids decided they wanted to set up a lemonade stand.  As a child I loved selling lemonade to the neighbors so with fond memories and a smile I readily agreed.

Old Crow immediately began by making a list of all the things we would need.  (He is definitely his mother's child!!)  We created a plan and made it happen.  

The cash register was filled with change.  The sign was created.  The lemonade and cookies were prepared to be served.  Smiles were ready to be shared.

During all of the preparation and during our sale, I noticed just how much learning could take place with a simple lemonade stand.

Money skills:  coin recognition, counting money, making change

Organizational skills: list making, gathering supplies

Advertising and promotion:  creating signs, balloons to draw attention

Manners & etiquette:  please, thank you, pleasant voices and tone, eye contact  

Character traits: patience (especially on a hot day and between customers), helpfulness

Work ethic: setting up, cleaning up, not leaving the job

Basic economics: earning a profit, pricing to sell

It was a lot of fun, a lot of work, and totally worth it!

Jenny 

Qwirkle Fun

One of the boys received the game Qwirkle for their birthday, and it has recently become their favorite game.  They repeatedly said, "This is so much fun" and "This is the best game ever!"  They can validate the fun factor, and I think it is not too shabby as an educational game either.  It requires them to mentally strategize and offers practice in grouping by color or shape.

 

Along with the traditional game play, the tiles can be used for a variety of math skills.  Memphis Belle enjoyed sorting them by shape and color.

They can also be used for:

*Counting

*Grouping by like attribute

*Comparison of groups

*Building Patterns

*Addition and Subtraction practice

Merry Qwirkling!

Jenny

A Visit to Whoville: Grinch Unit

This week we opened the book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and explored the world of Whoville and the Grinch.  This is a favorite for the boys and we had a blast.  I found this free printable Grinch unit from First Grade W.O.W.   This is an awesome resource and a perfect jumping off point...using it along with other activities made for a great week!  Here is a look into our week with the Grinch.  

We started the week off by reading the book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Then we followed that up with watching both movies...the original cartoon version and the modern one with Jim Carrey.  Their favorite was definitely the original cartoon.  We often watch this even during the middle of summer. ;)

   

Snacks:  Who Pudding

As a snack to eat during the movie, we made Who Pudding.  Using vanilla jello pudding mix and milk we made regular pudding.  But when we added the green food coloring...it became Who Pudding!!

Language Arts and Craftivities

1.  After reading the story, Old Crow and I discussed what Dr. Seuss' message was...what the big idea was for the story.  This is his response sheet.

"that Christmas can never be stolen."

2.  Included in the free unit was a Grinch poem/song to the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat.  We sang the song and also used the poem as his poetry work for the week.  He copied the poem into his poetry notebook.

3.  We worked on Grinchy Adjectives.  I printed out this large size Grinch.  We colored him, laminated him, and then cut him out.  The boys had a fun time putting him together and playing with his face as a mask.  (An actual mask template can be found here.)  Then Old Crow and I came up with words that would describe the Grinch's character.

4.  Discussing the Grinch's character was a perfect way to also talk about how characters can change throughout a story.  This is his response sheet on character development.

5.  Old Crow worked on a writing activity that had him finishing the following sentence.  I feel grinchy when...

Math Activities

1.  Using a 100 number chart, we created a mystery picture (which turned out to be the Grinch).

2.  A great problem solving booklet can be found at Made For 1st Grade.

3.  For addition work, Swamp Frog First Graders has an activity sheet for rolling dice and finding the sum.

Grinch Slime

This activity is one that uses math skills, science themes, sensory play, and lots of fun!!

Directions for the Grinch Slime can be found in the free unit (A Pinch of Grinch), but basically you mix 1 teaspoon of Borax powder with 1 cup of water.  Mix and set aside.  In a separate bowl you mix a whole bottle of Elmer's glue (4 oz.) with 1/2 cup of water.  Add green food coloring to the glue mixture.  Mix well.  Then combine the glue mixture with Borax powder mixture.  Almost immediately the liquid will begin to form solids...perfect science lesson!  The more you knead and squeeze the more it will turn firm.  Pour out excess water and continue to squeeze!  Crazy Horse LOVED this one!!

Put it in a ziplock bag, and it will keep indefinitely.  We are still playing with this.  It's a great stress reliever too. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Jenny

Next week, we will get our passports and head on a trip around the world...learning Christmas traditions from other countries.  Stay tuned! :)

Tuesday's Top 10: Let's Talk Turkey

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, turkey is on everyone's mind.  Old Crow even dressed up like one today...with tail feathers, beak, and all.  Here are our top ten turkey activities!

1.  Science...Learning about Turkeys

Old Crow is interested in all things turkey...from their wattle to what they eat.  So we will be researching turkeys by looking on the internet and by reading books.  Here are some graphic organizers to facilitate his research.

2.  Craft...Pinecone Turkeys

These adorable turkeys are not only fun to make, but they will be great table decorations for our Thanksgiving feast.

3.  Nature Study...Leaf Turkey

After taking a nature walk and collecting fall colored leaves, we'll use them to create this turkey art.

4.  Math...Thanksgiving Store

We'll use our money skills to shop for items for our Thanksgiving meal.  Creating a shopping list would also be a great writing activity.  If you don't have food pictures like the ones shown in the picture, magazine cutouts would work too.

These fact family turkeys also make a great turkey-themed math activity.

5.  Art...How to Draw a Turkey

These step-by-step directions can be found here.  We'll follow these directions to learn how to draw a turkey.

6.  Writing...Turkey's Plea to Farmer

  Old Crow loves reading Turkey Trouble and this free download on persuasive writing goes along perfectly.

We'll also complete these precious cards and send them out to family and friends.  They are a free download on Teachers Pay Teachers.

7.  Phonics...Gobble Gobble Sound and Blend Game

This free download from Teachers Pay Teachers is a sound and blend game.  Great way to practice phonics with a turkey theme!

8.  Vocabulary...Thanksgiving Bingo

Bingo is always a fun game, and it is perfect for holidays and themed celebrations.  Here is a free Thanksgiving Bingo download.  

9.  Craftivity:  Handprint Turkey with "I'm Thankful for..."

This idea came from the First Grade Parade.  Too cute!!  They could even be laminated and used as placemats.

10.  Read, Read, Read

Sprinkled in between all of these activities will be tons of great books!  There are so many great ones that it would be impossible to list them all.  Here are just a few turkey books.

        

      

Well, that's all the time I have for turkey talk.  If you would like more ideas, check out my Thanksgiving unit Pinterest board and my Tuesday's Top 10:  Learning about Pilgrims.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!  

Jenny

Pumpkins Everywhere!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere.  Once the calendar reached October, we were ready to bring out the scarecrows and pumpkins.  Our crop studies on corn and peanuts were such a hit that I decided to spend some time on the pumpkin as well.  :)

  

We kicked off our pumpkin celebration by reading The Pumpkin Patch Parable.  This charming story shares how a farmer picks, cleans, and turns the pumpkin into a glorious sight.  On a much grander scale, God's love transforms our hearts...he chooses us, cleanses us of the "yucky" stuff, and gives us a new face in Christ.  This has become a favorite book, and we read it each October.  I also share it with our 4 yr. old Sunday school class.  It also allows kids to see the growth process of the pumpkins from seed, sprout, vine, to pumpkin.  Here's a great YouTube video that shows a time lapse of the pumpkin vines growing.   

  

Of course, making a sweet treat was agreed on by everyone!!  So we baked pumpkin cookies with sprinkles.  They didn't last very long. ;)

Then we gathered our pumpkins for a little investigation.  The boys used unifix cubes to measure the height of their pumpkins.  Then they compared their towers to see whose pumpkin was taller.  

I introduced the word "circumference" and Old Crow used a tape measure to measure around his pumpkin.

Next, we cut into our pumpkin to learn about the inside.  We found lots of slimy, stringy, yucky pulp and tons of seeds!  We compared the amount of pulp found in the two pumpkins.  One pumpkin had a lot more than the other...each pumpkin is unique!!

Memphis Belle enjoyed scooping and playing in the pulp.

We added faces and candles, and now we were all set for a fun time of trick-or-treating.  

Crazy Horse loves to play Starfall on the computer...especially the pumpkin activity.  So I found that they offer a pumpkin app for the ipad.  The boys were able to weigh different pumpkins, balance the scale, and then compare the weights.  They also enjoy playing with the faces of the pumpkins.

We played with paints and worked together to come up with orange paint.  Old Crow and Crazy Horse were quick to realize that mixing together red and yellow would give us orange.

Lastly, we took our pumpkin seeds and some yarn (the pulp) and created a picture to represent what we found inside the pumpkins.  

I'll end with this Scripture that was included in The Pumpkin Patch Parable:

"In the same way, let your light shine before men,  that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:16

Jenny