Now That's Using Your Brain!



Hey Science Friends,

You know I am crazy about good old Sid. And I was kind of a little bit excited to get a notification that Sid has a new release scheduled for today. If I don't already have all the DVD's I have to be getting pretty darn close to collecting them all. If you are a Science lover like me I am sure you have fallen in love with this series. You just can't beat these episodes.

But this time around I am excited that Sid is talking about the human body! This is a great one to pair with those health and even physical education objectives so you have to love that! This DVD includes episodes-

I Have Muscles Where?: Where do we have muscles?

Sid’s Amazing Lungs: What do our lungs do?

How Did My Dog Do That?: Do animals and humans have the same skeletons?

Now That’s Using Your Brain: What does the brain do?

And you know my favorite part is when Sid and his friends get out their Science Notebooks in the Super Fab Lab. I swear I want to be teacher Suzy! So really Science friends this is a no brainer! Order Now That's Using Your Brain today and start gearing up for a new year of Science!

 



A Seasonal Timeline!



Hey Science Friends,

Like most teachers summer gives us a time to reflect on the past year and the opportunity to plan for a new year ahead. It is a good time to take what worked and make it even better or just scrap the bad and start over. One of the things that I liked in my classroom this year was my seasonal timeline. I started off the year with class pictures. It kept us on track with birthdays during the year. But what I didn't like was that some seasons were a little more crowded than others leaving less room to add pictures or information for that specific time of year. I am already thinking of ways to make it work and work better. I have to admit our favorite part of the timeline were the pictures but other important events happen in the year and room needs to be saved for those events. A timeline is a good place to post seasonal science observations like a tree changing throughout the seasons and those events that take place within each season. I think with a little adjustment our timeline just might make the cut and appear again this coming year! 

Inspired By Nature!



Hey Science Friends,

The other day we were outside and noticed on our playground that we had a beautiful blooming bush. Considering that our school in under construction this was a welcome sight each time we went outside. In science we had been previously talking about plants so we naturally wanted to create something after our observations and discussion. This was pretty simple and very child driven but the end results are always simply amazing...

In the first picture the children drew plants and plant parts on their paper. Afterwards, they independently used watercolor paint to paint in the entire picture. We all love projects like this because anything goes. No matter the color or painting technique it always comes out beautiful. This is one of those projects that is open ended and child directed. All I am really looking for are the plant parts and a little conversation about what the child knows about plants.

The painting of this project has taken several days but it does not bother us a bit. This is something to really look forward to do when all other work is done in a quiet area of the room. Who am I kidding? Is there really a quiet area with 22 kids? Between each session these dry pretty quickly on a small drying rack just waiting for more paint.

Our favorite part is adding the oil pastel in black to outline the drawings. This step really makes the drawing defined and the painting come alive. The child uses his or her finger to smear or smudge the lines. It is always interesting to see who smears or smudges. You can clearly see the personality in each painted picture.

Zaniaria wanted very thick and smudgy lines that she smeared deep into the painting. It looks like her work. And she sure had to remind me that she had true artist nails! As soon as our paintings are finished we will post them here!

 





An Update and Freebie!

Happy Game Day Science Friends,

So exciting all the sales going around! So, I thought I would throw one too but before I did I had to add a little something extra to my My five Senses Reports. I added a few pages to include a Rock Report because as we kick off rocks in class, I wanted to have a report ready to go. It's a perfect addition for describing properties of objects and oral language development.

All the reports go well with this freebie that I previously posted. If you need it just click on the image above and grab yours for some great investigative reports! Who knew Science could be so much fun?

If you previously purchased this unit all you have to do is download it again to get the updates! It's really that easy!



Run, Run, Run UPDATE Gingerbread Fun!

Hey Science Friends,

Run, run, run as fast as you can! Just had to tell you that if you previously purchased the My five Senses Reports... It has been updated to include THE Gingerbread Man Report! So run, run, run and re download the update and get to investigating Science friends! So excited that I had a request for this today and I couldn't have been happier to make this addition because it gives us yet another opportunity to investigate, write and communicate like scientists. He should have been there all along but now he is in place and ready to go!

Now I am all ready to run out and grab some Little Debbie Gingerbread Men and have a little bit of Science fun of my own. I am sure this will give us a good reason to get out those hand lenses and investigate like the true Scientists that we have come to be!

And another reason to read a few more gingerbread books because we need the proper tools to investigate, right?

For more information just click on the first two images.

This download includes four investigations using objects-popcorn, bubble gum, apples and pumpkins. All investigations are based on the same format and designed to promote independent investigations for young children. The first investigation is completed as a class and the other investigations may be used independently. This is a print and go science resource that is easy to prepare and appropriate for kindergarten or first grade students. The objectives come from National Science Standards and help to develop children using their senses as tools to investigate and describe the properties of objects. Children will describe objects by shape, size, mass, texture and color. Each investigation reviews safety for investigating with the senses. Once the activities are complete you will have a report that children can share as they learn to communicate like scientists!

UPDATE: Gingerbread Report Added!

Run, run, run as fast as you can.