The Lifecycle of the Frog

Creating non-fiction Readers' Theater scripts has been my focus lately because I like to get more bang for my buck.  By that I mean, using a teaching resource that will help reading fluency AND teach a science topic stretches your teaching farther and is more interesting and engaging for students.  

So even though this was my morning, a whale watching cruise with my Kindergarten daughter

I had frogs on the brain and created a new Readers' Theater script that comes with a comprehension check, draw & label worksheet and writing activity.

I have a salmon and apple lifecycle script in the works and am now thinking about whales!

Ole! and a Science Fair Guide FREEBIE

Hola de Mexico!

It's spring break right now in my district and my family headed south of the border to soak up the sun and heat.  We've had a marvelous time so far in Cabo playing in the pool, watching whales, riding around our resort on golf cart trucks and eating way too many nachos and refried beans.  The awesome part is that we're not going back yet....I have a student teacher who takes over full time tomorrow so I took advantage of that and took an extra week off, muy bien!

Being me, I can't put work away on vacay, so as much as I was looking forward to working my butt off on new teaching resources I'm also completing our school yearbook and getting the online registration ready for our 4th annual kids triathlon....I really need to learn to say no.  At least I get my work done at night when my kids are in bed and I can sit by the pool.

Back at school, Math & Science night is coming up this week and I was able to finish the Science Fair project guide I put together for K-2 kiddos (since not many participate and my daughter, who is in Kindergarten, LOVES science).

This Science Fair Guide is FREE, so check it out and spread the love of science!

p.s.  For some strange reason, Blogger (the blog publishing website I use), is all in Spanish!  I just hope this post publishes because, although I try hard to use my poquito espagnol, there's a lot of words on here I don't know!

The Iditarod and TONS of sunshine!

These awesome photos were taken by a friend of mine, who was downtown for the start of the Iditarod.

Although WE weren't downtown at the starting line, we went to the first checkpoint on the Iditarod trail: the Campbell Airstrip.

The last mushers were just coming in and we got to walk around and take a look at dogs, sleds, trucks, and mushers.  It was a neat close-up!

It was a GORGEOUS 45 degree day (unusual for this time of year)!

Me and my little guy!

The dogs are waiting for all equipment to be packed up.

The inside of a truck.

A very nice musher chatting with my little girl.

a sled

The front of the sled where all dog lines start.

The dog harnesses off the lead line.

A sled anchor...not sure if there's a specific term for it.

After reaching this 1st checkpoint, all mushers pack up their gear and their dogs and drive 45 minutes north to the 'official' start in Willow, Alaska.  The start is on Sunday at 2p.m.

Discover some basic facts about the 'Last Great Race' with your students.

 

It's Iditarod Time!

Goooooooooooood morning from the start of the Iditarod everybody!

The ceremonial start is today in downtown Anchorage!

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this but I didn't know much about the Iditarod nor do anything with my students....and I've lived here about 10 years now!  But for some reason I dove in and learned all about it and it's so fascinating, all the cool little tidbits that make up the 1,000+ 'Last Great Race'.

If you want to bring the adventure into your classroom over the next 2 weeks, check out this Iditarod unit that incorporates reading, writing & math.

I'm heading out with my own kids to see the action in person for the first time! I'll hopefully post some pictures tomorrow!