How to Catch a Monster

The How To Catch Series is an awesome series for STEM.

First we read the book, How to Catch a Monster!

Then they had to design their trap to catch their monster! Each child was given a monster to create their trap for. Each monster was a different size. They had to draw their trap first.

Then they created their trap! They tested and modified them until they were able to trap and keep their monster trapped! 

How to Catch a Monster!

STEM Made Teacher Friendly

How many of you love the idea of STEM but are nervous about what it will look like in your classroom? Scared about finding activities? Worried about getting the materials and about the cost of the materials?

Well, my teacherfriends, Carson Dellosa has done it again!!!! I love this company and all that it creates for teachers! I always have! But their STEM box is amazing!!!

They have created a group of STEM lessons just for us! This box has  30   Lessons ( 10 lessons for physical science, 10 lessons for life sciences and 10 lessons for earth science) and they are all for grades 2 to 5 but my first graders could do them with a little changing of the directions (a little more explanation or different vocabulary at times)! 

These lessons come on laminated cards with the visual list of materials needed on the front! All materials used are found in classrooms and schools so we do not have to go into debt to supply our kids what they need in order to complete these activities! The challenge is also listed on the front! These activities are kid friendly and can be used independently, small group or even whole group!! There is so much flexibility with this product!!! 

The cards are laminated for durability and on the back of each card are questions in each area to ask your students to extend their learning!!! There is also a little more information about the science behind the activity! 

I used these cards as whole group activities at first! I did this just to familiarize them with the cards and what my expectations were when they were completing them! After we did two as a whole group then I let them choose activities as a small group! Once I was comfortable with them completing them as a small group, I have put them out to use independently when they are done with their work. I also use them on science days as an activating strategy, the lesson or a science day wind up!

This stem kit is amazing and I highly recommend it for any Classroom! 

January should be called National Indoor Recess Month!!!

January! What a month! It is a month that seems to never end! From snow days to indoor recess, this month just seems to hang there!!

But oh my, I found these two amazing activities from Learn 365 From Oriental Trading and I am telling y’all that indoor recess has been transformed in my room!!!

First, let’s discuss indoor recess!! This is a time when I as a teacher,  I  literally would get the sweats and an automatic headache!! The dreaded phrase, teachers please keep your classes inside today due to the windchill or the due to the weather is like listening to someone scrape their fingers down the chalkboard!!!

Well, problem solved! I found these two amazing products from learn365 and my kids are not only collaborating without screaming but they are also learning during indoor recess! No yelling! No running! No arguing! Tell me more right!!!

Here is what I found! 

In this activity, they have to work together to create a maze to get their balls frommkne end to another! They also have to work together to manipulate the ball! The conversations and team work were amazing and so enjoyable! 

The other activity was this one!!!

The kids had to work together to create a track for the marble to travel! The goal is to get it from the beginning to the u shaped piece at the end. 

There were cards for them to use as guides if they wanted to try it that way first! One group of my kiddos tried the cards and used the heater! Another group vetoed the cards and tried it on their own! They used the lockers!! The conversations in both groups..... priceless!!

So if you are looking for ways to “improve” your indoor recesses... you need to check out all of the amazing stem or steam activities that learn365 and oriental Trading    have!! You won’t be disappointed! Learning while they play... a teacher can’t ask for anything more then that especially during the year of January oops sorry month of January! LOL!!!!

Click here to check out learn365!!!

I am a teacherblogger and was not reimbursed for my ideas or opinions! I was given the materials from learn365 and orientalist Trading in return for my own honest opinion and ideas! These are my own views!

Winter Stem

Science in first grade is snow much fun!! We did winter stem activities and the kids had a blast!

We read the books, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas and the Grinch! 

After we read these and talked about them, the activities began!

First stem center, we reviewed force and how it affects the notion of objects. Then they got their marshmallow blasters! The focus was to use just the right amount of force to hit Pete the cat and the grinch with a marshmallow from their blaster! I found these awesome blasters at Oriental Trading!! 

The next center was to build the tallest chimney for Pete the Cat and/or the Grinch to go down. They used toothpicks and mini marshmallows! 

The next center was marshmallow poppers! They had to figure out how to make their marshmallow pop higher then their neighbors! The marshmallow poppers were a hit and they are from Oriental Trading! 

At another station, we made snow! The kids loved watching the chemical reaction when we added water to their snow pail! I got these from Oriental Trading!!!

These winter stem activities were a hit! Thanks to Oriental Trading for having these amazing products!!

To end our day, smore ornament making!! 

I am a teacher blogger and these are my own opinions! Orientall Trading sent me the products to use and to give my honest feedback! #ad

wacky links!!

I love #stem and I love doing anything that is #stem related! I have found the most amazing tools that all teachers must have and include in their stem areas, supplies etc! 

Wackylinks are amazing! Have you ever heard of them?! They are flexible tubes with awesome connectors. The kids loved them. 

 

The connectors come in safari theme, rock and roll and winter! These connectors are easy to use and allow the kids to build such amazing structures!

 

We read the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar written by Eric Carle. The kids #stem challenge was to create a cocoon that their Caterpillar will fit into. No child received the same size Caterpillar! They loved it! They had to design their cocoon first and then using the wacky links create it! 

Check out some of their creations! 

 

This is just the first of many #stem activities that will involve Wacky Links!! If you don't have any then you must get these for your classroom! You won't be sorry and your kids will love being engineers! 
 
 
 

 

December Pinterest Pick 3

Hello, It is one of my favorite times of the month! I love linking up with The Inspired owl for the monthly Pinterest Pick 3 Linky!

This linky is where we get together and share three of our favorite ideas we find on Pinterest! This is such an awesome linky because we get so many fresh new ideas to use in our classrooms!

So here are my three picks for the month of December:

I love this idea! Various ways your kids can make Christmas trees in your classroom! These are great STEM activities!!!!!

How stinking cute are these!!! I love these simple fun snacks to make for my kiddos!!!

I can not get over how cute this is! Love this!!!

So there were my 3 picks for December! Please click below to go see the picks of some other awesome educators!! Happy Pinning!