What I've Been Up To...

I have been totally neglecting my sweet little blog lately.  Here are three of the things that are keeping me busy...

Right after hatching.  The poor little guys were exhausted!

 

 Of course my babies are completely in love with these babies.  Watching them hatch was fascinating.  I am not sure who loved it more - me or them!

 Here are Russell, Elizabeth and We-are-still-fighting-about-his-name.

SERIOUSLY, how cute are these chicks?!  I am dying of cuteness!  Here is one more picture for good measure... SQUEAL!

Follow me on Instagram {AdventuresInKindergarten} for more chick adventures!

Fabulous Feedback

I am linking up with Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for a fun linky party!  I am sharing the most fabulous feedback I have received on three of my TPT products.  If I chose YOUR feedback, please email me so I can send you a special thank you gift from my TPT store :)

First up is All About Patterns.  Billions (okay, so maybe not quite that many) of pattern activities that are super easy to prep, and also aligned to the common core.

And here's the feedback.  EVERYTHING you needed?  YAY!  That was my goal.  One stop shopping is the BEST when it comes to a huge concept like patterns.

 Plants and Seeds Math, Science and Literacy Fun!
 has been super popular at this time of year.  It is one of my very first products and has SO much packed in it.  It is also up for a minor revamping very soon with some fabulous new clip art!

 You can't wait until next week?  You love it?  It's so helpful?  Woo hoo!  I am loving all of those exclamation points!!!!!  You ladies rock my little teacher unit creating world.

I couldn't pick just one, so I found feedback on a bunch of my Word Card and Word Walls Products.  These are great for any emergent reader/writer, but even better for ELL students.  My babies have done oh so much with these awesome products.

 Just what you needed?  Wish you had bought them sooner?  Exactly what you are looking for?  I love you people!  I wish I could meet you and hug you and squeal in your ear.  Seriously.

Last but not least I have to throw in a little plug for my All About Butterflies unit.  It is 110 pages of science, literacy, math and art fabulousness.  I also made a smaller version with just the vocabulary cards, science notebook and prediction sheets that you can find {HERE}.  

Of course, like every other TPT seller on the planet, all of my items are on a super duper sale today and tomorrow only.  Thank you so much for all that you do.  You are truly appreciated!

Mother's Day Freebie

 

I am going to to this project from last year, but wanted to add a little something new to my repertoire.  I am going to have my littles ones draw a portrait of their mom, and write about something they love about her.  I will mount them on construction paper, laminate and voila!  Fast and super sweet keepsake for mom.

I love my mom because after school she gives us treats to eat!

 I love my mom because she helps me plant flowers.

You can download it {HERE}.  Enjoy!

All About Butterflies

Butterflies are one of my absolutely, positively favorite things to teach.  I order caterpillars every year, and the kids just go crazy for them.  They don't even realize how much science, writing, drawing and math they are learning from these little creepy crawlies.

I wrote a HUGE butterfly unit in college, and have spent the last year on and off revamping it and making it super cute.  We just got our caterpillars on Wednesday, and are already knee deep in observing them, researching them and learning tons of new vocabulary.  One of my little girls was on the playground with a glow stick today saying "Look at my proboscis!"  (aka butterfly tongue).  Precious!

 I used our ELMO document camera to project the caterpillars onto the wall.  The cup went from being a few inches in real life to about 5 feet in diameter on the wall... crazy!  The kids were captivated with watching them crawl around.

 This is my favorite.  These girls are sitting at the science table researching butterflies while observing the caterpillars in their little cup.  They did this during their free choice time.  Budding scientists = SO CUTE!

 Here are some of the observations they made in their butterfly science notebooks.  I am SO impressed with their writing {remember, these babies are in pre-K}.  Isn't it amazing what kids will do when they are super engaged and excited?!

The caterpillars made a web.

The caterpillar is climbing up.

I'm sure I will have SO much more to share with you as we keep learning about butterflies.  In the meantime, I have finally finished my butterfly unit.  I have legit spent a year on and off working on this sucker, and am pretty dang proud of it.  It is over 100 pages of science, reading, writing, math and art fun.  Most things included are shown below, but I have added even more since.  

Check it out {HERE} while it's still on sale!

This All About Butterflies unit includes:

• Suggested Book List
• Common Core Alignment
• Parent Letter
• Vocabulary Cards
• Making and Checking Predictions sheets
• Caterpillars in the Classroom nonfiction text
• Scientific Observation Poster {How Scientists Observe}
• Butterfly Observation Science Notebook
• Close Reading Lesson Ideas with Posters
• Calendar for recording the stages of life
• Life Cycle Poster
• Life Cycle Cut and Paste
• Life Cycle File Folder Game
• Butterfly Report Writing {with prewriting activities}
• Fiction vs. Nonfiction Venn Diagram
• Vocabulary Posters and Definitions
• Butterfly Labeling
• Memory Game
• Patterning Activity {with recording sheet}
• Story Problems
• Butterfly Handprint Art
• Life Cycle Mobile
• Symmetry Art