Technology Camp 2014!

Howdy!! For the past two weeks, I have been teaching at a summer technology camp, which is something I commit to doing every summer. It is always a great time because I get to write the curriculum, I have a small class (usually less than 13), snacks are provided ANNNNDDD I have oodles of technology tools at my fingertips, such as iPads, digital cameras, laptops, software, and online programs. Click here to read about Technology Camp from the past few years.

**WARNING! ICK FACTOR ALERT!!!**

For the past two years, I have taught the "Germs, Mold and Other Gross Stuff" camp to entering 4th and 5th graders. This year, the camp moved down to entering 2nd and 3rd graders. We do several awesome/yucky/disgusting/fun activities. Now, I am NOT one that actually enjoys gross and icky things; I am a germophobe and get grossed out VERY easily. However, there is something about teaching it that makes it tolerable! I cannot even explain it. So, here are our yucky activities:

Bird Poop Painting
Probably my most favorite activity! We do a little bird diet research, make a goopy model of the bird poop, and then paint with it.

The BEST part is that they learn how to make a QR code. The QR code is attached to the painting and reveals what the bird's diet is.

Drinkable Blood

Enough said. ;)

The Best Diaper Brand

We tested the two most popular brands of diapers to see which one would hold the most liquid. The result?? You'll have to scroll down to find out!

Couldn't fill up the diapers with just plain water..........we added yellow food coloring. ;)

We poured water in the diapers, 5oz at a time, until it couldn't hold anymore liquid.

That is one FULL diaper!

Huggies on the left, Pampers on the right.

And just for fun--this is what the polymer beads on the inside of a diaper look like. The kids were pretty fascinated with the texture of the beads.

And the winner--

Both diaper brands held about 50 ounces of liquid, but Pampers consistently held a little bit more each round. So, good to know--your baby can have about 50 ounces of pee in his/her diaper before you need to change it! I do not recommend this, however, because the diaper then weighs about 20 pounds!! (among a few other reasons, haha)

Booger Model
Ew. This one was a gross one. I'll just leave you with some pictures and move on.

I warned you about the grossness. ;)

Finally, we make a science journal and several little foldables about all of our activities on the computer. Those items are printed, folded and added to our "Germs" lapbook:

Inside the folder:

And I would be remiss if I didn't include pictures of my camp classroom! It is held at a local tech high school/college so I have no control over the set up. However, it was the right amount of space for the number of campers I had.

Also, this is in the makes:

Be excited. ;)

Five for Friday and TWO Giveaways!

First things first: I'm running 2 giveaways right now--

GIVEAWAY #1

To enter this giveaway, simply follow me on bloglovin'. There are 3 ways to do it:

1. Click this button:

2. Go to the sidebar (top of the left column) and click the button that says "Follow this Blog with bloglovin".

3. Go into the Rafflecopter below and click the link in the first entry to go to my blog on bloglovin'.If you follow me by bloglovin', please enter the giveaway!! I will be picking 2 WINNERS and each winner will get their choice of 2 PRODUCTS FROM MY TPT OR TN STORE! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY #2 (Ends tonight!!)

And now, Five for Friday! :)

1. This became a little less addicting:

...because this addiction has returned!!

2. This is what corn starch is made of...

...in case you ever wondered. Lol.

3. I finally made a successful made a batch of pancakes!!! Okay, I am almost out of my twenties and it probably took many more years than it should have BUT I am proud, nonetheless!!

4. I found this book at a library sale. So true, yet SO funny!! Haha!

5. From Technology Camp--this is what the absorbent beads inside a diaper look like if you extract them:

 

This is what they look like after liquid has been added to the beads...and don't worry--we used water with yellow food coloring for added effect ;)

Don't forget the enter the giveaways! Have a fantastic Friday! ):

Germs, Mold, and Other Gross Stuff + Giveaway Winners!

That's the name of my Technology Camp. Awesome, right??! The camp is for students entering grades 4-5, even though I do have one entering 2nd! She is doing her best to keep up with everyone else...

And since this is Technology Camp, I have been lugging these...

...up and down THESE alllll week!

And it never gets old.

We are down three days and still have two more to go this week. So far, we have talked about germs, bodily fluids and functions, scabs, and Lizardman, played with diapers and grown mold, and the best is yet to come! We still have bird poop to research and gunk to make! I'll share more about the activities later on this week.

Have you seen my latest product??

Here are some more images from the product:

Posters for display that answer the question, "What do scientists do?" You can print the posters...

 ...or you can create a wall display using the cut-and-assemble set.

Several graphic organizers:

Includes 2 class books! Here is one:

I hope you had a chance to enter the giveaway to win a free copy of this pack! Here are the winners:

Thanks, ladies!! Check your email as your prize is awaiting!

Technology Camp and Science Introduction for K-2 Pack!

Happy summer!! I got a little carried away with the chalk the other night, by the way... ;)

I hope your summer is off to a great start and for those of you that were in school last week, I hope you now actually out for summer! School in June should be outlawed...

I have managed to stay quite busy so far this summer! Last week I taught various technology classes for teachers all but 1 day. This week starts Summer Technology Camp, something I have been a part of in my district since its inception a few years ago. I have blogged about this truly WONDERFUL experience for the past two years. You can read alllll about it here:

Summer Tech Camp 2012

Summer Tech Camp 2011

I look forward to sharing this year's activities with you very soon!

I have spent all of the rest of my time with my 3-year-old! We have had SO much fun playing in water, painting, watching Beauty and the Beast, visiting friends...Last night, I took her to a Paint Your Own Pottery place for the first time. She had a BLAST!

Painting her elephant

My vase

Her pieces! Can't wait to see them after they are cooked!

In between all of the above-listed activities, I spent a moment here and there making this:

I am happy to announce that this pack I have been working on for a WHOLE week now is now FINISHED. And I could not be happier because I plan on using it in my own classroom! :) This science pack is perfect for kick-starting science for your new school year! It includes:

-4 lessons/activities to answer "What is Science?"

-8 lessons/activities to answer "What is a scientist?" and "What do scientists do?"
-anchor charts
-wall display cut-and-assemble (with picture sample)
-graphic organizers
-hands-on activities and experiments
-2 class books with student pages
-rubber band book (foldable with instructions)
-an optional ActivInspire flipchart to accompany lessons

Check it out here!

 Want a free copy? Enter for a chance to win! Leave a comment with your email address; I will randomly pick 3 winners tomorrow.

Have a terrific Tuesday! :)