Saturday, June 9, 2012

A Thank You, an Announcement, a Question, and Technology Camp!!

Well, my summer OFFICIALLY begins tonight! I had a few trainings to attend the week after school ended and this past week was Technology Camp, something I teach at every summer (since its inception 4 years ago). Visit the link in the previous sentence to read about last summer's camp--see the bottom section of this post for cool pics and activities from this year's camp!

First things first--A Thank You!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support and advice in regard to my move!!! Within hours of my announcement several of you responded to my post and HUNDREDS of you responded to my survey about what to do with my blog! It is such an incredibly awesome feeling to know that you all are behind me, especially when I have yet to meet any of you face to face!! :)


An Announcement
I have decided to keep this blog and simply adjust my tagline, especially since 81% of you suggested I do that!! I'll get around to emailing my awesome blog designer, Alicia, for an adjustment sometime this summer... ;)


A Question
I have decided to change my classroom theme from frogs! I love the colorful frogs and all but I think new grade level, new theme. Yesterday, I was struck with inspiration to do a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom theme! My question is, is that even plausible?? I think the book is an enjoyable read AND it would be SO cute to have those cute little coconut trees around! What do you think?? Any suggestions?!


Technology Camp
Picture this--teaching a class with an engaging topic that includes activities that you have complete control in planning for, no grades or test pressure, all the technology you need/want, all the supplies you need/ask for, an aide to help out, a small group of kids AND only 4 hours long...oh, and NO professional teacher wear, strictly t-shirt and jeans or shorts attire...sounds awesome, right??! That's Technology Camp in my district!!!! This is the best part of my summer each year!!

This year, I planned and taught "Germs, Mold and Other Gross Stuff" to kids that will be entering 4th and 5th grade next school year. I ended up having 5 girls and 4 boys, most of which just finished 3rd grade. I also ended up having two aides to help out for most of the week, so that was super nice. We did a variety of utterly GROSS activities and projects. I actually didn't get as many pictures as I wanted to because we were so busy the whole time. I did, however, capture a few things! I will also share some of the actual activities/projects we did with you (probably in a later post because this one's length is approaching "never-ending").

First project to share...bird poop paintings!!
First, the students chose a bird and we used PebbleGo to research them, particularly the bird's diet. We then talked about how a bird's poop should reflect its diet. After that, the students summarized the bird's diet and turned it into a QR code using Kaywa, which we glued onto their paper. We then took ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles and put some white tempera paint in them. Using the bird's diet, the students placed bits of various items into the paint, such as nuts, berries, grass and twigs. For the meat-eating birds we just tore up bits of construction paper and put it in the paint. After mixing up the paint the kiddos squeezed the paint onto their paper to make the poop.

It was wayyyyy fun--they had a blast with it! Here are a few more examples--enjoy! (And yes, I realize that some may be a little extreme...what can I say, they had wayyyy too much F-U-N with it!):



26 comments:

  1. You could do Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or a paradise sort of theme and still have palm trees. That way you could do beach themed stuff too. Just an idea :)

    Journey of a Substitute Teacher

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    1. Thanks for the idea! I think I will make it beachy as well!

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  2. Chicka Chicka boom boom is a great idea. I did it one year in kindergarten. It was fun to have the birthday calendar as a tree with january on the top December at the bottom. I also had a palm tree hundreds chart. It was one of my favorite themes.
    Jill
    Bubbalulu.blogspot.com

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  3. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is cute and all, but more Kindergarten I think. You could start off the year with that and change the focus to more beach or ocean styled stuff.

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    1. I think I would definitely include a beachy feel to the overall design!

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  4. I prefer a color scheme rather than theme....like the colors of your blog. Start there and add other embellishments.

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    1. My last classroom was rainbow-colored with frogs everywhere. This room will probably be rainbow as well with a lot of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom inspired decorations.

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  5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom would be adorable! There is so much you could do with that.

    April
    Wolfelicious

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  6. Can't go wrong with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and lots of polka dots!

    Brynley
    Brynley's Brainstorms

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  7. It seems we have opposite opportunities. I am going from 1st to transition, which means I teach 4th grade skills to 5th graders. I started in 4th and went to first. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it. Since then I have taught 4th again, 3rd, 2nd, and back to 1st again. Anyways Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has been my beginning of the year theme every year in 1st grade. If you need any CCBB files, let me know. I have a tree made out of PVC pipe and fun foam. Super easy to make. It just took me years to think of how to put it together. Let me know if I can help in any way.

    Kathy
    First Grade a la Carte

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    1. Thank you so much, Kathy!! I just love your blog!!! I shall be getting in contact with you soon! Also, good luck in your new position--sounds like a wonderful opportunity to get those kiddos caught up.

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  8. Deana Jump has an awesome tutorial on making palm trees. It's too cute!

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    1. Thanks, Terri!!! I think I'm going to try it!!

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  9. First I do like the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom theme. Coconuts, polka dots and palm trees...Oh my! Second, I love the bird poop! I did a two week bird study in the spring. Next year we will definitely add some poop to go with our research project. Third, welcome to first grade! Teaching first grade is very rewarding!!
    Jenny

    Owl Things First

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    1. Thank you!!! I had a few polka dots here and there and rainbow colors with my frog theme but may need to step it up for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Polka dots are always fun! I don't think I have come across your blog before, so I'll be by to check it out! :)

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  10. The bird poop is fantastic!
    I love the ideas above about making a palm tree. Your firsties would love that.

    Good luck with everything!

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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  11. I'm in first and did Chicka Chicka this year. I bought my palm tree at the party store (fold out cardboard one). Used it all year with different seasonal extras on my main hallway bulletin board.

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    1. Oh, cool! I'll have to check out our party store! Thanks for the idea!

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  12. I love that your school district does a Technology Camp! How cool! That is a great idea I just might have to share this with my Tech Director! I love technology and think our school district could do this!
    Mindy
    iintegratetechnology@blogspot.com

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  13. OMGosh! That QR generator is so awesome. Thanks for sharing it!

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  14. Hi! I am a brand new teacher blogger and am catching up on some of your old posts! Your bird poop project is by far the most clever project I've seen lately!!! And, incorporating technology makes it even better :) Thank you for sharing!

    Kate
    EduKate and Inspire

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  15. Oh my gosh, this is such a fun project!!! What a great idea!! And I love the technology tools you used!! I need to figure out how to do more of that kind of stuff next year using my limited technology supply!!

    Molly
    Lessons with Laughter

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