Boris and Bella~ A Bootiful Halloween Story

  There are so many fun stories to share during Halloween but this is my absolute favorite! 

 Our fantasy genre study continues this week with  Boris and Bella. It's a cleverly written book and guaranteed to put a smile on your face as you make some good text to self connections! 

The story is about a messy, grimy monster named Bella Legrossi who lives next door to a tidy and persnickety (I love that word) monster named Boris Kleanitoff. They couldn't be more different. But in the end, the creatures find they have some things in common and learn to be tolerant of, and even like one another! 

Don't have the book and don't have time to grab a copy? No worries!You can view a really neat animated version! There is a link to a creative YouTube video. Click on the book cover above to take you there! :)

Check out this link for some fun activities you might want to do with your class! Chocolate gargoyle boils with a cup of ghoul drool anyone?

http://wildgeeseguides.blogspot.com/2010/01/boris-and-bella.html

What are your favorite Halloween read alouds?

Halloween Pinterest Finds!

It's almost here! Are you ready and rested up for a crazy week of spooktacular fun? My room parents this year are a creative and talented bunch! They found all of the neat treats and crafts for our Halloween party on Pinterest of course! Here is a cute idea for a healthy snack! We are serving up these ghost bananas and pumpkin oranges! How cute are they?

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I wish I could find an exact picture for you, but the children are making hand print spiders in a web on a ceramic tile. It looks something like this:

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 All of the tile was donated by our local Home Depot!

This cute door decoration was also a Pinterest find! I can't wait to see how our door turns out!

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I've been busy on Pinterest myself lately pinning lots of cute clip art sets, fun classroom printables, freebies, videos and activities, crafts, treat bag ideas, unique home decor items, beautiful makeup and more!

My favorite finds are an animated version of Boris and Bella and an amazing video of a home with a light show you just have to see! 

If you are still searching for ideas for the big day, you may get some great ideas for your classroom on Pinterest too. You can see my board at  http://www.pinterest.com/lessoncafe/! 

Pumpkin Life Cycle Lunch Bag Book

It's a fun October project, a science activity and an interactive brown bag book to read all in one! I created this first book in a series (a long one, I hope) of science and social studies brown bag mini-books. This one is about the life cycle of a pumpkin! 

It was lots of fun making this sample to demonstrate! I think my little learners will love it! It's super easy to assemble! All you need are some good old brown lunch bags, a few staples, kids who like to color :) and the printables in this pack!

This new item is on sale at my store for the first 24 hours for 50% off! Just click on the image above to read more about it! 

 Leave a comment below and I'll choose three to get it free! Just remember to leave me your email friends!Thanks to all of my friends who left a thoughtful note or suggestion! Congratulations to the random winners~ all of you! Who can choose just a few when you're all so sweet to take the time to comment? I'll be sending the item your way! 

What other science or social studies topics might you like to see in a mini-book? My head is spinning with ideas!  

Johnny Appleseed Main Ideas and Details

Hey, it's a reading lesson and a cute display! I LOVE this great project from Natalie's Nook all about main idea and details! It's a freebie at her shop! Thanks Natalie for the cute project for our apple unit!

It's a tall craft for a tall tale!

 This student won the "Wow Work" award for her masterpiece that was so beautifully colored!

Maybe you can file it away for next year! :) 

Hurray for Columbus Day and a Winner!

I've been busy planning for a day of thematic lessons all about Columbus! It's one of my favorite themes and it transitions us into our next unit on map reading skills perfectly! 

I just created a new Columbus Day Pinterest board you might want to check out for some cute project ideas, special treats, free printables and units on TPT!

 Wow! I just noticed that I have a repin from Erin Condren! What an honor! 

My little explorers will be making this craft from A Cupcake for the Teacher!

I love that this includes printables, organizers and fun word work activities too. There is also a writing page for the kiddos to tell what they learned about Christopher!

Aren't these snacks adorable? Oh, if I had more time...

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I retyped a poem to add to our poetry binders. 

You can download it from my Dropbox here.

And now for the winner of the Starbucks egift card...

Congratulations to Karen, comment number 2!

Karen, check your email! Something yummy is on the way! :)

October Currently and a Treat!

Yay for October fun! It's project central in the classroom for the next month and I love it! I'm linking up with Farley for the monthly currently!Here's what going on with me and some really random ramblings:

Listening~The only way I ever work out these days is when I dance around getting ready for the day. After work, it's all over for me and I'm BEAT!

Here is my (crazy mix) dance workout favorites playlist: **warning**~ you may have a dance club flashback!

Chocolate~ Los Ilegales (I have no idea what they are saying but love the beat!)
Don't Stop the Music~ Rihanna
Get Up ( Before the Night is Over)~ Technotronic
Groove is in the Heart~ Deee-Lite
Hold On~ En Vogue
I Like to Move It~ Bang Gang
Independent Women~ Destiny's Child
Let's Get it Started~ Black Eyed Peas
Le Freak~ Chic

Loving~This past weekend, I made the mistake of browsing through Pier 1 and left with things I'm sure I don't need but just had to have! Here are a few of my new fabulous finds and favorite fall pieces to set out!

What a beauty this marbled ceramic pumpkin is. I bought fake candles that come with a remote control!

Love this mosaic candle!

Ooh! Sparkly Fall gems! I put them around a candle.The picture doesn't do them justice!

I made this leaf plate in a ceramics class a few years ago and found these seed balls for display.

The leaf tablecloth is from Kroger of all places!

Love my lighted, beaded wine bottle and suede leaf runner.

Thinking~ I'm so glad that assessments are finally done for a while and we can get on to having some fun! I hope to share some photos of our activities this month! Great themes this month include Columbus, bats, spiders, monsters, pumpkins and perhaps scarecrows if we get to it! I have a few fall freebies at my shop you might want to check out!

Wanting~ My favorite treat has returned to Starbucks but I have yet to get one. It's on the list for the weekend errand pick me up!

Needing~ I have nothing against bats. I love to teach about them, read about them and view them from a distance. But my friendly house-visiting bats, you just have to go!I have a real-life spook house now complete with creepy noises.

My home in the suburbs seems to have been invaded by bats. They love one corner of my covered porch and I see the evidence (mess) they leave me all summer. Recently, my noisy little critters are keeping me up at night, thumping, scratching and flapping. I think they have made their way into the attic space above my porch and may be in the wall. The removal company quoted a hefty thousand dollar fee for their services to install one way exit flaps, safe removal and clean up if needed and then to seal off the entry points. It may be too late already and I'll have winter sleepers with me for a while. 

Treat~ Now for the fun part! The treat is a giveaway for a $10 Starbucks egift card. Maybe you can grab yourself a sweet, yummy treat on a crisp October day.

What do love about October? Leave me a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner next week! Remember to include your email too!