Native American Picture Writing: A Unique and Educational November Project for First and Second Grade

Hi Friends! I wanted to share a fun and easy activity to do with your students this Thanksgiving season. Because all of the schools in my district are named after Native American tribes, we always spend a significant amount of time learning about Native American culture and traditions in our classroom. 

It is a tradition in my room to do some Native American PICTOGRAPH writing in November. 

When I hear that word it makes me think of graphing, but a pictograph is any picture that represents a word or idea. Native Americans living in early America, before the settlers arrived, used pictographs as their writing system. A few Native Americans still use pictographs today. 

I pointed out to my students that we see these symbols every day on the teepee that is displayed in our entranceway and painted in our hallway wall murals.

Years ago, someone shared a hard copy of a symbols sheet. The thing is as old as the Mayflower and I have no idea where it originally came from... Anyway, I displayed it on the board for the students to see.

I don't have this document to share with you, unfortunately, but you can find lots of similar pages by searching the internet for Native American pictographs. 

Next, I modeled what a picture story may look like and explained that not every word is represented, only big ideas. The students got to try their hand at creating a story using symbols too. I gave them a blank piece of paper for a rough draft.

Then, they were ready to rewrite their story on some bison hide. To make some hide, we cut open a lunch bag. You all know how I love my lunch bag projects! Yep~ here's another one!

We removed the bottom flap of the bag first and set that scrap aside. Then, the students cut out the strip where we see the seam to use the best part of the bag. I asked the class to cut the opened bag into a muddy lake shape. That's the best I can do to describe it!

The students copied the story in pencil first, then traced over the pencil lines with marker (our berry ink).

Each child shared their story with a partner or two. 

They loved that part!

 The best part was yet to come!

 Crumpling the bag for a minute or two until it becomes soft makes the bag resemble a hide. We smashed it into a ball and opened it up several times to get the right effect.

Our November festivities ended with another tradition I have kept going for many years... making Native American corn soup with the kiddos. We also churned our own butter and served it up on top of my mom's cornbread muffins! She bakes them for us every year and always loves helping out at our mini feast! 

She even made an extra batch for me to take home! Mom's the best!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and enjoy your time off!

:)

Teacher Necessities: Teaching Supplies for the Classroom

What things are absolute necessities for you? Read on and you may find some great inspiration and some nifty things to try or buy!

Some friends are focusing on school items and others are sharing personal must-haves with you. I am here to share a little of both! 

To try to keep as germ-free as possible, we teachers wash our hands a lot! The commercial grade soap and sandpaper (I mean paper towel) are so hard on hands. One big necessity is to have my own supplies at my sink. I bring in a bottle of antibacterial soap and a soft hand towel that I take home and wash at the end of the week.

I like to play music in the classroom while the students work on projects or writing. I enjoy listening to music during my planning time too. One necessity is my iPod Shuffle and this nifty little Bluetooth speaker from Brookstone. 

I love my chart stand! This beauty has a dry erase board, a pen tray and some colorful bins to keep supplies in. 

You can also see my teacher rocking chair. This was my Duvalier glider from my baby's room that I dragged into school. I bring in all of my own colorful task chairs too. 

In a room full of cinder block, Stikki Clips from Lakeshore are a definite necessity! 

When the heater kicks on in November, nothing else keeps my displays up.

Colorful Flair pens and a stash of teacher stationery supplies are a must-have for me!

With plenty of holiday crafts in the next few weeks, chubby brushes and some fun plastic bowls from IKEA are my most-used art supplies.

Another November necessity is having a ton of Christmas ideas and activities in mind to begin shopping for and prepping for ahead of time to get ready for the very busy month of December! 

I don't know what I ever did without my document camera and SMART Board. This has to top the list!

 I feel very thankful for my classroom full of wonderful supplies and necessities that make this a great place to work and learn!

Fall Leaves Painting Project for the Elementary Classroom

While it's still fall-ish according to the calendar, I thought I'd share a beautiful project we did recently! It is a painting project that is virtually mess-free. You have to love that!

I love to get out paints every now and then, but I do not love the mess afterward! 

Here's how you can create beautiful fall trees and the kiddos can have some good hands-on fun!

Give each child a tree trunk pattern traced on brown construction paper and a large piece of black construction paper for the background. I have tried other colors, but the black really POPS! 

Gather red, yellow and orange tempera paint. Thick paint works best for this. Let the students squeeze small dots onto the paper where the leaves may be.

Lay a piece of waxed paper over the dots and have the students gently press down to squeeze and move the paint around.

Let the paint dry overnight with the paper still on the top.

 You can see that the waxed paper gives the paint some texture too!

The next day, just lift to easily peel it away! 

Kiddos enjoy projects like this one that are done simply for the sake of being creative! My class time spent on projects can always be justified for the many skills they involve like planning, following directions and fine motor. 

Plus, it's just plain old fun and makes the room look pretty!

:)

A SUPER Thankful Teacher Blog Party: Expressing Gratitude

Feasts, projects, pilgrims... there is so much to be excited about in the classroom! But in November, we also spend a lot of time talking with our class about the true meaning of the holiday and being thankful for the things we have and the people we love. My friends and I thought it would be great for all of us to come together to express a little gratitude of our own! 

Primary Powers is hosting a SUPER thankful blog party that we hope will inspire others to get in the spirit and share as well.

There is NO WAY to even begin to say in a blog post ALL of the things I am thankful for!!!!

These are just a few of the BIGGIES that come to mind.

 And that includes all of you of course!

This list barely scratches the surface of the many ways that I feel BLESSED. I could just go on and on!

What are you SUPER thankful for? We'd love to know!

Link up at Primary Powers or leave a comment below!
:)

A Fun Thanksgiving Sight Words Activity for First and Second Grade Classrooms!

My class loves to play I Have, Who Has...activities. I love them too because it is a great opportunity for my students to practice good listening and speaking skills and using appropriate voice level. This set I made for Thanksgiving is great practice for reading seasonal sight words and a works as a fun little brain break too.

By mixing up the card set, the kiddos are pretty much guaranteed a new card each time we play. They beg to do this again and again! Who can argue with that kind of excitement? 

This set is at my TPT store, so head on over and gobble up a copy {here} if you like! 

Hope your little turkeys will like it too!

:)

A Week in a Second Grade Classroom: November Learning Activities for Second Grade

In November it's time to switch over from all things Halloween to getting ready for turkey day! Our November pick a prompt writing center is all set up and the display table decorated. 

We made a few neat fall leaf projects to use to decorate the room. Most of our projects this year have been cut and paste activities. For the first time, we brought out paint and tissue paper which the class really enjoyed. Stop back soon for more on these in greater detail!

 Our second graders took a field trip to a local science center. We explored the museum area and visited the bat zone. It was an awesome experience! My favorite part of the trip was seeing the magnificent collection of spectacular gems and minerals from around the globe.

 In math, we started working on perimeter with nonstandard units. The students are working on writing equations to match what their cubes showed.  It took a few days to see the equation is really a double fact plus a double fact and that you do not need to measure more than the two unequal sides of these rectangles.

 We also used the level one Superhero Subtraction Scoot. The students got some great practice in and it was the perfect ending to a fun fall week!

 Next week we step it up to level two!

 I had a fun lunch date today with three of my students from last year who completed their entire summer practice packet that was sent home. I treated them to Subway and took them to the office conference room to eat. They thought that was pretty special! 

It was great to spend time catching up with them and hearing all about their adventures in third grade!

;)

How to Structure Your Writing Block for Student Success: November Writing Prompts for Second Grade

Well here it is! November already! My new writing centers have been working out so perfectly, that I decided to keep it going for every month. The November edition is all set and ready for next week!

The kiddos LOVE them, so we have been using them on a regular basis. This time, I have a cute fall basket set out for the prompt cards. 

There are papers to use for a variety of the November themes like life long ago, scarecrows, owls and Thanksgiving. 

My class likes to color the little clipart pictures!

I can't wait to get started and see what they can do!

Recently, I had some questions from readers and those that purchased the October kit about how I structure my writing center time to include these prompts.

I thought you might find it helpful to see how I set up my writing block.

This is what it looks like:

• mini-lesson with a focus skill such as adding details or organization

• modeled writing of one of the genre from the prompt set

• prompt-picking/ paper selecting time (tables are called to the center then return to their seats to write)

• whole-group independent writing practice/individual writing conferences

• author chair for a few randomly selected students

Occasionally, I select a whole-class prompt and take this piece through all of the stages of the writing process from prewriting to publishing. This may be a piece I display in a class book, hang up, or use for an assessment.

I have seen TREMENDOUS growth in my students’ writing using this model. What I love best is that it allows me to conference with students daily about ways to improve their writing. 

The students thrive on that individual attention and feedback. 

If you think you may want to give these a try this month, you can find the November Writing Center Kit {here}.

Happy Teaching!