Fall Themed Book Report: I'm Nuts About This Book!

 Fall is my favorite time of the year and so I always look for ways to bring it into my classroom. 

                         We have been working on learning all about the elements of a story. 

This prop and visual is my go to for reviewing these important elements before reading a fictional story.  I used one of those clapper hands to hot glue the pieces onto.  After summarizing using these elements we can clap for ourselves and the story!  Fun!

My kids have been getting so good at this skill!  After lots of discussion, we have now started writing simple book reports.  Students report on who the characters were, what the setting was, the conflict and the resolution.  There we go...a super simple summary!  I created this fall acorn template to add a bit of fall fun to it all!

It makes a great display and way for kids to share the books they are reading!

Our first one was a response to the super cute book: 
Squirrel's Busy Day. 

I liked this one because it has a very clear cut conflict and resolution.


You can find this "I'm Nuts About This Book Template" in my TPT store. 

Nuts About This Book Response

Happy Fall, Y'all!

A Super Simple Science Investigation: Candy Rainbow

 

It's not hard to get kids hooked on science when you incorporate experiments leaving them saying, 'WOW!"  This is one such investigation!  I like using this one while introducing the scientific process. 

Students learn that scientists work through a series of steps that include: Question, Hypothesis, Procedure, Observation and Conclusion.  They begin with thinking about Skittles and what might happen if warm water touches the candy.  We use our background knowledge as we think about what happens to this candy in our mouths.  What do our tongues look like after sucking on one in our mouths?  Students make a hypothesis.  I like giving students possible hypotheses to begin with while they are still learning how to make one themselves.  We always state these in When...then... statements.

Then we get into our science circles and conduct the experiment.  For this one, I want my kids close to the action so they can clearly see the result. 

Then students illustrate their observations and write a conclusion. 

I added this to my TPT store as a free resource. 

You can check it out here: 

Let's Make a Candy Rainbow

Using the High Five Habit with Kids: Story and Activities to Encourage Perseverance

 Happy 2023!

Are you making resolutions? Setting intentions? 

My winter break has given me an opportunity to read for pleasure, and along with fiction, I love to invest time into nonfiction reading.  I am a self help junky and find myself picking books from this genre. I have recently read some books by Mel Robbins.  

Her new one is called The High 5 Habit. 

This book has a 4.8 rating on Amazon.

More than 2,000 people gave it high marks. 

Here is a snippet about the book: 

Imagine if you gave that same love and encouragement to yourself. Or even better, you made it a daily habit.

You'd be unstoppable.

In this book, Mel teaches you how to start high fiving the most important person in your life, the one who is staring back at you in the mirror: YOURSELF.

If you struggle with self-doubt (and who doesn't?) ...
If you're tired of that nagging critic in your head (could somebody evict them already?) ...
If you're wildly successful but all you focus on is what's going wrong (you're not alone) ...
If you're sick of watching everybody else get ahead while you sit on the couch with your dog (don't bring your dog into this) ...

...Mel dedicates this book to you.

The High 5 Habit is a simple yet profound tool that changes your attitude, your mindset, and your behavior. So be prepared to laugh and learn as you take steps to immediately boost your confidence, happiness, and results.

Does this resonate with you?  

It did with me. 

As teachers we are constantly encouraging and praising others, but rarely give this positive attention to ourselves. 

I found this book to be an interesting read and an easy habit to implement. 

You can read it yourself...

Click the link below: 

https://amzn.to/3eYTt5M

As I was reading this book, my thoughts went to my kids. 

Would our students benefit from such a routine? 

Kids are struggling.  Many are behind and no one knows it and feels it more than they do. 

My kids are such rockstars.  They come in every day to do work that is HARD and it is easy to get frustrated.  I want them to know that with time and practice they can achieve.  More than anything, I can't have them give up. 

So I bought a mirror for my classroom and we will give the High 5 Habit with my kids. 

I wanted a way to introduce this new habit with my kids. 

I wrote a little story about a penguin named Polly who felt discouraged and embarrased because he couldn't do something all his friends could...he couldn't swim. 

He gets advice from Sammy the Snowman and gives himself a high 5 everyday. 

It takes time, but he doesn't give up and in the end, he achieves his goal. 

I have this story as a powerpoint slide show so I plan on reading the story with the students first and then will print out and put together booklets for kids to read a second time on their own or better yet, with a partner. 

I also created some follow up activities to use after reading. 

I created the This is what I'll do in 2022 with a hand print (high five) for the 0. 

I want my kids to pick something they want to work on just like Polly in the story. 

We can talk about how they need to give themselves time to learn. 

Then they can give themselves a high five when they enter the room each day. 

I have these in my TPT store if you are interested: 

Polly's Problem Story and Activities

How are you keeping your kids motivated and positive? 

Would love to hear!

Comment or email at youngdor8@gmail.com