Drab to Display Fab - Updating Cork Bulletin Strips with Washi Tape

Washi Wonderful!

Last year the latest update to displaying student work was to use painted or cutely decorated clothespins with tacks hot glued to the back.  This prevented having to pull staples each time you wanted to change out the display.  I loved the idea, but I unfortunately didn't get that far last year.  I, however, was determined to accomplish something along those lines this year.

As I was perusing the craft aisle earlier this summer, I stood contemplating what amazing things could be done with Washi Tape.  I hadn't discovered anything quite mind blowing about this fancy tape as of yet, but I knew it was something I loved and I wanted to buy as many different colors and designs as I could get my hands on.  Even though I was compelled to purchase one of each color, I was able to keep my desires in check and only purchased one or two; knowing that someday I would come across some grand use for it and I would want some at my immediate disposal.

One evening as I sat looking at my purchase in my newly established craft/teacher home office/room, it dawned on me that this thin sized Washi Tape is exactly the same width (or close) to the cork board strips hanging in the hallway outside my classroom.  I would cover up that brown, drab cork strip with this beautiful tape!  I couldn't wait to go to school and try this out! Prior to making my trip, I decided on using binder clips instead of clothespins.  Below are some of the pictures I took.

The Washi Tape was not as sticky as I thought it would be and so I added a small amount of adhesive spray at various points along the cork strip.  I also used a staple to secure the binder strip, but I will be putting a flat headed tack later to help secure the clip better.

I hope this helps some of you who hope to brighten up your display area a little bit more. 

I know sometimes the cork stripping gets broken and falls out.  I, fortunately, didn't have that issue with mine, but I think if you fold a thin layer of paper up and fill the space prior to covering with the tape, you might be able to camouflage the pieces that are missing.

Melissa DePriest

First Grade Cubbie

First Grade Freebie - Final Blends Center Activities

  

  I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!  I know I am enjoying the opportunity to catch up and reorganize my lesson plans for the upcoming year.  I just wanted to let everyone know I have posted a freebie on TeachersPayTeachers.com.  It is a final blends focused pack.  Students will practice final blends with word and picture match cards.  A worksheet is included to help insure students are staying engaged during their precious independent center time.  Also included is a final blends Bingo activity where students can play independently or with a partner or small group.  I hope you find this freebie helpful!  Here is a preview!

 

 

    Some of you may also be interested in my First Town Grocery: Real Life Math Applications Unit.  It addresses many of the first grade common core math standards in a way that they will be able to apply on their trips to the grocery store.  There is nothing better than having students apply their math skills while they are away from the classroom!  You can find this 76 page unit at my TeachersPayTeachers store!

 



 

 

    I hope the remainder of your summer is fun filled!







President's Day!

Celebrating President's Day

 

 

I love celebrating President's Day!  President Abraham Lincoln is my favorite president and I love sharing what he stood for and all he accomplished during his presidency.  Being President of the United States cannot be an easy job.  They have so many people to take care of and are confronted with differing views on the best way to accomplish what is best for our country.  I like for students to think about what they would like to do to help the people of our country if they were president.  For our President's Day project, I trace the silhouette of my students and paste it to a large circular piece of gray poster paper.  I have students complete the starter sentence "When I am president, I will...." After completing their rough draft, I have students write their final copy around the outside circle of their presidential coin.  It usually takes 3 to 4 sentences to go all the way around the coin.  To guide them around the coin, I draw a circular line for them to follow.  I then write their name in black permanent marker on one side of their silhouette and the year on the other side.  This is one of my most favorite art projects because their silhouettes are just so adorable.  I get so many compliments on this every year.  It is difficult to trace their shadows, but I think I may have come up with a better idea for next time.  I am going to try taking a picture of their shadow and then project the picture for tracing.  This will help eliminate the chore of trying to keep them still as I trace their shadow.  We will see..... 

Groundhog's Day - A Poem

If you are looking for a Groundhog Day poem to share with your class, I have a free download I am offering at my TearchersPayTeachers store.  If you are interested, I have a link to the right of my blog.  A picture is posted below!  Happy Groundhog's Day (early!)

 

Paperclip Parties!

 

If you are looking for a new way for students to earn positive points for making good choices, try making a paperclip chain.  I draw a student's name from my class cup of popsicle sticks.  The student's name that is drawn gets to be the student who's height we must reach in order to have a class party!  My students are always excited to see who gets to be the next student to determine the length of the paperclip chain.  When the class transitions quietly, demonstrates responsibility, or stays focused beyond expectation, they earn a paperclip!  It is also a great year long review of measurement.  Students can predict how many paperclips it will take to reach their classmates height.  Once you get close to the goal length, you can use the paperclip chain to see how many more paperclips you need to reach "PARTY TIME!"  Doing this has prompted great conversation as students have asked me, "how do you know how many more paperclips we need?"  I demonstrate how our paperclip chain becomes a tool to see how many more we need!  This is a fun and practical measurement experience students can really relate to!  Let me know how it works for you!

Place Value Practice: Get Your Peanuts Here!

Real world application practice in place value!  

In this activity students used 10 cards with pails and 10 cards with individual peanuts.  Students were told the pails have 10 peanuts a piece in them.  First I had students just practice representing different numbers with their picture cards.  Next, I became the customer and told them I was going to their peanut factory and was ordering a specific number of peanuts.  We did this several times before I had them work with a partner to do the same activity.  It is a teachers dream come true when students beg to do the same practice activity because they enjoyed it so much.  Who would have thought they would have so much fun pretending to sell peanuts!  This Peanut Place Value activity is part of my First Grade Math Circus Activity Pack found on TeachersPayTeachers store.  The free download for this pack is the Fact Family Act.  This activity has students matching 3 juggling pins to create fact families.  Thanks for visiting my blog today and feel free to leave a comment letting me know what you think!

 

This activity also allows for differentiation as well as peer to peer support.

 

Number Chart Clown Cart!

Number Chart Clown Cart!

 

This is my revised version of the classic battleship game!  In this game, students practice identifying numbers as opposed to coordinates.  Students put up a divider so they cannot see their opponent's number chart.  Taking their opponents clown cart, they hide it on one of the numbers.  Students then take turns asking, "Is my clown cart hidden on number ____."  My students loved!  I made different number cards so students could work within their zone of proximal development.  When students become proficient at this level, they can start practicing number sense on a higher level by looking to eliminate more than one number at a time.  This can be done by asking such questions as: "Is my clown cart hidden on an even number?", "Is my clown cart hidden on a number with 2 tens?", "Is my clown cart hidden on a number with 7 ones?", etc.

 



 

I love this activity because it allows you to differentiate among all your students! This is just one of the activities I have included in my 81 page math unit entitled "The First Grade Math Circus." You can check out my products at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Melissa-Depriest.  Just for checking it out, you can receive a free downloadable activity!  This activity has students making fact families using juggling pins.