Tattle Monster

I used a cute Kleenex box and glued on a few little details like teeth, eyes and a nose.

I added a velcro side flap to get notes out! :)

As an elementary teacher there are some days when you feel like you've really made a difference...There are also some days when you stay after work to make a "Tattle Monster" while thanking the Lord that tomorrow is Friday! :) 

Insect Museum is Ready!

This year my students really need to work on writing sentences and I thought I could incorporate sentences into the insect museum somehow. Also, I was able to get some wonderful new technology in my classroom and I wanted to include it into this insect project. I decided to use the app Text2Pic to take a picture of my student flap creations and then each student was able to type a sentence about what what he or she has learned. I put all the creations together into a keynote presentation with music and it will be playing during our museum today. A student's example is above. 

This is what each student has ready on his or her desk. A lab report, Entomologist book, from Stephanie Stewart (If you haven't checked out her Teachers Pay Teachers website you definitely should! She has wonderful resources), and the insect  studied. (I'm just now noticing a P.E. shoe made it in this picture! Ha! Sorry! Teachers have no time for retakes! :))

Finally, we took some pictures for our Keynote slideshow and we are ready to roll! I can't wait for my second graders to show off what they have learned! Proud teacher moments to come! :) 

Insect Flap Creations

Every year I teach about insects and life cycles. At the end of this unit, I help my second graders catch, research and present information about insects in an "insect museum." This year I feel that I have really improved with teaching this unit. I am so excited about the additions I have made to the project. With second graders it is really important to keep research simple and focused. I decided I wanted my students to find 3 facts about his or her insect to share at the museum. Then, I had an epiphany! Insects have three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen). I decided to have my students create construction paper insect creations with flaps for each facts to share. There are pictures of a few student creations below. I think this makes their presentation so much more meaningful and fun! My students can't wait to share all their hard work today.