Writing Good Beginnings and Great Leads

Posted on August, 2016 by squirrelandkat

This product includes 11 “poster” pages for different types of writing leads. Each lead includes multiple examples from children’s literature. Also included is a page for writing teacher and student examples of each type of lead.

Bonus: 1″ binder spine label, 11 page tabs (one per lead type), and a worksheet.

Goals of the lesson:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.3 Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.A Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3.A Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2.A Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.3.A Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.A Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2.A Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Camping Science – Sound and Light Unit for First Grade – ADD ON

Posted on August, 2016 by squirrelandkat

Happy back-to-school time! I am so grateful to my squirrely sister for creating these gorgeous (OK, cute) “I Can” statement cards (see link) for my NGSS physical science unit. I really think my first graders are going to love them and I hope yours do too.

Since my sis was doing such a great job with the “I Can” cards, I thought I’d throw a little more at her. (What are sisters for anyway. :)) Sooooooo, I whipped up (yeah, right) some rubrics to go with each of the Kat and Squirrel Go Camping chapters and asked her to include the rubrics with the “I Can” cards.

Bonus! I have been keeping my teacher materials for this unit in a binder. I use the front page as a cover. But….. the edge looked a little drab. Designer sister to the rescue! Now we can all have awesome binder edges to go with the super-cool cover. (Sorry I’m that kind of nerd that way.)

I hope you love these additions to the Kat and Squirrel Go Camping unit as much as I do!

Kat (and Squirrel)

This product is made to be used with the super fun Kat and Squirrel Go Camping – Sound and Light Unit for First Grade NGSS unit.

NGSS “I Can” Cards – This product includes “I Can” statement cards for all 4 of the Next Generation Science Standards first grade Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer and one card for the k-2 Engineering Design standard.

AND

Rubrics to assess each student on their understanding of each chapter.

Volume Levels Poster

Posted on August, 2016 by squirrelandkat

Who hasn’t struggled trying to keep student volume under control? When my school started PBIS I wondered if this was really possible. I was very happily surprised that when all of the teachers were on board, teaching specific volume levels for certain locations in and around the school, it actually worked!

Please don’t assume that your students understand appropriate volume levels – teach them, then reteach, and reteach again.

This product allows you to choose one of the 7 “Volume Levels” posters (disregard the other 6 after you make your choice) to use as your class’s or school’s guide to volume levels. Or you could write your own words in on the “blank” paper provided.

Teach students what each of your chosen volume levels sounds like. Use the scenario cards to role play the use of different volume levels. Ask your class to write their own scenarios specific to your school for each of the levels.

Post the papers with a single volume level in the areas of your room or school that you expect to hear each level. (Example: Level 0 poster in hall.)

And laminate single volume level posters to hold up in the classroom indicating which volume level you’d expect to hear at any given moment. (Example: Level 2 is displayed during collaboration time. Level 1 during a “turn and talk”.)

Give it a whirl – it’ll be music to your ears!

Writing Captions

Posted on April, 2015 by Unscribbled

There are 3 lessons which employ a gradual release of responsibility approach to writing captions for photos.

Included are photos with captions for a large group lesson, photos to use to model the lesson, photos for partner work, and photos for an individual contribution to a whole-class game.

This was designed to be used in a first-grade classroom, but it could easily be used for older groups.

Story to go with the lessons:
Kat and Squirrel have been asked to fill in at the Pigeon Post
Newspaper. Their new boss, Pigeon, wants them to write captions
for the photos. They do not know how to write captions!
Can you help?

Goals of the lessons:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.5
With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6
With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce an publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.7
Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of “how-to” books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.8
With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Did you come up with a fun caption from the “Writing Captions” lesson? If so, write the number and your caption in the comments below. We can’t wait to read them!

Pair It! Parrot! Colors and Shapes

Posted on December, 2014 by Unscribbled

Goals of the lesson

Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size)

Shapes included:
triangle
trapezoid
rhombus
oval
circle
square
rectangle

Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme Art (Part 2)

Posted on December, 2014 by Unscribbled

Materials Included:

This beautiful product contains original colorful zebra artwork to give you more of what you’ll need to set up your zebra-themed classroom.

11 pages of color-word posters that you can use to set up your
color-word word wall.
11 numeral posters (#s 0-10) which each include the numeral, written word, and a visual representation of the number.
26 letters-of-the-alphabet posters with vowels in a different color.
12 months-of-the-year headers with beautifully patterned backgrounds to fit pocket-chart calendars.
7 days-of-the-week headers to fit pocket-chart calendars.
31 numbers to fit pocket-chart calendars.
21 “special class” cards to go behind the days-of-the-week cards or the number cards.
75 “special days” cards to go behind the number cards.

Be sure to check out the first Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme. All artwork in this product will match the first product: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Colorful-Zebra-Classroom-Theme-Art-1522019

Pumpkin Counting On – Math Intervention

Posted on November, 2014 by Unscribbled

Goals of the lesson:

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.1
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.2
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4
CCSS.Math.Content.K.NBT.A.1
CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6
CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.B.2

Counting on and over a decade number has never been more fun.
Included are a variety of ways to practice counting on, self-checking pages, and a bonus – 120 chart!

Directions
Use sheet with blank third column for students to count on and fill in.
Use sheet with all columns filled in as an answer key or fold answers back for self checking.
Use sheet with blank middle column for kids to place stickers, stamps or draw “how many more” are needed to reach the total.

Counting Pumpkins for Math Intervention K-2

Posted on November, 2014 by Unscribbled

Goals of the lesson:

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4.a
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4.b
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4.c
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.5
CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.A.1

Includes 20 printable cards with a set of pumpkins to count and answers to choose from. You can use these as a counting activity in a number of creative ways.

Also included is a “back of card” to be printed on the reverse side of the pumpkins, and a recording sheet.

2 Bonuses!
A Pumpkin Color Sheet
A Pumpkin Number Line

Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme Art

Posted on October, 2014 by Unscribbled

This beautiful product contains what you’ll need to set up your zebra-themed classroom:

17 pages of original artwork that you can cut out to use on bulletin
boards or work stations
9 table tents each in a different color to label desk groups, work
stations, or centers
9 “Happy Birthday” cards, each in a different color
9 pages of stationary with beautifully patterned backgrounds
18 pages of framed letterhead (9 colors in landscape and 9 colors
in portrait) to print your own message in the middle for wall signs,
anchor charts, or notes home
9 pages of smaller framed letterhead in 9 colors to print your own
message in the middle
9 colors of intermediate desk plates to label students’ desks with
their names or print on magnetic paper for a name sorting activity
8 bookmarks with original artwork
5 classroom posters: “Be Wildly Wonderful”, “We’re All Ears”,
“What’s for Lunch?”, ” Where Do We Go After School?” and one
with zebras waiting for your message.
9 colors of primary desk plates to label students’ desks with their
names or print on magnetic paper for a name sorting activity.

Be sure to check out the second Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme. All artwork in this product will match the first product: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Colorful-Zebra-Classroom-Theme-Art-part-2-1606732

Kat and Squirrel

Making Learning Fun!

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Writing Good Beginnings and Great Leads

Goals of the lesson:

Camping Science – Sound and Light Unit for First Grade – ADD ON

Volume Levels Poster

Writing Captions

Goals of the lessons:

Did you come up with a fun caption from the “Writing Captions” lesson? If so, write the number and your caption in the comments below. We can’t wait to read them!

Recommended Reading for Help with Homework

Pair It! Parrot! Colors and Shapes

Goals of the lesson

Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme Art (Part 2)

Pumpkin Counting On – Math Intervention

Goals of the lesson:

Counting Pumpkins for Math Intervention K-2

Goals of the lesson:

Colorful Zebra Classroom Theme Art