Monday, January 12, 2015

Learning About Windmills - STEM fun!

One of my fellow teachers and I have been taking a STEM class to help us integrate STEM into our curriculum.  As part of our class, we have been very lucky to receive a variety of resources, but our favorite so far has been a KidWind kit!

With the kit, our students have been able to design their own windmills with the following purposes:

1. A design that will lift the most weight.
2. A design that will create enough power (electricity) to turn on a small light bulb.

We started our lesson by allowing the students to play with the kits, designing windmills as they built them.






As they watched each team try out their designs, they made lots of observations and developed several theories.






Once they tested a few out, it was time to plan some re-design based on the observations they had made the day before.





I loved how some of the students used tools we had used in previous lessons (rulers and using centimeters) as they wrote out their plans.



Some used prior knowledge.



Here is a video of some of our students lifting washers with their windmill:


Our winning engineers who lifted the most weight.  They were so proud!




Here are some students creating electricity with their windmills.








You can order these kits here (you could also use it as a Donors Choose project!).  Or you could try to make a similar kit to the one shown below.  Our instructors from the STEM class ran our school's science night and brought these versions with them. They used wood dowels, closet rod, PVC pipe, swimming “noodles” cut 3 inches wide, a washer, and hot glue to make them.  




They poked barbecue skewers into the pool noodle and taped paper plates to them to make their windmill panels.

Have you integrated STEM into your classroom?  I'd love to hear what you've done!  If you have a blog post about it, be sure to leave a link in the comments below.


Thursday, January 8, 2015

Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Mobile


I found this adorable idea for a Martin Luther King I have a Dream Mobile on Scholastic Teacher. I had done a very similar project with my 3rd graders two years ago, but I really liked this format better.

We first read Martin's Big Words so they could better understand who Martin Luther King Jr. was.


This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

Then they started writing their dreams for themselves, their community, and their world.


An artist in the making!


A star in the making!


a future mathematician?


This one just cracked me up!


Finished Products


And our future Tom Cruise!

I loved reading about their dreams!  Head over to Scholastic to print out this freebie!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

1,000 Follower Giveaway! Win a $25 TpT Gift Card and 28 TpT Products


I have been so incredibly blessed and humbled by your support!  I can't believe my TpT store now has over 1,000 followers!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I have gotten together with some of my blogging friends to giveaway not only the $25 TpT gift card for the month, but also 28 TpT products!

Here's what you can win:

$25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Winner's Choice from my TpT store













 Good luck and thank you again!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Saturday, January 3, 2015

Pinterest Top Picks January Linky


Pinterest is often my go to place when I want to be inspired.  I am linking up for Pick 3 to share my top 3 picks for January from Pinterest with you.  Check out my pins below, and then follow along to see what other bloggers are pinning as well!  You can even join the linky with us anytime this month.




I love these "Catching Snowflakes" winter art projects done by some Grade 3 students.
You can find the original pin here.
I am absolutely in love with this art project!  A perfect way to get into winter gear. I love the different variations the students can do to make their piece their own.



Beautiful snowflakes!  Would make a great math tie in for a lesson on symmetry.
You can find the original pin here.

My second pick is another art project, but it could double as a math lesson in symmetry.




Amazing Ice Science Experiments Kids Love
You can find the original pin here.
My last pin for the month features fun science projects with ice.  Even if you don't live in an area where it snows, your kids will still be able to experience some cold fun!




If you are looking for more great ideas, be sure to follow my Pinterest feed!

Visit Kelly's profile on Pinterest.








Come Pin With Us

This linky party will be hosted on the 3rd of each month and we would love for you to join in on the fun!






Here's how to join in on the fun!!!

1.  Save the Pick 3 images to your desktop.

2.  Create a blog post using these images to share you 3 Pinterest Picks for the month.

3.  Share a link to your full Pinterest page if you would like.

4.  Link up by clicking the add your link button below.

5.  Be sure to check out the other Pinterest finds that have been shared and leave a comments on the ones you love!








Thursday, January 1, 2015

Currently - January 2015

Can you believe it is already 2015?!?  For me, 2014 seemed to fly by!  Anyway, it is also the first of the month, and that means it is time to link up with Farley for Currently.



Listening: The boys are watching Girl Meets World in the background.  It is still funny to me that I used to watch Boy Meets World when I was younger and now they have a spin-off that my boys watch.

Loving: There is something about not having anywhere to go or be that has made me strangely productive.  Hopefully I can keep that going once we return to our normal schedule.

Thinking: My vacation is slowly coming to an end, and I need to start thinking about planning for next week.  I have a few things already ready, so that is at least helpful. I did some copying before vacation so I wouldn't be rushing around the first week back.

Wanting: I may have become a tad bit obsessed with my planner and all of the youtube videos and now I think I must have these markers:

Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens 10 color Pack (334SB10)

Needing: The worst part of this vacation is that my hubby has been in the hospital for a good portion of it :(  He came down with pancreatitis and is still in the hospital.  We are hoping he can come home today!  Once we got him a phone charger he has been keeping me (and all of his Facebook friends) updated with posts of him and his food - LOL!  The updates are nice, but I'd rather he be home with me and the boys!



Yes/Maybe/ I Wish: These all seem to be travel related!
Yes: I had so much fun at the TpT Conference in 2014, I can't wait to do it again in 2015!
Maybe: It has been a few years since we went to Disneyland, so I would like to go again.  Also, since my 18 year old just moved to Southern California in August, it would be a great chance to visit him as well.  We will have to see how the budget works out.
I Wish:  I would LOVE to go to Tahiti.  It looks so beautiful and warm.  Our temps are cold today, so maybe that is why I am dreaming of beaches!

What are you Currently up to?  Link up and let us know!


Sunday, December 28, 2014

*Giveaway* Enter to Win a $25 Starbucks Gift Card

One more week until many of us go back to school, but I have a way to help you get through those first weeks back!  I am giving away a $25 Starbucks gift card to help you ease your way back into school after Winter Break.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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