Measuring Scavenger Hunt

If you want a fun activity to practice measuring length, then this measuring scavenger hunt is for you. You can also find a short description of the activity (minus the free printable download) in the March 2012 issue of the Really Good Stuff newsletter. I do this activity after covering measuring length, and making sure students know how to use tools with standard and nonstandard units to measure the length of items. To go along with the activity, I created a free printable download in both nonstandard units of craft sticks and standard units of inches and feet. When I have used this activity in the classroom, I had students work in pairs to complete the scavenger hunt. Then we came back together as a class and shared some of their answers. We talk about what they found easy and what was challenging for them (for example, many students will find it difficult to measure something that is longer than their measuring tool). It's fun to see the things students to measure and see their different answers. And the students get plenty of measuring practice.

And if you are looking for more measurement freebies, check out this Measurement Mania Freebie Collection. Just click on each picture to take you to a different blog to collect a whole slew of freebies!

Baby Math... with Some Writing

Since I have gotten so many long-term sub jobs covering for teachers on maternity leave, many students have dubbed me the "baby teacher." It is a nickname I wear proudly. If teachers trust me enough to want me in their classroom when they can't be there for weeks, I can think of no better compliment.

This is a two-part activity I have done at the start of most of those maternity sub jobs. It worked so well the first time, that I have continued to do it with each one. I will caution you to use your discretion because one of my last jobs was for a teacher who had a sweet little preemie. Luckily everything worked out with her and the baby, but I skipped the first part (the measurement part) of this activity because I felt it was in poor taste. And I also did not do this activity when I took over for another long-term sub who could not complete the job since the baby was already a week old.

You need to wait for the announcement about the birth of the baby and the inevitable height and weight declaration. When I get this information, I cut curling ribbon that exact length, and fill a plastic container with water so it weighs roughly the same as the baby. A gallon-sized container filled with water will weigh roughly 10 pounds, so you can adjust from there. Then when I announce that the baby was born and give all the details, I can pass around the ribbon and plastic container so the students have an actual visual of how big the baby is. I also like to discuss that just like the ribbon, babies are all curled up and the nurses have to stretch the baby out to get the length. You can discuss comparisons such as, "What else do you know that is about this size?" Or, "What surprised you about this?" For the little ones, I usually put the water and ribbon in a science center so they can explore further.

After we have our measurement discussion, I always let them make cards. Those work as both a language arts and an etiquette lesson. My favorite thing to ask is "what advice would you give the baby." Those responses are always so cute and insightful. The cards can all be sent with a teacher or someone else who is close to the mom. I have had teacher after teacher tell me how appreciated those cards were.

The whole activity usually doesn't take too long since I only give them 20 minutes or so to initially work on the cards and then they can finish them as they finish other work. Plus it helps the class stay connected to their teacher.

FREE Fifth Grade Emergency Sub Plans

Finally, now my first set of elementary level emergency sub plans is complete! And just in time for cold and flu season. I just put the finishing touches on fifth grade plans based on the book Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. I know fifth grade teachers have differing opinions on the value of teaching through picture books. Many feel students at this age should be reading and analyzing higher level books.

However, my thinking here is twofold:
1) Practically speaking, these plans are meant to be completed in one day while a substitute teacher is in the room. A higher level chapter book cannot even be read in one school day, much less have time to complete activities.
2) Philosophically speaking, I am on the other side of the debate. I am an adult and still many times get much out of picture books. Fifth graders can take picture book analysis to a much higher level. So while, many students may already know the story in the picture book, they have not done such challenging activities with it.

All that being said, here are the fifth grade plans based on Stellaluna. As with my other plans, these contain a warm-up, a reading lesson, a language arts activity, a social studies lesson, a science activity, and some math problems.

Easy (and FREE) Multiplication Lapbook

As we started our multiplication unit, I wanted my students to create a lapbook. Other multiplication lapbooks I've seen focus on learning the facts and have lots of intricate foldables. Well, I didn't have the patience to help 19 kids create these foldables correctly, so I designed a simpler lapbook. My goal was to have all the basic information about multiplication in one place, especially the academic vocabulary. I also wanted to students to take ownership of the information, so they filled in the pieces with guidance.

First, start with a file folder. I used colored ones to add some fun. Open the file folder up all the way and fold each end into the middle to create a book that opens like barn doors. The title frame glues on the front, students write their name, and decorate the cover in a multiplication theme.

The center of the lapbook is a multiplication chart that the students completed. I used the Multiplication Tables: Blank (0-12) template from Super Teacher Worksheets.

On the left side of the book, students drew a picture illustrating the key action of multiplication (Join Equal Sets), wrote key words that often signify to multiply in a story problem, and looked for patterns in the multiplication chart.

On the right side, the students defined vocabulary words and wrote down strategies to use to figure out the facts.

I am thrilled with how the lapbooks turned out, and the students like to use them. As they have had multiplication assignments, every student is using their lapbook as a reference without even being asked.

And here are the pieces to download for FREE: Easy Multiplication Lapbook

Using "Smart" to Introduce Money Unit

When introducing a unit, I love to generate interest by reading a story or, in this case, a poem. My favorite to introduce a unit on money is "Smart" by Shel Silverstein. It can be found in Where the Sidewalk Ends. The poem is about a boy who trades a dollar for two quarters because two is more than one. It continues until he ends up with only five pennies and is very proud of himself.

To start with, I read the poem straight through and ask students to write in their math journals if they feel "Smart" was an appropriate title for the poem and to explain their answer. We usually come to the conclusion that money isn't about how many of each coin you have; it is about the value of those coins.

I then read the poem through again while the students use manipulatives to show the trades and calculate how much money was lost at each level.

The students love this poem because they love to point out how they are smarter than the boy in the poem.