Lapbooks and Wind Turbines

I haven't posted in awhile and thought it was time to let people know what I've been up to this week with the kids! The last couple days of the week were busy and chaotic with a smaller class on Friday. Two major things have started in my classroom:

1. Lap Books

I started looking for something different online for my students to do, the social studies units we finished up but it was dry. Last year I did more rich tasks including an election simulation. I decided not to this year as some students would be repeating the same activity and there wasn't an actual election this year. That being said, if there is any chance of one, we'll sign up again through a great organization in Canada called Student Vote. Okay back to the main subject, we started lap books on Friday, the Grade 5s working on Ancient Romans and the 6s working on the Iroquois Confederation. The lapbook consists of small foldables all contained within a folder. The best part is the kids who were absent Friday will be led through the process by the kids who were present Friday, a cool opportunity for students in my class to be the teacher. I wish I had taken a picture of what we did so far but I will take one this week and put it up. I googled social studies lapbook and came up with a ton of resources, I can take NO credit for the idea or work we are using, just some google searches leading to some awesome websites! Best part of starting the lap books: students, after gluing in their piece were re-reading the information and admiring their work (that never happens with normal notes and handouts!)

2. Wind Turbines

I did a shared reading last week based on the reading strategy of making connections, we used a shared reading promoting wind turbines, discussing the persuasive opinions and text features of the reading. I was going to move on to something else when a visiting literacy coach suggested we look at the other side of the issue and pulled up some article suggestions.  This week we will examine the other side of wind turbines, look at the persuasive techniques used and try to make connections again, explaining our ideas fully. I am really glad I decided to go with this topic as there are wind turbines in our county, many students mentioned they had driven by them, or knew someone that lived by one. The best type of discussions are the ones students can relate to on some level and is relevant to them. I can't wait to see where the discussion leads us this week!

3 A couple resources that I mentioned and bookmarked, check them out!

Click here for a great lap book blog!

Click here to check out Student Vote!

Can't wait to see what this week brings, have a good week everybody :)

Kathleen :)

PS I may not be posting much for the next little while....it's report card season :)