Fourth and Fritcher: Holidays

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Tim Burton Self-portraits

Have you seen Tim Burton Self-portraits come across your news feed? If you teach upper elementary (or higher) this is a MUST-DO for the fall.

You do not need to be an art teacher to do this! They are easier than they may seem and the end result is an absolutely amazing seasonal bulletin board for the hallway.

I've had my eye on this particular bulletin board idea for a couple years. I would see it every October and kick myself "once again" because I forgot to do it. This past fall I was determined to remember.

PRO TIP: Put it in your plans when you start your back-to-school planning. I mean it - write it into your calendar for the last week of September or the first week of October because, otherwise, the days will start to fly by and you will forget!

MATERIALS:

Grey Construction Paper (cut off 1 inch horizontally and vertically if you want to mat onto the black construction paper)
#2 Pencils
Black Colored Pencils
White Colored Pencils
Sharpie (optional)
Black Construction Paper (optional; to mat the finished portraits)

TIME:

2-3 Lesson Blocks

TO BEGIN:

I make copies of possible face shapes, features, and hair for every student. (A quick Google search will give you plenty of choices.) These reference sheets come in handy during the beginning drafts. I hand these out first and ask students to think about which shapes and features make the best sense for their self-portrait. We also talk about how Tim Burton exaggerates features. So, maybe your eyes will be disproportionately large, but your ears and/or nose can be small.

It's important for students to know a few things:

1. They need to lightly sketch the shape of their face and the features. If they need to erase and/or adjust the lines, it will be much easier. This is especially true with construction paper. Too much erasing leads to "fuzzy" paper and tears.

2. There is no "wrong" way to draw these self-portraits. A wacky line, uneven ears, a crooked smile: these are the norm in Tim Burton's world.

TIME TO SKETCH!

Once we have had this discussion, I hand out the grey construction paper and #2 pencils. I set up my projector and lead the students through a directed drawing. I talk a lot about filling the majority of the page with the head. Some students will still draw a really small head shape. When they do, just have them erase (or turn the page over) and start again. For students who struggle with visualizing or planning space, this will be a frustrating step. But once the head shape is in place, it gets easier.

It's important to not move forward until every one has a really good head shape sketched.

As we move to facial features and hair, I try and give the students some pointers for spacing. For instance, draw a very light line down the center of the head shape to have a visual guide for symmetry, use your fingers to "measure" distances and keep eyes the same size, measure from the edge of the head shape toward either side of the mouth to keep lip lines equidistant. (Although, many students choose a crooked smile.)

It's also helpful to remind students to keep lines extra-light during this process because they may add an accessory that will be drawn over other parts (ex: glasses over eyebrows) and they may need to erase the original lines in favor of the newly added lines.

Through directed drawing I guide them in the following order:

eyes first (they need to be big and will take up the most space)
mouth
nose
eyebrows (just a single light line to begin)
ears
hair
neck/shoulders
accessories (glasses, earrings, stitches)

When students have finished their sketch, I collect them and store them until our next lesson.

TIME TO SHADE!

Once students have a solid self-portrait sketched out, it's time to shade! There is skill to shading. Some students will be very skilled with this task, others will need a fresh tutorial. I have them practice on scrap paper first. (I don't hand out their self-portraits until after we have practiced.)

We talk "all the art talk" so they have a grasp of how to shade the eyes, other features, and hair. We discuss the power of both the black and the white colored pencil. There is practice at shading with repeated strokes versus rubbing with a finger. We spend a bit of time shading. It's worth taking the time to discuss and practice because when students apply the skill to their self-portraits they are more confident, there are fewer mistakes, and the results are beautiful.

After practice, I hand out the self-portrait sketches and lead them through the start of shading. They are invited to watch and listen as I make my way around my own self-portrait.

This is the time in the process where there needs to be a discussion about how to "finish" the eyes. Specifically, where will they draw the irises and where do they want their self-portrait to be looking? Once we had this chat I noticed a lot of students changing the location of their irises. Once the shading is applied, some stduents will prefer a different spot. Guide them to start shading the eyes lightly and deliberately. They should be able to get an idea of what their eyes will look like without shading (if case they want to move the irises around before settling on the final spot). Remind them to take their time.

The eyes are a bit of a focal point in a Tim Burton self-portrait, so it's important to get it right.

My students took a couple days to shade their self-portraits. Most were done in 2 days. A few others took a day or two more during free time to finish. The results were outstanding!

One of the stark differences in shading and finishing the portraits was "the Sharpie factor". If a student used a Sharpie to outline or shade, those portraits had a sharper contrast. The portraits that only used pencils displayed a little softer. We loved them all.

tim burton self-portrait halloween bulletin board

Time to Display!

To complete our self-portraits, I placed a black piece of construction paper behind the grey to give the illusion of a "mat". Then they were ready for the hallway!

I had some extra space on the board, so I decided to add a couple Tim Burton elements to accent the work and finish off the display.

If you are a visual learner and would like to see a video of this process, I thought the following two tutorials below were the most helpful.

I sent these two links to my team. We each checked them out (separately) and then proceeded to execute the lessons! Even though each teacher watched tutorials independently and delivered instruction differently, the end result was a perfectly themed hallway display for the fourth grade wing!

Consider: This is an excellent non-Halloween activity. It allows you to display a bulletin board for Halloween that isn't technically Halloween. If you have students who do not celebrate October 31st, this is a great way to include them in some "Halloween fun" while still respecting their beliefs.

Introduction and Reinforcement

This poem is not only a seasonal favorite, but it is an excellent way to introduce (or reinforce) the basic elements of poetry. For my yearly planning, this poem ironically fits in just before our official poetry unit, so it's a perfect "before the holiday break" unit to have some holiday fun while getting students prepared for the poetry unit that will be taught after the holiday break.

Imagery

Of all the texts I use to teach about imagery, this poem may be my favorite. I love to read it to the students a couple of times before looking at any of the illustrations offered with the scores and scores of pictures books that have been published. I want to give my students a chance to form their own images in their minds without being influenced by what an illustrator has committed to paper.

Once section of the poem that always leads to great discussion is "while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads". Firstly, it's a great use of personification. But, even more interesting, is when I probe the students as to what they imagined during that line. Students oftentimes discuss children, sleeping, cozy in a bed, etc... Very few (none) describe sugar plums. Students today do not even know what a sugar plum is much less conjur images of them while listening to this poem. It is always a fun point of discussion and usually leads to me projecting images the internet deems to be sugar plums. It's a fantastic tie-in to later on in the unit when we compare 1823 to today.

My room always has several versions of this poem available and the only author/illustrator that we've seen take a crack at illustrating sugar plums is Jan Brett... I am sure there are others, just not that we've seen.

A great extension activity it to invite students to illustrate a section. Group them homogeneously. Then, have them compare their illustrations to each others' as well as a published illustration. This is a fun way to compare/contrast and to celebrate the different interpretations of the same text.

a visit from st nicholas twas the night before christmas

Rhyme Scheme

This poem is a simple and easy way to introduce rhyme scheme. The straight forward patterns leave little guesswork. I usually note the rhyme scheme for the first page while discussing the whys and hows. The students then take it upon themselves to finish the scheme on the back. I love that! It tells me that they not only understand the rhyme scheme, but are invested enough to finish the job properly.

Figurative Language

Aside from the poetic elements, this poem also gives me an opportunity to reinforce simile and metaphor with my students. It does not have a lot; just a handful in stanzas 9-12. However, it's nice to have a limited amount. It allows me to keep the students focused on a smaller portion of the poem and laser-focused as they search for the similes and metaphors. I address the figurative language in a mini-lesson or as we read through. Sometimes we take 15-20 minutes to talk about them, sometimes it's a passing conversation. It depends on the needs of my class.

Twas the Night Before Christmas A Visit from St. Nicholas

There are some excellent examples of alliteration and personification too! The short, well-thought out phrases help students understand how an author's use of these simple additions to their writing enhances the experience for the reader.

Evidence Charts

Finding text evidence is a skill that my students need consistenly all year long. Practicing this skill with a poem reinforces not only finding the evidence but gives students an opportunity to use poetic terminology to cite the evidence (stanza #, line #). When crafted properly, the evidence charts can help you lead your students into a discussion about Mood!

Mood

Abstract elements, like Mood, can be difficult for students to grasp. One way I like to practice this skill is to have students close their eyes and make a picture/movie in their mind as they listen. I ask them to talk about what they envisioned; how did they feel? Sometimes we start with the basics: happy or sad? Scared or excited? We then move on to more nuanced language.

Another useful way to get students talking about mood is to have them note the verbs the author is using. It helps that the poem is written in the first person point of view. Readers start out with words such as "clatter" and "sprang" which are alarming to words and move to "twinkled" and "laughed" later in the poem. The later words tell us that the narrator certainly has "nothing to dread".

1823 v Present

It's hard to believe this poem is 100 years old! However, its age is a perfect segue to discuss how language has evolved as well as household routines and "norms" from 100 years ago. When we explore the title and vocabulary, I intentially use the originals as written and published by Moore. This leads to other discussions of how culture can shape references to literature and spelling of words.

Vocabulary

The vocabulary options in this poem are vast. Not only can I introduce and work with some new words with my students, I can also explore the original spellings of "pedler" and "lustre" to dig deep into the morphology and spelling of these words. And, no one knows what a "courser" is when we start this unit. But, every single student does before the bell rings for holiday break!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas is a classic that your students will love. Whether you spend one lesson or several days exploring Moore's masterpiece, your students will love the break from the usual curriculum and have an opportunity to work on the standards while having some holiday fun!

Around America to Win the Vote

This book chronicles the true story of two suffragists who made their way around 1916 America to spread the word about women's suffrage. Join them (and their cat!) on an unforgettable journey that gives readers a look at travel and social norms during early 20th century America.

My students love this story. They love tracking the path Nell and Alcie take. They love the parties and parades. They especially love the cat! The endearing illustrations heavily infused with yellow keep the tale upbeat and fun during the most challenging parts of the journey.

One way I like to "read" picture books to my class is through videos I find online. I will oftentimes play the video while holding the book, following along, and moving throughout the classroom. It gives students an opportunity to see the illustrations up close while keeping them engaged.

I love the presentation of Around America to Win the Vote by the Pueblo Heritage Museum because it includes a brief overview of some of the vocabulary the students will see and hear in the story. Don't be too surprised if some of your students have no idea what a typewriter is!

The "can't miss" activities for teaching this book include the Evidence Charts and the Challenges Chart. Both activities ask students to use text evidence to support their answers. They are a great way to have students dive back into the text, make connections, and defend their positions.

Click here to see more of Around America to Win the Vote Print and Go Literature Study

Heart on Fire

This text chronicles the true story of when Susan B. Anthony tested the 14th Amendment and voted during the 1872 presidential election. It gives reader's an in-depth look at Anthony's arguements on why it was lawful for her to vote, as well as her subsequent trial at which she was found guilty and fined.

This text draws students in because it describes the events surrounding Susan B. Anthony's voting, arrest, and trial. Each time I read this book, students are flabergasted at the idea it was illegal for women to vote and more so that Anthony was arrested for it!

The "can't miss" activities for teaching this book include the Literary Devices (love the hyperboles!), the Summary, and the Timeline of Events.

Click here to see more of Heart on Fire Print and Go Literature Study.

Two Friends

This story offers an intimate look at what a visit between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass might have looked like. Beautifully crafted using their words within the illustrations, readers get a glimpse into each person's past and how it shaped their goals in life.

I love the simplicity of this picture book. The illustrations and words give the reader an opportunity to examine both Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass; two individuals that appear to be polar opposites yet used their life to fight for the same things.

The "can't miss" activities for teaching this book include the written responses. Two short responses; one that ask students to consider the impact Douglass' publications in The North Star and Anthony's yearly visits to Congress had on the future in America and one that challenges students to think about the excerpts "The right to be free" and "The right to vote". The extended respond includes a graphic organizer where stduents compare and contrast Anthony and Douglass.

Click here to see more of Two Friends Print and Go Literature Study.

two friends susan b anthony frederick douglass

With so many amazing choices for Women's Suffrage and Women's History, it can be overwhelming to know where to start or which to choose. I say, they are all correct! If your goal is to bring a little insight to your students about the people and events that have shaped America into the nation it is today, you have met the goal.

Pick a book that appeals to you, choose an activity (or two) that complements the standards you are currently working on, and teach!

If you are looking for a no/low prep resource to prepare reading response activities, check out my Reading Response Worksheets (Any Text | Editable | Digital | Printable). Use them to create the perfect worksheet for ANY TEXT you use! This resource contains everything you need to run your guided reading groups, literature circles, or whole class book study in your upper elementary classroom using classic paper/pencil response or a digital platform! These templates will fit all your reading response needs.

reading response worksheets for any text

PLAN FOR MORE THAN YOU'LL NEED

I often advise teachers to plan for more than they'll need. It's always better to have something ready to go for those short chunks of time than to have a room full of students with "nothing to do". That is a recipe for chaos!

Have a mix of short (10-15 minutes) and long (30+ minutes) activities ready-to-go. That way you will be prepared for whatever comes your way.

It is common for me to have a couple stacks of copies that I don't get to before we leave for the break. In that case, I hand out the copies to the students as optional fun while they are at home for the break. Or, the copies make their way to the "recycling" basket; a place where students can grab unused papers as scrap or to craft and create during their recess.

BALANCE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ACTIVITIES

We often think of physical activities as those which happen in the gymnasium or on the playground. However, you can sneak in some time for students to be out of their seats and moving around.

I love to use QR Code Scavenger Hunts to get students not only up and moving, but working in pairs or triads too! It gives the students an opportunity to move and work with their peers while learning the content.

There are two hunts that I will use this month:

Christmas Vocabulary QR Code Scavenger Hunt

Christmas Synonyms QR Code Scavenger Hunt

See all my QR Code Scavenger Hunts HERE.

I've also been using GoNoodle as part of our daily routine when tranistioning from one block of instruciton to another. For less than 5 minutes a day, you can give your students an opportunity to get the wiggles out and re-focus for the next block of instruction.

MIX UP TECH AND PENCIL/PAPER

I always make an effort to balance tech with classic paper/pencil. It is even more important during hectic times of the year. Just as I plan to switch up mental and physical activities, the same applies to tech and paper/pencil.

I like to balance out the day. If I start with paper/pencil, I will end with tech; and vice versa. You can also plan by days (one tech day, one paper day). However you plan, try to keep switching it up. The students will be engaging different parts of their brain and better able to focus on content as the cognitive load "moves around".

If you are really adventurous, you can present that same task but give the students an option of paper or digital!

PLAN AN AWESOME READ ALOUD

It's no secret that I love the novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I teach it every year. I highly advise you get your hands on a copy of this amazing novel. If you are unable to fit in a full literature study, read it aloud!

If you would rather read aloud something shorter, find some awesome picture books that fit your needs. You can't go wrong with a classic:

A Visit from St. Nicholas: Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Polar Express
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Nutcracker

You can find resources to support a literature study for The Best Christmas Pageant as well as a study for the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas in my TpT Store.

DO SOME HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES & CRAFTING

For many of my students, they need repeated practice with their fine-motor skills. We often use pencil and paper to give student's an opportunity to work on their fine motor skills. But, there are many opportunities to work on those skills that don't involve a pencil at all!

What better time of the year to get your students slowing down a bit with some intricate coloring, cutting, and glueing? It can be frustrating for students who need to work on their fine-motor skill. But that's the point, right? Hands-on activities (especially paper crafting) will give students a chance to practice fine motor skills.

Ideas to work fine motor skills into holiday crafting:

fine line glue with glitter
glueing tiny pom-poms or sequins
trace and cut
paper snowflakes
pipe cleaner crafts
threading crafts (boondoggles)
fingerprint crafts
coloring! (neatly, inside the lines)
paint (with brushes or cotton swabs)

As an added incentive, when students know the craft they are working on will be gifted to a person they love, they have a more vested interest in doing their very best work.

Click to read about some of the best holiday crafts I've done with my students:

Christmas Tree Craft and Bulletin Board

Easy Candy Cane Christmas Ornaments

Easy Holiday Cards and Bags

Holiday Crafts and Projects in the Classroom

The Christmas season doesn't have to be exhausting or chaotic. With just a bit of planning on your part, you and your students can make it to the Christmas break without feeling like you've just run a gauntlet. Merry Christmas!

New Year Ideas for an Elementary Classroom

Once you come back from the holidays there are many new mindsets that are in place. Everyone is on the resolution bandwagon and are trying to do their best. With all of those new goals, why not make your classroom reflect some of your new inspirations?

New Seating Arrangements

If you have assigned seats this is a great time to have the students come back to new places to sit. This will help break old behavior habits that were evident before the holidays. Unless there are behaviors, my students choose their own seats each day and oftentimes do not sit in the same places. But giving your classroom direction and structure with seating can provide security for those students who struggle with choosing a seat each day.

Flexible Seating Options

It seems like most of the beginning of the year the students are getting used to the classroom norms and expectations of the different seats available. This year, I had a group that had a hard time controlling themselves on the yoga ball seats, so I have limited the number available to the students this year. As one of our classroom goals is to have more self control, I am going to bring out some other floor seats and mats to incorporate more options for them to sit on. This will make coming back to school a little more inviting!

Rearrange Furniture

Making new areas in your classroom. Provide new nooks for reading, learning, group work, etc. I love making the room look just a little different so the kids feel like it's a new learning environment. I make subtle changes so it doesn’t take them too long to get used to the new space.

Goal Bulletin Boards

Providing a new bulletin board for them to engage with helps them get into the mind frame of new learning. Usually we will do the reflection and goal setting for the new year in a creative flip book or combine our goals with a writing task.

Each year I have my students complete a New Year's Resolution flapbook. It gives the students an opportunity to reflect on goals for the year. I walk them through each flap and encourage them to set realistic goals. Students glue their flapbook on a colored piece of paper and write their goals on the paper underneath.

Once the flapbooks are complete, I hang them in the hallway!

These flapbooks are available for FREE in my TPT Store.

Click the link below to get yours!

New Year Resolutions Activity

For a longer, more deliberate goal-setting activity, I love this one from Shelly Rees on TpT: New Years Resolution Bulletin Board and Goals Writing Activity. It's a great way to combine goals, writing, and the "Big Game"! It also works well because it can be done throughout the month as time allows and still be applicable into the next month because the Big Game is usually played the first weekend of February. Score!

Our Completed Bulletin Board

Students have an opportunity to engage their creative sides while working on their fine motor skills.

Journaling

Goal-setting and positive mindset are great to talk about, but oftentimes they fall to the wayside a few weeks into the new year. To keep your students engaged in the discussions (and work required for true change) try journaling!

There is something to be said for the connections between what we think and what we write. For some students, journaling and reflection make a huge difference.

A lot of districts now offer a structured Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. Journaling can be a way to extend and enhance the lessons.

Guide students through the 5 core competencies of SEL (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) and build critical skills while fostering a better classroom community.

Print these 5 journal prompts and get your students talking, reflecting, and writing!

SEL Journal Prompts

5 Free Print and Go Journal Prompts

sel journal freebie new year goals elementray classroom

New Behavior Incentives

It seems like spring is full of state testing and benchmarks. Our schedules aren’t as consistent as we all need them to be either. I try to incorporate more choice into our days so the kids can feel like they do have some control over the craziness. I love to introduce choice balloons into the daily motivators. I create a Google form to inventory which things they would like to earn. They give me ideas that will help me differentiate my teaching as well as fun rewards they would like. I put a sticky note in each balloon before I blow it up. I post 3 balloons up in the front of the classroom. This provides them with a visual of what they are working towards. In the past I have created a rubric for their behavior and they earn points each day on factors such as: focus, noise level, work ethic. At the end of the day, or block, we orally go over the simple rubric. The students help me decide if they are worthy of their points (this helps them self evaluate themselves). If they get their points for the day they are one step closer to popping a balloon at the end of the day or week. Once the balloons are all popped, I put 3 new ones up to continue the motivation.

Making things fun and novel for the kids will help get you back into the swing of things as well. No one is super excited about coming back after a cozy vacation, but giving everyone new things to experience will help everyone start the last half of the school year with a little more zest and excitement.

Happy New Year!

Hosting a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in Your Classroom

If you have students in class the week of Thanksgiving you know what a challenge it can be! Why not take some time and start celebrating with them? Transforming your classroom into the Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving will create memories that will last a lifetime!

Food you will need:

Sliced Bread
Popcorn
Pretzel Sticks
Jelly Beans
Ice Cream
Butter
Drinks

Supplies you will need:

Plates
Napkins
Table Cloths
Ice Cream Scoop
Toaster

Gathering Donations

Our team uses an app called Class Tag which has a great option for parents to sign up for conferences and of course party foods! You can be very specific in what you want the students to bring. This is especially helpful when you have allergies in the classroom or you need specific Charlie Brown food items.

Our Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

The menu items we asked students to bring were: pretzel sticks, popcorn, jelly beans, bread, bowls, plates, plastic spoons and drinks. The teachers provided the ice cream and butter. We also purchased white table cloths to make the tables look fancier. Once all of the items came in we knew we were going to have quite the celebration. Thank goodness we didn’t forget our toaster! I am sure you could toast more bread at once if you used the cafeteria oven; but a four-slice toaster worked just fine for us!

When the students walked into school we had the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving DVD cued up for the students to watch as we created the holiday plates. Toasting the bread and buttering took the most time but with a couple extra hands (volunteers) this process went smoothly. As the video ended we passed out the food and started to enjoy the treats. I had the students tell a buddy one thing that they were thankful for before taking their first bite.

Turkey Glyphs

Once all the eating was complete we decided to end the morning with some arts and crafts. We love to do monthly glyphs to get some fine motor practice for the students. These are also great to display on a bulletin board and save into a portfolio to show growth throughout the year!

Today we made turkey glyphs which made us reflect and look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday that was ahead of us. The students choose different shapes and colors to decorate their turkey based on the choices from the holiday glyph. It is so fun to see how different all of the turkeys come out. Some years I don’t save them for the end of the year but have the students make Thanksgiving cards with them instead.

You can find directions to make the Turkey Glyphs in my TpT Store here:

Turkey Glyphs

You can find other Thanksgiving Resources at my TPT Store HERE.

With the hustle and bustle of the academics these fun filled “kid” days are appreciated by everyone. We love to capture pictures from these special days and post them on Class Tag for all of the families to enjoy along with us. Happy Turkey Day!