New Seating Puzzle

Today was change group day.  I don't assign students seats, just groups.  Later in the year (depending on the class) I get rid of assigned seats all together.  Usually I just put sticky notes or a paper with all the group member names on it.  This time I came across a fun idea over at The Curriculum Corner and thought I would try it out.  So I wrote everyone's name on a 12x18 piece of paper.  Then I cut them out so each Chickadee had a section with their name on it.

Next, I gave each student their name and sent them off to find the other 6 new friends they would be sitting with.

Once they found all seven group members they started coloring their piece.

I was originally hesitant to try this....some of my kids just do all the work and the room just gets a little crazy.  But not today.  It was amazing they were all looking and helping each other out.  And I wish I could have recorded the cheering when they figured out how to get all the pieces together.

So fun.  I think I will have to do it again next month:-)

Happy Tuesday,

Scaredy Squirrel Lesson

Today we shared some thinking about our new class.  I wanted to give my Chickadees a way to express their thoughts about their new class and 2/3 blend.  A Teacher Who Should Have a Class posted a great lesson using the book, Scaredy Squirrel.  I hilarious book, btw.  I changed the questions a bit and rotated the papers from group to group. 
These posters were for questions students had about Miss Foote/B-7 classroom and 2/3 Blend.  Some random question gems....
"Did you make the map?"
"Why do we need teachers?"
"How did you get LA on your nails?"
"Why are there two classes in one?"

This poster ended up hilarious....The top says 2/3 Blend-Likes/Dislikes.  A couple kiddos just started a list of random things they liked and didn't like...dogs, cats, pet fish!
 

Bird Beaks

Today we learned about bird beaks.  First we read about different bird beaks.  Then we used different tools to find the best tool for different kinds of food.  It was a blast and kind of entertaining to watch:-)  Each group had three tools and a type of food.  They were to use the tool and figure out which one was most effective, for a variety of food birds eat.

Nectar-straw, chopsticks, or a strainer

Meat-scissors, tweezers, or a nutcracker

Bird Seed-slotted spoon, straw, or eye dropper

Fruit-scissors, tweezers, or a nutcracker

Fish-chopsticks, a knife, or a straw

Nuts-tweezers, scissors, or a nutcracker

After each group tried their tools, they added a tally to the chart.  I gave each group a different colored marker to record their group decision about the best tool.

Our chart of which tool was best at each station.