Multiplication and ice cream challenge.. water cycle

Hello friends!
This post is all about multiplication! Stay with me and hopefully you find some good ideas and freebies from this post! :)
When we started multiplication, we had so many tests that I figured doing something "sweet" could get my kiddos to refresh their brains. So I picked these two books to review about arrays and talk more about multiplication:

We worked on some vocabulary words such as arrays, factors, and product. Then we read a little bit of both books, and at the end we added a little bit of fun and sweetness to our work.

Students received 12 Hershey Kisses to create different arrays with them, and record their arrays on their math journal. After they recorded the different arrays, I gave them a legal size of black construction paper and a sheet that contained about 25 Hershey Kisses clip art. They were working in partners to create different arrays with the amount given. At the end of the day, I let students take the chocolate home and eat them there :)

Unfortunately, I can't give you my copy because I do not have any permission from whoever did the clipart; HOWEVER, I can tell you that I just looked up on Google "Hershey Kisses coloring" and I found the one I used for this activity.

Here are some pictures of what my students created:

On this same week we had some minutes left to do something different.... The idea started when I saw Amy Lemons post about area, you can click HERE to go to her post. However, I used this idea differently, we create robots so we could make arrays.... here are some pictures of what my students did... I think they turned out pretty cute :)

After we introduced multplications, the real fun started. In third grade, students need to know their multiplication facts. At the beginning my students were doing so awesome because it was something new and fun to them. However, as the weeks passed by, they seemed less encouraged and less interested in their facts (especially for those higher than x6)... So I did the ice cream challenge. I saw one third grade teacher doing this when I was teaching 2nd grade back then, so I created my own.
My students had a Multiplication booklet that they decorated themselves, they used these to keep their tests inside.

Every week we would practice one multiplication level (x0 and x1 were together) and on Friday we would take a timed multiplication fact test. These tests were stapled inside their booklet.

Everyone who would get 75% or higher on their test would earned an ice scoop (along with a popsicle prize) and started to build their own sundae. Once they completed their sundae, they would earn ice cream, not popsicles, real ice cream!

My students got so encouraged to learn their multiplication facts! The best part of it, it helped them to break it down into chunks.. No more the x1-x5 and then x6-x12 (which are the hardest for them to remember)... I couldn't finish the challenge since I went on Maternity Leave so I don't have pictures, but I know this was fun for them!

I have these products FOR FREE in my store! I have the build up sundaes that you can print in color OR black and white, laminate and give them to your students when they earn one piece.

I also have the tests already made for you! I included three tests on one page, we had limitations in making copies at the school I used to work, so I tried to save as much space as possible!

Click ICECREAM for the sundae template and click on TEST for the weekly tests :)

Alright friends, that is it for me! I hope this post has been helpful and you can use these freebies in your class!
I also hope you come back to see me feeling the loveeeeee, because I will be posting some great freebies and ideas on the upcoming weeks for you all "love machines" (oh yes, I just quoted Paul on that episode on "Friends", LOL)
Thank you for stopping by, I will see you next time! :)

Landforms Freebies and Ideas!

Alright friends! This is an oldie, but definitely a really good one! This post contains two weeks of landforms activities we did with our children. I am telling y'all, they had so much fun with everything, I still remember how engaged they all were! :)

First, we have talked about different examples: Mountains, Hills, Valleys, and Plains. We wrote the meaning of each word with examples and non-examples in our journals.

We also created a construction paper representation of each landform; here are some pictures of my students work and I've posted a picture of my master sample. I saw a picture on Pinterest (Click HERE to take you to the picture I found) and decided to make my own since I added a few more details and I included the landforms we were learning. I honestly show them how to cut their own without any pattern; However, if you would like a copy of what we did, I have posted a FREEBIE on my TPT store... I included the landform vocabulary words in Spanish AND English... click HERE to take you to the product :)

For our lab day, students were working in groups and built a sketch with play-dough. Before we started, we reviewed each landform and its characteristics. Then, I advised them to use a specific color for each landform. However, I reminded them that this was their project and they had to decide as groups. I did not tell them how to make the mountains or any landforms, I basically monitored them and I helped only if they needed more guidance... I completely let them take ownership for their own work. They were soooo engaged and were working soooo well in groups that made this activity so smooth :)
Here are some picture of their work as they are putting it together:

On the second week of landforms, we added a little bit of sweetness to our project. I have looked on Pinterest several pins with different ideas, so I combined those ideas to make our own landform activity. We used Graham cookies, green frosting, light blue frosting, M & M, fish sprinkles, and Hershey Kisses. As the play-dough activity, I let my students decide how to create their landforms, as long as they include the landforms we have been learning about.

At the end of the week, we also compared Hills and Mountains by creating a Foldable that contained a Venn Diagram. We wrote similarities and differences in between these two landforms. Students worked in partners writing their draft on a paper and then, creating a final product on this foldable.

Hope you find these lessons helpful and you would be able to use them in your classroom as well :)
Thank you for stopping by my blog, see ya next time!

Winter Freebies coming up!! 3 Freebies in 1 post!

Hello everyone!!!
I am making this post short and quick!! I am working on a new project, so I'd like to get back on that! However, I do not want to leave you hanging if you are in need of some fun and easy projects for the month of January!

First, if you are looking for some easy and fast place value activity, this is it!! It comes in both Spanish and English and it goes from ones place up to hundred thousands place. If you would like to read my post, please click HERE.
If you would like to download this for FREE, click HERE :)

I also have a cute and simple craft for you all penguin fans! I have a special feeling for this one because I just love penguins! I have so much stuff and so many ideas, but I still need the time to put everything together! (Stay home mom with two kids keeps me very busy)
If you would like this penguin, click HERE to download it.

I also have a snowman craft. This is perfect to use along with the book "Snowmen at Night". Honestly, you can use it for anything you want! You will need a contact paper to give that transparent effect. There are some specific directions in the document on how to give this effect to it :)  If you don't want that, I also included a solid circle to it so you can use it too.
Click HERE to take you to my post. Click HERE so you can download it for free!!

This is it for me my friends! I am hoping I'll finish my new unit soon, but we will see how these nights turn with the kids!
Hope to see you back on my blog next week! :)

Looking for a Solar System Unit? Look HERE!!!

Hello friends and Happy New Year!
I have been very absent on my blog for the couple of months, so I am so sorry about that. First it was the hectic life of a mommy of two and then it was our long 3-week trip to Virginia to stay with family during the holidays! How was your break? I hope everyone had a restful break and that you are all charged for these upcoming weeks!
I would like to share with you my Solary System Unit. I have to be honest with y'all, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to teach about the solar system! I was always disappointed in second grade when we just taught about the moon. So when I was told I was moving up with my second graders to third grade, I was very happy and nervous. However, everything turned into more excitement when I found out that I was going to be teaching Math and Science. The solar system has always been something that amazed me and it made giggle (nerd!!)
So with all that said, this is a very special and close to my heart unit. I used a lot of these activities in my classroom. The focus on this unit is the solar system, but if you don't teach it, check out the activities for Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and the Alien writing... those might be fun to do for other subjects! :)

REMEMBER that most of my products (if not all), come in both English and Spanish. So this is not an exception :) Both English and Spanish units contain the following activities:

1.Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride posters for both beginning or high levels (poster designed for

teacher).

2.Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride foldables for both beginning or high levels.

3.Planets tri-foldable with labels: Planets, outer vs. inner planets, and planets’ characteristics

(including links to find information).

4.Information posters for each planet.

5. Foldable to write information about each planet.

6.Vocabulary matching cards, including fill in the blank cards to keep in their interactive journal.

7.If I was an astronaut (both boy and girl) coloring foldable.

8.Word search sheet for both beginning or high levels.

9.Cross word puzzle.

10.Alien writing craftivity based on a chosen planet.

Here is a peek of what comes in it. This is a preview of the English Unit, please know that the Spanish version looks exactly the same. The only difference is the language used :)
Click ENGLISH or SPANISH to take you to my product in TPT.

To give you a little taste of the unit, I created a FREE SAMPLE, which is a matching card game with a simple fact about the planet. It also includes black and white cards to fill in the blank. Students can keep these cards in their interactive Science journal.
Click ENGLISH SAMPLE or SPANISH SAMPLE to take you to my FREE product in TPT.

Remember I am on BlogLovin' and if you would like to get my posts through email so you don't miss the fun, you can sign up on "follow me by email" (click HERE for instructions)!

Have a great and restful weekend my friends! I am trying to settle back in so I can work on my next unfinished unit! I am excited so stay tuned with more news!! :)

All Science on board!!! Water Cycle posters, Weather, and Energy activities

Hello friends and welcome back!
Today's post is ALL about Science!! I have some activities for you that I have done in the past with my kiddos.
First is the water cycle (more of a review for 3rd graders) and each stage of it (we went in more depth to describe each stage). We created a foldable to write about each stage and we illustrated the water cycle on our journals. As an independent/assessment, students illustrated on a legal size construction paper the water cycle, and labeled each stage. I think they turned out pretty good, and I especially liked the one that had a wave.. :)

After reviewing and talking about the water cycle we moved into weather. We looked into different weather and weather tools... We have been talking about thermometers, wind vanes, windsocks, and rain gauges. As a lab activity, we created thermometers in our classroom. I started looking up Google and I found the activity HERE
Here are some pictures of how they turned out; my students were very excited and engaged while creating these. We ended up running out of time, so we created a thermometer for each tables group (4 students); However, it turned out to be perfect as a group project. Each student was able to contribute by doing something in this activity. I have some students that are very outspoken, so this activity really helped them to work on heir patience and skills as a team member.

After our unit of weather, we proceeded to Energy. We started this unit by introducing some vocabulary such as energy, mechanical energy, light energy, heat/thermal energy, and sound energy.

We looked into each source of energy throughout the week.

For sound energy I did a demo on musical scales; you fill each bottle with an amount of water and add food coloring to differentiate one bottle from another. After the demo a played the Magic School Bus episode called "The Haunted museum". I love this episode because it deeply explains that sound is produced by vibration.

For the heat/thermal energy, we baked a "Coffee Mug Cake," HERE is the link that I used. I did this twice. My first group of students used coffee mugs, but after cooking it, we realized most of them were not mixed properly and the mugs were too small for the mix. So for my second group we switched things around. We increased the amount of the recipe so we could use the lab's equipment; we used the Mason Jars (Quart size). These jars really helped my students because they were cleared glass, so they could see the bottom of the jar and make sure it was well mixed. Also, since we increased the amounts in the recipe, we heated the mix in the microwave for 7 to 8 minutes instead of 5 minutes.

I found this picture on this website to help me with the jar sizes.


Here are some pictures of my students working in groups. Since last activity was such a success, we did this activity as groups, too. Each of them had a task to do and they worked even better than  last time.

The weather has not been on our side lately, we have been doing a lot of the "indoor" recess at our school. So we decided to stay in our classroom to eat our cake during recess. The students loved it and were very engaged during this activity.

That's it for me friends! I hope I have inspired you to try one of these activities in your classroom. I also hope your students get engaged and excited as much as mine did! I hope your week has been not so hectic and that you have an awesome week!

Thanksgiving Giveaway and FREEBIE!!

Gobble Gobble friends!!!
Welcome back to my blog! I know it has been several weeks since my last post, but I have been very busy with the kiddos and the house. However, I am back with our monthly link up so don't go anywhere! :)

We have come together to bring you some goodies for Thanksgiving! I would like to share with you what I used to do on that week before our days off. Every year my team and I would have outfits for our students to dress as Pilgrims or Native Americans. We would study all week about why we celebrate Thanksgiving and on Friday we would all watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and have a big feast to simulate the movie.

We would make snack bags for each student. We would include popcorn, mini toasts, pretzel sticks, and M&Ms.

The kids always had a great time watching Charlie Brown and sitting to eat their snack "just like the movie"! We all enjoyed each other's company and had fun!

I would also like to share a Freebie I had created for you to use during these days. Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and share with others these special moments. I created a very simple, but cute Turkey bag where students can write what they are thankful for. This freebie comes in both English and Spanish! You can print the feathers in color construction paper or have fun with some Fall looking pattern paper!

If you would like to download this product, please click HERE

Last, but definitely NOT LEAST! We are giving away 5 TPT giftcards! Yes!! 5!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit my other friends to see what goodies they have for you!!! :)

An InLinkz Link-up