Humbled

 I was going to start my blog about how NUTS the last 3 weeks of school can be.  Plans are changing, lack of subs, stress, curriculum wrap up, and so much more.  To commemorate the "NUTTY" stage of education...these are my extra desk snacks from my hubby last week - yes two types of NUTS ;) 

Then I was going to write about how WILD the end of the year feels.  Some students are so excited for family vacations, trips to the park, time with friends, and days full of sunshine and memories.  Other students know that it will be almost three months before they return to the security and safety of school.  Home is not a happy place...summer is full of stress and unknowns or maybe food insecurity...things my mind can't quite wrap itself around.  Both lead to high level of ENERGY in the students...focus and attention are dwindling! The sunshine is out and that adds to the craziness.  I thought about posting this picture of my two sons rescuing a small box turtle from the parking lot on Friday afternoon or my 12 old catching a snake during recent stint of quarantine.  YES life is WILD!

                                                   

Then my family had a chance to visit the "Wall that Heals" came into Erie for the weekend.  A 3/4 replica of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.  The Boy Scouts were required to visit for a merit badge that they are working on.  I wanted to see the replica and show it to my children.  You know that I am 100% in favor of family field trips.  We ended up with a full tour and amazing presentation by Victor, medal coins to keep, pins, and books to share.  It was a HUMBLING experience.  The stories...the experience...the racial tension...the entire experience was humbling.  So no matter if I feel NUTS or the kids seem WILD.  I need to remember the humbling lessons learned on a moist Saturday morning standing in the mud.  

Then on Monday, my family got to participate in our small town Memorial Day parade followed by a cemetery service.  It was so cool to make a connection...we found one of the names mentioned each year on the wall on Saturday...so the connection was so much stronger.  Seeing my community come together.   4 of my own children were in three different floats...we all came together to honor those that served on Memorial Day...no division...no politics...just a HUMBLING moment.  

Finding the name of a person from Wattsburg on the traveling wall

Listening and fascinated even the youngest

A humbling experience

So as I go into my last eight days of school, I am feeling HUMBLED, refreshed, and ready to create a few day of memories with my children before the school year ends.  I honestly need to remember that it is not about how NUTS I feel or WILD  they are acting. 

Spring has sprung!

Today is a beautiful day and our district is shut down for utility issues.  It feels surreal.  Days off were historically cold snowy day.  Then we had periodic pandemic shut downs.  Not sure if I have ever had a utility issue day!  

I will take the blessing of a day to recuperate.  As a fellow teacher said - it is the universe saying that we need a BREAK.  What do I do today?  Travel, binge on netflix, clean, etc... I am starting with my blog, writing some thank yous, and helping my tween/teens with their rooms...we shall see how the energy bus goes.

So what is new?  I am one of 3 - CS for ALL Exemplary teacher of the year in Pennsylvania!

Here is some information about this award and process!  I will know the outcome in late JUNE.

CS for ALL

CS stands for Computer Science - so I am one of the top 3 Computer Science teachers in Pennsylvania!!

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Pumpkin Jack 

Pumpkin Jack sprouted and was replanted!  He is still thriving :)

   

  

Thanks to the Cadette Girl Scout Troop for helping with the re-planting!  

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Earth Day - another busy work day Earth Day happened at the school garden.  The big push was creating a butterfly/pollinator plant area!  It was a long wet morning with so much done!  

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Some of our STEAM fun lessons:

Kindergarten - Indi Cars, engineering centers, and more!  We borrowed the Indi cars from IU5 .  They were so cool and have so many possibilities.  They are part of the Sphero line - Indi cars
I would use them again!

 

 

 

1st grade has done some engineering and coding as well as working on bird kites - I will post about the kites when all the groups have finished!  The favorite choice was Tami's Tower about engineering!  

Second grade - learned about SPACE and NASA - it is always fun to explore new websites.  Plus we learned about Artemis.  

Plus Code.org...there is so much to explore on NASA's website!  Here is a link about Artemis and also NASA

Third and Fourth grade are doing electricity - we discussed Benjamin Franklin, the history of the light bulb, and the basics of circuitry.  They also used Little Bit kits as well as Snap Circuits. 

Here are a few pictures of the work in 3rd and 4th grade.  

 

  

     

     

Plus we 3rd grade learned about the Purple Martins.  I am learning along with them.  I need to clean out the nest and update the caller.

    

So much going on at this busy time of year...look for kite updates and more soon.

 

Crayon Day

 I was looking for some new ideas for STEAM lessons for my students.  I do repeat some favorite lessons but the last two years, we have not been in school in late March or near Easter time.  This left me looking for new ideas and inspiration!

I found this video with ideas Facebook event link

I quickly went to work figuring out what I wanted to create for the day...

Here is the 3 activities that we did and how they went:

Grade K - Watched the Crayon Man -  You can use this video below or this link - Crayon Man LINK

Then we peeled and melted crayons.  I found a cool tutorial on Instructables!

THESE WORKED SO WELL!

We also tested to see if crayons sink or float...most sank even in salt water!

Tie dye crayons, rainbow crayons, etc... were a huge hit.  Each got to keep 1 mini muffin crayon.  It worked except for 5 individual pieces that I just pulled out of the melted circles.  I had to pre make the 1st batch.  

The clean up wasn't too bad either.  I used up all our itty bitty old gross crayons in this process too!

Grade 1 - Listened to a classic Mr. Rogers video on how crayons are made from PBS.  Mr. Roger's video

Then we colored a classic crayon picture from Crayola.  Crayon coloring page

Grade 3 - learned about the history of crayons then upcycled crayons!    I also found the video on this link - Crayon History

I loved watching them creating, designing, and being creative with old broken crayons!

The set-up!

Beach

Basketball hoop

Crayon made out of crayons!

Person 

FLOWER!

Plinko GAME!

I LOVED THIS LESSON - I PLAN TO REPEAT THIS EVERY MARCH with 3rd grade :)