Week 3: I've Made my Masterpiece!!

It's Week 3 1/2 actually of the TpT Seller Challenge and I'm excited to FINALLY be done making my Masterpiece! Certainly a labor of love! I'm thankful for this challenge because it has not only motivated me to create a quality product but has encouraged me to keep making more! I had so much fun with this one! If you are just tuning in and want to learn more about this exciting challenge, be sure to check out these fabulous blogs!

 

This week's assignment was to  "Make your Masterpiece". 

There is so much to this and I will try my best to explain WHY I created this product and HOW I used this in my own classroom. But before I do, I think I need to go back in time to this past May when my 2nd grade team decided to take on another PBL (project-based learning) with our students.

We did a Changes Over Time PBL that was super successful earlier in the year and we were ready to tackle this next one with our Science unit on Animals. (See the Changes Over Time PBL post HERE)

Before I go on, are you familiar with project-based learning (PBLs)?? If not check out this site for more info!

I also love this image as it contains the Essentials for a Successful PBL.

This was technically our 2nd year to do this Animal Research PBL but this year, I feel we really rocked it. I mean, the students!  :)

So WHY did I create these printables and resources for a PBL...Aren't the students supposed to independently create everything on their own?  Well, kinda. We certainly gave our 2nd graders plenty of Voice and Choice with this experience but also thought we needed some printables to help guide them. We remained facilitators in their learning and I wanted to create some resources that would make the whole PBL run smoothly. PBLs can be challenging for the student and the teacher but it CAN BE DONE!

Here is a preview of what's included!

OK, here is HOW our own PBL went down as well as HOW I used these printables. :)


First every PBL must have a good ENTRY EVENT:

We had made some efforts to reach out to a local zoo to see if we could Skype with a zoologist or to have a traveling zoo come to us. Unfortunately we were not able to arrange that so instead, we showed a highlight video from the San Diego Zoo.

 As you can see from (some of) their faces, they were clearly engaged. : )

Then I posed the Driving Question: 

"So, we are going to build a zoo and have REAL animals in it??!"

Well, not exactly but we are definitely "building" a zoo (using chart paper and colored pencils!) and each student would be an expert on an animal of their choice and would have to design a habitat. They would have to research their chosen animal focusing on 4 "MUST HAVE" topics. A PBL usually has some MUST HAVE guidelines that the students must include. We called anything extra, their "SHOW OFFS". 

The 4 "Must Have" areas were based on our State Standards: 

1. Physical Characteristics

2. Behaviors of the Animal

3. Habitat

4. Diet/Food Chain

Of course, we didn't reveal this to the students just yet. We started with choosing our animal! I had the kids write it on chart paper so we wouldn't have 2 of the same animals in our zoo. 

Then we started with the first printable! The students completed a circle map with their background knowledge about their animal. They needed to write down all the info that they already knew. Most students chose their favorite animal and already knew a lot!

Sorry for the blurry pic, it was the only student example I got!

Once we had completed our circle map, I introduced the next key component for a PBL. 

Setting a Purpose & NEED to KNOW

I wanted the kids to come up with their own questions and set a purpose for learning. This printable on the left guided them to use an Animal book as well as websites for research. 

Then as a class we created our list of NEED to KNOW questions that we all thought we would need to know to design a habitat for our animal.  We wrote them on chart paper, which I don't have a picture of so I recreated it here.)

The next day we looked back at our Need to Know questions and determined that we had 4 main areas that we could focus our research on....

Can you guess what they are??

1. Physical Characteristics

2. Behaviors of the Animal

3. Habitat

4. Diet/Food Chain

Yep, the same 4 "MUST HAVES" I discussed earlier in this post based on our state standards. As a facilitator we can certainly guide our students to come up with the components of the PBL. Score!

Then we were ready to research!

But not before I introduced the Research Booklet. This was AMAZING!! Here's a preview...

Seriously, so simple. All printables are included for you to make your own booklet. All you need is 2 large construction paper sheets and interested students!!

I LOVED how the kids could take their notes on the post its and stick it right to their page. 

The top of each page had one of the "Must Have" topic headers and guiding questions glued on. 

The guiding questions under the topic header helped the students research for those answers. Then they would write them down on the post it notes. I did color coordinate the sticky notes. Just a personal preference. 

I also was researching my own animal, the cheetah, and modeled for the students all throughout the research days how I found information. This seemed to really help. 

The kids researched first in their Animal Book checked out from our school library and some kids used our classroom books. I have A LOT of animal books!

But I also allowed them to research online. My amazing teammate over at The Polka-Dotted Pencil, created a Symbaloo which kept all of our teacher-approved websites in one spot. The kids could easily access the Symbaloo from our teacher website. I highly recommend you creating one for your students to use. Super easy!

Have some students who really need lines instead of using post its? No problem, I created some...

We researched one of the "MUST HAVE" topics over a day or two. We spent an entire week on researching! During this time, I pulled students over individually to check their status and provide additional support if needed. 

Once our research was completed, the students organized their research with a couple of T charts...

I wanted the kids to know the reason WHY their animal had sharp teeth or WHY their animal only hunted at night etc. This really helped bring the level of understanding up a notch. 

This student had all of her questions checked off and Post it notes finished and was ready to transfer it to the T-chart. 

I jazzed up my original printable (below) for the masterpiece task. :) 

 During this research time, we also had several different mini-lessons tied into our 4 Must-Have areas. One mini lesson and activity is included in the printables!

Teaching posters...

After reviewing the posters and watching a few videos on Discovery Education, we discussed our research animal and whether it hibernates, migrates or adapts. Most of the kids already knew this information from their research! We made a class graph on a pocket chart. I didn't have these fancy headers or animal cards yet so we just used note cards! Here is what the headers and animal cards look like...

Just cut and laminate and place in pocket chart. 

Animal cards for students to write the name of their animal and then sort it into the right category!

I also made blank ones in case your kids want to draw their animal instead. 

Then we discussed what we noticed on the class graph. Which category had the most of our animals? etc. Then I gave them this graph printable to complete.

I also made one to go up to 18 animals in case you have a bigger class or you have a lot of animals in the same category!

On the back, they answered questions and even wrote their own question for a friend to solve!

It was a great activity that covered some of our Math standards as well!

Once the students had completed their research, I had them organize their writing into paragraphs.  

As a class,  we came up with a few paragraph starters. These are included in the printables!

One student's notes.....

Organized into Paragraphs...

Then it was time to discuss HOW we would present our research and learning. I LOVE giving my students voice and choice in my classroom.  We brainstormed some different ideas that we could do and came up with 3 project choices. 

1. Create a Nonfiction Book of our Animal

2. Create a Powerpoint using Google Slides

3. Create an Animal Report in iMovie using the Green screen effect ( I plan to write up a tutorial on this in another post...still working out the kinks but it was very successful with the majority of my students who chose this option) 

This student is writing his "script" in Google Docs that he plans to read for his animal report iMovie!

This student chose to create a book!

 We spent another entire week working on our projects!

They turned out GREAT! I was so proud of them!! (And this is the time in my post where I wish I had taken pictures of their final projects. Ugh!) 

The kids who chose their Google Slides presentation or the iMovie option have them saved in their google drive!

Only a few of my students created books and this was just one of the books that I captured a couple of pictures of...

MOST of my students chose the Technology options!

Here is a link to one of my student's Google Slides Presentation!

And here is a link to one of their animal reports in iMovie!

I created some checklists and Rubrics for these projects. I made them general enough that I only needed one rubric for all 3 different project options. 

There are EDITABLE versions included in the printables. :) There is also a PEER Review for students to partner up with a peer to complete a checklist! This is all a part of the Reflection piece of the PBL puzzle. 

Once our projects were nearing completion it was time for us to revisit the Driving Question and actually build our zoo!

But first, we researched different zoo layouts...

We had a discussion of what type of layout we wanted for our own zoo.

Then we needed a name...

I gave the kids some time to get their idea written on the board for our zoo name.

Then we voted and decided on "The Might MeGown Zoo"!

Next we had to decide which habitat type our animal needed...

Once we had our animals in their preferred habitat (I didn't correct them just yet if they were wrong, some figured it out once we made their habitat) , we could start to sketch out our zoo. 

This picture was taken a couple of days in so we had already made a lot of progress!

The kids created their habitat on a half sheet of copy paper. On the inside, they wrote 4 complete sentences (1 sentence for each "Must Have" topic) explaining what their animal needs in their habitat. Then they chose a location for their specific habitat. I LOVE how our zoo turned out! The kids worked so hard!

We named the different regions of our zoo like we saw on many of the other zoo layouts. Here is our "Famous Forest" region...

Arctic Area

Rainforest Region

 African Savannah

And the center of our zoo!

And lastly, our projects and zoo needed a PUBLIC AUDIENCE. We invited another 2nd grade class to come to our classroom. We had it set up like a museum for the students to do a Gallery Walk. We actually swapped classrooms and got to go check out their zoo and projects while they looked at ours. 

Getting everything ready!

The students had their laptops on their desk to show their Google Slides presentation or their iMovie. And those who made books had them displayed on their desks. 

A movie from the other classroom...

They created a BIG zoo using construction paper.

 I had the kids bring sticky notes to the other class so that they could write down compliments or questions. 

 Then we headed back to our own classroom to check out each other's projects. 

This was such an INCREDIBLE PBL opportunity for our 2nd graders and I am so happy to share it!

Be sure to check out these Printables and Resources on TpT. It will be on sale through this Thursday (7/9) Be sure to check it out!!

Also, be sure to check out the other amazing Masterpieces in the link up by visiting one of the blogs above!

Thank you so much for reading about our Animal Research PBL!

Week 2: Dare to Dream!

It's Week 2 of the TpT Seller Challenge and I'm excited to share my GOALS for this "Dare to Dream" post. To be honest, the fact that it is Wednesday evening and I am JUST NOW posting for the week makes me a little crazy. Ugh...wish I wasn't so Type A. Anyways, if you are just tuning in and want to learn more about this exciting challenge, be sure to check out these fabulous blogs!

 

This week's assignment!!

I had to narrow it down and focus on what is really at the top of my list. Most important. 

Here they are...

So, up first....

First and foremost, when considering my goals for TpT...this one word comes to mind. As a mommy of young littles, coach's wife, grade level chair, and 2nd grade teacher, "new" blogger...BALANCE is key! This will most likely always be a constant struggle, I realize, but I want to try to find that happy medium. I feel there have been times that I've let my family down because I was trying to finish a TpT product or a blog post instead of tending to issues at home. Sure, there have been nights that I served PB&Js, potato chips, and cookies for dinner (more nights than I would like to admit), because I needed to get back on my computer. My kids are little sponges who watch everything I do and I don't ever want them to feel that they're second. My family is the most important thing along with my faith in the Lord. So, ((deep breath))...BALANCE. Blogging and TpT'ing has to wait until nap time or bed time!

For my next goal, this is important to me. I feel that TpT and all that comes with it will always be a part of my life. As cliche as it sounds, I really consider myself a lifelong learner. I want to know how these big time bloggers do it. How they find success. Their tips and tricks...I want to LEARN and then be able to CREATE high quality products and SHARE with others through my blog and TpT store. I feel that there has been improvement over the past year but I'm hungry for more! I would love to feel that I have made a "breakthrough" and found my place in the educational blogging world. I want my products to be "wishlisted" and sought after just because I created it. I always want to be able to share my work with others. 

This one is simple. We don't become teachers for the money. Everybody knows that. As teachers, we want to MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I want to inspire not only my students each year but also fellow teachers. Whether it be the amazing teachers I work alongside each day or teachers across the world. I want what I do each day to matter. I mean, really matter. To me, the greatest reward from teaching is a handwritten note from a student or parent declaring my importance in his/her life. My work mattered. My LOVE for my students has been recognized. It's the greatest. Can I get an AMEN?!

And lastly, pay off debt. Did you notice how I created the word "Debt" here? I wanted to display it sketchy as if it could just be ERASED easily. But since I know it can't, I have the dark shadow around the letters. And that is how debt makes me feel. Just a dark gloomy cloud surrounding us. My husband is a coach. So we have more or less reached our highest earning potential in the positions we are in. When I started TpT, I thought I would use the extra income for some of my personal fun things like massages, pedicures, highlights etc. But now, I need to get serious and pay off that credit card. Life happens and we need to get new tires, take a (really) expensive trip to the ER, or replace an AC unit. Yeah, all that just happened in the past 2 months. So...TpT and the income it provides will be redirected to erase debt! It will be such a great feeling once it happens!!

That pretty much wraps up my goals! Be sure to head on over to the other blogs to check out others' goals. I've noticed that many teachers all over the country have similar goals!

What are yours?!

Makeover Madness Take Two! Father's Day Book & Coupons!

This whole Makeover Madness hosted by the TpT Seller Challenge is rocking my world. Seriously. I'm afraid it may become a slight obsession to makeover my old products. It is crazy how much my style of designing and creating has changed or let's be honest, I didn't really know what I was doing when I started designing 2 years ago. Ha ha!

Wanna know more about this TpT Seller Challenge or want to join in on the fun? Head on over to these fabulous blogs:  Third in Hollywood, Teach Create Motivate, Sparkling in Second, and Peppy Zesty Teacherista!

I posted my makeover of my best selling The Great Sub Reference Binder on Monday and I LOVED how it turned out. But I know I had other products that were more in need of a facelift, desperately.

Here's my latest! 

Father's Day Book & Coupons

See what I mean? It was SCREAMING for a makeover. It WAS one of the first products I created so it really appears to just be thrown together. I really love the new and updated cover. 

Here's more of the transformation:

BEFORE: 

AFTER: 

In addition to the cover, I added more pages for the book and a book assembly directions page. I also included a Boy and Girl version for the cover page and made it available in black and white for easy printing! Aren't these covers cute?

Before I didn't even provide a cover...what was I thinking??

BEFORE: 

AFTER: 

BEFORE: 

AFTER: 

Just a small snapshot of some of the pages. I'm so glad I chose this one to make over. 

Just in time for Father's Day too! I have this already uploaded to my TpT Store AND it's on sale through Father's Day!!! Get this HERE!

Thanks for checking out my latest Makeover Madness! I have a feeling that I will just have to do another one before the week is up. So addicting! Anyone else out there feel the same way?!

Don't forget to head on over the other blogs to view the link up of the other FABULOUS makeovers!!

Letter of the Day Training Camp! {ALL BOY style}

Depending on how you look at it, being a teacher's kid can have its perks... or its downfalls? This kid just happens to love getting dressed up and posing for a few pics. This is how I am attempting to teach him his letters this summer. 

You can hop on over to my family blog to see the activities we are doing each day. We've only made it through letter H so far but you can follow our ABC learning adventures HERE!

This has definitely proven to be a different experience than when I did Letter of the Day activities with my daughter 2 years ago.  She was more than eager to do every activity and every letter craft. 

You can read all about our Letter of the Day with my daughter HERE.

It's true what they say....girls mature faster than boys. No doubt.

 I know I would have to keep the activities centered around all boy stuff to hold his interest. Sports, garbage trucks, race cars, bugs...etc. So far, so good.

I am planning on printing out each letter picture, starring my little athlete, and hang them up on the wall upstairs. 

This one is my favorite so far. :)

Not sure how much he's actually learning, but we are having fun!!

Do you do any learning activities with your own kiddos? If so, I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment below! ;)

TpT Seller Challenge! Makeover Madness!

I am sooo excited to be participating in this awesome TpT Seller Challenge hosted by Third in Hollywood, Teach Create Motivate, Sparkling in Second, and Peppy Zesty Teacherista! To learn more about it click HERE!

This week's topic is MAKEOVER MADNESS! I gladly accept this challenge and plan on making over more than one product within the week. This has definitely been on my TpT to-do list for awhile now. Just needed some free time (aka...summer!) and a little motivation to knock it out.

I wanted to go ahead and share my recently made over product: The Great Sub Reference Binder. This product has been PERFECT for long-term subs and just as a daily sub binder as needed. I just leave my copy near my desk in case I have to be out! I actually made over this product once before the original went on TpT. I had a friend about to take maternity leave and she had asked me to make her long term sub reference binder! So this is what was born....



 It is my #1 Top Seller on TpT and has received lots of re-pinning love on Pinterest. I know, so why give it a make over? Well, the content stays the same with a few added features and I just wanted to make it brighter and more updated. I LOVE the way it turned out!!

So happy with how it has turned out!

Here is an image used in my original blog post about the makeover. You can read that post HERE!

It also has more EDITABLE pages than before. Totally customizable to your classroom and ready for a sub!

Here is a little preview of what is all included!

So, what do you think? I would love to hear what all you would want to see in a sub binder. I might have to be making over this product again, you never know!

Be sure to check it out on TpT! Oh! And it will be on sale (20% off) until Thursday (6/18)!

Thanks for checking out this Makeover Madness! Stay tuned for more makeovers this week and be sure to stop by the other blogs linked up to see their new creations!