50s day

Every year I look forward to the 50th day of school.  9 years ago my Aunt Alice made a pink poodle skirt and I bought a pair of saddle shoes so every year around this time I get to go to the back of my closet and pull those gems out.  I love counting those days with the kids and Zero the Hero, then the BIG day arrives.  We talk about clothes, cars, and other things from the past and now.  The wheels start turning for parents and how to dress them up.  By the picture below you will see they did not disappoint.

My fabulous 50s firsties.

We rotate through the other 1st grade classrooms for a variety of activities.  Here we are getting ready for some root beer floats and we got to watch the chocolate factory episode of I Love Lucy.  Can you believe these kids hadn't ever seen a black & white TV show.  We laughed and laughed.

Get ready for some drag racing!  Here we used our breathing power to race those cars. Can we get a cheer for these kids?!?

Some of us really get into our work right?  Who could blame him he was having a ball!

Who remembers coloring contests?  These kids are getting their creations ready for the judge!

What 50s day wouldn't be complete without a hula hoop contest?  

The firsties had to come up with their favorite parts to an amazing day and we used ChatterPix to tell you all about it.  Watch and see all the fun we had main it to the 50s day of school.

This is our crew and they are amazing!

50s DAY!!

The 49^th day was like every one before and then came the 50^th day of school…  The firsties walked in to the music playing and there were jeans, poodle skirts, and pony tails as far as the eyes could see. It was such a cute sight with giggles and skirts twirling and boys with gelled hair.  Every room in 1^st grade had a different 50s activities.  We hula hooped, did the twist, made greater than/less than records, drank root beer floats, counted how many things we could do with 50 seconds, and built towers with 50 cups.  It was so much fun seeing all the kids in 1^st grade pass through my room. 

I tried a new rotation this year.  I made a flipchart with various activities and the kids had 50 seconds along with keeping their count.  Have you tried jumping jacks for 50 seconds, then standing on 1 foot, then switching to the other foot?  It is tougher than it sounds.  Here are just a few of the pictures I took because I was participating too.  My highlight was Ms. Kathleen, an intern at our school.  She is exceptional.  She has lead a full life of family, children, working as a paraprofessional, a nurse, and still at 68 wants to learn so she of course went back to school.  She was right in there with those 6 year olds hopping, counting, and having just as much fun. 

Here is our crew of Pink Ladies and Greasers.  

Thanks to these brave ladies.  We had a firstie vs mom paddleball competition.  Too fun!

50s day you might ask why do we do it? We never did those things when I was in school. Funny you should ask. Here is my take.  At Cypress Creek we are creating experiences for these children.  They won’t know what the 50s were like, what they wore, or how they survived without electronics.  The 50s are fading, so for a few hours we could let them experience the music, the laughter, and the simplicity of life in the 50s.  The best part, my favorite part, is the math we shared that day.  We counted over and over again and it was fun.  Math was fun.  Imagine that a world where 50 doesn’t have to be 50 but a 25+25, or 10+40, or 30+20 depending on what would make it easier to work with.  If you ask the kids they will say it was fun because they didn’t have to do any work.  Little do they know how much energy went into making the 49 days of learning before 50 come to life.

50s day

The video is finally done!  So yes I have a problem taking too many pictures and then I have to go through them all to make the movie.  These firsties are the cutest little people in the world!  The 50th day is always the cutest with the poodle skirts, ponytails, and rolled up jeans.  Check them out in the video.  This year every 1st grade teacher had a different center activity in their room.  The kids rotated through them all and had a blast!  We hula hooped, blew bubble gum bubbles, tried root beer floats, danced, made records with numbers greater than and less than 50, built sculptures with cups and Legos, and drew wheat we thought we would look like at 50 years old.  We couldn't have done it without the parents to volunteer and send in the supplies.  THANK YOU!! Enjoy the pictures, the kids did making them.

50 days smarter...

This is my 5th year teaching 1st grade and I LOVE it!  One of my favorite days is the 50th day of school.  Each year we celebrate with a sock hop and this year it was even more fabulous than last year.  Make sure to check out the iMovie I made to show off all the fun.  We celebrated all day long.  We talked about things from the 50s and today.  It was cute because the kids didn't even know what a record was and few had seen a jukebox.  We counted by 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s and talked about numbers greater than or less than 50.  You should see how they made 50.  We played games and watched an I Love Lucy episode.  They didn't even know who Lucy was?!  The chocolate factory worker one is a classic and I am so glad I got to show them TV before it was color.  We danced to the chicken dance, blew bubbles, and even a hula hooping contest.  It was great fun and definitely a day to remember!  I can't wait to see what we are doing on the 100th day...

50s day 10-26-10

Yesterday was the 50th day of school.  We celebrated with a sock hop at the end of our day.  Everyone looked so cute all dressed up for the sock hop.  Earlier in the day we worked with patterns, tally marks, and of course our favorite singer, Jack Hartmann.  Make sure to check out our Smilebox with our bubble gum blowing, hula hoops, and the chicken dance.  To end the day Jordan's grandmother talked about life in the 50s when she was just a fresh little chicken herself.  Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who helped make our day extra special!

Slideshow created with Smilebox