The Pigeon Has to Go to School

 Who doesn't love the Pigeon from Mo Willems? He is one of my favorites and everyone knows. Beginning the year for 1st graders is fun when you tie the Pigeon, an iPad and levers. I love getting to read to firsties and think it is great to tie a literature connection to a STEM activity. After reading we watch 

I give them a marker, a plastic soon, and a cutout of the Pigeon. They test where to place the marker and/or spoon while practicing how hard or soft to strike the spoon to launch the Pigeon. It is quite fun to watch as they learn from one another what works, what doesn't, what will get your Pigeon higher and watching with amazement as they launch all over the classroom.

 Then we work on aim and strength of the strike to get the Pigeon closest to the school. After we work through this we work on back to school puzzles and even learning how to draw the Pigeon and send him on our own adventures.

Ping Pong Ball in a Cup Using Teamwork

 Starting out the year I try to use Teamwork activities to get the kids to think and talk to one another. Communication is very important and teamwork can accomplish tasks beyond their wildest dreams. We meet Molly the inventor in this amazing GE commercial.

After seeing this we talk about team work being important. I give them sheets of paper, a cup and a ping pong ball. They have to figure out a way to get the ping pong ball into the cup from a distance of 4 feet or six feet and even 8 feet away. It is funny to see them using trial and error to accomplish the mission. 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work... #ottersmatter

Special Area Teacher Assistants

 Our CCE PTA has a BIG event each Spring as a school-wide initiative fund raiser and the highlight is the silent auction. Each teacher and class put together a basket for the silent auction. there are cooking baskets, spa baskets, and even LOTTO baskets to name a few. What is something your school can do that doesn't cost any money but brings in money for the school? Raffle off front seats tot he 5th grade graduation or winter/end of year concert or special area teaching assistants for the day! Each special area is given a teaching assistant for the day and we make it a BIG deal! We have shirts I print up with their names on them. We make name tags and lanyards to look official and we have lunch with all the special area teachers and assistants during lunch. It is such a fun event and the money goes to our PTA to help fund the yearly goals. The students love having the ability to shadow a teacher and lead for the day. Making memories for sure...