Monday Made It

It's already time for another Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics!

Most of my time the last couple of weeks has been devoted to teaching summer school and keeping things on track for my family of 7. So when Saturday hits I know it's time to make something to share. Last week I spent some time updating covers and this week I tackled updating a few products.

I use this decimal review activity early in the year so it seemed like a good place to start. The best thing about it is that it provides a review of several standards in our decimal unit...comparing, adding, and rounding. It includes 4 exit tickets and is free...just for today.

I always enjoy teaching summer school. It's relaxed, fun, and only 4 hours. While I am following a curriculum...there's an opportunity to try things that I want to implement with my new class in the fall. 

Today's activity was building a model of a watershed. I used a pbskids video as a guide. I liked the idea that this did not involve dirt or sand. I divided the kiddos up into groups of 4 so each group made a model. After they made the landforms out of plastic cups and containers, they covered everything with foil and pressed out streams, rivers, and lakes. 

The groups used pieces of paper for litter, and glitter for fertilizer. 

We used jello instead of food coloring for a final touch...this made the streams and rivers easier to follow. The kiddos took turns spraying the models with water and recording observations in their notebooks. We had a class discussion between each step, and then groups had the chance to look at the other models.

Tomorrow we will review what we learned with this interactive video...http://fergusonfoundation.org/hbf-kids-zone/ways-of-a-watershed/.

Have a great week!