I've now used this rubric for two years and I'd swear by it. I use it once a month. I have the students self-assess their behavior in one color, then I also assess their behavior in another color. I have them take it home and have their parents sign it. Sometimes on the back I have the students write an area they would like to improve in and a goal for that area.
Monday, June 3, 2013
"Tomorrow's Alphabet" Activity
I used the book "Tomorrow's Alphabet" by George Shannon to teach inference. I describe inference as using clues the author leaves and prior knowledge to solve the mystery of the book. I also use the metaphor of putting a puzzle together: when you put a puzzle together you don't know exactly what the next piece will look like but you have enough clues to figure it out.
I read Tomorrow's Alphabet aloud, covering up the second page for each set. (If you haven't read the book it goes something like this: "V is for paper-" (page 1) "tomorrow's... Valentine." (page 2). I then have students predict what they think will be on the next page, stating what clues or information makes them think this.
After finishing the book I have the students choose a letter (or assign them a letter) and make their own "Tomorrow's Alphabet." I used this at the end of the year so I focus on graduating, moving on, etc. in my examples. I.e. "A is for child - tomorrow's adult."
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Quotes
“Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of
life, few injustices deeper than the denial of an opportunity to strive or even
to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but falsely identified as lying
within.”
-Stephen Jay Gould
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Silhouette Art
We did this project for Halloween, but it could really be done for any season. It is a simple project and turns out beautifully.
Materials
- Small pieces of watercolor paper
- Paint brushes
- Water color paint sets
- Black construction paper OR black tempura paint
- Glue
Steps
- Paint a skyline with watercolors, covering the entire watercolor paper (may need to discuss the colors of the sky at different times of day).
- Cut a scene out of black construction paper or paint it over the water color with tempura paint after it dries.
- Glue the scene onto the water color paper.
Dr. Seuss Art
This project is a low-prep, fun way to honor Dr. Seuss!
Materials
- 11 x 17 in white construction paper (twice as many as you have students)
- tempura paint
- paint brushes (small and large)
- black permanent markers
- pencils
- glue (school or stick)
- Dr. Seuss books for reference
- Students paint broad horizontal or vertical stripes across their first piece of construction paper in a single color, leaving the background white.
- While the backgrounds dry students draw their favorite Dr. Seuss character lightly in pencil.
- Paint over the pencil with tempura paint.
- Once the paint dries, outline the character in permanent marker (optional).
- Cut out the character.
- Glue character onto background.
Stained Glass Craft Project
This is a semi-complicated craft that the kids love! It can also be done around any holiday with holiday-themed templates. It could be done with any grade level, but it is pretty complicated.
Materials
- Sharpies (Various colors, lots of black, at least the number of sharpies as you have kids unless you want to do this in stations)
- Plastic wrap (1 roll, any brand)
- Heavy duty aluminum foil (1 roll, any brand)
- Paper plates (just the basic cheap kind)
- Tape (any kind, really, it goes on the back.
- Stained glass or mandala templates printed on plain paper (see below)
Preparation
- Cut aluminum foil and plastic wrap in square or rectangular sheets that are big enough to cover the paper plates.
- Print mondala and/or stained glass templates on normal paper.
- Crinkle up aluminum foil into a ball (not too tight because you'll need to flatten it out!)
- Flatten out the aluminum foil.
- Cover the bottom of the paper plate with aluminum foil and tape the corners on the other side.
- Choose a stained glass template and wrap the plastic wrap tightly around the template. Tape it on the back of the template.
- Color the plastic wrap with colored sharpies, starting with the inner portions of the stained glass.
- Outline the colored portions in black sharpie.
- Remove the plastic from the template. (Template can be recycled)
- Cover the aluminum foil plate with the plastic wrap and tape on the same side as the aluminum foil was taped.
- Color in gentle, even strokes.
- Wait to outline until the very end so mistakes can be covered.
- Work from the center outward so the marker doesn't get on your hands or get smeared.
- Spread the plastic wrap gently with your fingers as you color to prevent wrinkles.
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