Lesson's you can't "plan" for

My favorite kind of lessons are those lessons that you don't plan for.  Not just that you don't plan for them,  but that you CAN'T plan for them.

I had one of those lessons this week.

Now,  before I tell you the story of the unplanned lesson.  I must tell you something about me.  I am TERRIFIED of snakes.  And, my children know this.  They learn it around the time that we do letter bag S because "EVERYONE" and I mean "EVERYONE"  (not really but it sure feels like it) puts a snake in their S bag.  So, in class I "play" up my fear and we talk about what to do when we are afraid and how to handle ourselves.  Because I am at a Catholic school we talk about how God helps us when we are afraid.  It does not take our fear away,  but he will comfort us when we are afraid.  AND, knowing that there is going to be a plastic snake in the bag I can usually keep it together in front of the kids.  

It is the last week of school.  We are starting to put things away and pack things for summer.  I have pulled a tote out of the closet to put away a few games.  And what do I find when I open the tote.  4 plastic snakes.  That I KNOW are in the tote because I am the one that put them there.  Do you think it helped me in the "moment"?  Not one little bit.  I screamed and jumped and dropped the box on the ground.  And then when my ENTIRE class who had been working so well up until I disturbed them began looking at me and asking what was wrong I immediately began laughing all the while hyperventilating and shaking because I had scared myself with my own SNAKES!!!

 

So while I took a few moments to collect myself.  My lovelies decided that I needed signs on my tote to remind myself that there were snakes inside the box.  

 

The entire class, 24 lovelies, took it upon them selves to write me signs that say "BEWARE of SNAKES".  

Are they not just the most wonderful things you have ever seen?

I just could not have planned a better writing assessment.  And, I am sure that when they went home and told the story to their parents it was a story for sure. :) 

Teachers pay teachers and Norte Dame Science Units

I have been using teacherspayteachers.com for a while now.  I love the site.  I uploaded my first document tonight.  It was a activity that I made for the performance assessment for one of my science units.  For years I have used a weather wheel for years.  The kids love making them but for the last few years I have changed from the pre-printed ones to this one where the kids have to draw their own pictures.  I don't know what the difference is with coloring and drawing but most of my kids prefer to draw then to color.  I prefer it too.  So, I adapted the standard color wheel.  

I am also looking through the work I have done for years.  The things that I LOVE and that the kids seem to like as well.  I am going to add those once I get back to school in the fall.  So, for now, go get my free weather and seasons wheel.  :)

Part of the training I went to last week with Norte Dame and the Archdioese of Oklahoma had me working on science units for the.  It has been a very LONG and grueling process.  But,  I feel like I am a better teacher for it.  I am going to post a few of the things that I have done as part of it.

Here is one of the activities.  I tried it out on B.  He had a blast.  See how happy he is!!!! 

The Performance Assessement:  Illustrate an animal in its habitat including it's needs and it's life cycle.

The conversation went like this.

Me:What kind of an animal do you want to draw?
B:  A Dinosaur (Green pink and blue image in the middle)
Me:  Now where does he live?
B: in a cave (purple thing to the right)
Me:  What does your dinosaur need to stay alive?
B:  Sun, water and food (orange at the top and the three light blue on the left are  the glass of water and an apple)
Me: If this is an adult dinosaur what was it before that?
B:  Kid
Me: And before it was a kid?
B:  A baby (orange on the bottom left)
Me:  And before it was a baby?
B: an egg (the brown on the bottom left) 

The assessment is designed as a group at activity but each child is doing different animals.  Then once the entire group has finished you can put them into a book and discuss each animal.   I hope it turns out in the classroom as well as it did at home.  I was really able to see what B knew and what he did not.  He knew that a dinosaur need food but not the right kind of food.  He knew that it needed water but it does not drink from a glass.  Can't wait to see what this little guy learns this year in Pre-K.