Water Cycle Vocabulary Mini Game
Category: Science
“The Black Box Experiment” – The First Day of School Activity
The first day of school will be here before we know it and I can’t wait! The first day of school can be tricky and if you don’t take care, you could have a rocky start. With that in mind, I’ve learned a few things to do on that first day that will get the students thinking! One of my favorite is the Black Box Experiment.
When I did my student teaching some years ago, my mentor and I planned our first day out completely. One thing he did was the black box experiment. When I began my 2nd year teaching, I did this experiment with my 2nd graders. I filled a regular pencil boxes (the same you can get at the store for about $1, even cheaper right before school starts) with everyday school items. Mostly just some things I found around the classroom. Then I closed it and wrapped it in black bulletin board paper.
On the first day of school during science time, I pulled out the boxes. I had made about 3 to 5 boxes (enough for each table). I didn’t tell the students what was in it. They had to use their senses to figure out what was in the box. It was a great experience for them and for me as well.
When I did it with my mentor, we simply had the students write about it. When I did it with my 2nd graders, I created a worksheet where they could draw what they thought was in the box and write down their reasons. At the end of the day, I used their drawings and posted them on my bulletin board.
The answers the students gave were funny while others were spot on (I think everyone knows the sound of a coin). You can gain some insight into their thinking as well as get a sample of their writing and drawing. I remember one student thought there were cards in the boxes. Another thought there was a toy elephant inside!
Through the school year, I made references to that experiment, especially for my struggling students (making the analogy that even though we don’t know something, eventually we will figure it out aka open the box). At the end of the year, we opened the boxes and the students were surprised at what it was. Some were happy while others were disappointed. Next time, I plan to put small 2nd grade promotion certificates and small prizes inside the boxes! If you’d like to try this experiment in your classroom, you can purchase this set in my TPT Store. It gives you more details and plans out the entire lesson from start to finish.
Have a happy first day of school! Don’t forget to check out other great first day activities!
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Using StudyJams in the Classroom
If there’s one website you need to know about, it’s StudyJams. This website created by Scholastic, includes videos about Math and Science topics for 2nd grade and up. I use these quite often. Not only for myself, but for my students. It’s great for review!
StudyJams includes 2 topics. The math topics include Numbers, Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication & Division, Fractions, Decimals & Percents, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Data Analysis, Probability, and Problem Solving.
StudyJams’ science topics include Plants, Animals, the Human Body, Ecosystems, Landforms, Rocks, & Minerals, Weather & Climate, Solar System, Matter, Force & Motion, Energy & Light, and Scientific Inquiry.
Each topic includes subtopics and all you have to do is click on the topic. Some topics are videos and some are just slideshows. For the videos, “the crew” discuss real life problems related to each topic.
Each topic also includes key words that you can click on and see the definition. Most topics also have a “Test Yourself” which has a few questions about the topic. I use thus quite often to test my students’ knowledge. Some even have Karaoke songs. I haven’t tried that, but I did a few students who loved to sing some of the songs!
For some of the math topics, there a step by step guide to solve math problems. This really helped my struggling student. They would watch the videos more than once. This also helped my struggling students who have access to computer or tablet at home. They could watch videos to help them with their homework.
This StudyJams is so useful, I find myself using it almost every day, especially for the science topics. It great for the students too. They come in handy during testing time too as my students are tested in Science as well as math and reading. Best of all, this website is free! No log in, sign-ups, or trials. StudyJams is FREE!!
Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think: Study Jams
1,000 Follower Spectacular – Day 6
It’s here, it’s here! I finally made it to 1,000 followers. I’m so excited! I wanted to have a small huge celebration. So big it would take an entire week to celebrate! Each day will includes spectacular new games, $1 Deals & freebie steals, and much, much more! You can find out more with in my 1,000 Follower Spectacular Invitation.
Let’s begin with the Gift Card giveaway of the Day! Today, you can win a $25 gift card to Dollar Tree. Ah, that teacher sections does wonders for my classroom.
Today’s $1 Deal is for 5th grade teachers. Fractions was one of my favorite topics when I was in elementary school. It’s no wonder I have some many fraction games. Today’s game has been requested since I made the opposite of it.
In this “Students vs Students Monsters” game, students are changing improper fractions into mixed numbers. Instead of students playing against each other, they play against monsters (which is still students against each other).
20 questions in all and includes a tie breaker question in case your students are really good. Perfect for a whole class review.
Get on sale all this week for $1.
Today’s freebie is about the Water Cycle. I taught my 2nd graders about the water cycle very briefly (mostly the 4 major parts).
In this game, students review words associated with the water cycle. Students read the definition and give the word they think it is.
You can get this game for free all this week.
That’s all for today. Be sure to stop by my Facebook page for some flash freebies starting at/around 5 pm EST. Click “Get Notifications” so you’ll know when they start!
1,000 Follower Spectacular – Day 5
It’s here, it’s here! I finally made it to 1,000 followers. I’m so excited! I wanted to have a small huge celebration. So big it would take an entire week to celebrate! Each day will includes spectacular new games, $1 Deals & freebie steals, and much, much more! You can find out more with in my 1,000 Follower Spectacular Invitation.
Let’s begin with the Gift Card giveaway of the Day! Today, you can win a Yearly License to my TPT Store for the upcoming school year. I offer my ppt games individual and in bundles, but a yearly license guarantees you all the games for the school year. You can check out more here.
Today’s $1 Deal is for 4th grade teachers. I love math especially when Geometry (I took Geometry Honors class in high school). I love working with plane figures, lines, rays, etc. one my favorites to teach when I taught 5th grade.
In this “Write and Wipe” game, students are identifying lines, line segments, rays, and points. This games is played with whiteboards and dry-eraser markers.
25 questions in all. A very simple and easy game to use for everyone. Perfect for a whole class review or a game to play if you’re absent.
Get on sale all this week for $1.
Today’s freebie is about the Moon. Yesterday, I released a solar system mini game. Let’s stay a little closer to home.
In this game, students are naming the different phases of the moon. The first 8 questions ask students identify the phase. Questions 9 and 10 ask students to tell what phase comes after a given phase.
You can get this game for free all this week.
That’s all for today. Be sure to stop by my Facebook page for some flash freebies starting at/around 5 pm EST. Click “Get Notifications” so you’ll know when they start!
1,000 Follower Spectacular – Day 4
It’s here, it’s here! I finally made it to 1,000 followers. I’m so excited! I wanted to have a small huge celebration. So big it would take an entire week to celebrate! Each day will includes spectacular new games, $1 Deals & freebie steals, and much, much more! You can find out more with in my 1,000 Follower Spectacular Invitation.
Let’s begin with the Gift Card giveaway of the Day! Today, you can win a $25 gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers. This means any store at any time. Fonts, games, clip art, Oh my!
Today’s $1 Deal is for 3rd grade teachers. I have a lot of time games, but very few for the topic “Time to the Minute”. I think I only have one, in fact. I decided it’s time—hee hee, ya see what I did there— to make another!
In this “Bingo” game, students are telling time to the minute. This games was a doosy to create (taking almost 3 days). There are 25 clocks to choose from.
You can randomly choose a box by clicking “Board” or play in order by clicking “Next”.
It comes with 30 game boards, call sheet, and 2 sets of printable chips. There are 2 cards per and1 set of printable chips per sheet. You can prepare a head of time or ask as few students to cut them for you.
Get on sale all this week for $1.
Today’s freebie is about the Solar System. It’s another Who Am I game with the clues asking for what planet it is.
In this game, students are given 3 clues to a planet in the solar system. Clues include distance from the sun, nicknames, and description of the planet.
You can get this game for free all this week.
That’s all for today. Be sure to stop by my Facebook page for some flash freebies starting at/around 5 pm EST. Click “Get Notifications” so you’ll know when they start!