1st Graders from Mars

First Graders from Mars

This is a fun book about a Martian boy who misses all the fun things from martiangarten.

I had the kiddos pick one thing they liked about kindergarten that they do not get to do now and one thing the get to try new in first grade.

Here are some of the Martians hanging in the hall for Open House.

Backpack Night

Tonight is the night.   My room is ready just waiting for the kids to show up.

I organized my desktop.  Maybe now I can found my files.

My binders.  These were so handy last year.

For those of you that teach the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, here is my Atrium.  I remove the curtains.

A view from the closet.

Reading Corner. I so need to find another bookshelf

Focus Wall.

Writing Corner.

Trying to find time has been challenging this year.

Mimio Board.

Behavior Chart.

I recovered my table.  I really liked the way it turned out.

Book boxes and math shelf.

Mailboxes and cubbies.

I had to make this pinteresting clock.

This is behind my desk.  I wanted to hide all my teacher books.

And my monster pillow.  I love making a new pillow every year for my chair.

Game Board Storage

I am always having trouble with the board games in my classroom.  

The boxes take up too much room and fall apart.  

I decided to cut the boards to save room and storage space.

1.  I cut the board with a new Exacto knife down the center parallel to the seam that was already there.  I had to go over the seam from the front and back a few times.

2.  Push the board back together and tape one side of the cut with duck tape.

3. Fold the board in half on the seam that was already there.

4. Now fold it in half on the duck tape seam.

5. I used Mod Podge to seal the ruff edges.

6. I had some drawers from Sterilite that pulled completely out without catching, but I cannot find them anymore.  They worked great.  I labeled the fronts and the kids could pull out the drawer and take it to their spot to work.  I also found some boxes at Dollar Tree that fit perfectly. 

Catholic Church

Parts of the Church

1. Sancutary
1. Fold a piece of cardstock in half.
2. Altar
1. Cut to slits in the fold and push through to make the table.
2. Cut white fabric for altar cloth.
3. Altar candles
1. Use 2 gold pipe cleaners for the candles
2. hot glue a gold sequin to the tops and then glue white pipe cleaners to the top for candles.
4. Sanctuary lamp
1. We used a red bead for the sanctuary lamp.
5. Tabernacle
1.  cut an opening in the wall with a knife.
2. glue a piece of gold paper on the flap
3. stick a sticker cross on the gold door
4. behind the tabernacle we glued a picture of the Eucharist with Jesus in it
6. Crucifix
1. Usually I have the kids make a cross out of small popsicle sticks and then have them draw Jesus on the front.
7. Stained glass window
1. We cut a hole into the wall of the sanctuary.
2. The kids then colored a piece of tranparency with permanent markers.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Atrium time is spent in the back of our classroom.  We have no extra room in our school for the atrium.  To get the kids thinking about Atrium time I send them all to our coat closet to put on their special cross necklaces.   As they enter the room, I welcome them and they dip their hands into our class holy water font.

Below are a few pictures from lessons we have learned so far this year. 

 Preparation of the cruets

Glueing in Altar I

Working with Altar I items

Putting items into the Sacristy cabinet.

Liturgical colors

Sponging

Moon with Craters

To make moon:

Cut a circle out of cardboard.

Spread a thick coat of plaster of paris over circle

Dip fingers in plaster just before it begins to harden for craters.

Caterpillar to Butterfly

To make butterfly:  Fold paper in half (hamburger style).  

Cut in the shape of a butterfly wing. On one side color it green to look like to chrysalis.

On the other side, color it to look like a caterpillar.

Open it up and flip over.

Color the inside to look like a butterfly.