How to Build a Snowman

Last winter I was working on directions writing with my students. The main focus was on the Chinese New Year Day we had at school, but one of my students was absent and missed it. As an alternate assignment I had him write the steps of how to build a snowman. In our brainstorming we thought that it would be best to write the final draft in the actual order in which one builds a snowman; from the bottom up! It came out really neat!

First, (is the bottom of the snowman)
Next, (is the middle of the snowman)
Then, (is the snowman's head)
Last, (is decorating the snowman)

Unfortunately, the one photograph I have is not very good, but it will have to do. :-)

A Place to Share

Let me start by saying THANK GOD FOR PINTEREST!!! I am in love with all the ideas Pinterest has to offer. I live on there looking for awesome ideas for my classroom. On the flip side, I want to be able to give back and share some ideas of my own. I figure the best way to do this is to create a blog. This way fellow teachers are connected to a link with the materials they need instead of only a picture. Here is my first lesson/idea.

The Circle Story

Students can write their own circle story in the style of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff. 

 First we read as a class many of the Laura Joffe Numeroff books. Then I created a graphic organizer for the students to work on their stories. What I did was I cut out large circular pieces out of construction paper. In the center I wrote If You Give a _______________________ a ____________________. At the top of the circle I wrote Start/Finish. I then put 7 dots evenly spaced around the circle like a clock.  The students first write down their title making sure that the animal they pick and what they give the animal both start with the same letter i.e. If You Give an Aardvark an Apple. The students then wrote their ideas for their story on post it notes sticking them around the circle where the dots were making sure that it would lead back to their start because in a circle story the start and finish were the same. They then did a first draft of their story, and a final draft including illustrations. They had a great time doing this activity and they really soared with this creative opportunity. This lesson takes about 5+ 45 minute sessions to complete. 

Cute lesson, and my kids loved it!