American Idols in SC History!

Learning about the American Revolution can be very overwhelming.  Luckily I have a group this year that likes LOVES SC History.  So to change things up a bit, we did a culminating activity that involved writing lyrics to our favorite songs.  Each group picked their favorite song from the radio or a movie, and just changed up the lyrics to be facts about events leading up to the American Revolution.  If my blog music box is playing you need to pause it so it won't interfere with the videos being played. ;)

See if you can figure out which songs are which.  The following songs were used: "I Like To Move It, Move It", "Call Me Maybe", "Price Tag", "We are Never Getting Back Together" & "What Makes You Beautiful." 

I think some of my girls will end up being singers and dancers growing up! They REALLY got into it. I love it!!! 

This one even resembles the music video :)

Great choreography guys!

Who doesn't love this Carly Rae Jepson song?!? ;)

Ahhh! Of course you know the boy band "One Direction" had to be represented as well :) 

I couldn't be more proud of ALL of you! Way to go and keep singing!

Geometry Hunt Around Capital Square

The students went on a geometry hunt last week around the school.  We found parallel, intersecting, and perpendicular lines.  We also found some rays, line segments, lines and angles.

If I Lived In A Snow Globe...

Students had to imagine what life would be like if they lived in a snow globe.  I was very entertained reading their stories of how they came to live in a snow globe.  I have some very creative students and excellent writers if I do say so myself.  If you get a chance, stop by and read their writings.  We've had so many compliments by other classes and teachers walking by admiring our work.  ;)

MaKenzey Visits Charleston!

MaKenzey recently went to Charleston and came back with pictures and stories to share with our class. She was even able to visit where slave auctions took place.  She saw some sweet grass baskets.

I am so thankful my students enjoy SC History so much and are able to make connections, and be so enthusiastic about learning more about our state's history and different cultures.  Thanks for sharing your trip with us MaKenzey.

"No Taxation Without Representation - DON'T TAKE MY SKITTLES!"

To help introduce the causes leading up to the Civil War, I planned a fun activity involving Skittles and some unfair new taxes within our classroom.  

 It was ALL SMILES at first when I busted out the Skittles.

However that would change very soon! LOL

Mrs. P implemented some unfair taxes and required students to pay up with their Skittles.

For example, students with blonde hair owed me 3 skittles.

   

 

If you were a boy with blue on your clothes, you owed me 5 skittles.

WHAT!! NO FAIR MRS. P!!

               
By the end of this activity, everyone had 0 Skittles left over.  :( Hopefully this was a meaningful activity to help the students understand how the colonists were feeling about all the new British Acts.  I didn't want my students to start rebelling like the colonists, so this teacher revoked all the new classroom taxes/acts and gave back all the Skittles.  ;)

Bring on 2013!!!

Welcome back! I hope  this new year brings you and your family much love, great health and happiness. :) The students were really excited to share all about their Winter break, and all their goodies that Santa brought them.  We talked about resolutions and making goals for ourselves.  These goals were not only for life at school, but for home life as well.  The students wrote their own New Year's resolutions, and we have them on display out in the hallway.  We ended the day with a picture to welcome 2013!  BRING IT! :)