This past week my class has been having a cross-curricular unit on blizzards. What makes this so unique is that it was very unintentional on my part. It just sort of "happened." Or did it?
I started reading a new book to them after Christmas, "Treasures of the Snow" by Patricia St. John. I had never read this book before, but the previous 4th grade teacher read it every year. This week, the characters encountered a blizzard.
Our reading curriculum is McGraw-Hill. This week's writing assignment was to write a weather report predicting a blizzard, and the precautions to take in order to stay safe. Their reports were so good that they are displayed on the bulletin board in the hall, with corresponding artwork done in chalk.
Our science curriculum is A Beka Book. This week's reading covered the different types of precipitation, including snow, and weather forecasting.
As part of learning about the uniqueness of snowflakes, I taught my students how to make six pointed versions. They caught on very quickly, and have produced blizzard-type conditions in the classroom. In fact, the snow continues to accumulate day by day, and there is no end in sight. I have a feeling that Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow tomorrow, and six more weeks of winter will continue, at least in our classroom. So while it is 74 degrees outside, it is a raging blizzard inside.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for bringing it all together.
I started reading a new book to them after Christmas, "Treasures of the Snow" by Patricia St. John. I had never read this book before, but the previous 4th grade teacher read it every year. This week, the characters encountered a blizzard.
Our reading curriculum is McGraw-Hill. This week's writing assignment was to write a weather report predicting a blizzard, and the precautions to take in order to stay safe. Their reports were so good that they are displayed on the bulletin board in the hall, with corresponding artwork done in chalk.
Our science curriculum is A Beka Book. This week's reading covered the different types of precipitation, including snow, and weather forecasting.
As part of learning about the uniqueness of snowflakes, I taught my students how to make six pointed versions. They caught on very quickly, and have produced blizzard-type conditions in the classroom. In fact, the snow continues to accumulate day by day, and there is no end in sight. I have a feeling that Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow tomorrow, and six more weeks of winter will continue, at least in our classroom. So while it is 74 degrees outside, it is a raging blizzard inside.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for bringing it all together.
Great concept, Janet. You are the best!!
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