Here’s a fun little place value activity I made for my kids to do in their math tubs last week. It’s a snowman place value spinner!
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
Last week we were working on place value with teen numbers, so that’s what this particular activity reinforces. The kids spin the spinner on the middle portion of the snowman and collect that amount of ones cubes…or whatever kind of counter you want! Then they spin the spinner on the bottom portion of the snowman and collect the same amount of ones cubes as well. Then they count their cubes and see if they can make a set of ten. I always tell them, “If you can make a 10, trade it in!!!”. Then they grab a tens rod, place their base 10 blocks on the place value workmat accordingly, and then fill out the corresponding recording sheet. Y’all…they LOVED it!!!!
I LOVED our week of snowman fun!! It was absolutely the PERFECT week to learn about snowmen because it snowed like crazy last week {only 1 day} and the kids were SO excited! I took A LOT of ideas and activities from Deanna Jump’s Snowman Math & Literacy Unit. LOVED IT!!! It’s not too late, so if you don’t have yours yet, go grab it!
We read one of my favorites, Snowmen at Night, and imagined what it would be like to be a snowman in that story. I had the kids write about what they would do at night if they were a snowman and then create their DARLING snowmen with marshmallows & white paint! LOVED that idea!!
I originally saw these cutie snowmen on What the Teacher Wants and bookmarked it for this occasion! Rachelle said that they used black paint & tiny marshmallows to create the buttons & the face, but I just had the kids use construction paper for everything…except the white! They just dipped the marshmallow into the white paint and used it like a stamp.
Now…y’all PUH-leeze take a look at mister mister’s writing below. MERCY!! This one is a RIOT!!! I’m nervous to send it home 🙂 And this just makes me wonder what the heck my boys will be writing about when they’re in school! HA!!
I also had the kids write a 4-step how-to on building a snowman. They had to use the words first, then, next, and last at the beginning of each of their sentences. Then they got to create their snowmen using construction paper. They all turned out SO different and I love that!
I had a lot of different writing activities for the kids to work on at the writing station this week. They couldn’t wait to finish one thing so they could move on to the next. They were really engaged and I was so proud of their writing! No pics of samples, but you can download the pack below.
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
And here’s one of several activities my kids did at word work…build-a-blend snowmen! Really…it was just a word to picture match, but we were working on blends this week and this just fit perfectly.
Click HERE to download your copy of the snowman blends.
And finally, I just wanted to share with you our sweet little MLK writing. We read a few non-fiction stories about Dr. King and the kids were truly invested in learning more about segregation and inequality and how we can fight oppression in current times. We brainstormed words and phrases to sum up what we learned about MLK.
I showed the kids a snippet of his famous , “I Have A Dream” speech on Montage. Although it was hard for the kids to really hear…and understand…what he was saying, it was really powerful to show them how many people were there the day he gave his speech. Then I told them they had to write about their dreams…the kind of dream that’s in your heart, not your head.
I did this with my 2nd graders last year and I LOVED it. I got the original idea from one of my favorite websites, Little Giraffes. Here’s the LINK for the TLC directed art.
If you’re looking for more winter related resources, check out what teachers are saying about these!
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You, Mrs. Carroll, are A-MAZING! LOVE. IT. ALL. Can't wait to print out the snowmen blends! Cuuuuuuteness!
Love the idea of going behind the easel to crack the egg…Thanks for all the great shares! You're fabulous!
Oh my gosh…..I'm so excited to be linked on your blog! Thanks! I LOVE your menu for writing!!!!!
-Rachelle
http://www.whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com
LOVE the egg idea and can't wait to use the snowmen. We made a chart of our "dreams' for our school…it was quite sweet… a school with no bullying, where everyone is friends, and where everyone plays fair!
I absolutely LOVE ALL of your posts! I check your blog each day during my planning and then again when school is out for the day. You have inspired me to start my own blog and yesterday I added my first printable (Snowman Fact Families). Check it out at http://www.fabulouslyfirstgrade.blogspot.com
Hi! I'm loving it! Thanks for the postings!
I made the cute MLK art project yesterday (before I saw your cute post!) and they are the cutest thing ever! I am in love with how different they all end up looking and their cute little "dreams!" You are fabulous–as always!
Your are awesome!! Thank you sooo much!!!
So… I totally tried out your MLK idea (the art project) with my 5th graders today!! It was awesome!! I will probably blog about it later because I loved it so much.
Thank you!!
-Natalie
(www.whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com)
Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas and printables! It's all about "cuteness", isn't it?
I LOVE everything (as always!) in this last post! Can't wait till you get your place value unit online at TpT. I have been anxiously waiting for it! We are doing place value too.
Thanks for all you make and share!
Cindy
Both the egg activity and portraits are great! Thanks for sharing a content-related idea that is so valuable to our kids' ethics and character education.
You are AMAZING!!! Thank you~ I just figured out TPT! Can't wait to post more goodies!
Claire~
http://www.missknightskhronicles.blogspot.com
I am loving the snowman blends. That place value spinner is soo cute too. Thanks for sharing.
http://fabulousfish-stephanie.blogspot.com/
My students get so excited to complete a place value mystery picture! They know the rules though…they can't announce what the picture is out loud. These pages have also been an engaging homework assignment, too. Thank you for sharing your creativity!
Check out the children's book "Two Eggs, Please". Teaches this very concept. Cute read.
I've printed out your adorable snowman spinners, taped them on cute snowflake scrapbook paper, and have them laminated and ready to go! I love how easy you make my life!! Thanks love 🙂
Hadar
Thanks for sharing the great snowman activities. Living in South Carolina, we don't often get snow, but we like to pretend we do! The TLC art project of Dr. King is one of my favorite and we're working on it this week.
I linked to this on my blog today
– Lisa
a teachers bag of tricks
Awesome post, Mrs. Carroll! I LOVE the snowman printables and the Martin Luther King Activities. I've pinned your post to two Pinterest boards and featured your Snowman Spinners as the Free Printable of the Day at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
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I really enjoyed your blog. I am excited to use the snowman activities.
Thanks so much for sharing your great ideas! Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
I love all your great ideas! I can't wait to use them in my classroom. Thank you for all the freebies : )
Love your materials. Can't wait to use with my students. thank you!