Wordless Wednesday....Butterflies

Our Butterflies are outside enjoying the sunshine and we are enjoying interacting with them.  I have had a couple of chances to take pictures (actually to have others take pictures) of my kiddos.  I just wanted to share a few from one of my moms (more to come from the other photographer).

Do you do anything fun with your butterflies?

I am having some Wordless Wednesday fun with Christina at Sugar and Spice.  Head on over!

Have a Field Day!!!

Do you want to organize a Field Day for your class?  your grade level??  your school???

Here is a BRIGHT IDEA how to do just that.

I am linking up with more than 130 fantastic bloggers to share with you some bright ideas.  Here is my idea for how to organize a fun field day for your students.

Step1
Decide:  Who....When....Where
Those decisions will affect everything else.

This year we are having a school-wide field day at the high school track...But our principal is keeping a lid on that (as of right now it is a surprise to the staff, we are just crowd control guests).

BUT......Kindergarten wants to have a grade level field day just because it was so much fun last year.
As a team we went with last year's formula (it worked)
     *grade level (all of Kindergarten)
     *outdoor ed area (lots of grass, some shade, away from others, limited blacktop)
     *last Wednesday of the year, after lunch (early out day, limited time, don't care if kids get wet)

Step 2
Brainstorm ideas for stations and/or activities
Remember to check your resources.

Look at the equipment you and your teammates already have.  Check with parents too.  I get my rubber duckies every year from the same parent, who just happens to have a big bag full for her grandkids (we pick them up when we walk past her house on the way to the park....she has already asked me if I need them again this year).

Pool, Rubber Duckies, butterfly nets from the dollar store

Tin can stilts, our Reading Resource teacher made them for a Dr. Seuss party (The King's Stilts)

I have a portable Frisbee golf target at home that I bring.

We look at what we can borrow from the preschool.

shape obstacles and notice the water table in the background

We look at what our P.E. teacher will let us use.

Parachute and balls

sacks for sack races

We of course check Pinterest.

Found this idea on Pinterest....BUT the pool noodles were tough to form into a circle and duck tape that way.  Then I realized I was working too hard, when I had hula hoops right there.  I taped them together and tied them between to trees.  Much easier!!  Pool noodles make GREAT javelins!

Step 3
Round up your help and your supplies.
Moms, friends, special teachers who don't have class that last week, high school students, college students home from school but not yet working their summer job.

We try to have one person in charge of each station so we can wander between stations keeping an eye on the big picture.  That also gives us a chance to play with our students, run races, and shoot them with water guns.

Step 4
Map it Out
Whether you do it formally with graph paper or just a rough drawing with notes, think about where to place each activity.  Place the ones that have specific needs first, then consider the traffic patterns and space concerns.

Our students get to move freely between stations.  Most have parents running each activity.  The javelin throw needs the two trees for the target.   The water activities (rubber duckies, bubbles, and water table) are down by the spigot.  The races (bouncy horses, stilts, sacks) are along the sides where it is easier to "see" a straight line.  The parachute and obstacle course both need open spaces.  The obstacle course is in the middle of things because we didn't think it would get as much use off by itself.  It is also self monitoring (so in the middle means lots of eyes keeping behaviors in check)

HAVE FUN!!

Don't forget your water gun!

Follow me on Facebook to see how things go this year, check out my TpT store for more ideas.

Now I am so excited to check out more Great and BRIGHT Ideas.  Browse through the link up below to check out more than 130 ideas from different bloggers.  Look for a topic that interests you or a grade level to explore.  Thanks for visiting!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wordless Wednesday

This week is our annual book fair/ice cream social/3rd and 4th grade music program.  Every year they do a door decorating contest.

I did not win. 

Here are the doors that did:

My favorite!

I did this two years ago...LOVE it!  Love the butterflies!

This is a new book to me....I bought it at the book fair.

Love how the personalities come through.

Every 4th grader should read this book...just so they can say snot in class.  :)

A Classic

My second favorite....simple, yet striking.

I think all the doors were awesome and well deserved of their prizes.   But that whale from The Grouchy Ladybug...wish I had thought of that!  (maybe I shouldn't have loaned her my book, hehe)

Currently...It's almost Mother's Day

Oh. My. Goodness....it is May!  When did that happen?  This spring is flying by, and school is almost done, but first is is time to join up with  Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for this month's installment of currently.

Don't know how much explaination each of these need, but in the spirit of full disclouser here goes:

Listening:  I am a granola loving, wanta be hippie, outside and barefoot all the time from the 70's and John Denver brings back good memories.  He has always kept me motivated and grounded in doing what is best.

Loving:  One of "my" children had a beautiful baby boy this week.  Absolutely the sweetest thing and the snuggle time was just what I needed.

Indescribable bliss!  Now I can't wait to meet my newest granddaughter later this month!!

Thinking:  Mother's Day is so close and I have so many mothers I want to honor.  I need to get busy honoring my own mother, my daughters and daughters-in-law, several other daughters from other mothers, and some really good friends and family members.  The list is getting long and I am starting to panic.  Then there is stuff to do with my Kinders....so many ideas, so little time.

Painting tulips with forks.

Wanting:  I am guest blogging at PreK and K Sharing (today) and I can't seem to get my act together.  The plan is to blog about the about the bath salts we are making this week in my Kindergarten classroom.

       Update....finished my post for PreK and K Sharing.  If you want my bath salts recipe head over there (just click on the picture)

   Needing:  Sometimes I just need someone to tell me that what I am doing is right and good, or even a you can do this (if I haven't yet started).  I think I need that today.

Surprise!!  That brings me to Nikki Casassa from Melonheadz Illustrating.

If you have seen her "stuff" you know how talented she is.  Amazing!!  But if you have met her, or talked to her then you know that she is truly an Angel here on earth.  More than once we have been chatting online and she has solved my problem, given me the encouragement I needed, or the kick in the butt.  I love her so much and she is an inspiration!

Here's to a GREAT month!!