3, 2, 1....Happy New Year SALE!

There's nothing better than saying goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015 with a big sale!
I've marked down my entire TpT store - 20% off!
(Thank you to Marsha at A Differentiated Kindergarten for creating the cute button!)
If you are looking for some quick and ready-to-use activities for your first week back at school in January, here are some to check out:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Happy-New-Year-Ready-To-Use-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-1032354
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Let-It-Snow-Ready-To-Use-Math-and-Literacy-Centres-1007513

Here's a fun and interactive reader all about the winter!
It comes with a teacher big book (for a shared reading) and a blackline master you can photocopy for your students to use!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Emergent-Reader-The-Winter-Teacher-Resource-and-Student-Book-170850

My Winter Wonderland unit was on the bestsellers list!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Wonderland-Literacy-and-Math-Activities-178821
 
Here's another fun unit all about snowmen!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-With-Frosty-Literacy-and-Math-Activities-451548
 
Don't forget to download my FREEBIE!  It's a fun and interactive dramatic poem about the 5 little snowmen!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/5-Little-Snowmen-A-Winter-Poem-Freebie-1050912
 
 
And my teaching partner, Ann-Marie Parisi, and I just uploaded our 2 new Take Me Home Packs...perfect for those students who need a little extra practice at home with concepts taught in class.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Skill-Building-Take-Me-Home-Pack-Digraphs-1623242
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Skill-Building-Take-Me-Home-Pack-Word-Families-1623327

I'm off to start planning for tonight...I'm hosting here at my house and have to start decorating!
(And cooking!)

Wishing you all a wonderful, happy, healthy 2015!

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Christmas Capsules

When I went to Dollarama a few weeks back, I found a package of small capsules that expand into various foam Christmas items (such as reindeer, ornaments, stocking, etc.) once you apply warm water.
I thought that the students would really enjoy guessing what they could be, as well as watching the capsules grow, so I brought the pack into our classroom and set it up as a provocation at our Discovery Centre.

I added a paper with a clipboard to each capsule in the jar, entitled "What can it be?" for the students to record their predictions.
The students were so intrigued at this centre!
They began using magnifying glasses and examining the capsules in more detail.
They guessed what they could be and also how long the water would take to dissolve them.
One student had done an activity like this last Easter at home, and shared what he discovered, so he told the students how adding warm water would "melt" the capsule.

Many of the students spent a large part of the day making predictions and recording them on the papers.
We added warm water that afternoon and waited...and waited...and waited...
And then something started to happen....
One of the capsules started to come undone and reveal what was inside!


This was a wonderful activity (and so easy to prepare!) that had many of my students intrigued throughout the entire day!
I loved how the students were making predictions, discussing what or what not it might turn into, and how they all needed to be patient (which they were!) while we waited for our capsules to turn into Christmas items.

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