Froot Loop Fractions - and Aztec Update

Since I can't get to the end of the year without doing any more Math (tempting as that thought is!) I decided to review fractions of a group by making Froot Loop necklaces this week :)

Some of my kiddies are still struggling with this concept and froot loops are so much more fun to work with than cubes or jewels. We went through all the problems step by step with their edible manipulatives and everyone loved it. Plus - they all got the right answers!!

the beginning

1/4 of 16

4 sums completed

the finished product

Today in our Aztec world we did a multitude of different projects:

We worked on our weaving...

I love the jaguar weaving :)

... and some students finished their little bags :)

And we started making artifacts for our group projects:

a magnetic ball game

clay whistles

clay mosaic serpents

and some bows 

I took photos of 3 of my warriors posing in front of the house. I really wish I could show their faces because they were so proud - and such posers!  - but at least you can see the bows :)

Arrows later on (maybe - someone shot a paintbrush across the room today which wasn't such a bright idea since it landed on another child's head. Mind you I had already demonstrated it but I cleared the kiddies all off to one side before I demonstrated and I know how to shoot straight!!) I think I'll just get foam tips for the arrow heads and only let them shoot outside. We used oleander branches which make great bows - it always surprises me that none of the kids have ever made them. I did it all the time when I was a child :)

Anyway I may now have to help the whole class make these - or I might give the parents instructions for a fun summer project :) They were a hit!!

Don't their helmets look good with the bows? :) You're looking at two jaguars and a parrot :)

Here's a picture of the parrot under construction so you can fully appreciate its magnificence.

And so we progress - Open Day is just around the corner. I can't wait :)

Next on the agenda is the temple for sacrificing, my headdress (VERY important) and feathered fans so that my slaves can fan me :)

I do so LOVE this project!!

Giveaways

One day I'm going to do a giveaway but for now I just like entering them and supporting them :)

Christina at Bunting, Books and Bainbridge is having a Blog-a-versary Party from tomorrow until Saturday - lots of great things to win so head on over and enter :)

Click here to go to the party!!

And here's another fun giveaway to check out at It's a Jungle Out There!

Fun stuff :)

Awesome Aztecs...

... well, they will be in  a couple of weeks when they're all dressed up in their super cool helmets! :)

We had an afternoon of miniature food making (for the chinampas), made papier mache pots for the big house and added details to our helmets.

 I LOVE the helmets!! They are looking really good!!

Wolf under construction

Took this when the afternoon sun was coming through
the window so the wolf looks a little yellow - it's really a
tasteful gray :)

Super cute jaguar. Despite the fact that
jaguars normally have BLACK noses
this child chose to do a pink one :)

The green thing is a snake :) I think it needs a tongue!

Gotta say I've loved watching the kids make these. They're the best any class has ever done - and they're always wearing them. One child yesterday painted her parrot helmet bright red, then put it on her head. She had a nice red ring around her hair and forehead for most of the day :) 

It's nice to know they're enjoying the project :)

And More Aztecs...

My entire life revolves around this project right now (well, that and assessments and reports of course!) - and the classroom is starting to come together. It's still chaotic but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. We might actually pull Open Day off :)

Today we put snouts and ears on the Aztec warrior helmets :) Even though they're not painted yet the kids love them so much they are wearing them all the time (and unfortunately pretending to be the animals they have chosen to represent - so I had jaguars and panthers pouncing on each other, snakes slithering around the room, a couple of prowling wolves and three swooping parrots in my room this afternoon!)

All these animals were supposed to be working on their Aztec codices but it was obviously more fun to creep up on a warrior in the Aztec house :) I told myself it was creative role play - and a form of learning! :)

A jaguar working on her codex

Waiting for paint, eyes, noses and whiskers

The house looks awesome now - we still have to put on the back half of the roof but it's really looking very realistic I think and the kiddies adore it!! When we get the fire inside (complete with flickering flames - i.e. battery candles and tissue paper) it's going to be THE place to be!

We covered their woven mats in plastic to protect them

Project books are coming along nicely and some are just fabulous. Some children have gone way beyond my expectations and have created the most gorgeous books. Their parents are going to be very proud!

 

And finally this week we started our giant Aztec god paintings. We used the overhead projector to draw the figures and then randomly assigned colours to all the parts in a "paint by letter" project. We keep them on the easel and anyone who finishes their work gets to go and paint any bits they like as long as they do it CAREFULLY. So far no spills and it's the neatest work I've seen in the last 4 years. And they're SO colorful :)

I think this is Quetzalcoatl :)

 We still have a lot to do - some weaving samples, planting the miniature chinampas, building the model temple, making our costumes and (most importantly) my feathered headdress and feathered fans for my slaves to fan me :) and the group projects (which involves making spears and bows and arrows, pots, musical instruments etc) - so there's no time to rest on our laurels yet but I am VERY proud of my kiddies to date. They're doing a fantastic job :)

Keep an eye out for more photos later on - right now I have to focus on (gag) reports :(

Building the Aztec Civilization continued...

With 4 weeks left to go in school and our big Open Day for parents rapidly approaching on June 25th my little Aztecs are moving fast!

This week we made calendars (4 kids still haven't finished)...

 

It took me ages to draw the templates
for this calendar 3 years ago but they turned
out really well :)

....mosaic serpents (the same 4 still haven't finished)

....got the walls of the big Aztec house completely finished and daubed the inside with mud (i.e. painted with sponges and reddish brown paint). Roof panels are progressing slowly due to the fact that the 4 non-finishers are all on the big house team and thus never GET to their construction site. I've had to draft slaves from the mini houses to assist.

Yesterday we started our warrior helmets - I cover all the kids' heads with tinfoil (which is hysterically funny to see and they all love it!!) then we papier mache them and then decorate them to look like animals (e.g. jaguars, eagles etc.) They're very effective and a lot of kids choose to be warriors on Open Day just so they can wear their helmets. I always display the rest around the room and they look fabulous.

Here's the start of the papier mache - the finished products will look much better :)

So yes, we've done a lot but the Emperor (that would be me) is beginning to panic just slightly at the thought of what still has to be done before Open Day!! (And reports are looming on the horizon - 2 weeks till they're due and I am SUCH a procrastinator!!)

I am consoling myself with the fact that I panic every year and it always comes together in the end and looks awesome. Hopefully this year will be no different and hopefully my 4 slowpokes will get moving next week so their parents will have something to LOOK at when they visit!!!

Have a happy weekend all :)

Feed My Lambs

Our school has recently decided to partner with Feed my Lambs ministry - an amazing organization (founded by a Bermudian) which is doing awesome work in Haiti. Although we haven't decided exactly what we are going to do to help Feed My Lambs is such a fabulous charity that I wanted to share it here.

My own class already corresponds with a tiny school in Bois d'Avril, Haiti but we now have an opportunity to be more involved with a larger school and orphanage located about an hour from Port au Prince.

School now in session :) (photo from website)

The founder of this ministry, who spends most of his time in Haiti now, has been visiting schools and other organizations in our island, sharing what has been done so far and what he hopes to do in the future. Bermuda, as a whole, has donated generously to this project and some true miracles have been seen as things have come together in amazing ways to get help to the Haitian people when it was most needed.

 I am so proud of my country and my church for taking on this ministry with open hearts.

In the 5 years since the conception of the idea to now, Feed My Lambs has become a registered charity both here in Bermuda and in Haiti and has built a clinic, an orphanage and now, a school, educating more than 400 students.

I am hoping to go on a mission trip next year to work at the orphanage and school - assisting with whatever projects are ongoing at that time. It will only be a short trip but I really hope it will be possible because I know it will be a life changing experience.

Please visit the website at the links in the text and see what Philip and his team are doing to bring hope to many Haitian children.

Philip Rego and some of his children

The clinic being set up - this picture was taken soon
after the devastating earthquake. Feed My Lambs, with
Bermuda's help, was able to send a cargo plane of
medical supplies so doctors were able to get straight
to work.

Just Stuff...

I had rather a discombobulated week and haven't felt like blogging at all... but today I read a post on Krissy Venosdale's Venspired ( a blog I just LOVE!) called Share Your Story - and it made me think about why I started blogging in the first place.

I really started just to share things we did in the classroom - almost like an online photo album for myself - and when I re-read my earlier posts I can see that I was being very careful in what I wrote. I guess I was a little uncomfortable about putting myself out into cyberspace because those earlier posts strike me now as being very impersonal.

Just over six months later, I'm a lot more comfortable in my blogging skin - and realize that it's ok to just be me. Much as I would love to be a deep thinker, or an inspiring writer... I'm really not and... that's fine. There's room for lots of different types in this world :)

I like talking about my class and sharing our photos and fun times and I like the fact that I've met lots of inspiring and motivating teachers/people. I've made one really good friend on this venture so far and hope to get to know others in the same way :)

So, yes, I like my little blog - and I'm happy with it :) And I think I've just given myself permission to write about whatever I feel like - even if it's nothing to do with the classroom at all :)

But... having said that :) I'm sharing some photos of stage 2 of Aztec construction because it's going quite well!

My poor hubby was drafted to put the roof frame on our Aztec house - I knew his carpentry skills are rather makeshift but they're 100% better than mine so together we got a more-or-less straight roof up. Actually it totally slopes downwards but when all the palm branches are on no-one will notice - at least that's what I've told the kiddies :)

We ran out of wall paper so had to paint more on Friday but the walls are looking good. The kids used up ALL the palm branches I laboriously collected from the bushes around my house on ONE roof panel. I'd thought we would have enough for half the roof but no - my mistake was in giving them control of the glue guns!! The roof looks a bit like a palm tree tutu! :)

The builders in action

Staring to look more house-like

Meanwhile the miniaturists were making tiny clay pots and Aztec people. I know it's a really blurry photo of the Aztec warrior (and it has the largest eyes I've ever seen! Blue ones too!) but I think it's pretty cute even so. Naturally it has dripping-with-gore weapons :)

We have enough pots for an army!!

I think this is cute!

 Next week we'll (hopefully) finish the big house, make the fire and start weaving and the little house people will be making furniture and chinampas. Plus we'll be starting our Aztec helmets - I just love the way the kids look with tinfoil molded to their heads :) Like a bunch of little aliens!!

Hope everyone enjoys their week - those of you who are still in school and those of you lucky enough to be on holiday already :)