Apple Math {limited time only FREEBIE}

I love fall.  And not just because of pumpkin spice lattes.  Because I've only had two.  I love apples, leaves, pumpkins, cake, Thanksgiving, the smells of it, the weather...everything.  {I'm not sure how cake ended up in there but hey, let's go with it.}

My K-1 teammate and I are doing an entire integrated unit of all things fall as we compare urban and rural communities.  Starting with apples...in every content area.  That's right!  All. the. subjects.

I found these awesome apple workmats from Life Over C's.  We used them a few days, just practicing making number sentences and adding numbers together with "apples" {pom poms} on the workmats. They recorded their number sentences which helped me know who was getting it and who wasn't.

After practicing, I gave them a number sentence to glue down.  They had to tell me the answer before finding the basket with the answer on it.  Then they finger painted apples to show the amounts.  For the kinders who struggled with adding {the few that haven't mastered number ID or rote counting} I gave them a mat without the number sentence.  I just chose two numbers that I knew they needed to work on and they practiced counting the amount on individual trees.

I also used 10 Apples Up on Top for our math mentor text.  Since one of the 1st grade Common Core objectives is to order 3 numbers or amounts from least to greatest, we used this cute math activity from Kindergarten at Heart but added two more friends to help balance the apples.  We gave the students 3 number cards {primary number cards from the Investigations curriculum} for the kids to order.  Then they made fingerprint apples to represent the amounts.

For a non-math idea, I've started poetry notebooks this year and am so excited about it!  Like I said...apple everything...so an apple poem.  Obvi.  I got this one for free from What's the Buzz in First.  I'm going to make these much more interactive as we go on but for now, we're keeping it simple.  Read the poem {maybe add some hand motions if it's long or complicated}, highlight sight words {or letters, depending on ability}, illustrate it, practice reading it in all kinds of voices and then do something fun with the content.  Our fun project this week was the apple finger painting.  We'll also be sampling some apple products next week.

You're almost to the freebie.  First let's check in with Farley.  ;)

For a limited time only my brand new, literally just finished, haven't even used it yet Apple & Pumpkin tasting sheet is your treat.  I wanted to punch it up this year and do more than just graphing our favorite flavors.  Download, try it out and let me know what you think.  I'd love some great feedback on the TpT posting in return for your treaty treat.

Now I want a big ole mug of apple cider.  And a dress made of neoprene...thanks, Project Runway.  Happy October!

apple investigation {free journal}

This week begins the start of my favorite few months of school {fall into winter holidays} with apples! Last year I shared my investigation journal but have updated it this year to share with you!  This journal naturally integrates science and literacy so you can work it into your lessons wherever you have the time or find it to best fit.

The first 5 pages teach your kids how to use their five senses to observe & explore things around them. The sentence starters make this book simple enough for even beginning kinders without being too overwhelming.  {independent writers can add an additional sentence in the space below or students can draw a picture to match the sentence.}

The additional pages at the end are optional and you can pick & choose as you like.  I think it's fun to display the finished journals on a ginormous tree looking as if they're ready to be picked.  :)

You can get your free copy at my TPT store!

apples & pumpkins {and leaves & candy corn...}

I love fall!  Apples, pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, sweaters, random warm days, bonfires, cider, hayrides, corn mazes...I love it all.  So {of course!} I have to bring it into the classroom as well!  As my entire team loves this time of year, we incorporate fall things into just about everything from September through November.  :)  Rather than repeating similar activities that you've already shared or seen elsewhere, I thought I'd pick just a few to showcase that might hopefully be new or inspire you to make a change to an old favorite.

{apples}

We started by just using the five senses to see what we could learn from the apples themselves.  I wish I could put up pictures of my kids because they were so funny with the apples right up to their eyes, smelling them intensely and listening so closely I'm surprised no one walked away with a bruised ear!  We used their observations to record in an apple journal that I hung on their cubbies to double as nametags.

We had an apple tasting after learning all about how they grow and what products can be made from them.  I had my students label the parts as I was getting out all of their snacks.  I love a science journal...shows so much info at the end of the year! {Like if you need evidence for a teaching evaluation or some such thing...hint hint!}

{pumpkins}

We do the same experiments that many of you do but I like to have the kids write in another journal instead of circling answers on a worksheet.  {not that it's bad - don't send hate mail!}  We estimated and double checked how many grooves were on the pumpkin, how much it weighed, how many seeds were inside, how big around it was {using yarn} and if it would sink or float.

While they thought about which jack-o-lantern face to put on the front, we used the SmartBoard to see all of the different options available.

Then we pulled out the seeds to count while also separating the seeds from the guts.  {I mean, come on, you can't be technical with everything.  yuck!}

We had sugar overload from our pumpkin tasting!!

{leaves}

We like to send family homework projects every so often and in fall we always use the Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert to get the ball rolling.  Students are sent with directions and a piece of paper {and a bag of leaves from the school grounds if requested by the parent} for their projects.  I often get a lot of leaf people back but was really pleased with this year's variety!

leaf Rapunzel

leaf dog

leaf snake

{candy corn}
How did I forget about one of my favorite fall things?!  I love the story The little old lady who was not afraid of anything by Linda Williams because I always teach my kids to act out the story as I read {when the shirt shake, shakes and the pants wiggle, wiggle...}  But to work on story sequencing and making predictions I started to retell this story on candy corn outlines!  I only read up to the part when the little old lady goes to answer the door then I stop and do this activity.

The top of the candy corn is the beginning when she goes for a walk.  The middle is the middle where she encounters all of the parts in the forest.  Then they predict what she'll see on the other side of the door by drawing a picture {and writing if able} on the bottom of the candy corn.  Once everyone has made their predictions we read the story again from the beginning {to do the fun motions} and check our prediction to see if anyone was correct!

It's always a favorite.  Hope you enjoy!