Math Fun, Grinch Prep, Gingerbread, and I Got My Shop On :)

Does it seem like this year is moving in fast forward and you can’t find the pause button?!  Ummm…hello, Christmas?!?!?!?  ALREADY?!?!?!   INSANITY.  Just like everyone else, we’ve been pretty busy around here. During Thanksgiving break, my boys were BEGGING to go back to school.  They wanted to make pictures for their teachers and couldn’t wait to get back to a routine.  Have I mentioned how much we love their teachers?!  Because we really, REALLY do!!!!  Now, this might be a proud momma moment, but I have to share because I know y’all will appreciate it.  Landon…my little Pre-K man…has a crazy photographic memory.  He was writing all of his friends’ names out for his grandma and then he decided to write her name, too.  Please look at the words that are circled…

He wrote “Grandma Rita”.  I die.  His new favorite thing is stretching out his sounds.  I’ve gotta give serious props to his teacher!  She’s working wonders with him!!  Now if I can just help him out with those fine motor skills.  Poor little left handed baby!  HA!

Moving right along…

  I found this GREAT idea on Pinterest a couple of week ago.  Well…I found it via Pinterest, but since Pinterest is NOT a person, I need to give credit where credit is due!  Thank you, Sarah Mackey!!!  This is one of those “why didn’t I think of that?!” kinda ideas.  GENIUS, I tell ya!

 

Source

I felt like my kids were really ready to tackle this skill and I love to challenge their little minds.  We practice making different number combinations every.single.morning during our calendar routine.  Since we were working with Gingerbread Men last week, we took Sarah’s idea and adapted it to fit the theme.  We started small with ways to make 5 a couple of weeks ago.  We made combinations of 6 this time around and my kids did AWESOME!!  Thank you, Sarah, for this AWESOME idea!!!

Right after that, we did a little {joining} word problem using those same itty bitty gingerbread men.  I didn’t take pics of my kids’ work, so here’s my sample.  They’re getting so good at solving word problems!!!  

Speaking of Gingerbread, we read a BAZILLION different versions this week {okay…maybe not THAT many..but it felt like it!!!} and followed it all up with some story maps and fun little activities.

First up, a little story map fun.  After reading The Gingerbread Baby, by Jan Brett, I assigned each of my kids to draw different parts of the story…problem/characters/setting/solution….and then added their pictorial representations to the story map.  Each time one of our friends came up to add their picture to the map, I had them use their own words to retell that particular part of the story.

We also used our little story map to sequence the events using ordinal numbers.  Too fun!

Here’s a little activity my kids LOVED from Deanna Jump’s Gingerbread Unit. We bit off different parts of our gingerbread cookies and then graphed the results!  This was definitely a class favorite!  PLUS, it gave me the opportunity to introduce pie graphs.  It was really cool to hear them talk about the differences & similarities between bar/picture/& pie graphs.

I used our week of gingerbread fun to introduce the concept of descriptive writing.  I made little gingerbread templates and had the kids decorate it however they wanted using buttons, yarn, poms, and crayons.  I LOVE the way they turned out…all SO different and adorable!  We talked a lot about descriptive words and how we can use them in our writing.  This one is one of my favorites…

Look at those glasses!!!  HA!!!  KILLS me!!!  “My gingerbread is colorful.  He has glasses.”

Now we’re gearing up for some pretty exciting days ahead…Reindeer fun, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, Polar Express Day, Grinch Day, etc.  Speaking of Grinch Day, if you’re getting ready for yours, check out these shirts I found at Wal Mart…

Some of them were in the men’s department and the rest were randomly dispersed throughout the women’s section.  If you want some fun ideas, activities, and printables for Grinch Day, check out what I did last year and the year before.  Can’t wait to share what we’re doing this year!!!!  But you’ll have to wait a while…we’re not celebrating ‘til the 18th!!  Speaking of Grinch Day, our little town had a Christmas parade last weekend and our campus had a “Whoville” float.  We all dressed up and threw out candy to the kiddies and it was too dang cute. 

 

Now I’m off to get ready for my baby sister’s baby shower :)  Eeeek!  SO excited to add another BOY to the family…in a month!!!!!  Another baby to cuddle and love…and then give back to mommy :)  HA!!!  Before I head out, here are a few things I’m LOVING this month.  I guess you could say, “I got my shop on”. ;)  Nothing beats a good sale!!!!!  HA!!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!