Story sequencing- Strip Design App.

A lesson I did with grade 3 student was looking at story structure. 

I used an app strip design. It's a great app as the students can draw or insert pictures in multiple boxes. They can also add text to create the story. As a teacher you can pre determined how many boxes the students need to fill. This is great for different levelled students. 

*Strip design app 

This is screen shot. As you can see the students can get really creative with the this app. 

This is some work created by one of my students. This app is great as you can print the students work and laminate it to display it. I was thaught that is a great was to celebrate the students work. 

I found that this activity great as it breaks down parts of a story into simple ways that students find easy, fun and engaging. 

I hope that you have got some ideas from my work. 

Enjoy,

Miss Jenna x 

Reading Comprehension activities.

Here are some cards I made for teaching students about read comprehension .

What I liked about these cards was that I could first asked the student about that they thought, then when they mentioned one of these, I could just place them on the board. This saved me time. You can also use them to label parts of a books.

How I made was quiet simple.

*First I typed up all the aspect I wanted the students to write. E.g. Main characters. 

*Second I printed them off and cut them out. 

*Third, I used scrapbook paper. Use any colour you like. I just think it make it pop and engaging. 

* Finally I cut out the scrapbook paper so it was about 1-2 cm wider then the labels. And I stuck the labels on to the scrapbook paper, and laminated them for a longer life.

I then had the student create a mini book using each of these aspect as their titles to illustrate their understand of the book we read as a class.

You can also use the iPad app book creator. 

This is a really handy app. :) images thanks to google images. 

Thanks, 

Miss Jenna 

Maths, Division and engagement, using flip book!

I'm will be the first to admit, division isn't fun or easy. This flip book idea is great. This was sourced from the teacher pay teacher website! I need a activity for my grade 3 class on division, I also wanted a fun lesson. This flip book was a great idea. You give the student a cardboard folder. And a sheet with division problems. The student then fold the folder into the middle and cut each folded section into half. They then cut out each of the problems and stick them on each of the flaps. Behind each flap will be the answer for each of the problems. 

Like this. The students have work out the problem using a number sentence and using pictures. I really like this as it gives the students different straggles to work out the problem. I also like it because they are taking control for their learning, it's like fun hands on approach. 

All round great activity that the student enjoy and they gave their own little reference book for future problems. 

 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com 

Thanks, 

Miss Jenna

Fairytales character/ adjective sorting

The character are a main part of any story. What make a great character is the adjective use to describe them. Words like despicable, wicked, horrible and boney helps create an image in the readers head of a person who will be no good to the wonderful, kind and beautiful heroine. 

To help student identify  different characters in a fairy tale and demonstrate how you can add depth to their character writing I made a sorting chart.

Each chart has a type of character such as villan, hero, princess and magic. 

Although magic isn't a type of character, I feel as though it's strong part of any fairy tale. Trying to explain it can be quiet difficult. However by including a 'magic' chart students can discover words to help them with their writing. 

This task students can work in small groups, working together to sort through words and pictures and place them in the right chart. 

Not only will student discover new words like fascinating, humble, passionate and villainous, but they learn sorting and thinking skills, as well as team work. If student are unsure of a word they can work to discover the meaning of the new word. This would hope to expand a students vocabulary and their writing skills. 

Thank you,

Miss Jennna. 

Castle word wall!

As part of my fairy tale unit of work I made a word wall in the shape of a castle. 

This is my word wall castle. It's made from laminated card. By having the card laminated it allows me write words that the student suggest to me or discussed. This would be used to help students to extend their vocabulary and aid with their spelling. I love this as it can add to the classroom atmospher. 

I also made a draw bridge, where by revealing a new word for the student to learn and use in their writing. You can challenge the student to try and use the word in their writing. 

You can also get the student to figure out what the word means, whereby they can apply different strategies. As a teacher you can observe what star gives the student use to find out and understand the new word and their comprehension of the word. 

That my word wall castle.

If their are other uses or questions feel  to let me.

Have a good day,

Miss Jenna. 

 

How to make a Jack and the beanstalk, Beanstalk! Part 2

This Step 10. 

Now that you have put together your beanstalk, it's time to make the leaves. 

Firstly find a leaf template of the internet and print it off. 

I used this website: http://www.craftjr.com/leaf-template-printables/ 

Cutout template.

Using the left over green material double up and place the leaf template on the green marterial. 

Make sure you pin down the template and then cut out. Now leaves are ready to sow. 

When you sow up leaf, make sure to leave a gap for stuffing. 

Stuff the leaves and sow up hole. Repeat for as many leaves you wish. 

Step 11. 

On the back of the leaves place stick on one half of the Velcro and on the beanstalk stick the other half of the Velcro. Now you can place the leaves on beanstalk any where you like. 

Step 12. 

Find a text you want to use for the story sequencing activity. It doesn't have to be jack and the beanstalk, it can be any text you chose to study. Once you have a text type up text. 

When I typed up my text, use used columns to ensure the text would fit on my leaves. 

OnceI the text is typed and printed, cut out the parts of the text laminate. When all parts of text are laminated and cutout, place one half of the Velcro on back of the text and the other half on a leaves. 

This is the text that I used to help me with segmenting a story. 

Step 13.

I also made up beginning, middle and end cards. Repeat step 12. You can design your own cards. 

Step 14. 

This is the final step. I add tabs to my beanstalk. I cut out eight strips of a sturdy material.  Each strip was about 10cm long by 4 cm wide. I pinned one end of the strip to the top end of the beanstalk. I then made a loop  and pinned the other end to the beanstalk. I repeated with the remining strips along the beanstalk. 

Finally sow on tabs.  

You are now done. 

This is the final product. 

Have fun. :) 

How to make a Jack and the Beanstalk, Beanstalk! Part 1

Making the beanstalk was somewhat a daunting task for me, as I'm no sower. 

So first step talk to an experience sower Aka my grandma.

Step 1.

The material I used was a cotton base. I chose bright colours to make it exciting and engaging as possible. I chose a vibrant light blue for the base which is the sky. The I chose a equally bright light green. The green will make the beanstalk. I got 2 meters of each colour. 

Step 2. 

Creating the beanstalk pattern. I used newspaper for this. I glued sheets of newspaper together until they where the same hight as the material. On the paper I draw an outline of the beanstalk. 

When drawing the beanstalk I allowed for the stuffing to the design needs to be wider then final design. 

Keep in mind more bends you have in your beanstalk the hard it is to sow. I wanted my stalk to end in the far right hand corner. So I place in two bends in the design. I also made a base for my stalk as the resembled the roots. 

Branches and leaves I designed separate to the main stalk.

Step 3.

Once your happy with your design, out template.

Layout blue material and make sure your design fits. Now layout your green material and pin down your template.  

I now use the left over paper to design the branches of the stalk. I want the design branches so it gave my stalk more creative by making the branches bendy. make different lengths of branches

Once the template is pinned down, cut out template fro the green material. And do the same for the branches. 

Step 4

When all the parts are cut out re move the paper template and lay them out onto to blue material. Feel free to move around the branches until your happy with the design. 

This is my design all cutout and pinned down ready to sow. 

Step 5.

When your happy with your design and pinned down like above. Make sure the branches are pinned underneath the stalk Your ready to sow. Eek. 

This is the tricky part. Set up sowing machine. Make sure you have a good cotton. I used a light green matching as close to the green material. Zig zag stitch works best.  You are now ready to start to sow. 

Step 6. 

Start sowing at the base of the stalk, and follow up the length of the stalk. As you go allow gaps for stuffing. I had four gaps one near the base one near the middle on one side and one one the other side of the stalk, and one near the top of the stalk. This helps for even coverage of stuffing of the stalk. 

Step 7. 

One the stalk is done you can now, Sow down the branches. 

Step 8. 

 Stuffing the beanstalk. 

Using stuffing, stuff the beanstalk. You want it nice and full but not so much that the stuffing is spilling out the sides or so the material is to tight. You want some movement. 

Step 9. 

Once you are happy with the stuffing. Finish the sowing. And the beanstalk is done.

 See part 2 for the final touches. 

Jack and the beanstalk ( fairy tale resources)

This is my Jack and the beanstalk beanstalk teaching resource. (Grade 1-4) 

This was for my university assignment. I love fairy tales they are a huge part of who I am. I believe in the magic and the imagination that they bring. 

I wanted to challenge myself and I wanted very much to impress. 

So I made a beanstalk to help students with their story sequencing, and I'm love the hands on experiences that truly engage and excite student imaginations. 

So here it is:  

The beanstalk is 2 meters tall, So some help is required. Each leaf is detachable from the base. On each leaf is part of the story. The story is also interchangeable so you can use any story you wish to use. On the main part stalk is removable signs with the words, beginning, middle and the end. So students can identify where is the  beginning, middle and the end of the story is. 

This is a great tool either as part of a class discussion or with a group of students. 

Supporting this resource is this text: 

It provides students with sequencing active.