Christmas Tree Number Bonds for K-1

My class and I began exploring number bonds last week. They have been having a lot of fun building them with counters and unfix cubes.

I always try to incorporate art into our math lessons whenever possible. You can never get enough art in Kindergarten!

We began by creating their  tree. I showed them the easiest three trees to draw, a giant triangle, three stacked triangles and a tree with branches that curve inwards.

Next they colored in their trees. I passed out a bunch of different choices for coloring: crayons, colored pencils, markers and oil pastels. I like to mix up our supplies whenever possible, it makes the bulletin board look more dynamic!

Then I passed out their number bonds. They had to come up and choose two colors of finger paints to decorate their tree. The top number of the bond is one color and the bottom was another.

After that, they just had to add all the ornaments together to solve their number bond equation!

The best part was how easy it is to assess, I just had to see if they painted the correct number of ornaments!

It was a great way to reinforce this concept this holiday season!  You can find this item in my shop!

How do you incorporate art into your classroom?

Making Gel and Rice Sensory Bags

It is official! I am going back to Kindergarten this year and I am VERY excited!

Student Christmas Craft

I truly adore those glitter ornaments that are all over Pinterest during the holiday seasons. I especially love them because the glitter is only on the inside. Whilst I am smitten with all things glitter, like everyone else, I detest when it ends up everywhere.

I wanted a simple craft to make with my students this year. Something easy that they can give to their families on the holiday. I figured I would give these a try!

Here's what you need:

Ornaments - I got these plastic balls at Michaels for 70% off! I love the flattened circle look!

 Glitter - I went with Martha Stewart's, it is so fine and sparkly!!

 Pledge floor care, so the glitter has something to stick to!

Clear bags and iridescent star garland to wrap them up.

I made my sample last night and it was wicked easy. All you have to do is remove the top of the ornament and pour in a little bit of the floor care.

Then, I covered it with a paper towel (the mouths on these ornaments are a bit wider than the traditional ball shape, but I love the style of these!)

I swirled the liquid around until the entire ball was coated and then drained the excess back into the bottle.

Next, I poured in the glitter and rolled/shook the ball until it was coated. If you have any excess glitter you can pour that back into the container too. I did mine in small bits, so I didn't have any extra.

Here is my finished result!

I would recommend letting them dry for awhile before putting the top back on. I put mine on a bit too soon and it scratched off a bit of the glitter near the tip.

I wanted to keep the wrapping simple since they are so fabulous looking!

My sister Kristen suggested the stars to tie them off and I must say, as usual she has fabulous taste! They look so cute, I know my students and their families will love them!

What is your craft project for your class this year?

Revitalizing Tarnished Jewelry

I'm linking up with Tara for Monday Made It, though mine is more of a Monday Revitalized It! This is a necklace I made about five years ago with a butterfly pendant and some invisible wire. I love how simple it is, so I have worn it a lot over the years.

That has led to some icky coppery effect which I am not loving at all lately. I tried cleaning it, but since it is just a cheap metal nothing was working. I decided to use something I have ample amounts of...nail polish!

I used Essie No Place Like Chrome for all of my silver pieces. I tried a few others, but this had the best coverage and shine!

It looks as if it is brand new again!

Next up were two of my favorite pairs of earrings. The stars were a gift I received about 10 years ago and the birds were made by me.

I used Zoya Ziv on the gold part of the stars and then the No Place Like Chrome on the top layer.

I used a regular nail polish brush to paint all of these pieces. I found it was best to put on a heavy layer, then wipe the brush clean. Once it was clean I would spread the thick coat out along the piece until it was finely covered, just enough so the etchings were not filled in.

I am thrilled to have all of my favorite pieces freshened up! I must say it is nice to know that nail polish can serve extra purposes too! It actually has me wondering what else I can decorate with it...but I'll save that for another time!

Now I am off to check out Tara's blog to see what everyone else was up to this past week!

Have a great Monday!!

DIY Bracelet Stand and Giveaway Winner!

I know I have mentioned this before, but I have tons of jewelry. Click here if you want to see how I have stored some of it in the past. My necklaces and earrings have stayed organized with those stands and displays.  My bracelets however...they were out of control!! I decided to make a bracelet stand for my sanity's sake!

I was going to use a paper towel roll but upon further inspection it was way to flimsy. I cut a foot long piece off of a gift wrap roll instead. The heart shaped lid came from an anklet I got a few years ago. 

I sliced and folded the end I cut back a bit to give it a solid base.

I painted the lid with some black nail polish that had gotten thick. It worked perfectly on the lid but not so well on the roll. Nail polish is definitely meant for small areas only!

I electric taped the ends of the roll for a closed top and base. I don't want my bracelets falling inside - or a dust filled stand either!

I used this pretty zebra tissue paper a few years back on some candles I made as a Christmas gift. I mod podged the paper onto the roll and presto! Now it is a lot less hideous looking! I used hot glue to attach the roll to the lid.

After it had dried I put a few, or maybe a zillion, bracelets onto my new holder. Then I noticed this:

I had made the leaning tower of bracelets!! I switched those bracelets with my bangles, hoping the lightness would help, but alack no. It fell over everyday last week!

This weekend I took the roll off the lid and reattached it with the ever fabulous Super Glue!

Finally I was left with a fully functioning, and a straight, bracelet stand! I am loving how easy it was to make too!

Click on over to Tara's blog to see the rest of the Monday Made Its!

Last but not least, the giveaway Winner!! Congratulations to Michelle! You are the winner of the Neon Month, Day and Date Template! I will be emailing you today!

DIY Silver Necklaces

I know I have mentioned in the past that I have a lot of jewelry, and it is true, I do. However I have found that I am lacking in the silver necklace department. I have two that I adore - a butterfly on illusion wire and some sterling birds on silver chain. They are lovely but definitely overused! I decided I needed a few more options. Off to Michaels I went!

First up we have the beads! I chose three larger pendants since I wanted to keep these necklaces simple chain-wise.

For the large flower with a mix of rhinestones, crystals and pearls I went with a black chain. I like how it allows the sterling silver to pop.  Please ignore the annoying pink hue that my camera loves to cast on my photos!!

Next we have the rounded square bead. I love this one! It looks like tinfoil blended with a rhinestone! Disregard the pink again, it is simply silver! Perhaps it is time to get a plain camera. Though I do adore my hot pink Powershot!! I used an antique silver chain for this one - I think it may be my favorite. I know it is the one I have been wearing the most lately!

Lastly is the silver circle with swarovski cyrstals. This one is so pretty and sparkly! I love how the crystals are rainbow colored! I chose a simple sterling silver chain for this one, I did not want to take away from the pretty pendant.

My favorite part about making these necklaces was how easy they were! I only needed 2 pairs of needle nose pliers, 2 sizes of jump rings and some lobster clasps!

Now I have 3 new necklaces that will go with just about anything and everything! I know they will be getting a lot of use!

What is your current jewelry obsession? Tell me about it in the comments below!!

DIY Stress Balls

My 4th grade Intervention group that is full of angst by the time class roles around. They have a long morning schedule and then come to my room right after lunch and recess. We have squishy dinosaur someone left behind after a field trip which provides a lot of "relaxation" to those who need it. In fact he has been needed so much so that his neck and feet have suffered a bit! I really should take a picture of the sad dino!

Whenever I have been on Pinterest lately, (which is way to often!) I keep seeing stress balls that you can make yourself! I decided to give it a try as 1 dinosaur is not enough for my group of 12! I hopped over to Somewhat Simple's site to see how to create these!

All I needed was balloons and playdough so off I went to the Dollar Store! $2.00 later I was all set!

I am a bit impatient, so rather than rolling out the dough, I simply stretched the balloon as wide as I could and shoved in the ball of dough. I ended up with a lot of dough under my fingers and on the floor, but it worked! I decided to put a 2nd balloon over each, just in case my students are having a really bad day!

All together it took about 15 minutes which I thought was pretty good! I decided against drawing faces on them, partly because I am no kind of artist! Plus I am not sure if it would stay on the balloon that well. I wouldn't want my students to be walking around with melted smileys on their hands!

My students really enjoyed using these today - we had to rotate them throughout the room so everyone could have a chance! I am assuming the novelty will wear off soon, or else I will be head back to the Dollar Store to make a few more!

Hop on over to Tara's blog to see the rest of the Monday Made Its!

What do you use to help de-stress your class?

Beaded Bracelets and Giveaway Winner!

I have a plethora of necklaces. Seriously, you can see it here if you want to know just how bad it is! My bracelets are substantial as well, but I find they never last me as long. Most likely that is because I have a tendency to whack them against things or snag them at school.

Michaels has been having a great deal on Bead Gallery beads lately - 55% off! I figured that would be a great time to get back to making jewelry!

I love this one so much! It has three of those silver plated beads. It is not really glitter or stones, it is druzy! And I believe virtually indestructible! I tend to be vicious on the stones in my bracelets, unintentionally of course! I had four hearts and black beads left, so I think I may be making a pair of earrings soon!

I was afraid I wasn't going to like how this turned bracelet out, but I do! I had a purple glass bead with a golden tint in my hand all throughout the store. But something about it was not right. Then I saw these gorgeous beads - I love the swirls of blues and greens! I think it compliments the antiqued silver nicely.

Lastly we have my silver and rhinestone bracelet. I loved how the round beads look sand dollarish! It was definitely the easiest to make too, just six beads and some elastic. That is definitely how I like my jewelry making to be!

I am totally smitten with all of them and I think I may have a hard time choosing which one I will wear first! Perhaps I will go for a layered look this Monday!

Last but not least Congratulations to Maria! She is the winner of the Silent E Bunting Games! I will be emailing you tonight Maria!

Have a great night!