Do you read the Magic Tree House books with your class? My students are currently obsessed with these novels and how Jack and Annie travel around the world in their magic treehouse. So ...
...to take advantage of this obsession, I decided ot make a little treehouse in the classroom with Jack and Annie poking out! This is made with just a box covered with construction paper, cut the window out, and glue in photocopies of the characters leaning out! I made a large tree that goes right up to the ceiling, and the treehouse is perched there so students can gaze up at it while I read the chapters aloud to them. There's even a a small breeze from the ceiling fan that makes the rope ladder sway a bit!
Speaking of trees, I invited some local college forestry students in to give us a presentation on the life cycle of trees. They brought cuttings for us to count the rings, we went out to explored the forest together, and they even brought us a baby tree to plant in the school grounds.
Won't it be nice for my class to watch that little tree grow as they move up through the grades? I'll have to take another picture of them beside it when they graduate from the school.
This is our official first day of Summer Vacation. I'm moving on over to First Grade but I know my students will love some of the YouTube Videos they watched in Kinder. We love anything from Harry Kindergarten. He does the Super E and our fav is Vowel Bat. I can not get through a day without his help.
ReplyDeleteAngie K
Making The Basics Fun
Thank you Angie - I will check those out next week!
DeleteSusanna,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your Bossy E and Super E videos and that activity! Also love those masks and the advice. Hmmm- the kids always know the perfect advice for everybody else. :) I can't wait to try having the kids give the wolf advice. :)I bet they had a ball with the tree activity, too. And your dvd idea is precious. What a keepsake. No wonder they cry! Thanks for sharing! :)
CarolynKindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together
Oh it's true - the kids giving that advice are the ones who should take that advice!
DeleteThe tree house is so cute! My students always seem to enjoy the books. At the beginning of the year, we watch adding doubles. It's a little song the kids really like.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan - I will look up adding doubles on youtube. I can always use more videos to watch!
DeleteThanks for sharing those video links. The bossy e activity is just too cute! Such great ideas to hold on to for next year!
ReplyDeleteKaren
anappleadayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com
You're welcome! Hope they enjoy them - feel free to try it!
DeleteI love that tree! This post is filled with lots of fun ideas! Your classroom looks like a fun and inviting place to be.
ReplyDeleteJessica
Second Grade Nest
I'm so glad you said that - it's been my goal for many years! Thanks, Jessica!
DeleteHi Susanna! Your tree house is SO adorable! I will be teaching 4th grade next year...do you think I could get away with having that in my room? :) I wanted to share my favorite YouTube reading video...It's "When 2 Vowels Go Walking." I don't know if you've seen it before but here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fb3Pdt8kxg My 2nd graders this year (1st grade reading level) thought it was a blast, but oh my goodness will it get stuck in your head! Be ready for some more embarrassing moments in front of your teenagers!
ReplyDeleteHello Miss Martin! So glad you dropped by. I will definitely check out that 2 vowels video and show it on Monday. Thank you so much!
DeleteI am loving that Magic Tree House! So cute! Thank you for the Dear Mr. Wolf frame. Those letters are adorable!
ReplyDeleteLori
Conversations in Literacy
I just love Jack & Annie it the tree house!! Also, those masks are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend--
Sarah @ Hoots N Hollers
Thanks! It's so easy - I just photocopied them right from the book and stuck them in there after coloring them. The fan makes them move a little bit, so the kids are mesmerized by it!
DeleteLove the friendly advice to the Wolf! Especially the part about making bad choices. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteEm
Curious Firsties
I know! Apparently I say that a lot in class! Oh dear... :-)
DeleteThank you for the video links! The parent dvd is very sweet. I'd love to do something like that next year. The treehouse corner is so neat! How long did that take you! Happy to read your post!
ReplyDeleteThe treehouse was so easy, Sandy! Just paper for the tree, but staple it so it sticks out a bit. The treehouse is just a box covered with paper that I drew on and cut a window out of. The kids are just photocopied out of the book, and the rope ladder is just wool with cardboard rungs. It took a few hours at most.
DeleteI love your treehouse corner...my 2nd graders would have eaten that up!
ReplyDelete<3
Nicolette
The Classroom Creative
Give it a try! It's much easier than it looks, and took a few hours at most. :-)
DeleteI love your tree too! Great idea Susanna! We are still plugging away in school too...I feel your pain. I sure loved the idea that the students got to count the rings of the tree. Talk about hands on learning! That would have been great for my environment stuff! I may have to connect with you to get the info for that since we live so close! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDelete:) Shelley
The Perks of Teaching Primary
You bet, Shelley! In this case I was approached by the students in the forestry course, but apparently they have new students each term who have the option of doing class presentations. Contact BCIT for more info on that. It was great - and free!
DeleteYour Magic Tree House idea is adorable! If I ever teach lower grades I will definitely have to do that!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm sure those older kids could come up with something similar from their own novels!
DeleteJust found your blog from your guest post for Kickin' it in Kindergarten. It's very cute! I'm guest blogging for Elizabeth later this week, too! So glad I found you--I'm your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Always an Adventure in Kindergarten
Thanks for coming by - I will check out your guest post this week for sure!
DeleteSusanna
What fun ideas! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDelete