Website update

Good morning world!  I updated my website with a new activity and website of the day!  Check it out at http://hayesclass.weebly.com.  I am archiving all of the passed activities/websites as well under the "more" tab.  Remember, I am just starting out so the pickings are slim, but it will continue to grow!!!!

Featured today (click the caption, not the pic).......

Cloud in a Bottle (Steve Spangler)

Cloud types (WW2010 Univ. of Illinois)

Also check out one of Cincinnati's annual traditions...The FAMOUS Flying Pig Marathon!!!!  I am training for my second half marathon with my amazing wife!

Flying Pig

Thanks!

Thank you to all the new followers!!!!  I hope you enjoy my blog and find it to be worthwhile!  I wanted to pass on a resource that I have been using for about 5 years now.  Many of you may have heard of this site, but it is worth a view and signing up for the free account!  Check out www.teachersdomain.org.  Free account and access to hundreds of free lesson plans, video clips and activities.  You'll be glad you did!

Giveaway

I have decided to have a little giveaway as a way to get my blog and my newly revamped educational website out there to everyone!  As a new seller on Teachers Pay Teachers, I am giving away my 6 Earth and Space Science products to one lucky winner!  These products include:

1. The Story of MY Constellation (A lesson plan and activity dealing with the stars!)

2. A Trip to the Moon (A lesson plan and demonstration guide packed with internet resources as well)

3. Space KWL (A simple Excel file for recording student questions and knowledge)

4. My Daily Weather Log (A detailed excel spreadsheet for recording students and whole class data)

5. Cloud Type Flash Cards (An original creation that teaches about cloud types and associated weather)

6. Space Science Review Test (Created with released standardized testing items.  MC and ext. response)

In order to be the big winner, please do the following 4 things (Each of the four will act as a separate entry, so leave a comment for each item that you complete.):

1.  Follow me on my blog!

2.  Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers (RJ Hayes)

3.  Blog about my giveaway and send me the link to view it.

4.  Visit my website (fill out the comment form at the bottom if you have suggestions or resources to share).

I am planning on running the giveaway through March 11th!

Good luck and thank you for visiting!

RJ

OOBLECK........YESSSSS!!!!!

Today in class, we made oobleck!  After studying states of matter and reading Bartholomew and the Oobleck, we made this wonderful stuff!  The kids were amazed that a substance could act as a solid and a liquid at the same time.  It is a non-Newtonian fluid.  Here is the recipe that we used:

1        cup corn starch
1/2     cup water

Mix it together until it has the consistency of pancake mix.  Then try your own experiments to investigate the properties of the oobleck!  We tried picking it up and squeezing it apply pressure, then releasing to see it act as a liquid.  We rolled golf balls across it and then tried dropping the golf ball into it from varying heights.

What the Teachers Want

Okay, just found an awesome blog to share with everyone!  My good friend from http://fabulousinfirst.blogspot.com sent this to me..........

http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com

Check it out!  Amazing resources.  Just became a follower today!

Website building

As I build my new website...... http://hayesclass.weebly.com, I am thinking about what I would like to see if I visited the page.  I am a K.I.S.S. kinda guy...keep it simple stupid.  It won't be flashy and cutesy, but it will be straight to the point.  Here are the resources I have, click em and check em out.  Sounds good?  Of course, in day two of my blog I am typing this to my loyal following of.....ZERO.  Some day, I will have AT LEAST 10!

Do me a favor, respond to this post with some of your favorite websites, resources, personal teacher sites, whatever!  Or, go to my website above and fill out the comment form.  I want to make this website valuable for my fellow educators!  Help me out please.

Thanks,

RJ

Sick Day

One of those days.....home with my own sick child.  Last minute illness, so I had to pass on the awesome messy oobleck lab (can't do THAT to a sub) and return to boring old bookwork.....thank you for the 30 minutes to come up with something for the sub to do. 

Is there any way to make book work THAT enjoyable?  Of course, despite what many will say, it is something you have to do from time to time.  Non-fiction reading is a skill my students must possess and it is a notorious weakness in 4th grade that we practice, practice, practice!!! 

Any suggestions???  How can we as teachers make the "have to do it" work fun?  Maybe I can turn it into a game of sorts.  A bookwork scavenger hunt................?????