Slightly addicted and an AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

Well, it’s been three days since I decided to start blogging and I must say - I'm addicted!  When my alarm (that I forgot to turn off) starting blaring in my ear at 5:05 am, I was shaken from a dream about blogging.  THAT is how I know I'm addicted!  I could not fall back to sleep, so I took Sage (the sweetest puppy ever - you'll hear lots about her, I guarantee!) outside and then turned on my computer.  When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but 50 downloads for my Thanksgiving venn diagrams!  I was inspired to add more activities to make a Thanksgiving Mini-Unit!  You can find the mini-unit here!  Now I am hard at work on a Gingerbread Mini-Unit!  You know you have chosen the right profession when your job isn't just a job, but a hobby too! 

In other news, during my daily blog stalking this morning, I stumbled upon this AMAZING GIVEAWAY from Lisa over at Growing Firsties!!! 

I don't know about you, but my kiddos cannot get enough of Pete the Cat.  They love Pete the Cat so much, they took it upon themselves to make a list of who gets to borrow the book from the classroom library each week.  I know this because I had to consult the list to borrow the book from a student to teach a lesson on verbs, and I thought she was going to cry when I asked for it.  "But Miss Watters, I'm still reading it," she said, lip quivering and all!  Then she kept glancing at it while she was working, like someone might run up and take it from table.  I have never seen a child as relieved as she was when I gave it back! 

But, as fantastic as Pete the Cat is, that is not the best part of this giveaway!  Lisa is going to donate money for Hurricane Sandy Relief!  As a New Jersey native, I am so thankful for Lisa and everyone else out there donating their hard earned money to support such a worthy cause.  I live almost 1000 miles away from my home state now, but the pictures of the devastation are unbelievable.  So many people in the northeast were affected by the storm, and every little bit helps!  Be sure to visit Lisa's blog and enter for your chance to win - and thank her for her help!

Happy Teaching! J Lindsay

Thanksgiving and my first FREEBIE!!

This morning I looked at the calendar and realized I only have 6 school days until Thanksgiving break!  6 DAYS!!  Of course I’m excited for the break (and the cranberry sauce) but now I have to figure out a way to squeeze all my fun Thanksgiving lessons into just 6 days.  I absolutely LOVE teaching about the first Thanksgiving!  One of my favorite books is "Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation" by Diane Stanley.

Have you read this one?  I just love it!  This book paints such a clear picture of the first Thanksgiving and what life was like for the Pilgrims and Native Americans.  The two main characters travel back in time with their grandmother where they meet Governor Bradford and Squanto, and celebrate the first Thanksgiving with them. 

 

I can't wait to use this book to reinforce compare and contrast with my kiddos!  I have made three venn diagrams to compare and contrast Native Americans and Pilgrims, Native American children and children today, and Pilgrim children and children today.  And I am so excited to be posting them today as my first freebie!!!  Click here for your copies. 

 

As I mentioned earlier my personal favorite part of Thanksgiving (aside from seeing my family and friends who live oh so far away in New Jersey) is the cranberry sauce!  And not the fancy homemade kind either.  No way. I'm talking about the no fuss, open the can and it's ready cranberry sauce.  I have no idea how or why I developed such a love for cranberry sauce, but it has been my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner for as long as I can remember!  I stock up every November (don't ask me why - in case there is ever a cranberry sauce shortage, I guess).  And my family is nice enough to let me have one whole bowl of cranberry sauce to myself!

 

Tell me what you love about Thanksgiving!  What books do you love to use to teach about Thanksgiving?  Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving dinner dish? 

Happy Teaching! J Lindsay