So - I've taken the first step and actually started a blog. The previous posts were taken from Squidoo lenses that I created, but with the change in the tone of this site, my original lenses were locked. The 45 that remain on the site are purely sales lenses with more Amazon links than original text - but who am I to question the powers that be.
I signed up for Teaching Traffic Blog School over the weekend and I am enjoying the tutorials. My goal for now is to make a concerted effort to write posts on this blog on a regular basis. In the past I have started blogs, but they fell by the wayside. I forget where they were. Now I am determined to succeed with this one, even though I know that I am writing for only one follower. Hopefully this will change as I present more of my ideas based on my teaching experience.
I have a store on Teachers Pay Teachers where I sell products that I have created - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Frances-Stanford
The majority of the resources on this site are novel study guides. I have taught most of these myself in the classroom. The ones that I haven't actually tested, but the others have been tested by my daughter and other family members that are teachers. There is an interesting story in how I became involved in creating novel study guides that I want to share with you.
In the late 1990's I was in charge of the Library in addition to my teaching duties. At the end of each school year we had a grant from the school board to purchase new resources for the following September. I was looking through the catalog for S & S Learning and noticed an ad for teacher authors to create resources for the company. I contacted the person named in the ad and the rest is history. My husband and I created a ton of novel study guides and Social Studies resources before deciding to branch out on our own.
I know that I am rambling just filling the page with my thoughts. But I plan to present many free teacher resources for all grades and subjects on this blog for anyone to use. I welcome all comments and suggestions.
Stay tuned
Frances
Monday 28 October 2013
Saturday 26 October 2013
How to make rock candy
What you'll need:
- a measuring cup
- a tall glass
- a kettle
- a spoon
- a pencil
- some thread
- a paper clip
- some sugar
Instructions:
1. Pour a cup of water into a kettle and bring it to a boil.
2. Put the cup of hot water back into the measuring cup.
3. Pour in 1/2 cup of sugar and stir with the spoon to make sure it is completely dissolved.
4. Pour the sugar water solution into a small glass.
5. Tie one end of the thread around the middle of the pencil and the other end to a paper clip. Lay the pencil across the top of the glass so that the thread hangs down into the glass and the paper clip is in the solution.
6. Set the glass on a shelf where it will stay warm. Let it stay there for three or four days. Do not cover the glass.
7. After a few days you can shine a light on the glass to see the crystals.
8. Crystals will form on the side of the glass, the string, the pencil and the paper clip.
9. Students can taste small bits of crystal.
- a measuring cup
- a tall glass
- a kettle
- a spoon
- a pencil
- some thread
- a paper clip
- some sugar
Instructions:
1. Pour a cup of water into a kettle and bring it to a boil.
2. Put the cup of hot water back into the measuring cup.
3. Pour in 1/2 cup of sugar and stir with the spoon to make sure it is completely dissolved.
4. Pour the sugar water solution into a small glass.
5. Tie one end of the thread around the middle of the pencil and the other end to a paper clip. Lay the pencil across the top of the glass so that the thread hangs down into the glass and the paper clip is in the solution.
6. Set the glass on a shelf where it will stay warm. Let it stay there for three or four days. Do not cover the glass.
7. After a few days you can shine a light on the glass to see the crystals.
8. Crystals will form on the side of the glass, the string, the pencil and the paper clip.
9. Students can taste small bits of crystal.
How to make a fossil
What you'll need:
- modeling clay
- a loose mixture of water and Plaster of Paris
- dish detergent
- small shells. figurines or small models of dinosaurs
Instructions:
1. Use the modeling clay to make a rectangular shaped box.
2. Cut the box in half.
3. Mark the ends of each half so that you can match them later.
4. Cover the shell or shape that you choose with the dish detergent.
5. Press the shell or shape into one half of the clay box.
6. Now match the other half of the box and press it over the shell of shape that you used. Press them gently together so that you will get a deep imprint.
7. Carefully separate the halves of the box and take out the shell or shape.
8. Pour some of the mixture of water and Plaster of Paris into the imprints left in the clay. Put the parts back together and leave the Plaster of Paris to dry. This may take a few days.
9. Tap gently on the clay box to remove any air bubbles that may have formed.
10. When the Plaster of Paris is dry, remove the clay box halves and take out the fossil.
11. The fossil can be painted.
- modeling clay
- a loose mixture of water and Plaster of Paris
- dish detergent
- small shells. figurines or small models of dinosaurs
Instructions:
1. Use the modeling clay to make a rectangular shaped box.
2. Cut the box in half.
3. Mark the ends of each half so that you can match them later.
4. Cover the shell or shape that you choose with the dish detergent.
5. Press the shell or shape into one half of the clay box.
6. Now match the other half of the box and press it over the shell of shape that you used. Press them gently together so that you will get a deep imprint.
7. Carefully separate the halves of the box and take out the shell or shape.
8. Pour some of the mixture of water and Plaster of Paris into the imprints left in the clay. Put the parts back together and leave the Plaster of Paris to dry. This may take a few days.
9. Tap gently on the clay box to remove any air bubbles that may have formed.
10. When the Plaster of Paris is dry, remove the clay box halves and take out the fossil.
11. The fossil can be painted.
How to make an erupting volcano
This is one of the most commonly used experiments for rocks and minerals. It is very easy to set up in a classroom.
What you need:
- large flower pot
- a tray or pan to catch the drips
- a small tin can (like a tuna can)
- a funnel with a large mouth on the top or a coffee filter
- foil wrap
- a tablespoon of baling soda
- 125 ml of vinegar
- food coloring of your choice
Instructions:
1. Cut off the small end of the coffee filter if that is what you are using as the funnel.
2. Assemble the parts in the following order starting at the bottom:
- baking pan
- foil wrap
- flower pot
- can
- cup or funnel
3. Cover the whole thing so that it resembles a volcano. If you want to make it look more realistic you can paint the foil.
4. Tuck the top of the foil inside the opening of the funnel or the coffee filter.
5. Put a heaping tablespoon of baking soda through the hole in the top of the volcano.
6. Add a spoonful of liquid dish detergent.
7. Measure about 125 ml of vinegar and add a few drops of food coloring to it.
8. Pour the colored vinegar into the hole.
9. Watch the volcano as it erupts.
Variations:
You can change the amounts of vinegar and baking soda that you add to change the size of the eruption.
You can also add tiny bits of paper to the vinegar to make it more realistic.
What you need:
- large flower pot
- a tray or pan to catch the drips
- a small tin can (like a tuna can)
- a funnel with a large mouth on the top or a coffee filter
- foil wrap
- a tablespoon of baling soda
- 125 ml of vinegar
- food coloring of your choice
Instructions:
1. Cut off the small end of the coffee filter if that is what you are using as the funnel.
2. Assemble the parts in the following order starting at the bottom:
- baking pan
- foil wrap
- flower pot
- can
- cup or funnel
3. Cover the whole thing so that it resembles a volcano. If you want to make it look more realistic you can paint the foil.
4. Tuck the top of the foil inside the opening of the funnel or the coffee filter.
5. Put a heaping tablespoon of baking soda through the hole in the top of the volcano.
6. Add a spoonful of liquid dish detergent.
7. Measure about 125 ml of vinegar and add a few drops of food coloring to it.
8. Pour the colored vinegar into the hole.
9. Watch the volcano as it erupts.
Variations:
You can change the amounts of vinegar and baking soda that you add to change the size of the eruption.
You can also add tiny bits of paper to the vinegar to make it more realistic.
How to Use the Novel Study Guides
Suggestions for Using a Novel Study Guide in the Classroom
There are many ways a teacher can use one of my Novel Study Guides for
all grades in a mixed ability classroom. I have used these guides
myself and I would like to describe how I used them with the students.
The comprehension questions are designed to test how well the students understand what they read in each chapter. It will bore the students to no end and give them a dislike of reading if you expect them to write out the answers to every single question. I used these mainly as conferencing questions when I had students read to me. For the students of lower ability or those who need help with writing or answering questions, I would choose groups of questions for them to answer as written exercises.
When using the creative writing , integrated studies and research activities, I gave students a choice in what activities they had to complete. I did require them to complete at least three of each category and supplied them with the tracking sheet included so they could check off which ones they did. This tracking sheet had to be part of their portfolio.
To reduce the possibility of students always choosing activities that included artwork only, I required then to have at least two writing pieces in their portfolio package when they turned it in to me for grading.
Peer editing was always part of my classroom, even at the Grade 2 level. However, you do have to teach mini- lessons and demonstrate how the students can do this on their own.
I did use all the grammar and word study activities, but I used them for mini-lessons. I also supplemented the activities to provide any students who were having difficulty with extra practice.
The comprehension questions are designed to test how well the students understand what they read in each chapter. It will bore the students to no end and give them a dislike of reading if you expect them to write out the answers to every single question. I used these mainly as conferencing questions when I had students read to me. For the students of lower ability or those who need help with writing or answering questions, I would choose groups of questions for them to answer as written exercises.
When using the creative writing , integrated studies and research activities, I gave students a choice in what activities they had to complete. I did require them to complete at least three of each category and supplied them with the tracking sheet included so they could check off which ones they did. This tracking sheet had to be part of their portfolio.
To reduce the possibility of students always choosing activities that included artwork only, I required then to have at least two writing pieces in their portfolio package when they turned it in to me for grading.
Peer editing was always part of my classroom, even at the Grade 2 level. However, you do have to teach mini- lessons and demonstrate how the students can do this on their own.
I did use all the grammar and word study activities, but I used them for mini-lessons. I also supplemented the activities to provide any students who were having difficulty with extra practice.
The Benefits of Using a Novel Study Guide in Your Classroom
Lesson Plans for the Classroom Teacher
Using novel study guides for all grades in your classroom helps you get the most benefit from having students read a novel. If you are just going to read the novel aloud in class with students following along, it is just the same as taking 15 minutes a day to read to the class. You really need to get into the nuts and bolts of the book and help the students understand what it is they are reading. Through questions and discussions, you help them form their own opinions about events unfolding in the book, make predictions, write letters and essays - in short with a novel study you cover all your Language Arts outcomes.When you do a novel study, you should make sure that all students have their own novels. The school may have a set of the novels prescribed for each grade or you can require the students to buy their own. Simply specify which novels you will be doing in the book list you give out at the beginning of the year.
When students know that they are required to do projects on the novel, they will do the reading on their own. For students in your class with reading problems, you can pair them with better readers, use a taped version of the novel for them to follow along with or ask the parent to read the book with them. Most of the novels used in schools appeal to all ages, so parents will probably want to read them anyway.
If your school wishes to have the novels for the students, one option may be to search the second-hand bookstores. You will find that you can pick up used novels in excellent condition for as little as $2.00. Amazon.com also sells used novels as well as new and when you order online, the books are shipped directly to the school.
Some of the features that we offer in our novel study guides include:
· Suggestions regarding how the teacher can use the guide
· Record keeping sheets
· Comprehension questions
· Journal writing suggestions
· Activities for Creative Writing, Integrated Studies, Word Study, Grammar and Research.
· Portfolio cover for students
· Record of activities for students
Novel Study Guide for The Breadwinner
The novel study guide for The Breadwinner contains comprehension questions on each chapter as well as a list of vocabulary words found in these chapters.There are 50 activities teachers can choose to have the students complete or the students can choose which activities they would enjoy most. These activities are designed to meet the needs of all ability levels in the classroom.
The categories of the activities are:
- Creative Writing
- Word Study
- Integrated Studies
- Research
- Grammar
Sample activities include:
Creative Writing Activity 9:
Based on news reports about refugee camps, do you think that living in one of these camps would be different than living under Taliban rule?
Write a paragraph or two to explain your answer.
Integrated Studies Activity 2:
Make a character web of Parvana.
Draw a circle in which you place the name "Parvana". Label five other
circles leading from this central one as follows:
1. relationships
2. hobbies/interests
3. appearance
4. others' opinions
5. personality
Jot down as many ideas as you can related to each topic.
When you have all your ideas in place, write a character sketch of
Parvana based on your web.
The novel study guide consists of 58 pages that include teacher record keeping sheets, assessment rubrics and the answers to the questions
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