Area and Perimeter Fun!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 

Okay - before I get into writing about the awesome, fantastic, superb, amazing lessons that I did on Area and Perimeter, I want to remind everyone that TpT is having a SALE. I am LOADING up my shopping cart. Seriously. 5 items in there already - and I'm counting down til tomorrow! I am participating in the sale, and my ENTIRE store will be 20% off! 

If you're like me, Area and Perimeter just doesn't EVER seem to sink in with your kiddos  (I teach 3rd graders). Sure, they understand the unit while you are teaching it, and a week or two later. By the time you are doing end of year review, every year they start to mix them up again! Since we missed SO many school days because of snow, and state testing starts THIS WEEK, there isn't as much time for forgetfulness this year. It's also VERY frustrating to hear the 4th and 5th grade teachers talk about how they don't remember things I KNOW I've taught them! This year would be different......

After putting together some definitions of Area and Perimeter based on our background knowledge of area models of multiplication, we showcased the area and perimeter of our desks with sticky notes. You may remember reading it on a 5 for Friday post (Just click the picture if you want to read about it!) 

Then, I had my students create Area Robots. In 3rd grade, Virginia says we must find the area of "a shaded region". Basically, they give our kids this funky shape that has been colored in on graph paper and ask them to determine the area. What better way to practice that, than to DO that! SO....here's my "Anchor Chart" we made to go along with the activity: 

Here are my students' robots! The boys LOVED creating Mine Craft Creepers! 

Students drew robots on graph paper, and calculated the area of the head, body, arms and legs. Then, students found the total area of their robots and compared to a partner. 

The next day, we did a lesson practicing area and perimeter using Educreations on the iPad. This app lets students complete problems on multiple types of paper, and record their voice explaining their work. As you can tell by some of the faces, the word problems were TOUGH. They had to work with a partner to explain their thinking. Check out some of these faces! The best thing about Educreations, is that your students can save their work to your account with just a code.

 After we finished our problems, we watched groups explanation of problems. There were some "Ah-ha" moments -- you know, the teacher has said this 1,000,000 times and I don't get it, but my friend says it one time the exact same way, and I get it "ah-ha" moments! My favorite thing about Educreations is that students could change their plain paper to lined or graph paper. They could also insert photos from the camera roll, or take a photo. I had students take a photo of an area model for one problem, and record their voice and writing on top. This app is AWESOME for science vocabulary books, social studies reports on famous people, the list is endless!

Five for Friday with the Pencil Sharpener that Will Change Your Life

Happy Friday Ya'll!!! When Friday gets here, I just want to leave school and go home and take a NAP. I packed up my bag this afternoon and headed out so quickly, I almost forgot my laptop!! That would've made me SO upset, because this weekend I'm putting together a GIVEAWAY for my 100 followers!!!! Stay tuned for that. 

Since it's Friday, I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching! 

This pencil sharpener will change your life. We've all read that -- and seriously -- didn't we think the teachers who said that were crazy?! Welllllllllllll....................they were RIGHT. I got home on Wednesday afternoon to see a box on my front porch, and believe you me -- I was EXCITED. I immediately knew my pencil sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies had arrived. There are a few things I have to say about this sharpener. 

1) It is VERY nicely made -- like SERIOUSLY. My teaching partner Joanne tried it out, and she couldn't believe that this sharpener was made with such amazing quality. It really is a heavy duty sharpener. 

2) You have not seen a sharp pencil until you sharpen a pencil with one of these. 

3) The quality of my students' work increased. You know that kid whose writing you can't read? This sharpener gets the pencils such a nice point, that it actually helps the legibility of your students writing! 

4) My electric sharpener is going in the trash. Seriously. Once you go Classroom friendly supplies, you never go back! 

5) This is KID friendly. I showed all my kids ONE time how to use it - and they're all old pros now! I don't think I'll EVER  have to sharpen another pencil as long as I live - but I want to! This sharpener is that cool! We have pencil sharpening only in the morning, and you wouldn't believe how much faster my kiddos are coming to the room from breakfast. 

My next step -- is ordering a couple more of these! I want one for my colored pencils, one for my desk, and one for the kids! 

Area vs. Perimeter - Post it Note Style

So....students ALWAYS mix up area and perimeter. They just do. The more hands on interesting activities you can do, the better. We started off the week by creating our own Area and Perimeter Robots on Tuesday and Wednesday! The most fun activity however, was today's Post-It note activity. 

I handed each group of students Post It notes. My directions were, "These are your units. Tell me the area and perimeter of a desk in your group. Go". I didn't answer any questions, and FORCED my students to do what they thought was correct, and talk in their groups about their methods. It worked AMAZINGLY. I must give these kiddos credit-- they usually do pretty good with cooperative learning. 

I know I'm not the only one doing this.......Seriously

Check out the new design.....

This is a blog design I worked on with some backgrounds and banners from the Cutest Blog on the Block. They have super cute designs, and I love all things Nautical. Even my hubby commented that he liked the new look! 

GIVEAWAY..........

I'm putting together my 100 followers giveaway. If you want to donate a product, and increase the flow of traffic to your site, join by filling out this form! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Jessica