Five for Friday & Freebie!!!

I'm linking up with "Doodle Bugs Teaching" this week to share 5 random things about my week! I think October is all teachers' favorite and we've had so many fun things going on...it's going to be difficult to limit this to only 5!!!

We started our week out with this SUPER COOL Science Experiment! I mean really cool! Watch the video and you'll see exactly what I mean! 

I told you!

All you need is a cup full of packing peanuts and Acetone. I would get more than a cup though, because your students will want to do it over and over again!!

We started our pumpkin life cycle project!!!

It's been fun for the kids watching for sprouts each day! This idea and the sign came from "Primary Techie" and you can read all about it on Primary Techie's Blog {here}. You can get her sign {here}. We don't have any sprouts yet, but we just did it on Tuesday. 

Halloween Crafts!!! 

Okay, I'm sneaking two in here!!!

 Cotton Ball Hanging Ghosts!!

 3-Dimensional Pumpkins

These were great for my students' fine motor skills and we discussed and compared the difference between 2-D and 3-D.

We started using my Money Mats this week and my students are amazing me! I have students working on all 3 levels!

Level One

Level Two

Level Three

Check 'em out {here}.

And last....I got my dress for the Educator of the Year Awards tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love it! It's so me!

I'm super excited AND starting to get VERY nervous!! If you read my Five for Friday post about 3 weeks ago, then you know I was nominated for Educator of the Year and am now in the top 4!!! Tomorrow 1 of the 4 of us will be named!!!! It's been very exhilarating to say the least, and I am so grateful! So wish me luck!!! Maybe next Friday I'll be announcing the news on Five for Friday!!

I'd like to leave you with a popular freebie that you can use next week as you continue your pumpkin studies. You can print it in color or B & W. 

Click on this button for more freebies!

Go to Doodle Bugs Teaching to read more Five for Friday Posts!!!

Thanks for stopping by The Bender Bunch!
Have a great weekend!

Learn With Your Craft Stash - BEADS!

I'm linking up once again with "Life Over C's" for Learn With Your Craft Stash to show you some ways you can use all of those beads you have as learning manipulatives!

This is a great activity for hand/eye coordination and practicing fine motor skills. And if you store your beads in an organizer similar to mine or this one.....

.....you can take the tray right out, insert a separator as you see I did for my student above, and you have an instant activity center. 

Make number cards and have students practice counting and 1:1 correspondence. Simple!!! The small manipulatives also work on fine motor at the same time.

This student is making an ABC pattern on a pipe cleaner! Presenting the beads this way makes it easy for her to better understand and complete an ABC pattern. And again, using the drawer from my bead organizer already divided into 3 sections makes this activity a snap!

These students are working on fine motor skills by placing beads on a pipe cleaner! The pipe cleaners work much better than string as they aren't flimsy and are easier for the student to control.

Rekenreks!!
Beads are perfect for making your own rekenreks! Not familiar with rekenreks? Click {here} for info and activities.
Now get out those beads and start learning!!!