Happy New Years Eve - and some Freebies!

It's hard to believe that the break is half way over!  My cousin drove up from Florida to bring her kids skiing in Maggie Valley.  It's only a few hours for Scott and I so we met up with them for a little ski trip.  I LOVE to ski!

But with all the bragging Scott did, he wasn't that great on the slopes :)

We all had such a good time!  It was good to get to see some family - even if it was just for a few days.

So before Christmas break, one thing that I like to do is use different versions of the Gingerbread Man to compare the adventures of characters in stories.  I've started to grow a little collection of Gingerbread books...

We use Venn diagrams to compare and contrast and I also like to use these stories to retell events.  I have a little reading response sheet for the students to use to recall the events and write about them.  

But wouldn't ya know it - I RAN OUT OF COPIES!!!  (Yes, I am only allowed 1000 copies per month and I have 22 students!)  So what do I do?  IMPROVISE!  and quickly.

I took sheets of paper and started to fold!  The results did not turn out that bad...

THIS is that page that I WANTED to use...you can get it along with other reading response sheets for free HERE.

And then the pen to my Smart Notebook wasn't working.  I needed an anchor chart.  So what do I do?  I slap some butcher paper on the board!

So after the students did their turn and talk and filled out their response sheet, they helped me fill out mine.  

Then we did a text to self connection (If I were a Gingerbread Girl or Boy) and filled out this little poster from Caitlin Clabby at Kindergarten Smiles.

They really enjoyed making the Gingerbread people!

I don't know about y'all, but I have been using my break to try to catch up!  I found these clear pebbles at the dollar store and grabbed them because I thought I could use them for something that looks like "ice."  The little blue bucket I found at Target for a dolla - holla!

 I wrote letters on all the "ice" and added a scoop.  So when my students get back, they will have a new activity at their word study center called "Stone Scoop!"  Get it?  STONE SCOOP!  Instead of SOUP?  Ha ha - yes I'm lame and I get a kick out of weird things.

They'll scoop out some "ice,"  make as many words as they can, record, and do it again!

I even made a cute little recording page for this center.  

You can get it for free HERE.

Hope y'all have a safe and Happy New Year!