Westward Migration Unit- Links to many FREE resources

Oh my goodness!  

The end of the school year was filled with quick paced activities to fit in all that I needed to accomplish for the year.  Was it like this for anyone else? I forgot to take pictures of our last social studies unit for the school year, but wanted to share some fabulous links and resources.

I LOVE teaching the social studies units that our district requires us to cover.  One of my favorite units to teach is about Lewis and Clark and Westward Migration.  In my district, our 3rd graders get an overview of this unit.

Here are a few resources I found to enhance our unit on Westward Migration.

1. Several great video clips from the History Channel

There are video clips on the transcontinental railroad, the gold rush, Louisiana Purchase, Donner party, and buffalo and Native Americans.  

2. My students LOVED this rap about Westward Migration

3. AND I couldn't leave out incorporating this unit with my students' favorite piece of technology... our Ipad      There is a FREE app about Westward Expansion for the Ipad.  Several of my students enjoyed the trivia and challenge of this app.   It's called U.S. Westward Expansion. Click on the pic below to be taken to the link.

4.  Don't forget about a lap book.  My teammate created a fabulous one for all of us to use.  I'm hoping she will post it soon to TPT, and I can share the link with all of you. Until then, I did find this great lapbook on Pinterest. It is from Dynamic 2 Moms.  The link includes all of the resources needed to create your own Westward Migration lap book.  Just click on the picture below to be taken to the link.

5.  My students also created a wagon train for the classroom. Each team created their own "themed" prairie schooner for our virtual trip to Oregon.  Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of their wagons.  The students simply drew their prairie schooners onto large pieces of bulletin board sized paper.  I then hung them across the back of our room to make a "train".  

I also found this cute idea on Pinterest, but did not have time to complete this with my students this year. It is from the Crafty Crow. Click on the picture below to be taken to this link.

6.  AND since Westward Migration isn't covered in our social studies textbooks, I use this unit below to tie everything together.

To find out more about this unit, simply click on the picture above.

7.  My students also completed a diary of their "virtual trip to Oregon".  We used this diary below to record our adventures on the trail.  Simply click on the picture to find out more information.

I created this post in hopes of recording for myself all of the resources I like to use with my students when studying Westward Migration.  I hope you are able to take a few of these ideas to help enhance your study of Westward Migration as well.

I would love to hear about some of your favorite resources for teaching Westward Migration.

President's Day Resources

Okay, I know it's about a month before President's Day but a teacher has to be prepared, right?!

I admit I have this TeRrIbLe OCD compulsion.  I LOVE to be organized.  I stress out if I am not.

Just ask my husband.

Our weeks are so busy shuttling our kiddos to practices, homework, meetings, and oh yeah, my new workout regiment.  

So I spent a few hours researching some ideas for President's Day.  Take a peek at all of these ideas.

1.  Picture Books to use with President's Day

2.  Craftivities

This is a free download from my TPT store.  Just click on the picture above to be taken to the free download.

Take a peek at these ADORABLE Presidential Portraits.  This inspiration comes from Patties Classroom.  Just click on the picture below to check out Pattie's post.

3. President's Day videos

This is a cute song about Washington and Lincoln found on YouTube.  Just click on the picture above to be taken to this link.

This is a YouTube video about the first five Presidents.  Click on the picture above to be taken to this link.

George Washington video on BrainPop.  Click on the picture above to be taken to this link.

Abraham Lincoln video on BrainPop.  Click on the picture below to be taken to this link.

4.  President's Day Lapbook for Bigger Kids
I absolutely adore Lapbooks.  They work so well with the Common Core Standards.  I love to use them as a study guide for our social studies and science units.  I'm working on one for the American Revolution right now.   I just had to create one for President's Day.  I can't wait to use this with my students.

You can find this "President's Day Patriotic Lapbook for Bigger Kids" in my TPT store by clicking HERE or on any of the photos above.

5.  Free resources from TPT
Take a peek at several fabulous and free resources from TPT.  Simply click on each picture to be taken to the free download.

President's Day Printables by Michelle Tomaszewski

President's Day Art Swap by K. Ratliff

President's Day ABC Order by the CrAzY Schoolteacher

I hope these are some helpful ideas for President's Day.   Have a blessed week friends!  It's mid-term this week for my school district so I have papers I need to get to work grading.  I can't believe we are already halfway through third quarter.  This school year is flying by!

And since I LOVE to give away my newest units, the first 3 to comment about an activity they use for President's Day in the classroom will receive my newest unit " President's Day Patriotic Lapbook for Bigger Kids" for free.

Moving Forward Fundraiser, Multiplication Freebie, and a Pilgrim unit

Hi Sweet Friends!

How many of you stayed up late last night watching the election results?

I did...  I was just so drawn into it, and so were my 2 older children.  

Besides the Presidential race, there were a couple of other items I was actively watching and praying about.

I am a teacher in Illinois, and one of the issues was a Constitutional amendment change that would directly

aefect teacher's pensions in Illinois... the other was one that would directly effect our school district, my students, and my children.

Moving on to other things....

I couldn't wait to post about an amazing fundraiser that Samantha at Ms. Smarty Pants is hosting for a dear friend that has been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  I have donated my All Star Subtraction Unit.  33 TPT items are being offered for a donation of $20.00 Please click on the picture below to find out more.  

It's been such a crazy couple of weeks.  I haven't been taking many pictures.  Sorry! That's what happens when my schedule changes a bit.  We had parent teacher conferences at the end of last week, and then on Monday as well.  AND then I just realized we have 2 full weeks of school ,and then we are off again for Thanksgiving break.  I have too many things to squeeze in these next two weeks.  We are wrapping up our unit on Government, and my students have been busily working on their campaigns for election of a class mascot.

The campaign committee is busily working on their campaign speech for their candidate.

My dear 3rd graders just began their timed tests in multiplication.  In our district, 3rd graders are expected to have memorized their multiplication facts through 12 by the end of the school year.  Students must correctly answer all 20 problems of a particular fact in a minute.  The students get a sundae party in February for all of their hard work on memorization of the facts.  I just updated my multiplication timed tests and posted them onto TPT for free.  Please click the link below if you would like to download these.   Enjoy!

I just posted my newest unit to TPT called " Pilgrim Unit Mega Pack".  This unit includes 7 power point lessons, station and whole group activities, and a study guide and test.  Click on the link below to learn more.

I will e-mail the Pilgrim unit to the first 3 people who comment below about their favorite Thanksgiving food.  Have a fabulous rest of the week!  Thanks for stopping by.  Please don't forget to check out Samantha's Moving Forward fundraiser.

Government for Big Kids

It's finally completed!

I have been busy working on a government unit that I want to do with my 3rd graders next week.

I thought it would be perfect to lead into the election activities we will be doing at the end of this month.

Here it is:

Included in this unit is a powerpoint presentation over the following lessons:  What is Government?, The Constitution, The 3 Branches of Government, Government Buildings, Laws, The President, and The Election Process.

Also included are 7 interactive stations that go along with the lessons.  These stations are:  Hear ye! Hear ye! Do you know all about the government true/false game, Constitution Scavenger hunt, Letters to the President sorting game, Government buildings internet scavenger hunt game, Government buildings match-up, How a Bill becomes a Law - Putting it all in order, and a Presidential facts sort

I have also included a study guide and test

If you would like to find out more, please click on the picture below to be taken to this item in my TPT store.

I will send a free copy to the first 2 people to comment on an election activity you will use with your students.

Whew!!  Now I can finally get my grading done and get to work on my Giveaway.  Stay tuned for more details Friday morning.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Maps and Globes... Continents and Oceans... Oh my!

I could spend hours researching a topic to find resources to use with

my darling little 3rd graders.   I don't

have the time to be able to create my own units for everything I teach.

Thanks to all of you for the fabulous resources that are out there!

Do you ever find so many great resources that you have a hard time

figuring out which ones to leave out?!  I do.

Pinterest and the amazing teacher blogs have totally changed how I teach.

I was able to put together a unit on Maps and Globes in about 30 minutes using all of these fabulous free resources I found off of the internet.  In 3rd grade our students are expected to know basic map skills along with labeling the 7 continents and 4 oceans on a map.  It's a relatively

quick unit lasting only about 6-7 days.  Here are some fabulous resources I am using with my students to teach this unit.

1. Brain Pop Videos to introduce the unit.  I found one on maps and another on continents and oceans.  Click the picture below to take a peek at these videos.

2. We have the ActivInspire program that goes with our Promethean boards.  I was able to find a couple of really great flipcharts to use with this unit from Promethean Planet.   There were so many to choose from ,and they were free.   

3.  When it comes to labeling where the continents and oceans go on a map... practice makes perfect.  I found a couple of great online games to use with my students to practice labeling a map.

Eduplace.com has an interactive map for students to practice with.  Click on the picture below to be taken to this online site.

Sheppard Software also had a great online site to use with labeling continents and oceans on  a map.  Click on the picture below to be taken to this online game.

4.  There are tons of resources on TPT.  I can't wait to use this unit below with my 3rd graders.

This is from C and C Teach First. Click on the picture above to be taken to the free download from TPT.

I also found this unit from TPT.

This was created by Kim Frano.  Click on the picture above to be taken to the free download from TPT.

5.   I use Superteacher worksheets when I'm in a pinch.  They have a lot of fabulous resources and worksheets that you can access if you are a member.  The membership is $19.95 for one year.  It's been well worth it for me.  There are even flip charts and smart board resources that can be accessed as well.  

I found several worksheets and activities on map skills that I am going to use with my students.  I also found a great flipchart on MAPS that goes over the vocabulary that I want my students to learn.

6.  Lastly,  no unit is complete without  some great picture books. Here are a few.

 

Take a look at the YouTube video for the book above:

 

I found a video on YouTube for the book above.

If you teach map skills or continents and oceans, I would love your suggestions on more activities and books or other resources that I could use with my 3rd graders.  I would love to hear  IPAD app suggestions on this topic as well. 

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate all of your comments.