Time Capsules and Main Idea

PHEW! Today was my first day back with my kiddos! Luckily it went reallllly well!  I was very surprised how not-stressed I was. I haven't mentioned this much, but my afternoon switch class tends to wear.me.down.

 One of my resolutions this new year is to not get so frustrated with them.  Sometimes, I tend to compare them too much to my morning homeroom class, which is the Gifted and Talented section. I have just found it hard this year. 

Anywho!!- why I am really here...

Time Capsule

Today I decided to create a class "time capsule". I used the wonderful New Years- Recap 2012 and 2013 Predictions sheets from Just Wild About Teaching. The students had a chance to fill in the information for the past year and make predictions about the year to come. Then I rolled up their papers and stuffed them inside a wrapping paper tube that I cut in half! :)

Unfortunately, the tube I was using was just a tad bit too small for each of the 23 papers. So I had to split the stack. That is why you see some paper sticking out of the sides.. Next time, I know to use a larger and longer tube! It also probably could've been a lot cuter...but this was a last minute thing! :) I love when things just pop into my head!

 I also printed out a little label saying it was our time capsule for the year and then let the students sign the tube with a sharpie.

I told them that we are going to open up the "time capsule" on the last week of school to see if any of their predictions had come true and to look back on what they had written about 2012.

The kids thought it was very cool! I set the time capsules for both classes up on my file cabinet so that they can see them throughout the rest of the year. 

  

Main Idea and Details

Freebie

Part 2!  We are focusing on main idea and details this week in reading. Today I simple lesson to introduced the topic just using pictures. I simply printed a bunch out from google to use.

 As a whole class we went over two pictures, one at a time, and I asked them to pick out the details they see. After, we decided as a class what the main idea of the picture was. The students then went back to their tables where they did a group activity. They basically did the exact same thing. 

I gave each table a new picture and the main idea puzzle graphic organizer that we had used at the beginning of the lesson.

Each group found and recorded details in the picture then decided on the main idea. I encouraged the students to use a full sentence when writing the main idea...but not all have the hang of it yet.

Finally, all groups got up and shared their details and main ideas. 

Most kids did really well on this activity. It was simple and to the point. :)

I am also sharing a few simple main idea and detail graphic organizers. I only created a few so that I could have some to use in class this week in the students' reading response journals. 

As usual, these are 1/2 sheets. I am very green and like to conserve as much paper as possible. :)

Download them for free from my TPT store if you feel so inclined! :)

Hope y'all have had a great first day/week back to work!