Pilgrim writing

Back when I posted about our Pilgrim compare/contrast activity, I mentioned that we started a writing activity. 

First, we read 2 books about life on Plimouth Plantation.  One was about a boy and all of his responsibilities and chores, and one was about a girl's daily life.  I gave the students a writing prompt which was: "If I were a pilgrim boy/girl..." and they were instructed to write about what their daily activities and lives would be like. 

First, students wrote a first draft, or sloppy copy.  When they finished this, I collected them and made corrections in purpl marker.  After a conference to discuss the changes and correctiond, they got started on their final drafts. 

I have a book of writing Tops and Bottoms that has a cute little Pilgrim Boy and Pilgrim Girl.  When the students were finished with their final copies, they decorated and cut out their pilgrim people and pasted it on construction paper so it looked like they held up the papers.

This little guy has his hands backwards. 

 We hung them all on the wall outside our classroom door for everyone to read and enjoy before Thanksgiving!

Water Cycle Song

When we were learning about water and the water cycle, I saw a great activity idea on pinterest.  It is a water cycle song sung to the sound of She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain.  Here are the words:

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does.

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does.

It  goes up as evaporation,

Forms clouds with condensation,

Then comes down as precipitation

Yes it does!

We added sound effects and body movements and practiced many, many times.  Later, the class performed it for the science lab teacher.  

I took a video of the students singing it, but removed it to protect their privacy.  Sorry!