Making Play-Doh at home

I really wanted to have Play-Doh in my room, but I wanted it to be all natural, non-toxic, and kid friendly.  So, after scouring blogs I found a recipe for homemade Play-Doh.

Here's the recipe:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 tbs cream of tarter (do not omit!)
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 cup salt

Combine all the ingredients and cook over low heat until the doh begins to pull away from the pan.  Dump the mixture out on silicone mats or aluminum foil to cool, then divide and add food coloring and knead away.  I did two batches which made the equivalent of 15 cans.  All for less than $10.00.  All I need to make more is some salt, it's the only thing I ran out of.

Pictures coming later.

Funky Writing Folders

I am embarking on the Daily Five this year for the very first time.  I wish I had found it ages ago, I love it so far.  I have never seen my students read like they do now, and they look forward to read to self every day.  In thinking about launching the Writer's Workshop, needless to say I'm intimidated by the thought of my students writing to self for an extended period of time.  So I found a pattern on the web, it was originally for a coupon organizer, but I thought it would be a great writing folder for the kids.  I took the pattern and adjusted it to hold a folder on one side, 3 pockets on the other for colored pencils, markers, and a "special" writing pencil we only use for writing. (The measurements are 19"X22", all three pieces are the same size, just the pocket is folded in half.) I have only made 8, and will have to make 7 more before Monday because the kids are expecting them on Monday.  I hope it excites them enough to want to become good writers. 

I'm not much of a teacher of sewing as my mother was my teacher when I was 13.  I will find the original pattern and post it later in case anyone wants to make their own folders.  They are kind of flimsy, but I'm hoping the folder inside will help keep it sturdier.  Enjoy!

Math Equations.

My class has been writing number sentences since school started while making  different ways to make numbers up to 10.  Today, I introduced the word equation *gasp* to my 6 year olds.  I had never done this in my five years teaching first grade, but the kids took to it like pigs in mud.  They got so excited about the word equation, by the end of the lesson I heard them using the word themselves.  For example, "Look at my equations that I made!" or "I made up more equations than you."  I'm including a picture of the beginning "equations" that we did on the carpet in whole group before we went to the table for independent practice.