Five for Friday and Sparking Motivation

Where did this week go? It's hard to believe that it is Friday already. That means it's time to join Doodlebugs for...

First... Did you know the tree pollen counts have been higher this year in the Great Lakes region than in like twenty years? I KNOW they have! I am one of those unique allergy sufferers who doesn't sneeze and cough. OH NO! This is what happens to me...

I finally broke down and took a Benadryl which meant that I would not be able to wake up in the morning which meant I had to take off a day from school... sigh!

Second... I had to take a day from school anyway because my  crotchety, old queen was also suffering from allergies coupled with an infected tooth that lead to a sinus infection. She is feeling a bit better. She tried to wake me up at 5:45 AM today to be fed... normal behavior (yes) but I couldn't haul myself up and awake for 30 mins. thanks to the allergy medicine, so for 30  mins. this was my view this morning.

5:45AM view

Third...We did our Quiet Hour Journal activity this week! Sweet blessed time!!! Little do the kiddos know it's really an activity for their teacher.

Fourth... Because I took the day off, I needed a sub. Guess who it was? None other than Ms. Murphy, the student teacher I had earlier this year. She's all graduated and ready to start teaching. The kids will be delighted to see her again.

Fifth... There is nothing that motivates my sixers like a fun, interesting science investigation that's why I'm also linking this post to my bloggy friend Joanne's weekly party...

During the last quarter of each year I involve my sixers in a Kitchen Chemistry unit. We study atomic theory, learn about the periodic table, perform chemical reactions, and test for ph level. They LOVE it!

This week we tested common household/kitchen chemicals to determine whether they were an acid or a base. Keeping with the kitchen theme, our indicator is purple cabbage juice rather than the more typical litmus paper. We tested drain cleaner, sugar water, lime juice, bleach, and more. The students had no concept of acid or base at this point, they come to the conclusion after the investigation that there is something causing the items to turn color. From their own background knowledge some deduce that the items that turn red are acids. They then begin to question what causes the other colors. It is not until we complete the experiment that we return to our text and read what we've figured out, putting names and scientific concepts to our discovery.

It's a terrific investigation for deductive reasoning, making connections, and just being awed! Look at their faces...

They are engaged they are learning... they are MOTIVATED! Yes, all during the last week of regular classes.

FIVE more days... THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!!!