Beauty and the Beast-

Math Fact Practice

As the wintry weather continues in Memphis, I decided to add some more math fact practice sites to both my blog and my Draggo page (in case you end up at home with nothing to do one day).  I have gotten nice feedback from students and parents about the addition and subtraction websites I posted so I wanted to add some multiplication and division sites as well:)

Penguin Jump - multiplication 
Cone Crazy - multiplication
Snowball Fight - multiplication
Alligator Divison (shout-out to Mrs. Allen's class)
Fruit Shoot - division

From my last post:

Snowman - addition
Snowball Fight - subtraction

Laissez les bons temps roulez!!

Let the good times roll (the title of this blog post)!  Today we celebrate Mardi Gras which is the "feast before the fast."  The "fast" refers to the time of lent in the Christian church when many people either give up something that they love or try to take on something new to challenge themselves to be a better person.  Here is some information about Mardi Gras from the www.DLTK-Kids.com website:

What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday".  The name comes from the ancient custom of parading a fat ox through Paris on this day.  The ox was to remind the people that they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent.  Lent runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter Sunday.
Mardi Gras moves.  It can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th.  The date depends on when Easter falls.
French people who came to the United States brought the custom of Mardi Gras with them.  The most famous festival in the US (and perhaps the world) is at New Orleans in Louisiana.
But Mardi Gras parades happen throughout the world.  Biloxi in Mississipi, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Nice in France, Binche in Belgiun and Viareggio in Italy are just a few examples.
The Tuesday that Mardi Gras falls on is also known as Shrove Tuesday.  The name comes from the custom of confessing on the day before lent.  Shrove means "to be forgiven one's sins."
Mardi Gras Customs: In Southern Italy, people dress up in costumes and put on an ancient play during Mardi Gras
In Rio de Jeneiro, people dance in the streets.
In Nice, France people wear giant masks in the Mardi Gras parade (it looks like a bunch of walking heads with tiny bodies).
In Binche, Belgium people dress in colorful clown costumes (the clowns are called gilles) The clowns wear bunches of ostrich feathers on their heads and dance in the streets.  They carry baskets of oranges which they throw to the watching crowds.
For most of you, Mardi Gras customs are likely of the New Orleans variety.  During the parade, everyone dresses up in costumes.  Trinkets, especially beads and doubloons, are tossed to the crowds from the parade floats.  There are 3 colors associated with Mardi Gras: Purple (symbolizes justice), Green (symbolizes faith), and Gold (symbolizes power).

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Mardi Gras Fun:
Mardi Gras Jigsaw Puzzle 
you can change the number of pieces to the puzzle to make it harder/easier
Coloring Pages
you can print these and color them

And since it is a snow day...
Snowball Fight - subtraction
Snowman Math Facts - addition
Decorate a Snowman - just for fun!

Also, I have added some fun things to my Draggo page under the Brain Games and Math tabs.  Let me know what you think!
Draggo Link

Hail to the Chief!

Every Day is President's Day at the White House President Obama signs an Emergency Declaration.  Pete Souza, White House Photo What Does the President Do? Every four years, Americans decide who will live and work in the White House.  They vote for the president of the United States.  For one person, the president has a lot of power.  He also has much responsibility. What does the president do? He makes sure that citizens obey laws. He is in charge of all armed forces. He makes agreements, called treaties, with other countries. He decides how America will act toward other countries and he represents our                                                                                                                                 country here and around the world.                                                                                                               When Congress sends him a new law, he may or may not agree to sign it. He lets Congress know about new laws he thinks should be passed. Since so much power is given to one person, we hope that the president is a good leader.  We hope that he uses his power to make the lives of Americans better. Where Does the President Work? Do you know anyone who works at home? Many people do. The president works in his home, the White House. In the White House, the president has an office. It is called the Oval Office. In over two hundred years, 43 presidents have worked in the White House. They have made important decisions from the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The White House Historical Association From:  www.whitehousehistory.org

 There is a song that is traditionally played to announce the arrival of the President at state functions (and it is the title of this blog post!).

White House History - click here to go to go to a page where you can listen to the song, "Hail to the Chief!"



Now for some Presidents' Day trivia, fun and games:
George Washington mystery
George Washington facts
Abraham Lincoln facts
White House Jigsaw puzzle
Word Scramble
Games and crafts
Fact Monster information about George Washington
Portrait Puzzler

Valentine's Day Happys...

History of Valentine's Day and some games:
Click here for history and games


Here are some fun story starters:

1.  Write a Valentine to a character in your favorite book.
2.  In my spare time I love to...
3.  All the Valentines were passed out and the children were ready to open them when suddenly...
4.  Describe one person in your life that you think has the biggest heart.
5.  Pretend that Cupid took this year off from being the Valentine's Day mascot.  Create a new mascot for this year.  Draw a picture and explain your drawing.

And something to make for Valentine's Day:

Crystal Suncatcher:
This Valentine's Day, pair up science and crafting with this simple crystal formation project that's sure to bring a little love into your home.

What You Need:
Clear plastic lids such as the ones found on snack canisters, take out boxes or deli containers,
Push pin, Cork trivet, Red or pink permanent marker, Christmas ornament hooks, Measuring cup, Hot water, Epsom salts, Spoon, Cookie sheet

What You Do:
1. Before getting your young crafter involved, prep the project for hanging. Place a lid on the trivet and use the push pin to carefully poke a hole in the upper edge of the rim or in a ridge. It must be above the water line or in a section that will not have water poured into it or the project will leak. Repeat with remaining lids.
2. Once you have made the holes, thread an ornament hook through each of them.
3. Turn your plastic lids base up and invite your young crafter to draw hearts with the permanent marker on the undersides of the lids.
4. Let the hot water run for a moment before collecting about ¼ cup of water in the measuring cup.
5. Add approximately 4 tablespoons of Epsom salts (you want a 1:1 ratio between water and Epsom salts).
6. Help your child stir the solution until the Epsom salts dissolve.
7. Line up the lids on your cookie sheet.
8. Pour Epsom salt solution into each lid.
9. Place the cookie sheet in a safe place. In about an hour, you will be able to see some crystals. Explain to your child that as the water evaporates, it leaves behind the Epsom salts. The salts cluster together to form regular shapes called crystals. A similar process occurs in nature when minerals in cave water interact, creating stalactites.
10. It may take a day or two for the water to evaporate completely. Once the water has evaporated, carefully hang the suncatchers in a sunny window and let the love shine in!

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A little something for the adults...

For all of the "neuroscience nerds" out there I wanted to share I story that I heard on NPR last week.  The title of the story is: "Why Teens Are Impulsive, Addiction-Prone and Should Protect Their Brains."  I am debating making my 15 year-old listen to it, but I realize based on the actual content of the story that she probably wouldn't get it anyway!  Lots of great information about brain research and the advances being made with fmri's (functional magnetic resonance imaging).  Fascinating!!

The Teenage Brain

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Who is Punxsutawney Phil??
Watch a video and read some fun information about Groundhog's Day:)

 Journal Writing Prompts -
1.  Write a letter to Mr. Groundhog.  Thank him for doing a good job or tell him how he could be better at predicting the weather.
2.  Mr. Groundhog is sick!  You have to predict the weather today.  How will you do it?
3.  The sleepy bear woke up from hibernation because...