Insect Invasion! and another giveaway!

First day back and I am whooped!
but I can still ramble on and on about insects, so be warned!
I must say I was impressed with their behavior today, but I won't count my eggs before they hatch so to say!
I at one point i may have said it was nap free time so they would sleep!
I kid!

So yesterday I wasn't kidding when I said I was a little worker bee over break. I uploaded four new products, began updating my Text Features Guru file to match new CC standards, and my matter unit gets the next update! It's my best seller, but it's also the third thing I ever posted and it's looking a little dated!

But here's what we will be up to beginning next week!
LIFE CYCLES.
This is my favorite science unit
I know, I know, I say that about every science unit, but it's because they are all great!
I love love teaching science because allowing kids to learn through inquiry means I don't have to do anything and can put my feet up they are learning through real life experience!

So we will be getting FOUR, count em FOUR critters to play with next Monday.
It wasn't exactly supposed to happen that way. We were to get all our insects Monday and our chicken eggs the following Monday, but it is what it is!
The kids are so stinkin excited!
They asked all day, accusing me of lying about getting out cool insects when we got back from break
I politely reminded them I said AFTER break, not the first day after break! Sheesh, you'd think seeing my bright and shiny face would be enough!
Any who-we will use my Mealworms on Parade for our main curriculum this month. The mealworms are our main focus since they can be handled and kept in individual cups.
Note that if you own this file-go and download it again to get the updated file including the powerpoint and updated experiment and lab pages!

We use the chicken eggs for the development part of the life cycle while the insects show us the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis.

And here's my newest addition LIFE cycle LITERACY!
I am over the moon about this file!
It can be used as centers, small group, or whole group! Depends on my mood most days!
I wanted to reinforce science vocab while reviewing some ELA skills that definitely need working on!

Each center is common core aligned to first and second grade ELA standards-just keep in mind that Science is NOT a part of the common core-there is no such thing, so don't be fooled! That's why we are trying to integrate ELA and math so much more this year-well, I am at least! 

Here's a peek

above is my personal fav! Matching verbs to the right part of the life cycle plus Krista's gorgeous frames! swoon!

I also added a fun little powerpoint to the Mealworm file, and also separately if you do not actually get mealworms and just want to use them to teach. 

It's a little funny if I do say so myself! I try to keep it light around here!

here's an example slide or two

So since only ONE gal got my favorite fruit correct last night (fyi-it is bananas-I despise most other fruits!), I'll try a giveaway again! Congrats First Grade Carousel 

You can win my Life Cycle Literacy if you pin any item from THIS POST. 

And each file can be a separate entry! 

I will pick a random winner tomorrow evening! 

happy pinning

don't forget your email