Colonial Projects

We do some fun hands-on projects for our colonial unit. I've blogged previously about the shop signs.

Each student also does a little quilt square that I assemble into a class quilt. They have to find some sort of pattern in the square and color it accordingly.

I have a fun at-home activity where students talk with their parents on why they got the name that they did. Some students already know how, but they have to get a parent/guardian signature in order to get full credit. Click on the picture to get a free copy.

Most of the reasons entail finding the name in the baby book, being named after a relative, being named after a character in a book or TV show, but then once in a while you get some really interesting stories that tend to explain a lot of things about that child ;)

Then I have the students make name samplers with graph paper and markers. I also have a modified cross stitch pattern for reference, as well as other designs that past students and I have created.

The first step is to figure out the middle letter of the name to be used. Students use a pencil to lightly make X's in the squares to form the letter. I pre-marked the middle square on their graph papers with a tiny dot. This is what it looks like.

Then working from the middle, students lightly X in the rest of their letters, like this.

This is where the headaches occur, as some kids totally get it, and some totally don't. Their letters are uneven and randomly spaced, which makes my brain hurt.

When they have their names complete, I have them add additional designs.

This one has a heart and a peace sign.

Then they trace over the X's with a fine tip Crayola marker. I have a stash that I use just for this activity. That way the tips stay nice and fresh. Every year I add to this stash when Target has their Crayola markers at $1.00 for back to school.

Cute little fish.

For all of you Duck Dynasty fans.

I trim off the extra white area around the edge before students mount it onto a piece of construction paper. This year I will have them laminated, since students tend to keep this project hanging in their rooms :)

So I think that if I want to do the Five for Friday, I have to come up with two more ;)

Here is a cute butterfly life cycle project that my daughter brought home. Each stage is a different kind of pasta! Cute!

Speaking of Duck Dynasty, I watched it for the first time this week. My MIL came down to spend a few nights with me to preserve my sanity until my husband returns from Singapore tomorrow after a three-week-long business trip. I have to say that I now see why people love it! Hilarious! I don't think that it will be in my regular rotation, but it's good when there's nothing else on ;)

While you are visiting Amanda's, make sure that you enter her giveaway for a new classroom theme pack!