A Whole Lot of Research Going On

Friends, prior to spring break we were KNEE DEEP in research and informational writing.  There is something to love about informational writing.  It's so...... factual.  hehehe  I think I say this about every writing unit when we finish, "It's my favorite."  So why change it now, this one is "My favorite!"  :)

Em collected books from our bookroom, I raided my daughter's books, and here's what my classroom bookshelves looked like when we started.

 

We spent  time as a class researching sharks.  We tried to find what they looked like, where they lived, what they ate, and how they moved.  This was in support of what our firsties would later research. 

We also transformed our hallway into a "jungle"  (thanks to our student aide and Em) that would later be the entrance to our Safari Walk.  *SQUEAL*  You're going to love it, just hold your horses.  :)  Our firsties absolutely love, love, LOVED our Safari Walk.  Here's the hallway..

 

Lots of excitement was in the air which made writing so easy.  We browsed the books, listed our top three choices

















and then the magic book fairy (Em) matched each student with a book at their level.




















 Next, we tabbed our info with tabs that corresponded to the colors of our chart.  Here's what the chart looked like.  This chart was inspired by a presentation we heard at Reading Recovery last year. 

 Once all the information had been tabbed, students then had to go back and transfer that information onto the organizer in "note form".  They willingly did this after I told them they were like HIGH school and COLLEGE kids.  :)  After the transfer was complete the writing began and all I can say is WOW.  Like fifty shades of WOW and I know we've done shades of meaning, but like  Fancy Nancy says, sometimes... there isn't a fancier way of saying it, so WOW it is! :)  Apparently, some (well most) of my pictures need to be rotated so I'll have to do a Part 2 post. 

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our Safari Walk.  We made Safari Hats from paper plates and bowls which was of course inspired by Pinterest.  CLICK HERE to see.  :)  Our classroom desks turned into four person Jeeps.  Again, we were inspired by Pinterest.  CLICK HERE to see this one.

 

I'll be back with more later.  I hear a crying  babe upstairs, so I'm off to my "other job".  :)

Three cheers for research!