I’ve never went to a prayer group dressed as a villain before, but there is a first time for everything. This week I watched as students participated in the annual “See You At The Pole” while dressed as the Queen of Hearts. I kid you not. I was dressed as a villain for See You At The Pole for our Homecoming Week “Villain Day” dress up day. #villainsneedjesustoo
This
week I have been a tiger, a Queen of Hearts, and a nerd. All while still trying to maintain some type
of classroom learning during this crazy dress up week. Did I mention that fall standardized testing
was JUST LAST WEEK so we’ve had two weird schedule weeks back-to-back?
And I
get to teach decimals. Let’s face
it---teaching decimals can be a pain.
Sometimes they line them up (adding/subtracting), sometimes they don’t
have to (multiplying), and sometimes you move the decimal (when dividing by a
decimal). It’s enough craziness to get
even the clearest math minds a little fogged.
Combine
those stressful lessons with the general fall craziness of Homecoming Week
Dress Up Days or Fall Festivals or Harvest Festivals or whatever-else-fall-activity-you-have-that-messes-with-your-school-schedule. This makes the teacher dressed as
the Queen of Hearts want to yell, “Off with your head!”
Let
me save your head.
And
your sanity during one of those fall hectic weeks.
Enter
Pumpkin Project.
Students
will pretend to rent colored pencils from you and they will purchase items to
go on a pumpkin. Students keep up with a
running total and work to stay under budget. Everyone creates a one-of-a-kind, unique pumpkin while practicing their decimals skills.
Fall
themed?
Check.
Decimals
practice? Check.
Great
group work? Check.
Minimal
mess? Check.
Works
even when they are wearing animal costumes and we are on a weird schedule? Check.
Check.
My.
Students. Had. A Blast.
And
guess what---I had a blast too! The
students practiced some awesome decimals skills and the Queen of Hearts stayed
happy so no heads had to roll! :) Now THAT’S how hectic dress up days and decimals can work together!
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