Ms Sewell's Class

Plate Tectonics (Convergent and Divergent Plates) Virtual Field Trip(Aligned with VA SOL 5.7) Can’t afford to take your class to the Himalayas? Or in a submarine to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge? Then the next best thing is this virtual field trip! Students visit four websites focused on plate tectonics. They read important facts about convergent and divergent plate movement. As students "travel," they record important information on their graphic organizer. If you have access, you could upload

Solid, Liquid, Gas Experiment Using Oobleck(Aligned with VA SOL 5.4a, 5.4b) In this experiment, students work with oobleck (or a “mystery substance”) and have to determine if it’s a solid, liquid or gas based on experiments they design. All you have to do is supply the oobleck ingredients (2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water). Graphic organizer encourages students to follow the steps in the scientific method and determine the state of matter. Kids love this (who wouldn't love playing with goop

Mixtures vs. Solutions Experiment--Graphic Organizer and Lab Sheets(Aligned with VA SOL 5.4e) After learning about mixtures and solutions, students participate in an exciting experiment.They have several options for what they can mix with water (sand, sugar, salt, food coloring, coffee or whatever you have on hand). They choose one, and after following the steps on this lab, determine if they have created a mixture or solution. Steps closely follow the scientific process. **********************

Nonfiction Text Features Sort(Aligned with VA SOL K.10b, 1.10d, 2.9a, 3.6c) Need a virtual version for online teaching? Check out my Nonfiction Text Features Digital Sort.Do your students need help learning the vocabulary of nonfiction text features (captions, glossary, index, etc.)? In this resource, a "sorting map" is given to each student, and then they sort pictures of the features as well as an explanation of their purpose. Features focused on are: *table of contents *index *bol

New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Colonies Reader's Theaters PackThis pack contains three reader’s theater scripts to help teach your class about the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern colonies. It focuses on which colonies are in each region, the climate, geography, specializations/resources, and social/political areas. Each humorous script will encourage your class to read and reread, practicing important information along the way. Also included is a graphic organizer that students ca

Angles in Art Project Updated and improved as of 02/25/2016! In this Powerpoint, students look at famous works of art and discuss how many/types of angles they see. Great introduction to angle work and motivates students to find geometry in the world! Included is: -Powerpoint with famous artwork for students to find angles -Graphic Organizer to total the angles they find and reflect on their findings -Make Your Own Angle Art direction sheet to apply the skills they learned. Happy Angle Hun

Earthquake Virtual Field Trip(Aligned with VA SOL 5.7d) All links updated and in working order as of 4/12/19. Want to experience an earthquake from the comfort of your computer lab? Then take your class on a virtual field trip! Students visit four websites focused on earthquakes. They watch a video, read important earthquake facts, chart the most recent earthquake activity in the US, and take an earthquake safety quiz. As students "travel," they record important information on their graphic

Reader's Theater: The First Five Presidents This reader's theater teaches students important facts about the first five presidents of the US (based on Virginia US History standards). In this dramatization, the presidents are competing in an American Idol style competition, singing about their lives. Students can add some of their own lines to the script, but the majority of the work is written for you! There are also spots in the script where students can add sound effects (s.e.) and gest

Weekly Behavior and Progress Report Printable and Parent Letter It's so important for students to reflect on their own behavior. I had students fill out this report each week rating their own behavior and peer relationship skills, added my own comments, and sent it home for parents to review and sign. Quick numbered rating scale makes filing out the weekly form very manageable. I tried to keep a copy of all reports, which helped when an issue arose or if parents had a question. Included i

Reader’s Theater Pack: Factors Influencing Westward Movement This Reader’s Theater Pack features 6 scripts that focus on the factors that influenced western migration during this period of US expansion. Factors focused on include: Population growth in eastern states Availability of cheap, fertile land Economic opportunity (including the Gold Rush) Cheaper and faster transportation (trains, steamboats, canals) Knowledge of the Overland Trails (Santa Fe and Oregon Trails) Manifest Destiny Ea

Reader’s Theater Pack: MatterThis reader’s theater pack contains five scripts about matter. The short, 2 page scripts are engaging for your whole class! Most have 1-6 individual speaking parts and many ALL parts for you whole class (or small group) to participate in. Great way to integrate reading fluency with important science standards. The more you practice, the more students are learning about matter, all while becoming stronger readers. And they won't even realize how hard they are worki

Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory Graphic OrganizerStudents read about Alfred Wegener and how his Theory of Continental drift (article included) was the basis for the Plate Tectonic Theory. They then use the reading to complete a graphic organizer about his thinking. Lastly, they can compare his theory with the Theory or Plate Tectonics using a T-Chart. Suggestions for use and answer key now included! *************************************************************************** Check Ou

Reader's Theater: Nonfiction Text Features{Aligned with VA SOL K.10b, 1.10d, 2.9a, 3.6c) Do your students struggle remembering the difference between a caption and a bold word? The table of contents verse the index? This reader's theater helps students review these important features as well as their purpose in text. The features focused on are: table of contents, index, glossary, captions, bold words, and graphs/charts. It's written for 6 parts, but could easily be adapted for more by havin

Social Studies Reader's Theater Bundle Get all of my social studies based reader's theaters and save moolah! Buy this bundle, save over 30% and get 30 scripts! Help your students improve their reading fluency while learning important history standards. Talk about reading to learn while learning to read! Topics covered: -Revolutionary War (French and Indian War, Proclamation of 1763, Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Meeting of the 1st Continental Congress, the Intolerable Acts

Parent Teacher Conference Student Reflection Packet Want to hear more from students during your parent teacher conferences? If you invite your students or just share their reflections, this is a great way to get them reflecting. Students reflect on their year thus far, thinking about their strengths and areas of improvement in each subject, as well as their friendships and favorite assignments. Sentence stems are included to help guide students in their writing. Great way to generate tal

Reader's Theater: Concepts of Light Updated as of 02/13/16 This reader's theater is in the style of an army boot camp. Students won't even realize they're repeating important information about light waves in this fun dramatization. Add sound effects and gestures (even marching) to enhance the theatrical quality. Standards are based on Virginia 5th grade science objectives which include info about the visible spectrum, translucent, transparent, opaque, refraction, reflection, and transvers

Protist Web Adventure*Updated on 11/3/2020. All links working.(Aligned with VA SOL BIO.5 and PA 3.1.6.A1.) Trying to get your class excited about Amoebas, Paramecium, and Euglenas? I know, it’s next to impossible, but this resource is here to help! This activity introduces your class to the protist kingdom, then sends them on a reading and internet adventure to learn more about three specific protists: amoebas, paramecium, and euglenas. Along with text, there are websites students can visit to

Differentiated Hopes and Dreams Packet--Beginning of the Year Goal Setting What do students want to accomplish with you this year? If you are familiar with Responsive Classroom, then you'll know it encourages students to write a "Hope and Dream" to focus on for the upcoming year. If you're not, know it's just a fancy way of saying "goal setting." :) This packet contains several options for setting goals with students. *Primary Goal Setting: Students draw a picture of their goal and write a s

Color and Light Virtual Field TripAll links updated and working on 1/7/2019. This virtual field trip guides students through a series of websites explaining the science behind light and color. Students learn about ROY G. BIV and wavelength frequencies of colors in the visible spectrum. Also a collection of websites is featured, each answering an interesting question about color. Assign students a certain number of questions to answer or allow them to explore freely. A preview and process que

First Five Presidents Research Party and Monument Assignment Want to bring the first five presidents to life in your classroom? This assignment is for you! Students will randomly choose one of the first five presidents to research, either using your classroom texts or helpful websites included in this packet. After researching and completing a graphic organizer, students will mix and mingle in your classroom, meeting the other ‘presidents’ and writing down important facts about them. As a w