Five for Friday - Last Week of School

Last week of school! Is it really over???

Monday was Science day. We spent the day doing candy science experiments. We didn't have time to do all of them so the ones we did do were: candy clay, exploding candy, acid test, color separation, and floating candy. Floating candy was my favorite one. 

Put a M&M or Skittle in a cup of water with the letter side facing up. Wait a couple minutes and see what happens!

We ended the day with a coke and mentos demonstration. Safeway was having a deal so I ended up buying 3 coke bottles. The PE teacher and Motor Skills teacher helped out so that all three coke bottles could be spraying at the same time. No picture of this. I was too busy running away after dropping the mentos in!

Tuesday was Reading day. We started with a book viewing party of the book we published. (Read more about the process we went through creating this book here.) Parents came in and read the books with the kiddos. Light refreshments were also served. 

After that, we went through different reading activities. First D.E.A.R. time, then buddy reading, and finally, writing book recommendations for their classmates for summer reading. We ended the day with some classroom library sorting and organizing which definitely helped me with my classroom cleaning and packing later. 

Last day of school was on Thursday. I decided to play a little prank on my kiddos. When they came into the classroom they saw math workbooks (that we never touched) and a sharpie at their desks. They were warned that that nothing on their desks should be touched when they entered. Everyone in grades 1 to 5 attend the fifth grade promotion which was in 40 minutes. I told the kids that during that time, we were going to work in the workbooks. Since many of the kids took their pencil boxes home the day before, I provided them with sharpies to use instead. I also told them that we would sign each other's workbooks, just like yearbooks. 

The reaction I got from the kiddos were hilarious. It ranged from some being totally okay with it while others were already starting to whine. I also got some questions and concerns like how the sharpie bleeds through paper so it's hard to write on both sides. 

After some time of agonizing I told the class that I was just kidding and to look under their workbooks.

Surprise! There was a beach ball under each workbook. THAT's what we were going to sign with the Sharpies. Boy, were the kids relieved. We then went around the classroom Scoot-style and signed each other's beach balls.

The next part was the most hilarious. Blowing the beach balls up! Haha. That was pure entertainment for me. :)

After the ceremony, we went back to the classroom for a pizza party and movie. We watched Honey! I Shrunk the Kids. Then the kids were gifted with their writing portfolio and an owl-wrapped gift (book from Scholastic specifically chosen for each child). 

Close-up of the portfolio:

The teacher's note actually comes with a picture of me and the student. This student ended her year early so the picture didn't make it in. 

End of the year teacher gifts from parents and students!

Some of them were owl-themed...

Also got some nice letters/cards...

The biggest gift was this giant canvas tote bag from a parent/kid

(it's sitting on the keyboard of my Macbook Pro!)

The best gift was the class gift, a customized photo travel mug.

Such thoughtful gifts from everyone! :)

Today was a work day, also known as clean and pack up the classroom day. I spent just about the whole day (9am-6pm) working on the classroom. Got a good amount of work accomplished including moving the classroom library from the bookshelves...

...to the cubbies. Thank goodness for my students for helping me organize the books already!

Well, I'll be back in school tomorrow. I am leaving on a month-long family trip to Asia on Tuesday which means everything has to be done on Monday. Hopefully that's enough time! Aah!