those stick chains- another test break

We used this as another brain-break last week or so when we were doing all that state testing.  Have you seen how you can lay down tongue depressors so that they overlap just do to build up tensions.  Then you release the end stick and they fly up like dominoes?  My students are super into them.  They've learned tricks and loops and all kinds of fancy stuff. 

It's our favorite indoor recess thing now that yo-yos have run their course.  First it was yo-yos, then dominoes, now sticks.  Here's the youtube video we watched over and over to learn how to set them up.  this friend in the photos is the class go-to guy for stick questions. His mom bought him 800 sticks, so he pretty much runs the stick show. 

test break- ice skating in the classroom!

We just finished up our first round of our state tests.  Blah.  Our brains were drained!  It's exhausting even to give it, let alone take it.  I gave my poor little tired friends lots of breaks.  Our favorite was ice skating!

We used to do this in preschool, but the bigger kids love it just as much! The only supplies we needed were wax paper and some appropiate skating music!  We have just the right carpet, short bur-bar style.  The kids saved their sheets and we repeated at indoor recess that day.