Football Frenzy

Today, I'd like to share an activity from one of my amazing colleagues.  My friend, Bonnie,  shared this activity with our team last week and I asked her if I could share it on my blog.  This activity is perfect for those fall Fridays when your students are more concerned about the big game than they are about staying on task and completing another boring homework assignment.  This activity would also be great for the Friday before the Super Bowl. 

If you are familiar with my Ghosts in the Graveyard, it is a very similar idea.  Students work in groups to complete a set of problem cards with the goal of moving their game piece down a football field in order to score a touchdown. Bonnie, used this activity to practice factoring, but you could practice just about any topic with this game.


Materials Needed:
1.  A large football field that your can draw onto your whiteboard or some green butcher paper
2.  A marker for each team to move down the field
3.  5-6 problem cards for each yardage:  5, 10, 15

Instructions:

1.  Place students in groups of three or four

2.  Give each group a “5 yard card”.  If group works all problems correctly, advance their marker 5 yards on the football field.  Once successful on a “5 yard card” they may advance to a “10 yard card”.  If successful, advance their marker 10 yards and they may work a “15 yard card”

3.  If the group is unsuccessful at any level, they must work another card on that same level before they move on.

4.  Once successful at every level, they may work cards at any level they choose.

5.  First group to score a touchdown wins

 

Here are the generic Football Frenzy instructions complete with templates for the football cards and markers

 

Here is my friend's Football Factoring activity

Factoring Football Cards

Factoring Football Answer Key

 

 

 

Ghosts In The Graveyard (New and Revised)

It's hard to believe, but October is already here and even though we are still dealing with temperatures in the 90's here in South Texas, it is time to start planning for my favorite activity of the entire year.

Ghosts in the Graveyard is an activity that I use every Halloween to review concepts I've taught since the beginning of school.  The activity has proven so popular that I've also had to create games to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I've also had wonderful feedback from readers who've tried this activity in their classroom with great success. 

If you want to try it in your classroom, it is time to start planning now, because it will take you a little time to get it all together.  The main preparation is developing your ghost problem cards, getting them laminated, and then cutting out the little ghosts. 

Materials you will need

8-10 problem cards (I will provide you with a template)
4 Tombstones that you will draw and hang up on your board
About 50 little ghosts for each class (template provided)
Answer Sheet for each student
Answer Key

Objective:  Collect as many "little ghosts" as possible by working together as a group to complete a set of review problems.

Instructions.

1.  On each large ghost template, write or type 3 or 4 problems (I copy onto orange paper and laminate)

2.  Before each class hang up four tombstones at the front of the room

3.  Place students in groups of 3-4 and give each student an answer sheet to record their work

4.  Pass out a problem card to each group and place the extra cards at the front of the room

5.  Students work together to complete the problems on their card and then call you over when they are finished to check their answers.  If all three problems are correct (and every single person has worked the problem) I give them a "little ghost" which they write their group number on and place on one of the tombstones at the front of the room.  They can place all their "little ghosts" on the same tombstone or they can split them up.

6.  After finishing their first card, they go pick up another card and begin working on it with the goal of collecting as many "little ghosts" as possible.

7.   About 10 minutes before the end of class, I call time and then the fun starts.

8.  What they don't know at the beginning of the class is that I have assigned a point value of each tombstone.  So Tombstone #1 might be worth 25 points, #3 might be worth 50 points etc. 

9.  To calculate the score, count the number of ghosts on each tombstone and multiply by the point value.

10.  The cool thing about this game is that the group that does the most problems doesn't necessarily win.  This is one of the few activities I do that the students will literally beg to do "One more problem"!

Get all the templates, instructions, and student answer sheet here

For Ladies Only

This summer, I broke down and bought a Groupon for a facial.  I've never had one before and was very curious about the experience.  As much as I enjoyed the treatment, it was a small piece of beauty advice I got from my aestitician that made the experience worth the money I paid for it.

I have oily skin and my makeup tends to absorb into my face by 10:00 every morning.  I have used many types of face primers and most recently have been wearing one by Bare Minerals.  I think I pay $25.00 for one ounce. 

Anyway, this kind lady recommended that I try a product called Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel.

As skeptical as I was, I went to Target and found this tube which cost me $4.46 at Target.  I couldn't believe how it made my skin feel.  It truly did everything she said it would.  I put about a dime size on my face and let it dry.  I applied my foundation a few minutes later and it gave my makeup a flawless, matte look that lasted all day.  I will never go back to expensive primer again.  Try it, I think you will like it!  Just be sure you don't accidently buy the Monistat for yeast infections.  Not sure what that would do to your face!

I also found some reviews here, if you'd like to look at some more user opinions.

My Favorite Way to Stay Cool in the Summer

I am lucky to live in one of the most beautiful areas of Texas.  The Texas Hill Country is known for its beautiful rolling hills and sweeping fields of colorful wildflowers in the spring.  One thing you might not know about are the beautiful swimming holes nestled in and around Austin, Texas. 

In honor of the end of summer, I'd like to show you a few of my favorite places in the Texas Hill Country.  The pictures below are of  my favorite Texas Swimming Holes.  If you ever come to Texas to visit in the summer, do yourself a favor, skip the riverwalk and check out some of these beautiful natural wonders!

Barton Springs Pool-Austin, Texas

 

McKinney Falls State Park Austin, Texas

 

 

 





 This is a picture of my son, at McKinney Falls State Park

 

 

 

Hamilton Pool, Dripping Springs, Texas (right outside of Austin)

 

This is my son, at Jacob's well in Wimberly, Texas (right outside of Austin)

 

 

Krause Springs, Driftwood, Texas (also right outside of Austin)

 

Comal River, in my hometown of New Braunfels, Texas and where I spend most every Sunday!