Friday, March 15, 2013

Deer Lease

Yesterday Jackson, Laine and I went down to his lease in Gordon, TX. We planned on staying for the day and spending the night in the luxurious camper, but around 8 last night plans changed. We started out with some 4-wheelin, them some fishing, and finally some gun shooting. I actually shot my MILs 22 pretty well! It didn't kick at all and was pretty comfortable to shoot. Jackson decided he wanted me to try his Colt 45 and that ended with me getting a black mark on my chin, so that gun will have to probably stay Jackson's. After that we started a fire and grilled some hot dogs. Laine wanted to go back on the 4-wheeler and look for some animals, so we did. We rode around for a bit and then stopped to look at the sunset which was beautiful and heard rustling in the bushes. We saw an armadillo, but once Laine and Jackson got over there he'd already gotten away. Once we got back to camp we threw some rocks in the pond and Jackson of course showed me up by skipping rocks across the pond while I could only make it skip twice. This puts us to around 8 and we were all tired by this point. Laine started asking to go home, and I didn't help by talking her out of it. It's just that the camper was musty and old and the air conditioner was really loud. Since Laine was so adiment on going home, we did. Lets just say these city girls can only take so much of the country life!!















Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Story mountain

This post is is directed towards how to teach plot through an activity called a Story Mountain. This activity shouldn't be done the first few weeks of school just because many of the elements need review. Kids should understand all parts of a story in order to successfully Colette this activity.

First, introduce the book you plan on reading and let them glance through the pictures. Once they've done that go over what a story mountain is and explain its a way to analyze a fictional story. As you read the book you should stop at each point on the mountain and on a sticky note write down what happens at each part. When you get to the problem, explain that when the problem is solved the resolution should connect back to the problem. Also, don't forget to explain that the resolution is NOT the end to a story.

Once you have modeled how to work through a story mountain then the next step would be for groups to complete one on another book you read aloud.