Fun Friday and Shout Outs:)

TGIF!!  I am looking forward to a rainy, relaxing weekend with my family.   I love this time of year...cooler weather, football, season premieres, and a new school year.

I am linking up with the wonderful Kelly at Teaching Fourth and the amazing Cynthia at Second Grade Pad for Fun Friday!

I just had to share this fall activity that is one of the students' favorites.  Who doesn't LOVE spending time outside hiking in the woods?  We are so fortunate to have hiking trails, a creek, and a pond behind our school on school property!  Our first science unit is the living environment and we have crayfish in the classroom to "study".  Of course, we take a hike and check crayfish in their natural habitat!

When we do an activity outdoors, I like to have an organized "plan for scientific observations".  It makes me feel better:)  So, one thing we discuss is what we will talk about on our walk.  Students talk about observations they see around them on our walk and we stop often to look around.  We saw a snake, chipmunks, fish, animal droppings, many burrows, and of course, crayfish on our hike.  We also bring our science journals and record observations and drawings.  I told them to write down three observations and they do not need to be in sentences (for a change!) but they cannot be just one word observations.  The students did a great job and really acted like scientists on a mission.  Here are a couple snapshots of this favorite activity:

Do you have a favorite activity that you do outdoors in the fall with your students?  How do you keep it focused on the topic?  I would love to hear your ideas!

My bloggy friend, Laura, at Love to Teach is having an amazing 3-day giveaway where there are a ton of prizes offered each day!

Today, I am giving away my Math Meeting Notebook files (190 files for the whole year) to one winner in her giveaway!!

So, head on over to Love to Teach to enter and check out all the great prizes!!  

Also, you have to check out this awesome giveaway at Heather's Heart.  Her blog is amazing and she is such an inspiration!

 Have a great weekend and happy fall!!  I am off to check out all the sales at TPT:)