Fourth of July-Independence Day USA

Independence Day is known as the Fourth of July in the USA!

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/july4/ Activities and Crafts

http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/zes/july/default.htm Fourth of July Resources

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/ Activities-Games-Lessons-Poems

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/kids-books/ Kids Books

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/kids-crafts/ Crafts

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/kids-poems/ Patriotic Poems-Rhymes

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/kids-recipes/#dessert Recipes

http://holidays.kaboose.com/july-4/index.html American Crafts

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Independence_Day/ Independence Day

http://www.kidssoup.com/4thofJuly/4thofJuly.html Crafts, Activities, Printables

http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/fourth-of-july/ Resources

http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/julyfourthandmore.htm Theme-Lessons-Activities-Crafts

July Celebrations, Events, Lessons, Resources

July Teacher Resources

Symbolized by a smoldering red ruby as its birthstone, July is the peak of summer in the northern hemisphere - the time of the highest average temperatures, when the sun glares from the sky with white heat, people flock to beaches and go on vacation, and mighty thunderstorms sweep across the landscape like black-hulled ships rowed by oars of lightning. In the southern half of the planet, this is the coldest time of year - the south's equivalent of January, although most of the continents
are too close to the equator to become truly chilly.

Notable July Events and Celebrations

Better Grammar Month National Recreation and Parks Month July 1st - The Battle of Gettysburg July 2nd - Amelia Earhart Disappeared July 4th - Independence Day 2nd Week of July - Authors Week July 31st - National Patent Day. See All July Teacher Events And Celebrations... Weekly Tips for Teachers Issue 520: June 28, 2010 Source: http://www.teachnology.com/newsletters/520.html This newsletter is brought to you by teachnology.com, the online teacher resource center. More Resources: http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/julyfun.htm

Thank You for Your Sympathy Notes-Verses-Poems-Cards

Thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending the lovely flowers, food, & generous donations in remembrance of L.J. Bishop. Thanks to all of you for attending the services and for everything you did at this time of need. Although this is a sad time for all of us, we find comfort in knowing how fortunate we are to know all of you. Your words were not only a comfort, but a source of strength for my family and me in this difficult time.

You all are such a blessing...a family or sister hug, a heartfelt letter, a great dish, a flower, a gift, and a surprise visit...awesome beyond words! We appreciate your kind support for taking the time to come and share in the remembrance of Dad. Your love and support have given us all strength through this difficult period. We will be eternally grateful.

I found these poems that say it best!

The world's a better place
Because of folks like you
Who take the time to do nice things
The way you always do.

Thank you so so much!

Death leaves a heartache
No one can heal;
Love leaves a memory
No one can steal.

We will be forever grateful for the loving memories you have shared with us and we’ll treasure them for a lifetime. Please know that we are deeply grateful for your kind devotion. On behalf of my family, we offer you our most sincere gratitude and love.

With our love,

The Bishop Family

Father's Day Gifts, History, Lessons, Crafts, Cards

Homemade Father's Day Gifts

Happy Father's Day!

These Father's Day gift ideas will put a smile on any dad's face.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/fathersday/ Father's Day Crafts, Worksheets, and More

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/fathersdayartscraftstideasgiftskidsdadsprojects.html Gifts, Crafts, & Pictures

http://familyfun.go.com/fathers-day/fathers-day-crafts/fathers-day-gifts/ Homemade Father's Day Gifts & Pictures

http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/june.shtml June Calendar and Crafts

http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/fathersday.shtml Father's Day Crafts

http://holidays.kaboose.com/fathers-day/ Gifts, Cards, Recipes, & Activities

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/crafts.html Crafts-Handprint Poems

http://www.101fathersday.com/ Cards, History, Jokes

http://www.123greetings.com/events/fathers_day/happy_fathers_day/ Cards

http://www.mrscjacksonsclass.com/fathersday.htm Father's Day Theme, Lessons, Activities, Crafts, Resources

Footprint Poem and picture made by tracing the foot or stepping in paint and making prints. Print the following poem:

"Walk a little slower, Daddy",
Said a little child so small.
"I'm following in your footsteps,
And I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

Author Unknown for Both Poems

Handprint Poem

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.

But every day I'm growing -
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away.

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

Raindrops on Roses....

....and whiskers on kittens....well, on this overcast Saturday there has been a bit of rain to leave refreshing drops on the rose petals, and because of the cooler day my kitty has spent time sleeping on the couch beside me and I am just that wicked that I had to tease her by tickling her whiskers and see how comically she twitches and pulls away in her sleep *grins wickedly*

I hope tomorrow is nicer weather because we're going to the church BBQ after the service and then a staff BBQ in the evening. Tis the season for outdoor cooking and delectable food. Mmmmm!

As I was reading thru my Blog list, I also came across the chance to enter and win a Coach handbag. Sylvia at A Purse Full of Cheerios tells us that they decided last year that "that even the most frugal of fashionistas invest in a new handbag for summer and well, what can I say?", which inspired this giveaway.
The coach handbag brags Graphic, gleaming, and great organization in one timeless tote. Take the time to visit Sylvia's Blog and enter the giveaway.

Have a great weekend :)

Time Marches On

Another weekend past and a new week ahead. It was a good weekend. On Sat. aft Hubby, Mom and I went to my brother's 50th Birthday Party. How fun!! We ate great food, had a slice of yummy Black Forest birthday Cake and laughed at all the humorous cards and a few gag gifts.
Sunday after church turned into a quiet, restful afternoon. It's a time to catch up on some Zzzz's and maybe some yard work.
Yesterday I went with Mom to the Doc and she got clearance to travel. The Doc filled in a "Travel Assistant" form to fax off to Air Canada, meaning I can now travel for virtually free as Mom's Medical Assistant. Our first trip will be to my youngest Sister's home in Ontario, on the beautiful Lake-of-the-Woods. Our plans are to spend lots of time at the beach, on the sail boat and her porch, sipping frosty drinks and maybe a glass of wine or two :)

Flag Day June 14 Theme-Lessons-Crafts-Activities

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday... The week of June 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. The flag should also be displayed on all Government buildings. Some organizations hold parades and events in celebration of America's national flag and everything it represents. Wikipedia

Check out some of these activities for Flag Day, June 14th, or any other day you want to celebrate patriotism of the United States. Your students can learn facts about the flag, then complete activities to show you what they've learned. You can find the full text of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, printable art activities, patriotic songs to sing in the classroom, reference articles about the history of the flag, biographical information about Betsy Ross, and much more!

http://holidays.mrdonn.org/flagday.html Flag Day-Mr. Donn

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson005.shtml Flag Lessons

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Flag_Day/ Flag Day Resource Links

http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/flag.php Resources All Areas

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flagday/ Crafts and Activities

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/flag-day/ Poems, Activities, History

http://www.educationworld.com/holidays/archives/flag_day.shtml Resources All Types

http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/julyfourthandmore.htm Flag Day Patriotic Resources
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/links_grades_kindergarten_12/flag_day.htm

Mid-life

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache.

In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.


Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror
and you can see your rear without turning around.


Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize
that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.

Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely
in a tube top and scream, 'Listen, honey, even the Roman
empire fell and those will too.'

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves
and we're sitting on our biggest ones.

Mid-life is when you look at your know-it-all, cellphone
carrying teenager and think, 'For this I have stretch marks?'

In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only
thing we can retain is water.

Mid-life means that your Body By Jake now includes Legs By
Rand McNally--more red and blue lines than an accurately
scaled map of Wisconsin .

Mid-life means that you become more reflective. You start
pondering the 'big' questions. What is life? Why am I
here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before
it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what
is important. We realize that breasts sag, hips expand,
and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey
worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you
have now, for the body you had way back when? Maybe our
bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and
love we've acquired..

That's my philosophy and I'm
sticking to it!

Teaching Tips, Activities, Lessons, Ideas- Last Day of School

Top 10 Tips for Teaching on the Last Day of School

For many teachers, the last day of school can be worse than the first. All of the worksheets are done, grading is finished, and the students are anxious to start their summer vacations. Any hope of getting in a last-minute lesson is dashed when you see your students' anxious glances at the clock. However, there are still some things that you can do to fill the time until that final bell rings. 1. Write letters: You can ask your students to each write a note to students who will be incoming in the fall. Have them talk about their favorite class activities, share jokes, or give new students important information for surviving the school year. You may gain some insights on your teaching style, and you can always use the letters as icebreakers the next school year. 2. Make some memories: Make some memories by creating class memory books that are easy. You can create simple printable worksheets for students to complete and staple together as a book. Have them write down favorite memories, draw pictures of the classroom, and sign autographs for each other. If you have time, you could even include a class picture on the cover. 3. Take out the trash: Quite literally! You can use the boundless energy that the students have to take down posters, scrub desks, shred old homeschool worksheets, or pack up books. To avoid the groans, consider making it a game or a race - divide the class into teams and see which team can complete its tasks first to win a prize. 4. Ad lib for laughs: Develop a list of silly topics, one for each child, and put them in a jar. Have each student pull a topic and give them a minute or two before calling them up. Encourage the students to get creative with fun topics like "what would you do if you were the president" or "convince us to buy your shoes." 5. Get outside: After all, your kids would rather be outdoors. Try some fun outdoor games that require teamwork, like relay races or water balloon tosses. It will allow your students to burn up some energy without tearing your classroom to pieces. 6. Play learning games: If your classroom is stocked with a variety of educational games, now is a good time to pull them out for entertainment. Organize game centers around the classroom and allow students to pick which ones they would like. Set a timer and have groups rotate from one activity to another periodically. 7. Focus on the future: Elementary school students in particular will enjoy imagining what the next grade will be like. Have them write an essay or draw a picture to share with the class. Or you can have students share their plans for the upcoming summer vacations. 8. Spelling Bee: Pull out all your spelling teacher worksheets from the entire year, and hold a class spelling bee. It will be an enjoyable way to spend time and refresh students' memories. Older children may enjoy a Jeopardy-style game involving facts that they learned throughout the year. 9. Say something nice: Pin or tape a thick sheet of paper to every child's back. Have students go around the classroom and write something nice on the back of their peers. If this is too rambunctious for your classroom, have your students make autograph books that can be passed from row to row and filled out by their peers. 10. Say thank you: Teach your kids to show their appreciation. Have them write thank you cards for their favorite school staff. This can be parent volunteers, the principal, even the janitor or the food service workers. Source: http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/lastdayofschool.html Worksheet Library More Resources: http://www.mrscjacksonsclass.com/endofyear.htm

Welcome June!

A brand new month....June!! Not only is June filled with Birthdays in the family, it is also the month we celebrate Father's day and the first day of summer. Sounds lovely :) In two more days Hubby &  I will have both our sons in their 30's when Colin celebrates his 30th Birthday.YAY! How did they both get this old and we both stay this young? Hmmmm???!!! Hahahaha :)
So, looking forward to this new month.

Watermelon Theme Lessons Activities Resources

Yum! Watermelon!

Summer’s never over when watermelon is around. Have you ever had a watermelon cake or popsicle? Nothing says summer like watermelon! The National Watermelon Promotion Board offers you many resources to teach students about watermelon and use watermelon information to teach across the curriculum. Watermelon is one of your students’ favorite fruits, and you can use these materials to make learning a little more fun. It’s a way to give your next year’s class one more “unit” of summer when they arrive in your room.

The lessons work from Kindergarten to Middle School levels. You can download the materials or request a CD-ROM of them from the site. http://www.watermelon.org/educators.asp or www.whataboutwatermelon.com.

An E-newsletter from the Texas State Teachers Association May 2010 http://www.tsta.org/

More Resources: http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/watermelons.htm Watermelons