Memory Verse Monday and a Personal Note

Happy Monday and Happy Earth Day!!

I know that when Earth Day rolls around each year, many of us are busy with thoughts of plants, growing things and taking care of the planet.

And I'm right there with you. We are right in the middle of a Spring, growing, planting unit ourselves.

But for the last 5 years whenever Earth Day rolls around, my thoughts turn to my Daddy.

My Daddy passed away on Earth Day 2008.

So if you would, allow me a little detour today.....

To my Daddy, "I love you & miss you and look forward to seeing you again!"

To my God, "THANK YOU for choosing this man to be my Daddy. 

Thank you for allowing us the time that we had together. 

And thank you for the promise that I will see him again."

To anyone who might be reading this, 

"While you're taking care of the planet today, 

don't forget to love those who are around you on the planet. 

Make every moment count."

Earth Day always comes to me with a reminder,

that this world is not our home. And so I would pass that on to you as well.

Make sure that you know what comes next & if you don't know, 

please spend some time looking for answers.

And now, here is your memory verse packet for the week.

It features Psalm 104:14 

and it contains a coloring sheet, find and color, draw and label, and word cards.

 Click the cover to pick up your copy.

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for something special.

Monday, Monday

Every week when I start to type the word "Monday" I hear THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS running through my head. If you are too young to know what song I mean, then don't tell me:)

It really was a few days before my time, but very catchy.

Ok, back on track....Here is our Memory Verse for the week.

It's Genesis 1:29.

Still trying to follow the plants/Earth Day theme.

Click on the cover to pick up your packet

(coloring sheet, word search, and phrase cards to rebuild the verse).

Remember to click on the FREE LOOT tab at the top if you have missed any packets.

Monday, Monday,so good to me!

(now it will be stuck in your head too LOL)

You have to see these!!!!!!!!

OMGosh! Y'all have to see these paintings my kids did!!

We have been working on a plant unit and the kids wanted to plant sunflowers.

Well one thing led to another and it just turned into a sunflower unit:)

My buddy teacher and I have a great space right outside our windows that's like our own private yard.

So we got out there after testing on Tuesday afternoon and turned them loose!

We dug up the brand new sod along with some critical tree roots.

Farmers we are not. Anyway, back to the sunflowers.

We have read sunflower books, planted sunflowers, made construction paper sunflowers, eaten sunflower seeds, and it seemed the only thing left to do was paint them.

We read a "G-rated" book about Vincent Van Gogh. 

(The first one that I checked out from the school library even shocked me. LOL)

We looked at pictures of many of his paintings and ended with his "Sunflowers" painting.

They could not wait to paint them.

I gave them a template for the vase because I was hoping that it would help them with sizes and placement on the page.
They could choose to use the pattern and trace it lightly on their paper,
 trace, cut and glue on a vase,
or just draw it on their own.

After the vase, they started adding the flowers and stems.

Next came the table and the background.

After they dried, we went back and mounted them on construction paper.

I think they are amazing. And they were super easy to do.

(So, if something will just sprout from our sunflower garden then we will be all set.)

Be sure to head over to The 2nd Grade Pad for other great Take It and Make It ideas!