Mailing out our Gingerbread Men!

My students have had a wonderul time creating their gingerbread men for the exchange! This year we really stepped it up and decorated with wiggly eyes, glitter, THE WORKS!!!  I think the kids did a great job! 

Last year we did a class letter, but this year I challenged my class to write their own individual letters. Each student was assigned to find a fact about our state to include in their letter. My class of 1st and 2nd graders researched and came up with some fabulous facts about North Carolina! 

Check out our facts and all our gingerbread men below!

North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England with Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775. 

The Venus Fly Trap is only found in two American states, NC and SC, but is native to Hampstead, NC. 

Pepsi was invented and first served in New Bern, NC in 1898. 

In 1903, the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, NC. 

We live in Caldwell County. Parts of our county are anywhere from 900 feet above sea level to 6,000 feet above sea level.

Whitewater Falls in Transylvania County, NC is one of over 200 water falls on the east coast.

North Carolina is a southern U.S. state with a diverse landscape ranging from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. Chalotte is the state's largest city and is home to the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

The state of North Carolina was first in flight. The Wright brothers invented the plane and flew it at Kitty Hawk.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the coast of North Carolina is made up of Hatteras, Bodie, and Ocracoke Islands. It makes up one of the largest stretches of undeveloped seashore on the U.S. Atlantc Coast.

Pepsi was invented in North Carolina over 100 years ago in 1893.

North Carolina's largest county is Robeson County.

The smallest town in NC is Dellview and has a population of 13 and vies for the honor of smallest incorporated town in the U.S.

The world's smallest daily newspaper is the Tryon Daily Bulletin out of Tryon, NC.

Pepsi was first made in 1893 In New Bern, NC and it was called Brad's drink after its creator Caleb Bradhum. In 1898 it was renamed Pepsi Cola after the ingredients in the recipe pepsin and kola nuts.

North Carolina has a State Art Museum located in Raleigh, NC. 

The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh.

Mount Mitchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It towers 6,684 feet above sea level.

North Carolina's nickname is the Tarheel State.

Valentine Exchange!

Last December, I participated in a Gingerbread Man Exchange so I jumped at the chance to participate in the Valentine Exchange hosted by PAWSitively Teaching.

My 2nd graders had a blast decorating their hearts and mailing them off. As the Valentines came in we placed them on our bulletin board and learned about each school, city, and state. What a great learning experience for my 2nd graders! 

Here is the picture of all the Valentines we have received! We have received all but two and I have left a space in the corner for the last two that we hope will arrive this week.

Here are the Valentines we mailed off. The kids loved decorating their Valentines and the envelopes they traveled in.

And here we are making our Valentines! I don't usually break out the glitter except at Christmas, but...well...here we are...glitter and all! They did come out cute!

Valentine Exchange

My class has been working on their Valentines for the Valentine exchange! They are super excited! After doing the Gingerbread Man exchange, they were super eager to participate again.

I purchased some assorted puffy sticker hearts for my kids to decorate their Valentines with. When the glitter was broke out, the mess began! I have a standing rule to only use glitter at Christmas time ONLY! Well, I broke that rule this year. As you may have guessed, I am not a big fan of glitter. By the time we finished I had glitter all over my pants (and probably in other places too!) And I was all dressed up and planned on going out to dinner with my husband right after school. I will say that their hearts came out pretty well.  The children were pleased with their work. Here are some photos to highlight their work and show our process.

Love the frames I used for my pictures? Check them out in Ashley Hughes store!