Experiment: Can you fry an egg on the sidewalk?

Classroom Cuteness: THINK before you speak

http://homespunwithlove.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-remindersfree-prints.html
http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/features/164989-diy-colored-flowers%5D

Teacher Tips: Double, Double Toilet Trouble

One of the biggest class-management issues to come up in any classroom is restroom use. You've been there... you're trying really hard to get the class involved in a discussion, you're pulling out every ounce of enthusiasm you have to try and pump up your morning class. FINALLY a student raises their hand and you think, "Yesss. Finally someone's breaking the ice. I hope they say something brilliant!" Student: "Uhhh... Miss, can I use the bathroom?" womp womp womp. Annoying right?

How do you handle this situation? It'd be easy to make a rule that students can only use the bathroom before/after class for secondary and during transitions/breaks for elementary. However... in actual practice this idea has some major holes in it.

Three reasons you can't outlaw the outhouse:

• Lower elementary: little kids who may wet their pants  if you don't let them go when they need to; 
• Junior high girls: many of your girls are just beginning to menstruate and haven't mastered the art of timing their feminine bathroom breaks around class; 
• and of course, students with medical problems.

All of those situations can lead to some very embarrassed students and some very angry parents.

Why should you care if your students use the bathroom?

• Bathroom breaks are easily abused
• Students are your responsibility - and they might be roaming the halls or leaving school 
• Bathroom breaks can be disruptive, especially if poorly timed
• Bathroom breaks are contagious. One kid goes, then suddenly THEY ALL have to go.

I've seen everything from potty passes to bonus points used in classrooms in an effort to control bathroom go-ers. One of my favorite solutions to this problem is one of the simplest. Just get a small whiteboard and hang it by the door. Have the students write their name and time they left on the board and make a rule that only one student can go to the bathroom at a time. Simple as that. Students come and go quietly. Peer pressure will, hopefully, motivate the student's speedy return. As far as monitoring frequency, if a student goes often enough for it to be an issue you will notice - make sure you address this privately with the student - if it's not disruptive enough for you to notice then what harm is being done? No need to keep a formal potty-log.

Demonstration: Thirsty Carnations

Integrate? InteGREAT!: Dr. Seuss + Matter

This activity works best for our youngsters, mostly because of the reading-level associated with Dr. Seuss books. However, if you have a really fun group of kids at a higher level, you could definitely amp up the difficulty and use this as a novelty activity! 

Oobleck is a non-newtonian fluid. That is, it acts like a liquid when being poured, but like a solid when a force is acting on it.