Mud Pay Learning for Kids

Kids of all ages love mud! Our class read the Magnificent Magical Mud story posted on this blog site. Then we planted flowers in flower pots as gifts for seniors and homeless residents. Students learned how to make mud while watering the plants in flower pots. We studied different types of potting soil to determine how much water it took to make mud in the flower pot. We also studied the ingredients of various mud solutions. Some mud samples had a sandy composition while others contained small rocks. The students were fully engaged while playing with their magnificent mucky mud. They were excited about learning. They were also curious and eager to learn about the composition and the many uses of mud throughout the ages.

Mud Observations While Planting a Flower

As we planted the flowers in containers, we first studied the composition of the mud samples we were using to plant each flower.  Then students counted how many ounces of water they used to make mud in their flower containers. Students could choose to use either 3, 6, 9, or 12 ounces of water to create mud in a container Then they used their hands and spoons to mix the mud in their flower pots. Finally, they recorded their mud observations on a reflective worksheet that included these questions:

• What was the composition of the type of mud you used?
• How many ounces of water did you add to make a mud mixture?
• What did your mud look and feel like when planting the flower?
• What else do you want to learn about mud when researching this topic online to complete a written or typed report?

More Mud Topics Students Wanted to Research

The following are some interesting topics the second-grade students are exploring to write their reports:

• What is mud?
• How are different types of mud made?
• How do you make mud bricks?
• How can you build an adobe house?
• What animals live in mud houses?
• What sports use mud?
• Is mud good for your health?
• Can mud hurt you?

Learning to Write Research Reports

The students are using their computers to research these topics. I also provided them with a bibliography with online websites they can use to research these and other mud topics. As the students learn to research fact-based articles online, I will encourage them to take notes. Then they will type or print a final draft of their report. Once students complete their reports, they will share their newly gained knowledge with a short verbal presentation to the entire class.

In the comments section below, share engaging topics you have used with students or your children to inspire them to research and learn more about fact-based research.

 

 

How Teachers Support Students’ Unique Learning Talents

I work primarily with kindergarten through 2^nd grade students. Each student I work with has unique talents, skills, and needs to remediate or nurture. When working with over 20 students in a classroom, I must focus on creating curriculum for the greater good of the student population based on the grade-level common core standards mandated by California. Then I must adapt my curriculum to meet the needs of highly challenged students as well as gifted and talented students. When working with second grade students after the COVID school shutdowns, a few students are still emerging at the first-grade level in their reading and math skills while others are performing at the 4 through 5^th grade levels.

Literacy Skill Development at Different Proficiency Levels

When working with reading groups, I have to help beginning readers learn their sight-based words and provide them with readers and activities that reinforce reading comprehension while looking at pictures and using phonics to lean the sounds of letter combinations. The focus is to learn phonics while also learning how to comprehend stories at a basic level by asking prediction, story content sequencing, and reading understanding questions. I also have students illustrate with simple words the big ideas in the stories.

Students who are reading at the second-grade level can sound out words correctly and are learning how to sustain their reading skills with more complex comprehension questions. They can summarize what they read and are able to apply their reading comprehension to everyday and new learning situations. Their vocabulary is expanding as they use the context in a story to define the meaning of new vocabulary words.

Several second-grade students can read 4^th through 6^th grade level books. They have mastered reading the Harry Potter series as well as the Babysitters-Club series. Many graphic novels are highly sophisticated and students love the illustrations as they learn to read longer length multi-chapter novels. When students can read at this level, they are able to evaluate, analyze, and apply what they have read to other situations and learn to write evaluative book reports.

Math Skill Development at Different Proficiency Levels

As I work with math skill development for challenged students, I have them learn their basic addition and subtractions skills while using math manipulatives. I encourage them to practice basic addition and subtraction math facts with flash cards and math games at home.

Students at second grade level are learning to solve addition and subtraction 2 and 3 digit numbers without and with renaming when using various strategies including number bonding, use of number lines, writing a math story, and writing the solution in standard form or expanded form. They are also learning about measurement, geometry, graphing, and basic fractions.

When working with several advanced students, I first complete the daily assignment with them. Then they will tutor students requesting help with the daily assignment. I also prepare advanced work problems for them to solve along with third grade advanced problems. They love being challenged. I started with 5 advanced students and now have half the class challenging themselves with advanced math problems.

Putting It All Together

As I challenge more students with advanced work, I had several advanced readers research and write about rattlesnake bite antidotes. Others studied snow crystals and created detailed illustrations about the composition of snow crystals while writing a factual story about how snow crystals formed. We have written and researched opinion stories about ideal pets. For black history month, our students are learning about how Ruby Bridges entered a school with no other white students initially joining her. The students will write an opinion story about how they would feel if no other students would join them in class to learn because of the color of their skin or because of another prejudice against them. As the students expand their research, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, I am impressed with their growing leadership and compassion for their classmates. They are becoming supportive cheerleaders and tutors for their classmates as they expand their knowledge and leadership skills.

 

Magnificent Magical Mud

by Mary Ann Burke

INTRODUCTION: GenParenting bloggers will periodically feature select children’s stories with educational and social-emotional growth themes. Magnificent Magical Mud was written to support second grade learners. Students will complete mud science projects and research online informational text to write a mud report.

Why do I love mud?

I have loved mud since I was three years old. I liked the way it squished through my fingers. It was fun to smush my feet in sticky, muddy puddles. Mud was my favorite ingredient for pies and sloshy rock leaf soup. My favorite activity was slinging mud balls at my irritating older brother. Maybe I liked mud because my mom hated mud. Perhaps it was because our backyard became flooded with lots of muddy puddles that I played in whenever it rained. Then my mom would make me change out of my muddy clothes before I stepped into the house.

What is mud?

I was excited when our teacher, Mrs. Hecklebee, asked our class, “What is mud and how do you make it?”

We learned that you can make different types of mud when you mix water with various types of soil. Clay soil is heavy, sticky when wet, and has very fine mineral specks. Sandy soil consists of small pieces of weathered rock and is light and crumbly. Loamy soil has clay, sand silt, and dead plants in it. I was amazed that there were different types of soil that could make mud. I must have used clay soil for great mud pies when I played in my backyard.

Sophia excitedly asked our teacher, “What is the difference between sandy mud and clay mud?”

Then Manuel exclaimed, “Does one type of mud take more water to make? Can you add leaves and branches to make the mud thick?”

My teacher responded to our questions by having us make a quart of clay mud. First, we scooped 4 cups of clay soil into a bucket. Second, we mixed it with a few cups of water to make it stick to our fingers. Finally, we added lots more water to make the mud roll off our fingers.

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Experiment with different types of soil at home. Write down your answers to the following questions:

• What type of soil did you use for your experiment?
• Measure out 1 cup of soil. How many measuring cups of water did you need to make mud that stuck to your fingers?
• How many measuring cups of water did you need to make sloshy mud that rolled off of your hands?
• Did you try this experiment with other types of soil? If yes, what were the differences when using each type of soil?

How do you build a house with mud?

The next day our teacher read us a story about how the Toas Pueblo in New Mexico was constructed using adobe mud bricks.

Mrs. Hecklebee explained, “The brick makers created an adobe mud mixture of sand and clay that was mixed with water and other natural materials for binding, like straw or dung. Then they poured the mixture into large molds. Some workers added cement, asphalt, or other substances to make the bricks stronger. Adobe bricks were dried by the sun, heat, or fire. After the bricks dried, they were removed from the molds. Then the workers laid the bricks with cement mixed with sand on the foundation. Wooden inserts were set between the bricks to hold the frames for windows and doors.”

Our teacher added, “Today’s homes can still use adobe bricks. I recently visited Peru and toured an adobe home in the countryside. Other countries with adobe homes include Costa Rica, Nicaragua, San Salvador, Ireland, and the United States. Adobe homes do not melt away when it rains and are cool to live in due to their insulated composition.”

Mrs. Hecklebee stated, “Different animal and insects might also live in mud houses. For example, mud dauber wasps may build their mud nests on the side of homes. Other living creatures with mud homes include mason bees, American Flamingos, Black-billed Magpies, and mud crabs.”

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Think about different living creatures that might also live in mud houses. Then complete the following activities:

• Draw a picture of the creature living in their mud home.
• Write a sentence describing what the mud home looks like.

Is mud play a sport?

After talking about mud houses, our teacher explained, “Some people like to participate in different types of mud sports. For example, there are obstacle races where people run, crawl, or slide through mud pits, and race onto balance beams or over inflated objects in the mud.”

Sophia eagerly described how her brother participated in a mud wrestling event and said, “He and his friends fought in a mud pit and slipped and slid in the mud as they wrestled with each other. It was so much fun to watch this sport!”

Manuel added, “My dad loves to participate in off road mudding. He drives his 4 x 4 truck with my older brother off the road on muddy mountain trails. Our truck becomes filthy with layers of dried mud.”

I excitedly exclaimed, “Our family likes to ride our mountain bikes after a rain storm. We will speed down a sloshy muddy hill. It is so much fun! My dad has taught me how to relax while pedaling evenly. I must brake early while I steer my bike through a slippery, muddy trail. I have a mud flap on my bike to keep the mud off my face so I can see the trail ahead.”

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Research a mud sport to complete the following project:

• Make a poster about the sport.
• Write a rule to keep people safe when participating in the mud sport.

How do people use mud to take care of their bodies?

I thought that mud was an amazing substance. Not only was it fun to play in and build with, but it was actually good for my health.

During a class discussion, Sonia explained, “My dad used mud packs for aches and pains after running in marathons.”

Jasmine exclaimed, “My mom had a calming spa treatment. She actually put a mud paste on her face to get rid of wrinkles and soaked in a mud bath!”

Manuel added, “My parents went to a Calistoga hot spring in California. They relaxed in a mud bath for about 10 minutes. Then they took a shower and enjoyed a warm mineral water soak.”

Mrs. Hecklebee stated, “Mud therapy can also improve digestion when applying a layer of mud around your stomach. Mud can also cool down the body from heat. It will relax you and can get rid of stress.”

I was surprised to learn that mud used for health purposes is sanitized or cleaned before people use it so that they do not get sick.

SIDEBAR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:

Talk with your parents about how mud is made and its importance in your daily life.

• Ask your parents if they have changed their understanding or their attitude about mud after this discussion.
• Report to your teacher and friends if your parents changed their opinions about the importance of mud.

That night I had a talk with my mom about my mud assignment. The next morning, I ran into the classroom.

I excitedly reported, “After seven years of having my mom yell at me about my muddy messes, she hugged me after our discussion about mud. My mother also reassured me that she now understood how important mud was to my health, happiness, and creativity. Mud truly was a magnificent magical substance!”

Bibliography

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Bradford, A. (2021, December 22). The Earth&I [Blog]. Retrieved October 4, 2022 from

https://www.theearthandi.org/post/everywhere-but-in-your-eye-the-healing-powers-of-mud.

 

Brinson, L. C. (n.d.) How adobe construction works. How Stuff Works [Blog]. Retrieved October 3, 2022 from

https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-inprovement/construction/materials/adobe-construction2.htm.

 

Dewey, J. O. (1998). Mud matters: Stories from a mud lover. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall

Cavendish.

 

eHow Team. (n.d.) How to build an adobe house. eHow [Blog]. Retrieved October 4, 2022 from

(https://www.ehow.com/how_2125714_build-adobe-house.html.

 

Ellis, E. (biologist personal communication, October 22, 2022).

 

Gentry, D. (biologist personal communication, October 19, 2022).

 

Hewitt, S. (2008). Gems, metals, and minerals. Mankato, MN: Aladdin Books Ltd.

 

How to do a mud run? Epic mud run ideas below. (n.d.). PARTYGOAT [Blog]. Retrieved

October 4, 2022 from https://partygoat.com/blogs/party-guide/how-to-do-a-mud-run-guide.

 

Ingrola, L. (2019, April 3). Retrieved from

https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/dirt/2019/04/03/science-mud-healing-power.

 

Kapur, S. (n.d.) Types of soil. BYJU’S: The Learning App [Blog]. Retrieved October 2, 2022,

from https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-soil/#sandy-soil.

 

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Laue, C. (n.d.). 5 top tips for mastering mud. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2022 from

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Marabito, M. (2022, March 11). Are adobe houses sustainable? Treehugger [Blog]. Retrieved

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Morgan, J. (n.d.) 14 birds that make must nests. BirdWatching Buzz [Blog]. Retrieved October 4,

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https://jellowrestlingsupply.com/mud-wrestling-rules.

 

National Center for Families Learning. (n.d.) What insect builds a mud nest? Wonderopolis

[Blog]. Retrieved October 4, 2022 from

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Quentin Wilson and Associates. (n.d.) Localities where adobe works. Greenhomebuilding

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Sather, P. (2021, October 25). 6 birds that make mud nests. A-Z Animals [Blog]. Retrieved from

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Surprising health benefits of mud therapy. (2019, August 9). India Times [Blog]. Retrieved from

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Nurturing Your Children’s Passions 

It’s a new year! Your children may become anxious about how to fill long dark winter days. What can you do as parents to nurture their passions? When your children tend to shut down on cold winter days, you may feel overwhelmed and frustrated on how your family will get through the winter months without going crazy.

Questions to Ask Your Kids to Identify Passions

Here are some questions you can ask your children to get them thinking about what they would like to do or explore during their free time:

1. What do you love most about school?
2. What would you like to do to keep your body moving on cold winter days?
3. What is your favorite playtime activity?
4. What do you like to do outside?
5. Who would you like to do a project with? What would you do for a project?
6. What would you like to learn about? How do you want to learn about this topic?
7. Where would you like to go to learn more about a specific topic?
8. Is there a museum or activity program that explores or provides training about a topic of interest?
9. What can I do to support your interests?
10. What should we research online to identify classes or learn more about your topic of interest?

Some of the Best Projects Come from Our Children

Children are capable of planning incredible projects when you encourage them with your actions. For example, Maria loves art and shares art projects with her friends. She creates temporary tattoos by drawing creations with marking pens on an absorbent sheet of paper. Then she places the marking pen art against her skin and dampens the sheet of paper with a paper towel. She is very impressed with transferred tattoos. Her sister, Anna, loves to create finger weaving leashes for her collection of stuffed animals. Rosie, her cousin, designs and sews doll clothes for her doll. She has also has created an Etsy account to sell customized Cricut stickers.

Science experiments generate lots of questions that must be answered. Brandon experimented with various hand sanitizers and surface cleaners to determine which products killed the most germs. Dave learned how to code and created various digital games.  Marla won an ecology award for learning how to continuously water trees while conserving water with various irrigation systems.

Passions Lead to Internships and Careers

Although these art projects and science experiments sound like educational and exciting rainy-day activities, several led to future internships and career choices. Maria now works in a store creating graphic art designs for tee shirts and other products. She plans to major in graphic art design when she starts college. Anna loves project-based learning and wants to inspire kids by becoming a project-based elementary teacher. Brandon has expanded his scientific interests and is currently becoming certified as a train engineer at a local park. Dave is getting ready to apply to colleges. He wants to eventually construct mass transit systems. I loved playing school when I was a kid and am still teaching students after 40 years in education.

Share in the comments section below this blog what passions you may have developed as a child that led to a satisfying career. Much success as you continue to support your children’s passions.

 

 

 

 

 

Acts of Kindness Monthly Calendar

Happy new year 2024! Each year many of us make new year’s resolutions and will fail fulfilling them within the first few weeks. This year I made the commitment to help our younger family members give back to their community. Planning should not overwhelm our family when considering their demanding schedules. To overcome this challenge, we convened family meetings with Brandon, Anna, and Maria.

Kindness Acts Calendar

We decided to focus on one act of kindness each month. Listed below is our proposed schedule of activities that might work for your family:

• January: It is cold outside and homeless shelters are filled with families. Donate a few hours at a soup kitchen or give a sack of groceries to our local food bank.
• February: Create 10 handmade valentines for a local senior center or senior nutritional lunch program. Give people who work hard in our community some chocolate candy.
• March: Distribute flowers to the neighbors to celebrate the start of spring.
• April: Make pretty Easter eggs with greetings and deliver to neighbors.
• May: Think of all the mothers we know and wish them a happy Mother’s Day.
• June: Make a lemonade stand and give away tee-shirts to cool off during the hot season.
• July: Clean up the streets from 4^th of July celebrations.
• August: On the first day of school, say good morning to everyone. Tell them that we hope they are happy with their teacher and friends in their class.
• September: Be kind to our parents and do things that our parents love to do with us on Labor Day.
• October: Try not to scare people with our costumes.
• November: Collect donations for the food bank to buy turkeys.
• December: Give new or nearly new toys to the Toys for Tots program.

Activity Reflection

After completing all of these acts of kindness, our family should feel fulfilled, tired, and happy! Much success by sharing your acts of kindness with others.