HOLD YOUR HORSES!
I MAY BE GETTING TOO BIG FOR MY BRITCHES!
Yes.....I sometimes get carried away with thematic language when I am teaching an integrated ELA unit, and it just seemed to be the best way to begin this post that I am linking up to for a
cowboy-themed Thematic Thursday this week! I just had to mosey on over and share some of my favorite stories, songs, and ideas! Thanks to my dear friend Carla over at Comprehension Connection for the opportunity!
HOST TO A CLASSROOM READING RODEO
Many summers ago, my family vacationed together near Lead, South Dakota, my mother's hometown and a place that we traveled to for many years while growing up. While there, I was inspired by all things rustic and western, and came home to transform Room #2 into the Rockin' R Ranch!
Here are a few photos from the trip that shaped my "vision!" Imagine sitting on the deck of this lodge house, sipping coffee, and waking up each day to this grand view! Our horseback ride involved breathtaking scenery as well!
RUSTLE UP SOME GREAT SOUTHWESTERN
READ ALOUDS
My student teacher and I had a grand time rounding up great folk tales with a southwestern flavor and hosted a Cowboy Day for our little buckaroos that was full of great learning fun! She read Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman with a "Texas twang," and our second graders just loved this western version of The Little Red Hen that features Miss Billie Armadilly and her friends who refuse to help her gather the needed ingredients for her chili. The lyrical and alliterative text is just delightful and teaches a great lesson about teamwork and true friendship!
Enjoy this YouTube video version {HERE}!
SERVE UP SOME SASPIRILLA!
No Reading Rodeo would be authentic without some good old-fashioned saspirilla (rootbeer) to wet our whistles, and no cowboy or cowgirl's outfit is complete without a bandana and a horse! We shopped online at Oriental Trading for all of our party favors, and most students wore a vest, flannel shirt, or hat they brought from home!
SING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE!
We sang along to "Get Along Little Dogies" and "Yellow Rose of Texas" thanks to my collection of Riders in the Sky CDs! These can be found on Amazon and will get your little buckaroos toes tappin' and fingers snappin." They might even circle 'round and dosey-doe with a little encouragement!
MORE WESTERN RESOURCES!
Be sure to check out my collection of resources and ideas for more wild and western fun in your classroom!
You might also like these thematic resources from my TpT store!
No post from me about the Wild West would be honest without a "shout out" to Ree Drummond
(aka The Pioneer Woman). Ever since I read Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and discovered her Charlie the Ranch Dog picture books, I've been a serious fan of both her blog and Food Network show!
I also have to admit that I not-so-secretly wish to meet an honest-to-goodness cowboy like her much-admired Marlboro Man some day and live on the lone prairie. Who wouldn't want to share sunrises and sunsets like these?! Right!?!?!
Okay....okay.....so maybe I have been watching too many Hallmark movies with happy endings! A gal can dream, right?!?!? :)
Okay....okay.....so maybe I have been watching too many Hallmark movies with happy endings! A gal can dream, right?!?!? :)
As always, thanks for two-stepping on over to let me share my story! I am going to leave you with a song from Roy Rogers himself that my father used to sing to my sisters and I as a lullabye. May you always be Home on the Range
PIN FOR LATER
As always, thanks for stopping by to share my story and songs! Continue to teach your children well!
Happy Trails!
You just whipped that up??? Holy Toledo girl! That's just awesome! I loved the pictures and all of the ideas. New books for me too! Thanks for linking up during your busy week!
ReplyDeleteCarla