Mrs. Wanke's Wonderful Whales

Candy Corn Bandit

The Candy Corn Bandit stole Mrs. Wanke's candy! Mrs. Wanke needed those for our math lesson! Look what we found when we came back from music...

a letter from the Candy Corn Bandit, Candy Corn Bandit booklets for each of us, and a clue! On the inside we had to draw what we predicted the Candy Corn Bandit to look like. Then, we had to predict three places we thought the candy corns might be.

Finally, it was time to read the first clue and set off on our candy corn hunt!

We made a prediction based upon what we read in clue one. We predicted the candy would be in the lunch room! When we got to the lunch room...all we found was another clue.

After reading that clue, we predicted that we would find the candy in the gym.

When we got to the gym, all we found was another clue.

After reading that clue, we predicted we would find the candy on the play ground. When we got outside, all we found was ANOTHER clue!

After reading that clue, we predicted we would find the candy in the library. But, when we got the the library, all we found was ANOTHER clue! Boy oh boy this Candy Corn bandit was causing some trouble!

After reading the clue, we predicted we would find the candy in the classroom.

When we got to the classroom...what do YOU predict we found?

You got it...the CANDY and another clue!

Clue #6 told us to keep our eyes open and our candy protected. We also had to finish up the last page of our Candy Corn Bandit book before we could get our candy corn.

This activity was great for making predictions and inferences. Not only did we predict where the candy would be, we also made predictions about how the bandit was able to pull off this crime, did the bandit have an accomplice, how big was the bandit, and what was the bandits motive.

When we got back to the class, Mrs. Wanke had a light bulb moment. She said that we could use predictions and inferences when we read! WOW...she is right.

We wrapped up this activity by reflecting on our predictions! We had lots of fun, but hope the Candy Corn Bandit doesn't come back!

ARRR MATEY!

We came to school to find Mrs. Wanke dressed like a pirate, and there was a treasure chest locked up! The treasure box had three kinds of locks securing it. One had a number code, another had a letter code, and the last one was a key lock. We wanted to know how to open the treasure box.

Mrs. Wanke explained that we would have to do a series of challenges to learn the codes and earn the key! We were ready and motivated to complete these tasks!

Our first challenge of the day had to do with our spelling! Mrs. Wanke gave us a sheet of paper to write CVC words. On this page, four spaces were circled. If we successfully spelled the words, the circled spaces would reveal the letter combination for our letter lock!

We did great with this challenge and learned the code. We all cheered when we got the first lock unlocked!

Our next challenge was to create our very own buried treasure map. We had to follow specific directions to make this map.

Check out a few of our maps! We are great at following directions.

We did such a great job! We earned the letter K. Mrs. Wanke explained that there would be two more challenges to earn the letters E and Y to spell the word KEY. She went on to explain that when we spelled the word KEY, we would get the key to open the lock.

Our last challenge before lunch was a STEM challenge. We had to work with our partner to create a pirate ship that could actually float and sail across our ocean (kid pool), carrying 5 pieces of GOLD!

We were only given certain materials. Aluminum foil, 3 strips of masking tape, a small ball of clay, a coffee filter, and a straw.

We worked hard with our partners to develop a plan to build a ship that would sail.

After everyone had built their ships, it was time to see if our boats would float! We would blow the ship across...so our sails had to work!

We were so excited when our boats made it across the ocean!

SO HAPPY!

Thumbs up! Our boat sailed across!

Girl power!

Happy dance! Our boat made it across!

YEAH! Team worked!

We did it!

When we finished this challenge, we earned the letter E.

After lunch and recess, we came back to the room ready for 2 math challenges! Our first math challenge was to find the missing part in the number bond. Each correct answer gave us a letter for the code below. The secret code spelled out the three numbers for the combination lock.

Once again, the room erupted in cheers when the lock opened and the chain fell off! Only ONE more lock to go!

Our second math challenge was to work as a team to create a giant 100's chart with gold coins! Some of the gold coins were already in place for us, but SO many were missing! This is what the hundreds chart started like.