Yesterday I had the brilliant idea to take the kids to Six Flags here in San Antonio and have fun at their waterpark. I envisioned this… all alone floating carelessly down the lazy river… (totally not me in the picture)
Instead this is a more realistic picture…(ok I do like to exaggerate)
and to top it off, I was not excited to spend 7 hours walking the water park in my untanned body thrown into my black one piece…(again NOT ME-just a photo)
So I picked up some of these cute little shorts to wear over my suit in order to have fun and not worry about my untanned thighs…
Well little did I know that walking around in hot temperatures with soaking wet shorts causes severe chafing to occur where the ends of the shorts rub on your thighs…
Now two years ago I ran a half marathon. I actually ran the entire thing. I chafed a tiny bit on my inner thighs where the running shorts rubbed together, but nothing I even noticed during the race.
After 2 hours of the water park I was “walking” more like teetering on two stiff legs jetting out as far away from each other as they could reach. I am pretty sure I heard sizzling when I got into the different pools and rivers…
When my kids asked me what was wrong I just said…”Shorts”…”It hurts”…”Burple”. Burple is the color of chafing. Bleeding and purple. So I will NOT be donning my bathing suit or those shorts any time soon…
So today I laid low and worked on a fun project that only caused me happiness and time to heal!
And I finally get to link up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics because I am being crafty!
My class loves to pull popsicle sticks out of my different stick cups. Why? I am not sure!
But to capitalize on their fascination I made 10 literacy centers that revolve around pulling sticks!
First I needed more cute cans for all the fun we will have with sticks so I found a great size that I liked in my pantry and started working!
Let’s just say that soup in the Summer happened at my house.
I just covered them with scrapbook paper. But in my sight word stick pack I included 6 labels for the cans to really make them pop and show what they are for. These will go over the black and white scrapbook paper that I put on my cans. They would also be cute on those dollar buckets at target or any other cute can, cup, or little container.
Click the picture below to check it out on TpT.
Each of the games comes with recording sheets for accountability as well as the dolch lists for K-2. I am excited to have 10 weeks of centers already done and so easy to prep!
Some of these will also be used for our spelling words too once we get to those. (I even included spelling container labels too)
Hope you are having a chaf- free Summer and working on fun ideas! I can’t wait to read about them!
Are you being crafty too? Link up with
The Big Phonics Bundle! {Purposeful Word Work}
Sight Words and Thinking Maps!
Spelling Ideas!
Guided Math Freebie and Sight Word Tracking
Gladys says
June 21, 2012 at 3:53 amOhmygoodness! I love sight word sticks! I can't wait to go check them out on TpT! 🙂
http://teachinginhighheels.blogspot.com
Jennifer Tilton says
June 21, 2012 at 3:58 amThat water park place was so crowded. I am sorry that you are hurting, but those cans look amazing. I wonder if the stick game is something kinders can do? Maybe the second half of the year….hum…
Jennifer
kindertrips
Natalie says
June 21, 2012 at 4:01 amOuch! I hear ya on the chafing….so not fun! The centers look great, though!
Natalie
TeacheryTidbits
Miss T says
June 21, 2012 at 4:22 amOuch 🙁 But cute sight word sticks!
Journey of a Substitute Teacher
Endless Pinabilitites!
amy says
June 21, 2012 at 4:24 amYIKES! Sorry about the pain you had to endure. The games look super cute! I'm adding this to my "wish list" on TPT.
Amy
Where Seconds Count 2nd grade blog
Traci says
June 21, 2012 at 4:24 amThere is just no fun to be had in that 2nd picture. What IS that? Crazy.
Love your sight word stick pack. Great idea.
Fern Smith says
June 21, 2012 at 4:37 amOh my goodness, it's funny, but it's not funny! Thanks so much for the laugh and the terrific center idea! Pinned!
~Fern
Fern Smith’s Classroom Ideas!
Fern Smith’s Pinterest Boards!
oh' boy says
June 21, 2012 at 4:42 ammy thighs have been BEST friends for years… they now get along so no blurple for me:)
lorajoelle says
June 21, 2012 at 5:06 amMy kids LOVE popsicle sticks, as well! Especially ones with sight words on them. I have never capitalized on the fascination quite like this, though! Great idea!
Lora
Mrs. Webster’s Classroom Connections
susanlulu says
June 21, 2012 at 5:29 amYou made me laugh!!!! It's 1:30 am, I'm here alone, and I'm laughing at your blog. So funny!!!! Thanks!!!
Freckleteacher says
June 21, 2012 at 6:09 amI loved your post and especially all of the visuals! I just spent the day at a similar water park here in California, but I ws content to watch the kids and stay dry! My thighs just can't take the abuse!
I love your sight word stick games and plan on making them soon. Thanks so much!
Sarah says
June 21, 2012 at 6:19 am"Burple" is the perfect word to describe the pain that is chafing!
And, can I just say that you are ultra creative. I look at popsicle sticks and get hungry. You see center games. Genius. I'm impressed by you, lady! You create such great activities!
Tara says
June 21, 2012 at 8:20 amLOL at 4 in the morning here!!!! You are so funny! It's not funny that it happened to you, but as I was reading I was doing the whole visualizing thing and cracking up!!!
Now, my friend…….why did you not link this to my Monday Made It??? It doesn't have to be linked on Monday….it's open all weeK….why???? :,(
Happy Burple healing to you:)
4th Grade Frolics
Jill says
June 21, 2012 at 8:55 amOuch!
Jill
Bubbalulu.blogspot.com
Jen R. @ The Teachers' Cauldron says
June 21, 2012 at 10:26 amhaha! So Sorry my friend, that does NOT make for fun times!!
Your site word packs look CUTE!!!
diditeach says
June 21, 2012 at 11:34 amLove the sight word sticks…….my next project after I am done running around looking for candy for the awards !!! found Lafft Taffy last night at the gas station :). Crazy teachers and their crazy projects ! Water park visual started my day with a smile no off to school….7 more days arrgghhhh
Tessa says
June 21, 2012 at 11:44 amI have even had chafing on my arms from bathing suits. I think it's reason enough not to wear those things.
Those centers are super cute!
Tara says
June 21, 2012 at 12:10 pmI <3 you!!!!
4th Grade Frolics
Barbara says
June 21, 2012 at 12:38 pmGirl, that's hilarious! We did the Schlitterbahn at New Braunfels a few years back and that's exactly how that lazy river looked!
I did a workshop called Blogs Are A Teacher's Best Friend yesterday and I showed them yours!!! And told them to bookmark it . . . so inspiring!
Barbara
The Corner On Character
Reagan Tunstall says
June 21, 2012 at 12:52 pmoh wow! Then I go and blog about chafing!!!! oh goodness Barbara!!!!
Thanks! You are THE BEST!
annspencer says
June 21, 2012 at 1:41 pmOnce again, you have made something that I LOVE! My kinders play "Bang" with sight word sticks in a can every opportunity they get.I noticed how grubby the sticks were getting after several years of fun, so brought them home to re-do this summer. Thank you, thank you — this is so much better than my plan.
Your adventures in the swimsuit crack me up! I can sympathize, though — walking around all day in a swimsuit is NOT my idea of fun!
Miss Squirrels says
June 21, 2012 at 2:11 pmYou poor thing!
It doesn't look like anyone was able to float anywhere!
Sorry about the candy awards- but we' ll find a silver lining….. Even if it is at the bottom of a Blue Iguana "Diet Coke"!
Love ya!
Anonymous says
June 21, 2012 at 3:50 pmHey! I have a question about the cans. 🙂 Are the edges sharp? Or do you do anything to them to dull the edges? I teach pre-k and I worry about them cutting themselves. I'm probably being a worry wart….just wanted to know about your soup can experience! Thanks. 🙂
Reagan Tunstall says
June 21, 2012 at 8:18 pmHi Anonymous. 🙂
Yes the edges can be sharp! I put duct tape on the inside around the perimeter of the can. Double layer if needed. Works like a charm!
Mrs. Wehling says
June 21, 2012 at 9:44 pmYou are so funny! This post made me laugh.
Crayons and Curls says
June 21, 2012 at 4:12 pmOuch! So sorry to hear about the chafing and crowds! I hope your kids enjoyed themselves (while you were in pain), maybe they will feel sorry for you since you were so sweet and took them to a water park and wait on you today! 🙂 I love your sight word sticks! 🙂
Cheryl
Crayons and Curls
Primary Paradise says
June 21, 2012 at 5:11 pmYouch! What a funny post. I can sympathize, add some beach sand and I have been there too. LOVE your sight word stick set! Putting it on my wishlist.
Tammy
primaryparadise.blogspot
Miss Cosby says
June 21, 2012 at 6:58 pmA friend and I went to a Wine and Canvas (there are drinks and a local artists gives directions to make a painting) and she mixed some weirdo colors and we called it Burple..it was more like burnt purple. Too funny.
That post made my thighs hurt! I too have been hoarding cans and Crystal Light containers for centers. Super cute!
Brenda
You Might Be a First Grader…
Nicole says
June 21, 2012 at 8:04 pmhahahahaha I TOTALLY get all those tubers! My grandparents live in New Braunfels so we spent many a-summers swimming amongst the crowds! LOL. I love love your sight word sticks! Putting them on my list now!
Nicole
Rowdy in Room 300
Alisha says
June 22, 2012 at 1:41 amAh, chafing is the worst pain in the world! I got it badly on my trip to the Dominic Republic over spring break. And I did not take one pair of pants with me or leggings! I was tempted to borrow a {clean} pair of my brothers boxers to wear under my skirts:). Luckily, it was only a few days before we went home! Dang water and heat! Try rubbing deodorant on your inner thighs next time! I don't get it on a normal, non-wet/heat basis, but sometimes I rub the deodorant on before a wedding JUST to make sure some crazy dancing doesn't pain me!
Delaney White says
June 22, 2012 at 1:48 amI laugh everytime I read your blog. I just have to say that I LOVE all your products. I have bought a lot of your stuff recently (am going to buy the sticks centers) and I habe used it all and loved it. Thanks so much!
Buggy In Kindergarten says
June 22, 2012 at 3:18 amWould you mind e-mailing me directions on how to make these cans safe? I really want to make some for my classroom. [email protected]
Thanks!
Mary says
June 25, 2012 at 1:46 amLove this idea (of the word work activity- not the shorts and chafing)! I've bought your activity at Tpt and will be eating soup this week!
amybeth64 says
June 25, 2012 at 1:06 pmYour humor is wonderful! Would you consider making these centers for 5th grade?
Amy
Just Wild About Teaching says
June 27, 2012 at 4:54 pmyour cans came out sooooo cute…im your newest follower…drop by =)
Just Wild About Teaching
Anonymous says
August 16, 2012 at 2:04 pmHi, What did you use to attach the paper? Please let me know, thanks! [email protected]