I don’t know about you, but I’ve been quite invested in the Winter Olympics since they started just over a week ago. There’s nothing quite like watching the world come together to cheer on top athletes as they live out their dreams. It’s inspiring and heartwarming. We’ve been able to sit down as a family and watch some of the events, and it has been so much fun!
I thought it might be fun to also bring the magic of the Olympics to the classroom. There are so many neat activities you can do with your students to bring the spirit of the games to the room:
Hold your own class Olympics– think minute-to-win-it type games or even make up your own “sports”
In small groups, have students construct ski jumps with cardboard, tin foil, paper, and whatever else you can find
Research the host country and learn about its customs, food, language, and geography
Make a large chart and keep track of the medal count together as a class
If you have a connection to someone who does a sport that is in the Olympics, invite them in to talk to your students about that sport
Have students draw themselves doing one of the sports
Graph medal counts as a math activity (see free printable below)
Survey the class on their favorite sports (see free printable below)
Pick one of the countries competing and learn some words from their native language
There are endless options to pick from to bring the Olympics to your classroom. Find what’s right for your class and have fun with it!
**The free downloads are for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own.**
Within the last week, severe winter storms have hit several cities across the United States, causing many schools to close due to cold temperatures, ice, and/or snow. If schools are closed, that means kids are home– and that can sometimes leave parents or caretakers scrambling to come up with activities for their kids to do.
If you have found yourself in this situation before, you know that it can be a bit stressful. Below are a few fun, engaging activities you can do for free (or almost free), and with very minimal prep time. These activities can be adapted for any age and ability.
Save the Animals! (or Legos, marbles, tiny action figures, etc.) Place small animals (or any object of your choice) in a muffin tin. Fill each compartment with water. Let it freeze. Once it is frozen, you can put the giant ice cube in a bowl or shallow tray, then give your child a medicine dropper or syringe and a cup of warm-ish water. Using the dropper, they can squirt water at the ice until it is melted enough to save the object inside.
Don’t Touch the Carpet! This game is similar to Floor is Lava, but won’t require your kids to jump all over your furniture. Assign a starting point and an end destination. Give each participant two small pillows, towels, pieces of paper, paper plates, etc. Using only those two objects as their safe places to step, they must make their way from the beginning point to the end point. Usually this would be done by stepping on one while placing the other in front of you, reaching back to grab the first one, then placing that one in front of you, and so on. However, kids can get creative and can problem solve to see if they can think of any other ways to accomplish their mission. This gets their brains thinking and their bodies moving!
Lego Task Cards On small pieces of paper, write the name of several objects (one per paper). Have your child choose one paper out of a bowl, then create that object. This promotes problem solving, critical thinking, and fine motor skill development. You can also turn it into a friendly competition if you have more than one child playing.
Creative Crafting Set out construction paper, popsicle sticks, googly eyes, kid-safe scissors, pipe cleaners, glue, markers, and any other kid-friendly craft supplies you might have. Watch the magic unfold as they cut, glue, and create to their heart’s content. You’ll be amazed at what they come up with as their imaginations run wild.
Machine Factory Using extra boxes, empty paper towel or toilet paper tubes, string, scissors, and paper, glue or tape together a working machine. As the adult, you can choose what function their machine must carry out, or you can let them get creative and come up with their own idea. This is an excellent STEM activity, as it allows kids to think about logistics, function, machine parts, and how to carry out their plan.
Puzzle Time Jigsaw puzzles are such a fun thing to do when you’re cozied up in your house (or anytime, really!). Not only are they fun for all ages, they also keep the mind active. Puzzles promote family togetherness and problem solving together.
Those winter storms sure can be brutal, and can push your sanity to the edge, but there are so many fun things you can do with your kids when you have nowhere to go and no place to be. Being stuck inside doesn’t have to be boring– it can be fun for everyone AND can even be educational. If you’re one who has been impacted by the recent storms, I’m sending all my best wishes your way! You’ve got this!
For most teachers, Halloween is the least favorite holiday— the crazy costumes, the excitement and anticipation for a night of trick or treating, and, of course, the never ending stream of candy. For one Utah school, however, Halloween is the most anticipated holiday. The administration, teachers, and staff come together to create a magical experience for students. Every year, they choose a theme to center the holiday around; it’s usually based on a well known animated movie. Beginning in January, they start planning and gathering ideas. As the year goes on, they hammer out all the final details, collect supplies and props, and plan out every detail. The days before Halloween are spent setting up what they can without giving away the theme. Then, the night before Halloween, it’s all hands on deck, and the entire staff (and usually some recruited family members) stay at the school late into the night setting up and decorating so the magic is ready when school starts the next morning.
It’s really quite a feat. Students make their guesses, but the teachers and staff stay tight-lipped. The magic that is created is palpable, and it’s always an unforgettable experience. Last year’s theme was Toy Story— you can read about it and see pictures here.
I didn’t think last year could be beat, but was equally amazed at this year’s theme: Cars. Every detail was included— even real cars (including a Mac semi truck and school bus) parked in front of the school, made to look like characters from the movie. Come along as I take you on a virtual tour of the magic that was created this year!
I think it’s safe to say that those teachers deserve a three day weekend to recover from all their work to pull that off! What an incredible job they did!
Have you ever sat down to write something, only to find that you just can’t think of any ideas? Or maybe you start off with lots of ideas, then hit a road block part way through your piece. Either way, it can be really frustrating when the ideas just aren’t flowing. Students can have this happen to them, too. Teaching our students to use the writing process can equip them with the tools they need to ensure their writing is the best that it can be, and can also provide them with the skills they need to keep their thoughts and writing organized.
The general structure of the writing process begins with brainstorming or prewriting, where ideas are written down, research is gathered and organized, and the overall plan for the piece of writing is laid out. Next comes drafting— putting the ideas into sentences and paragraphs. Editing and revising come next. Here, the piece is proofread for errors, flow, and consistency, then the necessary revisions and corrections are implemented. This step, along with drafting, may be done several times during the course of writing a piece. The last step is finalizing, polishing, and wrapping up any edits or changes and making the final draft ready for readers. While all the parts of the process are essential, today I will be focusing on brainstorming and prewriting.
The way a person brainstorms might differ depending on what kind of writing they are doing. If they are writing a fictional story, they might begin with outlining the characters, setting, and conflict. If they are doing a research paper, they might start by choosing their topic, then picking a few key points or areas to cover, followed by researching their chosen topics. If they are writing an argumentative or persuasive piece, they first would choose which side of the argument they are going to defend, then generate their supporting arguments. Regardless of the kind of writing being done, prewriting is an important step in the process of writing.
There are many ways to brainstorm ideas, and, as noted above, the method changes with each kind of writing. Below are some methods that can be effective as students begin to generate their ideas prior to writing.
Bubble/Spider/Cluster Map
With this method, students begin with writing their central idea in the middle of the page. Then, they draw lines connecting to other bubbles, which would contain the sub-topics they are going to cover, with additional lines and bubbles drawn to accommodate any other ideas. This method is particularly effective for research or argumentative papers.
If writing a fictional piece, a writer might begin with the story title or idea in the center, then devote individual bubbles to characters, setting, conflict, and plot.
Outlining
Here, students would begin with their main idea at the top of the page. Next, they would focus on one sub-topic or section at a time, writing down key elements, quotes, or facts that they are going to use. This is a great tool for research or argumentative papers as well. It can also be effective for narratives. Students would begin with their story topic/title, then outline the order of events, the conflict, characters, and so on. In the case of writing a story, sketching out ideas on a simple plot diagram would also be an effective way to outline.
Free writing
Free writing is the process of setting an amount of time, then writing about the chosen topic for the duration of that time. Writers can write down what they already know, what they want to know, questions they have, and so on. It is a great chance to just kind of brain dump onto a piece of paper (or computer screen). The free write can then be used to facilitate a more organized prewrite, such as an outline or cluster map.
Listing
Listing is a great way to generate ideas when doing a compare/contrast paper, research paper, or even an argument piece. It’s effective for listing pros and cons, story ideas, ideas for character names, potential settings or conflicts, or any other number of things that might need to be included in a piece.
Timelines
Timelines can be helpful when writing a research piece. It can be useful to map out events in chronological order so that when drafting the piece, the writer has a clear idea of when things happened so as to ensure that they get their facts right in their writing.
Researching
In addition to this type of prewriting being effective for research papers, this form of prewriting is also extremely helpful for argument pieces. Students can combine researching with outlining or cluster mapping to organize their findings as they search for information. One very important thing to note here is to make sure that students remember to record where they find their information and research so that they can properly cite their sources, and, in the event that they need to revisit the source, they will know right where to look.
The writing process isn’t something that only Language Arts teachers might use; it can (and should be) employed by any teacher who is having students write papers or pieces. It is a very effective way for students to get their ideas down, organize their writing, and prepare for the drafting stage of writing. Think of it as “preheating the oven” when you bake— you’re getting things ready for the final product. Check out the resources below if you need some ideas for getting your students started!
** Please note that these resources are for classroom or personal use only. They are not to be sold, reposted, or claimed as your own. **
It’s no secret how much I enjoy holiday-themed activities! They just bring such a fun element to a lesson and spark so much creativity. Even though we typically think of holiday themed activities as being targeted toward elementary aged kids, you can easily bring them into any content area and any grade level simply by modifying the difficulty of the activity.
Thought I can appreciate all content areas, English/Language Arts is my favorite, since that is what I spent many years teaching. And since we are nearing Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to share some fun Halloween themed Language Arts activities!
(Most of these will be geared more toward junior high aged kids, but can be modified for other grade levels as well.)
Read some “spooky” stories or poems. Edgar Allen Poe is always a good option for this time of year. In particular, “Tell Tale Heart” is a stellar choice for junior high students. Other options include “The Hitchhiker” by Lucille Fletcher, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, or “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Did you know Roald Dahl even has some spooky short stories?!
Ask students to write a descriptive paragraph or two giving detailed descriptions of a haunted house. Have them trade papers with a classmate and have them create a physical model (drawing, painting, cut and glue, etc.) of the haunted house using what is written.
Have students write a personal narrative about their favorite Halloween or a favorite family Halloween tradition.
Have students write and illustrate a simple Halloween children’s book.
Have students write a persuasive piece defending their right to still trick-or-treat.
Using the free “Roll A Story” printable below, have students write a short story using the elements their dice rolls choose for them.
Play some fun Halloween music while your students work on one or more of these delightful Halloween themed activities, and you’ve easily set up a fun work environment for your students to work in! Teenagers might put up a front that they are “too old” for things like this, but deep down, they love it and will eat it right up when given the chance!
** This printable is free, and is intended for home or classroom use only. Please do not resell, repost, or claim as your own. **
It’s officially Fall! The leaves are changing where I live, and the morning air is crisp. It’s a beautiful thing! New seasons bring all kinds of changes, and those changes create great opportunities for exciting learning opportunities as well as lots of fun, creative art activities. Below you will find a few suggestions and ideas for some Fall fun in your classroom! Feel free to modify any activity to fit your students’ needs.
Science:
Learn about the life cycle of an apple from seed to fruit. Taste test different kinds of apples.
Learn about why the leaves change their colors. Talk a walk outside and see how many colors of leaves you can spot.
Investigate why the temperatures start to drop. Discuss the Earth’s rotation and position this time of year.
Art:
Go outside and gather some leaves from the ground. Use them to create leaf rubbings, stamps with paint, or press them and make a bookmark.
Draw a fall scene.
Gather small leaves from outside. Draw a tree trunk and branches on paper, then glue the leaves onto the tree.
Language Arts:
Read some books about Fall.
Write an acrostic poem using FALL or AUTUMN.
Write a descriptive paragraph describing a fall scene.
Math:
If available in your area, collect fallen acorns or pinecones. Sort and count in several different ways.
Conduct a class-wide survey about favorite Fall activities. Create a bar graph with the results.
Use fall themed candy as math manipulatives.
Print out and have students complete the Fall Find and Count printable at the end of this post.
Students learn best when a learning experience is engaging. And honestly, from a teacher’s perspective, teaching is much more enjoyable when the material you are teaching is fun and engaging. Play into the seasons, holidays, and other special occasions— I bet you’ll have as much fun as the students do!
** Feel free to download the free Fall Find and Count worksheet— it is only for personal and classroom use. Please do not distribute, sell, or use as your own.**
In my last post, I shared a couple of printable worksheets/activities that you could use to teach your kids or students about Independence Day. Since not all kiddos are interested in worksheet-style learning, I’m back with a few more ideas! Teaching kids about the history of our nation is so important. It’s important for them to understand how our country was founded and to know about the incredibly brave men and women who fought (and still do fight) and worked so hard to establish America.
Teaching kids about history doesn’t have to be boring. It’s easy to incorporate play and games into their learning. Below are a few ideas you can try!
Patriotic Sensory Bin
Using any sensory bin base you’d like (my favorites are rice or beans), you can add small patriotic themed items. Ideas include small flags, red, white, and blue gems/stars/pom-poms, small pictures of national monuments or presidents, and so forth. Bury the items in the sensory base, and let your kids get to work exploring and finding fun treasures!
Patriotic Matching
Print off two copies of several pictures of our national symbols, monuments, presidents, Founding Fathers, etc. Glue them on to paper squares and play memory. Whenever a match is made, take a minute to talk about why the object or person in the picture is important to America’s history.
If memory style matching isn’t something your child likes, you can place one set of pictures on the table or wall, then hide the other set of pictures around the house or room. Again, as matches are found, talk about each picture.
Independence Day Trivia
This is a great activity for older kids. Write down several questions (and answers) about the history, places, and people of our nation. Divide kids into teams and have an Independence Day Trivia Face-Off. If the person whose turn it is can answer the question without their team’s help, two points are awarded to that team. If they need the team’s help, one point is awarded for a correct answer. If the first team is unable to answer correctly, the second team gets a chance, earning one point for a correct answer. You could place a small flag in the center of the table, and the first person to grab it gets the first chance to answer the question.
Tally the points as you go, and the winners get a red, white, and blue rocket popsicle!
Historical Story-Telling
Assign each child a story from our nation’s history. Give them a few minutes to prepare, then have them re-tell the story in their own words. Another version of this would be to have them write and illustrate a children’s book telling the story they have been assigned.
American Role Play
Rather than having them verbally re-tell a story or event, have children reenact an important event. Provide props and costumes if available!
A Star-Spangled Sing-A-Long
Teach kids the words to our national anthem and have them sing along. Be sure to explain what all the words mean, the history behind why the song was written, how it became our national anthem, and even a little bit about the man who wrote it!
Patriotic Crafting
There are endless options here— have kids create a flag out of various materials, use different methods to paint “fireworks”, or create a mosaic of the flag, a monument, or person. Never underestimate the power of construction paper, scissors, and a glue stick!
Whatever you decide to do, remember to keep it age appropriate, make it fun and engaging, and let kids use their imaginations! The material and skills learned are the most important part of activities like these, so there isn’t one “perfect” way to get things done. Relax, have fun, and remember that messes can be cleaned up!
