It’s unfortunate to say that we’ve all experienced some form of bullying, and so have our kids and students. Whether being bullied, being a witness to bullying or being the cause of bullying, this pervasive social issue is strong amongst school-aged peers. Bullying can have short and long term effects that are detrimental to students’ physical and/or mental well-being. Here is my 5 step plan on how to prevent bullying from happening in your classroom, home or school. Also, be sure to check out my anti-bullying posters here. 1. Identify It’s important for kids to identify bullying when they see it and understand that it involves many parties. Once they are able to identify it, theyContinue reading
Month: October 2015
Fall Inspired Science Lessons
Each new season brings about features that are perfect for scientific investigation and inquiry. Fall is no exception. Here are some fall inspired science lessons that will have your students summoning the scientific process like pros! Life Cycles Use pumpkins (or another Fall fruit/plant) as a way to talk about a plant’s life cycle! First, discuss the journey of a seed, germination, sprouting and more! Here are some diagram ideas that students can create: After much discussion, have your students see a plant come to life before their eyes! Open a pumpkin, leave the seeds inside, add soil and water. Have students track the plant’s growth and keep a journal with their observations. Science Investigators PartContinue reading
Ideas for Fall Language Activities
There is so much to be described in the Fall season, which means it naturally lends itself to many language activities. Students can engage in describing, creating, reflecting and reading all about Fall features. Take a look at the following Fall language activities that link back to curriculum. Most of these activities can be tweaked to apply to a variety of grades and difficulty levels. Reading For Meaning Speaking & Writing – Word Choice There are so many special experiences to be had in the Fall season, so it works perfectly to have students practice expanding their word choice and descriptions. Check out the following ideas: Writing – Classifying Ideas Paragraph Writing WhatContinue reading
Toy Organization Ideas (With A Minimalist Approach)
Last year I experienced a big move. My husband, daughter and I packed our bags and relocated to Delaware. Before that I was living with my inlaws. My daughter was still small and didn’t require too much stuff. A crib, changing table, stuffed animals and basket filled with shakers and plush toys were all she needed. However, once we moved things changed quite drastically. My daughter turned 1, began walking, became more alert and all around more demanding! What’s more, we had much more space to hold all of our trinkets. On came the toy buying. Now, I have never been one to accumulate stuff. I’ve always shopped as consciously as I could, and usually askContinue reading
Fun Fall Math Activities
Students learn best when they can connect what they are learning to their real life. So, I’ve compiled a list of ways to connect the serene fall season to your math curriculum, in order to engage your students and get them excited to learn. Many of these lessons can be adapted in their difficulty level in order to be suitable for various grades. Take a look at these fun fall math activities. Measurement Here is a great way to get students measuring with pumpkins! What I love about this activity is that it has students estimating first, and then measuring using a variety of units. Geometry Here are some creative ways to incorporate your geometryContinue reading
Book Review: Ish by Peter Reynolds (with Activity Ideas)
*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* If you’re looking for a book to uplift and inspire young students, then Ish by: Peter Reynolds will do just that! Summary: Ish is a story about a boy named Ramon who loves to draw. One day his brother catches a glimpse of one of his sketches and mocks his work. This causes Ramon to feel a sort of dread, which eventually causes him to give up on artistry! But, all of his self-doubt comes to an end when he notices that his little sister has created a gallery of all his crumpled up art papers. He realizes that his work is a unique representation of the world aroundContinue reading
8 Wonderful Fall Art Activities
Fall is such an aesthetically beautiful season. The changing colors, the cool winds that rustle the leaves and the harvesting of pumpkins and apples are among the joys of Autumn. This is what makes Fall the perfect inspiration for some art activities. It’s a great opportunity to present elements such as color, texture, line and shape. Take a look at my favorite fall art activities below: 1. Yarn Trees Doesn’t this look fantastic? It’s a great activity if you want your students to do art work that goes beyond the typical 2-dimensions. This yarn tree will literally pop out of the canvas and attract onlookers’ eyes. You could use this activity to discussContinue reading