As part of our year-long MYSTERIES unit in 4th-grade GT, we studied various sciences that solve mysteries and one was archaeology. The book Hands-On Archaeology was very helpful, but way too comprehensive for the time we had to devote to this mini-unit, so we focused on big ideas, the language of the discipline, and methods … Read more
If you’re looking for some new ways to showcase your students’ learning, whether on a bulletin board in the hallway, on a display out in the community, through a digital platform, or in a major showcase event, here are some ideas to consider. Posting student work for an audience beyond your classroom encourages students to … Read more
I usually stick to writing about lessons and curriculum. But after the 2020-2021 school year, I felt teachers might appreciate some extra attention and guidance concerning how to recharge after the most grueling year ever! The habits described here have helped me, and so I share them with you. This book caught my eye one … Read more
One of my 5th-grade GT students shared this challenging riddle with me years ago, and we then shared it with the class. It led to a very interesting discussion! If you’d like to try it out with students, here are some resources you can use. The video below (1) clearly presents the riddle, (2) prompts … Read more
If you missed it, you may also be interested in “End-of-Year Letters and Reflecting on the School Year” and other EOY activities listed HERE. The final days of school can be hectic and full. Here are just a few low-prep creative activities that allow students to reflect, celebrate, and just enjoy one another! SNAPSHOT VIDEOS … Read more
The study of ancient philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists is a major component of the 5th-grade IMPACT theme. The Story of Science makes these paradigm-shifters come to life, and Pythagoras is one who fascinated my students! Pythagoras had some interesting ideas about the divinity of numbers and the prevalence of numerical patterns in the universe. His … Read more
For well over a decade, I’ve had students write letters – to their future selves- at the end of the school year in May. A colleague shared this idea with me, and I know many of you do the same with your students. It’s such a meaningful way for students to reflect on their year, … Read more
If the outdoor activities described below seem daunting, you might consider doing indoor activities first, what I call a Mini Think-a-Thon. You can read more HERE. Kids love field days and they are a great way to celebrate the end of a school year. Several years ago, I thought it would be fun to create … Read more
In previous posts, I’ve shared universal themes and sample outlines for year-long studies in grades K-5 (see more about long-term planning here). The 2nd Grade year-long theme of STRUCTURES is described here, and in this post, I’ll explain how you might introduce the theme. The introduction sets the stage for an “around-the-world” approach to the … Read more
I’ve recommended a number of math and logic puzzles and listed them by grade level on this site. I thought it might be helpful to share specifically about how I’ve used them in my classroom. These puzzles COMBINE math reasoning and critical thinking and even if they make students a bit uncomfortable at first, encouraging … Read more
