Here are five of my favorite activities to put students at ease when they walk into GT class on the first day. FIRST DAY TEACHER POEM (K-3) The idea behind this poem is to surprise and have a little fun with students as you introduce yourself and the GT class. Play through these slides in “present” … Read more
Do you like to send a welcome letter to your students before class begins? Here are some mini-projects and unique activities you can include with your letter to give students a preview of what’s ahead! BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE / PAIRED PUZZLE If your students enjoy puzzles as much as mine, this would be a fun … Read more
These activities complement The Primary Education Thinking Skills™ curriculum, in particular the thinking skills associated with Yolanda the Yarnspinner and Isabel the Inventor! If you use P.E.T.S., you might also enjoy the activities found HERE. These language and wordplay activities are perfect for small group instruction and will delight younger students. They also fit in beautifully … Read more
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
Our brains constantly seek patterns and connections, and it was my 3rd-graders’ study of the brain and the picture book ZOOM that inspired this unique research project as part of our SYSTEMS unit. By third grade, my students were spending more time reading and exploring topics on their own and this project allowed me to … 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
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
Here are two more engaging NRICH activities in which students must figure out the rules! This is a continuation of a previous post which you can find HERE. STRIKE IT OUT In the video below, the game is presented and students are challenged to determine the rules and the strategies that lead to winning! You … 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
