Teaching students about the 3 branches of government is an abstract concept. Most students understand that our country has a president and that is the extent of their knowledge about our country’s government. This is why I think it’s so important for students to have an understanding of how our country is run. So apart […]
Teaching the 3 Branches of Government: Hands-On Group Project for Kids Read More »
When students are reading non-fiction text, their comprehension increases if they have some sort of background knowledge about the topic and are familiar with domain-specific vocabulary. It might feel like you are spoiling what the students are about to read when you activate their background knowledge and frontload vocabulary, but the opposite could not be
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When you teach, I can guarantee that many of your students are not listening. Don’t take it personally (I know I don’t); we are working with children. It happens. So what can you do to hold their attention and get them to listen? Guided notes are the answer! What are Guided Notes? When you are
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Educating students about multiple perspectives is key when teaching Social Studies. Upper elementary students learn about the European Explorer and Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes without learning much about the powerful Aztec emperor Moctezuma and the perspective of the indigenous people of Mexico. When teaching students about Hernan Cortes it is imperative to also include in
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Teaching students simple geography lessons about oceans and continents is a must-do. A few times I’ve asked my students what country and state we live in, and I get responses like, “We live in the country of California and the continent of Mexico.” I’m dead serious! (I teach in Southern California) When I heard this,
Simplify Geography: Continents and Oceans Lesson Plans Read More »
There is so much to teach about European Exploration! How do you make it fun and engaging for you and your students? But I’m here to help give you ideas on hands-on activities. These activities are meaningful and will help your students learn about the motivations behind exploration, the navigational tools that were used, and
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Why Make an Astrolabe? Making an astrolabe will help your students learn about history in a fun, hands-on way. Your students (or children, for our homeschooling parents) need to do activities related to the subject that they are working on. Making an astrolabe will get your students engaged and will help them remember the lesson
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There is so much to teach when it comes to learning about the Causes of the American Revolution. You’ll find countless activities and lessons out there, but which ones are worth your time? You’ll need to choose lessons that are meaningful and will get your students to truly understand the events that led up to
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Teaching the 13 Colonies to students is a subject you can’t skip in 5th grade. Your students need to learn about this important topic before you jump into the Causes of the American Revolution. So how do you make this topic fun and engaging? Here are some lesson plan ideas to get you started. Provide
Time-Saving Lesson Plans to Teach the 13 Colonies in 5th-Grade Read More »
I really love it when I can incorporate art with a topic my students are learning about in Social Studies and Science. When I am teaching European Exploration, one of our projects is creating multi-media art of a ship. Why Students Need to Know About Caravel Ships Caravel ships were highly maneuverable and fast.
European Exploration Art Project: Step-by-Step Directions Read More »
