For more an introduction on what project-based learning is, make sure to check out this article on  Buck Institute for Education . If you’ve already been introduced to PBL, read on for four ideas for your classroom. Several years back I started my first project-based learning (PBL) activity with a rough group of fifth graders. Since then I’ve learned a lot about the process. One of the most common questions I get about PBL is "How do I choose a topic to plan it around?" The best topics are the ones that come to you when talking with your students. My students have inspired every single one of my PBLs . As you're teaching this week, stop to reflect on PBL topics when you're conversing with students. I've found that the following three categories are easy to find connections. 1. Community Projects Look for problems or areas of excitement in your community. Work with your students to develop a driving question related to one of these community topi...
Have you ever sat in a boring Social Studies class?   Thinking about the monotone voice of one of my Social Studies teachers makes me cringe even to this day!  Needless to say, it was not my favorite subject and I never did well.   When I became a teacher many moons ago, I was determined to make Social Studies interesting!  In this post, you will find how I teach the beginning of a Colonial Unit.  I like to mix it up with videos, projects, and food! Columbian Exchange: 1.   Video :  A great 10 minute explanation that keeps your students focused!    1492 Columbian Exchange Part 5 2.   Informational Text :  I wrote my own informational text, but to keep this post without expense, I found some great websites for text information!  This site has information with a map, along with effects and impacts of the Columbian Exchange.   Columbian Exchange Website 3.   Group Research : Assign each group one of the following:  Plants, Animals, Diseases.  Have them research where they orig...
I love finding common items around the house and making games with them.  I recently came across a tin of dominoes and put those babies to work!  My students LOVE the idea of playing with dominoes even if they are sharpening their math skills while doing so! These games can be played alone or with partners.  Partners tend to make them even more fun! Ordering Products Students choose five dominoes, turn them over, and multiply each side together.   Order the products from least to greatest or greatest to least. Want to make it a game?  Partners order their dominos then find the difference between their greatest number and least number.  The partner with the greatest (or least) difference wins. Multiplication War Students begin with dominoes face down.   Each student chooses a domino. On the count of three, students turn over their domino and multiply the dots on one side by the dots on the other side.  The student with the highest product wins the dominoes. ...
 I have used the reading workshop model for about 8 years now.  It has changed a lot over the years!  One thing that has stayed the same is the ‘Respond to Text’ station.  This is a time where students get to write about their reading.  The station stays the same all year, but the activities in the station change.  Below is a list of activities you can add to your ‘Respond to Text’ station at the beginning of the year. 1. Bookmark Book Report At the beginning of the year, some students struggle to finish chapter books.  I find that this bookmark book report helps them stay engaged in their reading.  The students keep track of the pages they read, and complete activities as they read their book.  There is a fiction and nonfiction version available for download. 2. Text Structures Tri-fold Students can use this trifold to ‘hunt’ for different text structures.  Just put a basket of nonfiction books at the station and you are set!  It’s a great way to get them reading nonfic...