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Do You Ever End Up Smarter After Watching Jeopardy?

Have you ever watched Jeopardy

I do love watching, even though I rarely know any of the answers. (Unless they have a musical theatre category, then I usually get them all!)
 

Did you ever end up smarter after watching Jeopardy? Many times children can learn just by trying to answer the questions provided. Here are some fun digital tools to help them enjoy learning by trying!

Who Wants to be a Millionaire is another fun trivia show to watch. Once in a while, I'll know an answer, but I could never get past the first level without Google!

My students have always loved these Brain Quest sets for the same reason. Sometimes they know the answer, but even if they don't, they enjoy them, and learn from them! (Each link is an Amazon affiliate.)

What do these all have in common?  After you've watched the shows, or read the Brain Quest sets, you end up knowing more than before! 

This is pretty much the reasoning behind a study strategy known as Retrieval Practice. Retrieval practice includes "practice tests" as a method of seeing what a student can remember, or retrieve from his memory. This strategy helps them know what they still need to study. Check out this link if you want to know more about this strategy: Learn How to Study Using Retrieval Practice. Here's another link about Retrieval Practice and other valued learning strategies. Four Research-Based Strategies Every Teacher Should Be Learning

Remembering what was questioned on game shows or trivia cards isn't quite the same as studying what was already taught, but seriously: if you try to think of an answer, then hear the answer, you are more likely to remember it, aren't you?

Since there is so much knowledge out there that the children just absorb when they're exposed to it, why not expose them to more knowledge?

I've created some Boom Learning digital task cards that are perfect for learning from trying to figure out an answer!  Here are a couple:
 
Explore this image for a link to this fun digital resource.


Canada, USA, or Both? is perfect for July, since Canada Day and Independence Day (USA) are celebrated at the beginning of the month. If you don't teach summer school, That's ok. Learning about these 2 North American countries any time of year is fun!

Explore this image for a link to this digital resource.

Landforms Boom Bundle is a great supplement to any work on Geography. I like to expose the children to this before I actually start working on landforms.  Since the children can use the Boom Learning Digital Task Cards over and over, they love to challenge themselves to get more correct each time! They become familiar with the vocabulary as well as the different geographic features of each landform as they practice. Plus, the teacher can easily go into the records to see how well they are getting to know their landforms!
 
Calendar General Knowledge Facts: Boom Learning I have one of these for each month of the year, based on fun calendar days and trivia. These aren't easy, and have questions about plenty of things the children haven't learned, but with each time through the Boom Learning decks, they'll know more and more!
Explore this image for a link to this popular resource.

July Calendar Trivia: Boom Learning This is your chance to try out these monthly trivia Boom Learning decks: the July deck is free! (And you don't have to wait until July to try it! Children love to do their birthday month, and the months of their friends' birthdays, too.) Or, honestly, they love any month, since children enjoy learning this way!

Did you ever end up smarter after watching Jeopardy? Many times children can learn just by trying to answer the questions provided. Here are some fun digital tools to help them enjoy learning by trying!


Here are a few more sets of Boom cards that are "self-learning:"
 
Plus, here's a "Dollar Deal" vocabulary builder:

Not familiar with Boom Learning digital task cards?  Here's more information:

Did you ever end up smarter after watching Jeopardy? Many times children can learn just by trying to answer the questions provided. Here are some fun digital tools to help them enjoy learning by trying!

Did you ever end up smarter after watching Jeopardy? Many times children can learn just by trying to answer the questions provided. Here are some fun digital tools to help them enjoy learning by trying!

What are your ideas for fun ways to help them keep learning? 


Did you ever end up smarter after watching Jeopardy? Many times children can learn just by trying to answer the questions provided. Here are some fun digital tools to help them enjoy learning by trying!

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!

Here in the northern hemisphere, we are enjoying the spring weather!

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.


We still have to teach. but we might as well teach while enjoying the beautiful weather and getting those kiddos outside! Here are some of my ideas!

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

This one is pretty obvious! They have to read every day.  Why not bring it outside? If you want to go all out, have them bring in towels to sit or lie on while reading. Other options: partner reading, or teacher read alouds!

I do find sometimes a little bribery motivation is necessary. "If you don't stay focused on your books, we will have to bring them back inside."

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

There are loads of engineering projects that can be done outside!  Children can use sand, grass, rocks or sticks to create all sorts of things! Here are a few ideas:

1. Create a sundial.
2. Make a tall rock tower.
3. Make a shadow creature.
4. Take tubs of water outside and maybe a few classroom materials to create "boats" that float!

This is only the beginning. If you search "Outdoor S.T.E.M." on Pinterest or google it, I'll bet you find a TON of ideas!

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

You'll need some sidewalk chalk for this. 


Have equal teams, and a list of math facts or math problems they can solve. 


One team member at a time takes the chalk, runs to the other end of the defined area, write the problem with the correct answer, and run back. (It's a good idea to have another adult at the other end to check their math!) 

When they get back, the next person gets the chalk and a new problem.


I suggest making the running area on grass or "soft top," and the writing area on the hard top.

They'll be so busy having fun and burning off steam, they won't even know they're practicing important facts!


Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

Sketching is an important science skill!


Scientists need to notice details, and look for differences!


Direct students to pick a specific spot to sketch. (One with some sort of vegetation is best!)  A week later, they can go back to the same spot. As they re-sketch, hopefully they will notice differences.

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.
3 Seasons of our class tree!
Notice the winter tree was photographed from inside the screened window!

I've had my groups choose a "class tree" in the fall, and we will often go out to sketch the tree. As the year progresses, they re-sketch, and definitely notice differences!
One little secret, I've been very good at convincing the children to choose the tree right outside our class window. That way, they can sketch from inside in the winter! (No one wants to sit in snow and sketch!)


Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

Just like reading, story writing can be brought outdoors easily! They can continue stories they were working on, make up a story about what they see, or write nature poetry. Again, reminding the children this is a privilege helps them stay focused!


If you're interested in a little outdoor Science or Social Studies with reading and writing skills thrown in, check out this: Science and Social Studies for Summer

Most of these activities are designed for the outdoors, and you definitely don't have to wait for summer!

Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!  There's something special about being outside, and it's a great place to practice important skills.

Looking for ways to make it until Summer?

I know most of you are getting mighty close to the end of the school year. I want to make your life a bit easier!

 
Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!

This resource is perfect for those last few days when the weather is summer-like and the students are struggling to hold it together!
Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!


  Science and Social Studies Activities for the Summer.

 Plus, I've bundled this new resource with 9 others for a year-round set of Science and Social Studies fun integrated into reading and writing activities!
Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!

You can find this bundled resource here. You'll notice there's a HUGE discount!
 
Plus, here's a fun sample game to help the kiddos celebrate the books they've read this year: 


 
Or, if you're interested in a fuller version of this activity see here:
Celebrate Reading and Books Board Game

Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!



Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!

   Here's to a happy last few weeks of school!

Looking for ways to make it until Summer? Here are some suggestions and some fantastic bargains!
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