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Hooray for the USA!

We have three patriotic holidays coming up! Yep, that's 3!  

We have Memorial Day at the end of May.



We have Flag Day on June 14th. We have Independence Day on July 4th.


I know there are some teachers out there who will be out of school by Memorial Day. My district gets out just a short week before Independence Day. 

But it's a great opportunity to teach our kids something about our country!


I find literature, the arts, and music are a great way for children to learn any subject, especially social studies!  Here are some of the books I use. (Click any image for an affiliate link to Amazon!)


Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
Coming to America by Betsy Maestro is a great book to show how most Americans came from other countries.  (I often read this one around St. Patrick's Day, as this holiday celebrates Irish-Americans, and gets conversations started about our ancestry.)
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
How Many Days to America by Eve Bunting tells the story of people escaping a harsh life and coming to America for freedom.  It's done with Eve Bunting's child-friendly language, but also touches their hearts, as many of Eve Bunting's stories do.  Although it's subtitled "A Thanksgiving Story,"  it's very appropriate for any day you want to show the children the risks people take to live in America.  It's a great conversation starter to remind children (and ourselves) of the freedoms we have in our country, that people don't have in others.
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
Speaking of Eve Bunting, The Wall is one of my very favorite books for children. Although I do have trouble getting through this story without tears, it's a nice book to read around Memorial Day or Veterans Day, when we are thinking about those who fight for our freedom, and those that don't come home. (I think this one really gets to me because of the time period... I was "coming of age" during the Vietnam War. Yes, I went to demonstrations and everything, I'm THAT old!)

Here are some informational books that are helpful:


















Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!   Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!   Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
  I always want to remind my students about how beautiful our country is.  Picture books are great to help with that concept!  Here are a couple to help:
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!      Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!

Here are a couple more books that have loads of fun activities to share and celebrate our country!
     
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!      Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
No USA celebration is complete without patriotic music!
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!
This CD has a huge collection of historical USA songs and patriotic songs.  Plus, it has the split track for opportunities for the kids to sing with accompaniment!  
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!    
Here's another collection of classic patriotic songs!  This is nice to have if you want to play a patriotic song in the morning to follow the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Here's a nice You tube video to America the Beautiful.

Of course, after all that learning about America, the children will need to do some writing.  Check out this dollar deal! Click the image or click here: USA-Themed Writing Paper.

Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!

Here's a reading activity that can be used for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, or any patriotic holiday: Freedom Isn't Free - About the USA for Active Learners!

Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!



Still looking for ideas to celebrate the USA?  Check out this blog post from Memorial Day last year: Memorial Day: A Day to Remember
Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!

Want a resource with plenty of ideas for patriotic holidays? Try this bundle with several different resources! Learning About the USA!

Hooray for the USA! This post has ideas, book suggestions, videos, and resources to help you celebrate patriotic holidays in the classroom!



Team Building Activities

I use a whole lot of games in my classroom to practice skills. 


In order for game playing to be successful in the classroom, children need to be able to stay focused on an activity, take turns, and play fairly. In a second-grade classroom, this isn't always the case.

Team Building Activities - This post has several ideas to help children (or adults) work together as a team.


I often start the year with some team-building activities, then come back to team-building activities at the end of the year. I'm thinking I really need to sprinkle these activities throughout the school year.

Maybe it's because my dad was a football coach, or maybe it's simply because it's important, but I'm often looking for excuses to build teamwork. (My classroom theme this year has been sports!)

I've been looking around the internet for ideas for team-building activities, and came up with a few!

HERE is a long list of team-building exercises from a place in the UK called Venture Team Building.  I've tried the "Human Knot" and "Minefield". It's fun to watch the "aha" look in the eyes of the kids when they realize the whole team has to go back if someone steps on a minefield. That's when they realize it's not just about them personally!

HERE is another link I found. From this link, there are several more links to specific team-building activities such as "Easy Team Building Activities for Kids", "Team Building Activities for Kids That Are Selfish", and "Team Building Activities for Kids to Build Self-Esteem".  This one is definitely worth a peek! Most of these are simple things that can be done in the classroom, and fun for the kids.

As with any lesson, it's important to spend time at the end of the lesson "debriefing" and discussing what was learned. 

Still looking for more Team Building? Try these: 60 Team Building Games and Activities for Classrooms.

Do you know any other Team Building activities?



Team Building Activities - This post has several ideas to help children (or adults) work together as a team.


Resources to Celebrate Mexico!

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. 

Whether you're celebrating cinco de mayo or just learning about Mexico, you'll find something here for your primary classroom including books, videos, and fun resources!

(That is celebrated on September 16th.) Cinco de Mayo does celebrate a Mexican battle. It dates back to May 5, 1862, and I imagine if I were Mexican, I'd know more about it. I've shown this video in the past. The content is a little above the heads of my second graders, but it gives the kids a taste of Mexican history with a cute sombrero-wearing chili character and a catchy tune.


Those of us who live in the USA think of Mexico as our "neighbors to the south." It's also a lovely place to visit when the winter is cold and bitter. (Winter sure gets nasty here in New Hampshire!)


Many of us like to think of Cinco de Mayo as a day to celebrate our Mexican neighbors.


Here's another Youtube video that gives the kids a taste of Mexico. It's filled with Mariachi music and pictures that are classically Mexican!




A couple more You Tube videos that give kids a "taste" of Mexico:






Or... it's not too late to order some of your own Mariachi music. Check out these CDs available on Amazon. (These are affiliate links, which means I get a few cents from a sale, but it doesn't change your cost at all!)
I prefer to have loads of literature when I teach about anything, particularly another country. Here are some of my favorite informational books about Mexico!
Of course, after learning about Mexico through books and videos, I'd have my kids write about the country. Here's some paper with a Mexico theme, and it's only $2! You can find it here: Mexico Themed Writing Paper

Explore this image for a link to this fun collection of writing paper.

What good is a celebration of Mexico without a little Mexican food and a craft?  Tortilla chips with salsa are easy and popular, so I imagine they'll make an appearance. If you're daring, bring in some hot salsa!

Here are a couple more Mexico resources your students might enjoy:




Whether you're celebrating cinco de mayo or just learning about Mexico, you'll find something here for your primary classroom including books, videos, and fun resources!

Strengthen Math Skills

Looking for some ways to strengthen math skills? 

Well, I have the answer: games!


Strengthen Math Skills - Some information about how games strengthen math skills, and ideas for games.
 
Brain research proves that getting the emotions involved helps the memory. (Think back to those very emotional times of your own life... they bring back strong memories, don't they? Think: weddings, babies, holidays)

It's also important that children spend some time in conversation. Brain research proves that, and as classroom teachers, we know we need to let them talk... sometimes!

For those reasons, I make sure my kids play plenty of math games. There are so many math skills that need to be repeated to be strengthened, and games can be played again and again! 
Strengthen Math Skills - Some information about how games strengthen math skills, and ideas for games.


The game above is one my students have played for more than 20 years. The kids love it, and it's a great way to practice 2 digit addition, with a little bit of luck and strategy involved.

Strengthen Math Skills - Some information about how games strengthen math skills, and ideas for games.


Here's another Math Game. I made the above game one summer when I was helping out my friend with his golf camp and got inspired. (Some teachers just can't let go, can we?)

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Beanie-Toss-to-100-4249603?utm_source=blog%20post&utm_campaign=Beanie%20toss

This one is easy, fun, and has lots of variations!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Beanie-Toss-to-100-4249603?utm_source=blog%20post&utm_campaign=Beanie%20toss

 This one is perfect for those kiddos that need to move!

Strengthen Math Skills - Some information about how games strengthen math skills, and ideas for games!

Here's a reminder of all those facts children need to learn! Hopefully, these games will help them learn these!

 

Over the years, as I've been blogging, I keep coming back to games. Here are a few other posts that might interest you about games:



 
Want a little something digital?

 
Here are a couple of posts specific to learning math facts:

Learning Math Facts With Cuisenaire Rods

Making Addition and Subtraction Facts Stick

 
For those all-important math facts, try these fluency systems:

What math games do you play with your students?  

Strengthen Math Skills - Some information about how games strengthen math skills, and ideas for games.





The Brain, Baseball, and Geography

I read a lot about how the brain learns and remembers. Why? Because I find it absolutely fascinating. I also want my students to learn, so I'm always searching for ways to help them remember what I've taught.

The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!

I've found that kids learn best when they get a little bit at a time, frequently, rather than one big lesson all at once, then never to see it again. (Unfortunately, our present Math program does the latter.)

There's plenty of evidence out there to prove that frequent review and practice are the best way for children to remember what they're learning.

There's also plenty of evidence to prove that connecting learning to the passions of the children helps the learning process as well.

So, what does this have to do with baseball?  That's the passion that I connect to learning geography!

I write a letter every morning to the children, letting them know of anything special happening that day. I also post the learning targets of the day. Then I usually put in some fun little questions and/ or graphics:  you know, to motivate the kids to read the letter!

The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!
This movie shows the
insane loyalty of Red Sox fans!

Here in New Hampshire, we are die-hard Red Sox fans. Those of us who grew up in the Boston area have developed a loyalty that we just can't shake. Since the official start of baseball season a couple of weeks ago, I've been writing a little "Red Sox Geography" question in the morning letter, complete with a map and labels.



It might look like this:
The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!

or like this:

The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!

I admit, I'm as almost as passionate about geography as I am about the Red Sox. If the little ones aren't baseball fans when they come into my class, they certainly are by the time they leave!


I make sure we have plenty of maps around, and the children scramble to be the first ones with the answer! It's just a little bit every day, but they become familiar with the names of the states, the bodies of water, and the cardinal directions. 

The timing is good, since their reading skills and their mapping skills are strong enough for these activities by April, and since we won't get out until the last week of June, they'll be getting almost daily practice!

Want to know more about brain-based learning? See Ten Brain Based Learning Strategies or 10 Key Brainy Points.

See also this resource with Geography Baseball Task Cards!

The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!

 How do you use their passions to get them interested in schoolwork?

 
The Brain, Baseball and Geography! Do you want to teach some geography skills in a way children will remember? Here are some brain based ideas to help!

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