Elementary Matters is an educational blog focused on Elementary grades 1-3. These posts will make an elementary teacher's life easier by sharing information about how the brain learns best. It includes time savers, suggestions for classroom management, hints on effective teaching of reading, writing, and math, and several ideas for squeezing Science and Social Studies into daily instruction. These posts include links to several videos, articles, resources, and plenty of free materials.
The "Summer Games" are Complete!
Academic Summer Games! A Celebration of Learning!
This is our last full week of school, and we'll be celebrating learning by having Academic Summer Games!
- Have fun!
- Give the kids a taste of what the Olympics are like!
- Give the children some experience with some of the different countries all over the world.
- Review skills from the year!
- Liven up these last few dreary days!
- Promote teamwork and positive feelings.
- Promote individual self-esteem
- Grab an opportunity for some Project Based Learning.
- Did I mention having fun?
- Form 5 groups of 4. Those students will choose a country to represent, design a banner to represent that country, make a flag for that country, and pick a color to wear on the days of "competition".
- We'll start with a "parade of athletes" around the school. Each "country" will carry its banner and flag, and will proudly display their colors.
- Then we'll hold a number of "events". I'm thinking a few scoot games, like these, perhaps a "read-a-thon", brainstorming contests (How many nouns can you think of in 60 seconds?), math facts contests, a S.T.E.M. project (something to do with water that can be done outside!), physical contests (How many jumping jacks can you do in 60 seconds?)
- After each ceremony, hold a "medal ceremony" for the winners. I'm thinking some events will be group events, and some will be individual events. Yes, I actually own a CD of national anthems, so I'll play the one that goes with the country they represent, while they display their flag/ banner.
- If necessary, I'll come up with my own events, to make sure everyone gets an opportunity to be a winner. (Most people wearing purple?)
- Send them home with smiling faces and stories to tell.
Here are some books with Olympics themes: (Each title is a link to Amazon for more information.)
I'm looking forward to your input!
Six Years Ago Today
How Can I Keep My Active Students Learning?
Clearly, the answer is... have them learn standing up!
Keeping these ideas in mind, I've made a couple of new resources! Each resource has an informational text with 10 text based questions, 4 text based sketches for drawing, and 6 text related brain breaks. These are perfect for Scoot, or simply as task cards for those kiddos that need to move. Explore the links below if you want more information!