Picking Green as the theme for March Family Fun is probably a combination of my Irish heritage and my Michigan longing for spring. Last year I did a St. Patrick’s Day post of creative school activities. Many of them could be fun for home, too, so you might want to start there. Then continue with … Continue reading
Every family has sayings that stick with them forever. Some of these seem common to a lot of families: “If Johnny jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?” Or, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” In my family, one of my mother’s classic sayings had to do … Continue reading
Ever had a day when every writing assignment you can think of feels dull? Here are some options to brighten your days, whether you are facing the dreary days of late Michigan winter or those end-of-school days that seem to last forever. TeachHub has a collection of video writing prompts that can be just the … Continue reading
This video has been making the rounds on Facebook, but it is worth repeating here–particularly as valentine thoughts are waning. In it, Noah and the Whale’s rendition of “Give a Little Love,” provides the background to a short story of cause, effect, and kindness. Think about how this video could be used to spark a … Continue reading
I just read through a young person’s history book at breakneck speed, because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. It was a mystery and a story of research, all wrapped in one, and it was about John Henry. You remember John Henry—the steel driving man who won the contest with a steam drill, … Continue reading
Sometimes it can be easy to think, “Creativity is fine for art class or writing, but not math. Creativity in math is for Einstein, not middle school.” If you’ve ever been tempted to think such thoughts, take 5 minutes and watch Annie Fetter at an NCTM Ignite session. She describes a math lesson based on … Continue reading
What is more universally interesting than food? Whatever time or place we might be studying, someone was eating. And so, one of the most fascinating and underused resources for exporing history is period cookbooks. Early cookbooks weren’t just about food. They often contained recipes for medicines, advice for gathering wild plants safely, and instructions for … Continue reading
One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was a Magic Orange Peeler. (And no, this blog does not have sponsors!) We all have small things in life that annoy us. One of mine is struggling to peel an orange, ending up with broken nails and orange (if delicious-smelling) fingers. Enter the Magic Orange Peeler. … Continue reading
Last year I did a post listing Valentine activities for classrooms. Lots of them are good for families, too, so be sure to take a look. But here are 5 more heart-centered activities for the month that will help you create, investigate, and have fun–plus one more I just couldn’t resist. Most of these would … Continue reading
Not everything we teach in school is best taught through formal lessons. Extra curricular activities and clubs provide plentiful opportunities for students to develop skills, leadership, and creativity. For years, schools have sponsored teams for Future Problem Solving, Destination ImagiNation and other problem-solving ventures. Now another type of club has emerged for our technical age: … Continue reading
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