Distance learning certainly has its challenges, but it’s also an opportunity to get creative and think outside the box.
Creative approaches to learning STEAM subjects – science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics – help students developing important skills such as critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration.
Below are ten STEAM activities designed to get your students’ creative juices flowing and log off the screen for some analog learning.
1. The Solar System as Muse
How it works: This activity bridges art, Earth and space sciences by having students use artistic elements to understand and portray the cosmos.
Materials needed: Drawing paper, drawing media (e.g. pastels, watercolors, crayons, markers or pencils), gummy erasers, Q-tips, cleaning wipes, fixative (optional).
Learn more: See lesson plans and downloadable materials here.
2. X-Rays and Anatomies
How it works: This simple activity gives students an inside peek at different animal skeletons and then asks them to turn that x-ray vision on themselves. Includes different lesson options.
Materials needed: Animal x-ray printouts (use links provided or find your own), paper, pencil, scissors, pretzel sticks and/or pretzel loops.
How it works: This activity helps children learn about electrical circuits, and by the end of the lesson they end up with a glowing card to light up someone’s day.
Materials needed: Card stock or construction paper, coin or AA battery, drawing media (crayons, markers, pencils), stickers (optional), tape (electrical or masking), scissors, LED or old holiday lights.
Learn more: See full instructions here. Note: this activity requires parental supervision.
4. Pipe Cleaner Constellations
How it works: Students use pipe cleaners and beads to learn about the stars, their names, and constellations. Includes several activity variations.
Materials needed: Book or website on constellations, beads, pipe cleaners, scissors, glow in the dark paint (optional).
Learn more: See instructions and optional downloadable materials here.
5. Clothespin Building Challenge
How it works: Kids get a primer on the fun of engineering by building structures out of simple, everyday materials. Includes five different options for building the tallest or strongest structure, as well as other engineering design challenges.
How it works: By collecting and experimenting on leaves in their own backyards, kids learn about the chemistry of leaves and why they change color in the fall. Includes lessons for younger and older students.
Materials needed: Leaves, rubbing alcohol, jars with lids, butter knife, large bowl, coffee filters, hot water, plates, scissors.
How it works: By finding and studying the living beings in their geographic locale (backyard, park, community garden, etc.), students gain an understanding of animal phyla and taxonomy.
Materials needed: Paper, pen or pencil, digital camera (optional), magnifying glass (optional).
Learn more: Lesson instructions and teaching prompts here.
8. Weather News Deep-Dive
How it works: By researching a single weather event in the news, students not only learn about weather events and impacts, but also the different ways the event is reported in news outlets and publications.
Materials needed: Copies of news stories (find your own or use those provided in-lesson), chart paper, markers.
Learn more: Lesson instructions and teaching prompts here.
9. Climate Postcards
How it works: Students learn about the world’s different climate zones and interpret data by using a creative postcard project.
Learn more: Download worksheets and lesson info here.
10. Ocean Studies: The Twilight Zone
How it works: This activity engages kids to learn about the fascinating creatures that live in the ocean’s “twilight zone” – the mysterious layer of ocean that lies between the sunlit zone and the dark abyss below.
Materials needed: Books/materials about twilight zone animals, drawing media (crayons, markers, pencils), a bucket, design materials (plastic wrap, straws, wax paper, etc.), paper, scissors, tape.
Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t be creative. Many of the above projects are hosted on sites with lots of STEAM activities – take some time to look through and bookmark more lessons for later!
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Much like all holidays, Halloween is going to look quite a bit different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be fun (and spooky, of course).
No matter if you are back in the classroom or virtual learning, here are some fun, socially distant Halloween activities that you can do all week long with your students.
Carve Virtual Pumpkins
ABCYa has a free game on their website called “Carve It” where kids can draw on a pumpkin and it will carve it for them virtually. Unlike real pumpkins, they can easily click undo or reset when they mess up and there is no cleanup!
Boo! Your Students
You might have heard of the trend “Booing! your neighbors”, but if not, it’s basically just surprising them with Halloween Treats. All you have to do is put together a bag of goodies and a note saying that they’ve been “Booed!” and leave it on their doorstep when they aren’t home.
You can Boo! your students by leaving Halloween goodie bags at their desks. If you are remote learning, you could Boo! them at their homes or if you want to go an easier route, you could send them a fun email letting them know they have been Booed!
Play Halloween-Themed Games
There are all kinds of games that can be tailored to meet the Halloween-theme. Here are a few of our favorites:
Halloween PowerPoint Races- Games4esl.com has created this super fun and socially distant Halloween-themed PowerPoint race for students. All they have to do is answer the questions correctly and they will move forward in the race. Click HEREto download the document and read the instructions.
Hallo-Charades- Gather together a list of Halloween terms and split students into two teams. Like a game of regular charades, each group must have someone act out the Halloween term that they have been given in their time window if they do not then the other team gets a chance to guess. Correct answers get points!
Halloween-Themed Virtual Escape Rooms- Click HERE to get into the free kid-friendly Halloween virtual escape room. Have students work individually or into virtual break out groups to solve this creepy riddle. If older kids want to get in on the fun (or you have a few overachievers in your class) have them check out this free Harry Potter-themed virtual escape room! Click HEREto enter.
Draw a Monster- This may be the easiest and most fun game you have ever played with your students, and it works great with remote and in-person classes! Have your students each take out a piece of paper and a pencil. Click HEREto play the video and have each child draw what they think the scary Halloween monster looks like based on the description it gives.
Halloween Printables- Printable activities are always good alternatives to group games. You can download a free Halloween Word Searchand Build a Jack-O-Lantern activity to either print out or email to all of your students to complete on their own.
Host a Halloween Costume Party/Contest
Even if there is no parade to show them off, kids still want their friends to see what they are being for Halloween. So, on the last day of the week, let kids wear their costumes to class (even if you are remote learning). You could even print out awards and let the kids vote on the best, funniest, and scariest costumes!
For those in person, let parents know the costumes must be something that they can sit in all day and they must still wear masks.
This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
“We put a spell on you…… Now you have to go check out our Pinterest Page”
Our Pinterest board “Halloween Costumes for Teachers – 2019” has all kinds of other costume ideas, so be sure to check it out! While you’re there, don’t forget to give us a follow at California Casualty to stay up to date on every new costume we discover! Scan ourPincodewith your Pinterest camera to follow:
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. California Casualty does not own any of the photos in this post, all are sources by to their original owners. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Parent-teacher conferences might look a bit different this year, but the goals, priorities, and basics will remain the same. These brief meetings are wonderful opportunities for parents and teachers to check in on student’s successes and areas for improvement, as well as discuss ways to support them where they’re struggling – whether it’s with their schoolwork or the transition to remote learning.
Conferences will be here before we know it, and if they have to be held virtually, here’s 8 ways you can prepare yourself for the online meeting to help the night run smoothly.
Share a topics list or agenda with parents beforehand – Send a simple agenda to each parent, so they can be mentally prepared and add anything else they’d like to discuss.
Attach materials you would like to go over – Gather and send parents documents for each student beforehand. This might include progress reports you would like to discuss, noteworthy assignments, or test results. You could scan and email them, that way they can have their own personal copy. Or you could always use a document camera and share your screen!
Make sure you are comfortable with your tech tools – Be sure you’ve used the virtual meeting platform or have tested it. Double-check that each parent receives clear instructions to test their video equipment beforehand and on how to join the platform/use the interface. If there is trouble logging on, try not to waste too much time, and either reschedule or settle for a meeting over the phone.
Make a schedule of your night(s) – Use a scheduling app like Calendly, or write down the time for each meeting along with the parent’s and student’s names, your points of discussion, and meeting passwords (you are using a platform that is password protected).
Don’t forget to schedule in buffer time – Try to allot a little time on each side of your meetings in case one goes late, parents have trouble logging in, or a discussion needs a little extra time. If a meeting runs late and you feel like you need more time, don’t get frustrated, just schedule a virtual follow-up meeting for a later date.
Ask questions and listen – These are tough times. Students are stressed, as are teachers and parents. Ask honest, empathic questions such as “How is your child handling this?” “Where do you see struggle and ease?” and “How can I best support you?” Really listen to their answers and try to incorporate them.
Be prepared to get asked about teaching or studying methods – Parents are juggling a lot – working from home (if they’re able), watching kids, and wearing the TA hat. Prepare for some parents to ask you for your guidance on at-home teaching or studying methods. You could gather these tips/resources in advance and send an email with the materials to any parent that has questions.
Post-conference communicate and follow up via email – Be sure to follow up on any items you promised you would and schedule any individual follow up meetings. It also never hurts to send parents a “thank you” for their attendance and participation.
This year may have (many) more obstacles than years past, but above all, remember that you’re all on the same team – the team that’s focused on helping each student succeed.
Also, the basics of the virtual parent-teacher conference are the same as they were for in-person meetings – for some conference refreshers from a veteran teacher, check out our article here.
You’ve got this!
This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
This is an open letter “Thank You” to our custodians.
To keep a school running, it takes a village- especially now.As much as teachers deserve praise and support for all of the work that they do inside (and outside) of the classroom, there are other unsung heroes that walk the halls every day making sure our students have a safe space where they can learn and grow.
School custodians are one group of support professionals that are those heroes.
Custodians are responsible for more than just sweeping floors, wiping tables, and hitting the lights at the end of the day. They are a schools’ first line of defense against viruses (like COVID-19), harmful bacteria, and disease.In providing a clean and safe environment, custodians help enhance the physical well-being of all students.
So to all of our school custodians out there:
Thank you for being fearless. This year is very uncertain, yet you put student health before you own and show up every single day, oftentimes working longer hours putting yourself at increased risk of exposure, to help continue to keep our children safe and healthy.
Thank you for your dedication. We all know what the floor of an elementary school looks like after snack time and we can only imagine what the inside of a locker room is like after game, but you dive in head first time and time again.
Thank you for being caring. You go above and beyond your job description every day, quietly watching over our students in the hallways and making sure nothing seems out of place. And even helping teachers arrange desks after-hours with a smile on your face.
Thank you for putting our students first. For cleaning out lockers and cubbies, wiping down desks, and sanitizing rooms multiple times a day. Thank you for making sure our doors are locked, drafty windows are fixed, and playground equipment is in tip-top condition.
Thank you for being a role model. For getting our school ready for visitors, for putting in the late hours, for always saying hello, for always being willing to lend ahelping hand, and most importantly for caring for our students.
Thank you for all of the hard work that you do for our schools.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
The weather’s getting cooler and the smell of pumpkin spice is in the air! For all of the teachers back to in-personal learning, it’s officially time to take a break from your everyday teaching (and COVID-19) worries and have fun creating some cozy fall bulletin boards for your kids and classroom.
We’ve pulled together our favorite ideas for Autumn, Thanksgiving, and Halloween below. Check them out!
1. Welcome To Our (crazy) Pumpkin Patch
Have students each create their own silly-faced pumpkin (and do the same with turkeys during Thanksgiving, “welcome to our flock”)!
2. The S’more You Read…
Because who doesn’t love a cozy fall bonfire?
3. Look Who’s Hiding in the Leaves
Take photos of each kid in your homeroom individually, so they can maintain social distancing.
4. I Put a Spell on You…
…and now you’re in my class! Add your own twists- give the witch a tulle skirt, put kid’s pictures on the bubbles.
5. Give Thanks
A powerful quote with a super cute background, what more do you need?
6. Come Hang With Us
Have each student create their own spooky spider for your class web.
7. A Harvest of Good Reading
Let each student pick their favorite books to go in the barrels!
8. Trick-or-Pete
Any Pete the Cat lovers? This is the bulletin board for you.
9. Happy Fallidays!
With the cutest little handprint leaves.
10. Cutest Pumpkins in the Patch
Have each student personalize the pumpkin with their name to add to the patch.
11. Fall into Learning
For an aesthetic fall classroom.
12. FRANKLY, I love…
…books, science, math, history, your class- anything!
13. We’re Wrapped Up in Learning
The most creative AND easy!
14. Thankful for My Pumpkins
You could even put children’s names or cut out photos on the pumpkins.
15. The Nightmare Before Midterms
The awesomeness pretty much speaks for itself on this one…
16. 30 Days of Thankfulness
Have each student write what they are thankful for and uncover & read one each day!
17. I See You
Add words like, “in this class, you’re never alone,” or leave it blank and spooky.
18. A Thankful Heart
You could even have each student’s name on a feather instead.
19. Who’s Hiding in the Pumpkin Patch?
Place each student’s name on the outside (or have them draw a jack-o-lantern face) and put their photo inside!
20. Come in My Pretties
Who doesn’t love a spooky door?!
Head over to our Pinterest for more Fall Bulletin Boardoptions! Don’t forget to give us a follow at California Casualty to stay up to date on every new idea we discover! Scan our Pincode with your Pinterest camera to follow:
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. California Casualty does not own any of the photos in this post, all are sources by to their original owners. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
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