Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Run an Election Project Based Learning

     I am not a fan of politics, especially during a presidential election year. However, I believe it is vitally important to teach children about the election process. I may not be excited for the election, but I am excited about this Election PBL! 

Run an Election: Project Based Learning | Apples to Applique

Project-based learning is amazing! It is one of my favorite ways to teach, because it just makes sense. The subjects are all integrated and kids get to utilize critical-thinking skills while solving real-world problems. It makes for such an authentic, contextual approach to education.

I typically create resources for early childhood, but this particular PBL is more appropriate for upper elementary learners.

It is a fully integrated unit, containing all of the following:

  • Social Studies: Civics: Elections and Government
  • STEM: Building a ballot box; Designing a polling station; Designing a polling booth
  • Math: Budgeting; Scheduling; Graphing
  • ELA: Reflective and Persuasive Writing
  • Art: Designing advertisements
  • Technology: Creating a commercial
  • Public Speaking: Debate and speech

There is so much included in this unit, but I have broken it down into 20 manageable tasks. I've included tips for differentiation, which include the ability to easily eliminate specific tasks to better meet the needs of your students.

I hope this unit is useful for you as you teach your students about the elections process! You can find it here in my store or here on TPT.

Keep teaching with heart and passion!



 

 

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Build a City: Mapping Skills Activity

Hi, Teacher Friends! I hope your school year is off to a great start! We have been in person the last three weeks, and it has been wonderful. Yes, things are different with trying to keep 6-year-olds socially distanced and wearing masks, but they have been rockstars, and it has been fantastic to be back doing what I love!

I usually like to do lots of hands-on centers throughout the day so that kids can collaborate and learn all the important social skills that come with working in a group, as well as apply content in a more age-appropriate way. That has been more of a challenge this year, for sure! I have been trying to get creative with individual centers that don't involve a screen, but one day a week we have digital Boom centers. 

I try to balance it so the kids don't get too much screen time, but they also get to use technology enough to become proficient in it. I typically start digital centers a little later in the year, but considering we may have to go remote at a moment's notice, I want my kids to learn all of our online platforms while I'm there in person to give support.

The kids love Boom cards--they are always asking to play "those games"--and I love that they give the kids immediate feedback and that I can see data on how they did. It is quick and easy to assign different decks to each kid, so, during reading, for example, I have some kids working on basic sight words while others are working on blends and other skills.

This particular deck focuses on mapping skills, which is one of our first grade standards. Working with cardinal directions can be tricky for 6- and 7-year olds, so I love the immediate feedback they get with this Boom deck! There are few things as damaging to a child's understanding as practicing something the wrong way.

This deck focuses on the directions north, south, east, and west, as kids take on the role of helping design a new city. It makes a no-prep and engaging way for your students to practice their mapping skills, and works just as well in-person as it does with remote learning.

Find "Build a City" here in my TPT store or here on Boom Learning.

Keep teaching with heart and passion!