Fun Ideas!!

On this page you'll find lots of different ideas for your classroom!

KerPoof

I recently was shown Kerpoof.com as a cool new tool for kids to use! Kerpoof is a great website where kids can be creative online. Here's some of the things your students can do on Kerpoof:

-Make artwork (even if you aren't good at drawing! There's a way to make your lines straighter or more loose) 

-Make an animated movie - REALLY easy! 

-Make a printed card

-Tell a story

-Practice spelling

There is the option to create a teacher account where you can create a personal account for each of your students. Students can then send you messages, post things onto a class message board, and collaborate on group projects. They've even created some ready made lesson plans for you. (The lesson plans also double as QSGs to explain how to use each aspect of Kerpoof) You don't have to create any student email addresses for their accounts - just sign up yourself! Best of all - it's totally FREE!!! 

Even if you just add Kerpoof as a bookmark for free time, kids will enjoy this. My favorite activity is called "Spell a Picture." In order for you to add something to your drawing you must first spell it correctly. What a great way to practice those spelling lists! Use the movie action to have kids animate part of a book report! There's so much you can do with Kerpoof! Let us know how you like it! 

Iiiiittttt's Jeopardy!

You may already know about the game Jeopardy - but may not have the funds to buy it for your class. Making Jeopardy review games using Powerpoint would work, but it's really time consuming. Here's the answer! Use JeopardyLabs.com! It's all online. It's free. It's super easy. Best of all, your class will LOVE it! 

Step One: Go to jeopardylabs.com

Step Two: Click on "Start Building" 

You can create a template as a guest, with no account needed, or you can you become a member. Membership is a choose your own price sort of thing, even as low as $1. However I've found that you can create as many free ones as you'd like. This decision is up to you - it won't affect creating a game.

Step Three: Start filling out the board! Just click on a box and write in a question! When you've filled out the entire board click "save" at the bottom of the screen. Your game will pop up, ready to be played! If you're not using it in the near future, simply bookmark the page. If you are planning on using it the same day, simply minimize the screen.

That's it! Happy playing!  Jeopardylabs.com also has links to Testmoz (a test builder) Crossword Labs (a crossword builder) and Bingo Baker (a bingo board builder)

Let us know how you like it!

Presidents' Day Ideas and Templates

Are you bored of Valentine's Day hearts already? Presidents' Day is on February 20th and quickly approaching. Check out some of these easy to print activities and worksheets for your classroom! These ideas are listed in order to correspond with the templates linked at the bottom If you like a template and want to use it, simply drag it to your desktop, double click to open and print! You can also print the entire PDF file by going to "File" and "Print" from Google Docs (which is where the PDF should open.) 

Writing

First read "So You Want to be President" by Judith St. George. You can download a free video version of the book here. After reading the book, let students write a descriptive paragraph on what they would do if they were president.

Social Studies

Have sudents read about Abraham Lincoln. Using the information they read, have them make a biopoem. You can also use this information to make a Lincoln themed Wordle at wordle.com. This idea can be used with any president.

Math

Here's a fun worksheet where students can stack pennies and find the mean, median, mode and range. 

                                                 

Reading

Here's a ready to print passage about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. After reading, have students complete the graphic organizer.

Vocabulary

You can create your own puzzles online! Make a fun word search, crossword puzzle or number puzzles or mazes for any subject! (Think of the fun that could be had for spelling lists especially!) The link below will show you a menu of all the free puzzles you can make. Just follow the directions online.  I recommend you make them as "text" and not "html" output formats. The text format will let you drag the finished puzzle onto your desktop as if it were a picture. You can then simply print it, or you can place it into a packet or previously made worksheet. 

Finally, some older grades may consider writing directly to President Obama in the White House to ask questions and wish him a Happy President's Day. Here's the link which shows the contact information for the White House.


Presidents' Day Templates
Write or Call the White House | The White House
Make your own Puzzles

Enjoy! Let us know what you tried! 

Printing on Post Its

Do you know how to print on Post Its? What a great idea! You could use these for anything in your room - from reminders in homework assignment books to spelling practice. Find the templates and instructions Here.

The above link opens the templates in Word. If you'd prefer to use Pages, simply right click on the template and choose "Open in Pages."