tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75162202807303925822024-03-14T05:00:23.120-07:00Creativity in the MakingJacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-53540494508339259182023-05-01T10:30:00.001-07:002023-05-01T10:38:29.713-07:00Let's Design It <p>How many times have you overhead a student
sigh and say, “I’m just not that creative”? Some students do not think that
creative thinking is within them. (Maybe some of us educators feel the same
way.) Coming up with creative designs isn’t easy for everyone, but we can
develop these skills through practice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">If we want to develop our creativity, we need
to build our creative agility. Just like an athlete needs to stretch, exercise,
and practice the sport or skill that they want to get better at, so must we. The
more time we spend flexing our creative muscles, the stronger our creative
thinking will be.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Engineering
Design</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">One way that we can engage students in
creative design is through the engineering design process. There are several
different models that use various steps, but at the heart of the process are
these five ideas:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAm6uSPmpUa208HtpnlpeY3__-bsc-E3NAWtniHC0lvCG5v5CqhVVdaNJ6pemJdoeY9Muf0fxpNRpV2vG0YaFtI5rs0lHpk_DZ8rPGOYKb7_KyTgklmndOvAUCOowoiggbqeq1vZ25cM84Qjl5gmWupuu3s4oGTEO1z6ULZ7eTxrewn1niJXzacJE9rg/s1008/engineering%20design%20process.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAm6uSPmpUa208HtpnlpeY3__-bsc-E3NAWtniHC0lvCG5v5CqhVVdaNJ6pemJdoeY9Muf0fxpNRpV2vG0YaFtI5rs0lHpk_DZ8rPGOYKb7_KyTgklmndOvAUCOowoiggbqeq1vZ25cM84Qjl5gmWupuu3s4oGTEO1z6ULZ7eTxrewn1niJXzacJE9rg/s320/engineering%20design%20process.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"><br /><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">ASK:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Students need to think with curiosity about the things around them and
ask questions. They can identify problems that need to be solved within the
constraints provided.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">IMAGINE:</span></b><span lang="EN"> With a problem in mind, students can brainstorm possible solutions.
Using design thinking, they can begin to consider which solution might best
address the problem.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">PLAN: </span></b><span lang="EN">In the planning phase of the process, students might sketch a plan,
list their materials, or begin to map out their ideas in more detail.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">CREATE:</span></b><span lang="EN"> Now it is time for students to access their tools and materials to
make or build their prototype.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">IMPROVE:</span></b><span lang="EN"> With a prototype designed, students will test their creation and see
if it worked. With feedback from others, they will take steps to improve their
prototype.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Design
and Creativity<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">The more students engage in the engineering
design process, the more they will get comfortable with the process of coming
up with lots of ideas and designing multiple iterations of things. Engineering
and design challenges allow students to think about problems and solutions.
They can explore different places and situations where problems can occur and
determine potential solutions to problems. By fostering creativity in our
classrooms, we can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Creativity-Opening-Imagination-Students/dp/1970133325/ref=sr_1_8?crid=LZX12KZEUVL1&keywords=unlock+creativity+book&qid=1682886587&sprefix=unlock+creativiy%2Caps%2C369&sr=8-8"><span style="color: #1155cc;">unlock the power of imagination</span></a> with our
students.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Sometimes the engineering design process can
be in response to a story or a planned prompt. We can create tools that prompt
student design experiences. The grid below can offer a guided opportunity for
students to create something new to fit within certain parameters. Some
students will enjoy this structure, while others might prefer the freedom to
create and design on their own. This provides one option for learners who may
need some support as they build their stamina for creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6Onxd3EWYgaTS5hvg2VH2pbuFlw3Bjzak7fMLuU2QSyXkF0jIL7l6GKS3kiAE7dr6B81AxWyKA3URfcJ61-50j42ncRm4xolglL44BzJM8_D91XG5xBLjOes_k42xUOlehVW8GLw9CIikIoDpBnFnVY08rPrXq11R2EggLe6co_--FzqgqN0A2Q3RQ/s1080/Copy%20of%20Get%20Creative!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6Onxd3EWYgaTS5hvg2VH2pbuFlw3Bjzak7fMLuU2QSyXkF0jIL7l6GKS3kiAE7dr6B81AxWyKA3URfcJ61-50j42ncRm4xolglL44BzJM8_D91XG5xBLjOes_k42xUOlehVW8GLw9CIikIoDpBnFnVY08rPrXq11R2EggLe6co_--FzqgqN0A2Q3RQ/s320/Copy%20of%20Get%20Creative!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">How
might you use this with students?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><i><span lang="EN">Choice Board</span></i></b><span lang="EN">-students can
use this template and choose one item from each column as a prompt for their
design challenge.</span></li><li><b><i><span lang="EN">Partner Challenge</span></i></b><span lang="EN">-print out
copies of the template and have students partner up. Each partner will secretly
choose and circle the items that they
want their partner to design. Then they can switch back their papers and start
designing!</span></li><li><b><i><span lang="EN">Play 4 Corners-</span></i></b><span lang="EN">Explain to
students that they will play a game to determine what they will design for
their challenge. Make a note on your copy of the template, randomly assigning
A, B, C, and D to an item in each column. Allow students to choose a corner for
each of four rounds. Once they get up and choose a corner of the room, announce
what each corner will focus on. At the end of four rounds students will know what
four items they need to consider in their design. For example, a bike with lots
of controls that can float in an underground cave.</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>Be sure to encourage students to share or
present their creations. Designing “for fun” can be a great way to get students
thinking flexibly and trying new materials. Activities like these can spark the
imagination and allow students to move outside of their comfort zone. Not only
can we engage them in the engineering and design process, but also encourage
them to build their creative agility in the classroom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">If you are looking for more
challenges/templates like this one, <a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2023/04/create-it-challenge.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">check out this recent post</span></a> to prompt creative
design. You can use lots of different <a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2023/03/8-ways-to-spark-creativity.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">strategies to promote creativity</span></a> at any grade
level.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-3580057058173792342023-04-25T11:46:00.000-07:002023-04-25T11:46:37.884-07:00Create It Challenge<p>If you are like me, you are always looking for
new and interesting ways to engage your students. No matter what grade level
you work with or what subject area you teach, it is helpful to have some things
in your “bag of tricks” that will spark creativity and offer students the
opportunity to think, design, and make.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">It is even better when the ideas that we
collect in our trick bag are universal and can be used in many ways and with
lots of different learners. For example, in this Create It challenge we can use
a simple template (below) to inspire some creative making. This can be used
within an English Language Arts class, in a STEM/STEAM classroom, or in a
library/makerspace. There are so many places where we can <a href="https://ideas.demco.com/blog/connect-making-and-curriculum/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">connect making to the curriculum.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The challenge template can be used as a whole
group lesson or in a learning center. It can be an individual task, a partner
activity or completed in a small group. The template can be laminated and
placed in a maker corner or can be a “free choice” activity in the
classroom. Let’s explore some ways to
use this challenge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYDennT2aKIc-jxRfQX8HUm-LTs7TpmyMrajfYRudjjPWdWl38cYWoNKfQYJ_lwYymtDRO2A1tH2UXeWuVJ40tRZNxgYvuP7L2QdLACOgRz9ipFYbHiOlrR7H1L8eeX2FCx6z3FzN_yK0ptByF3bfYbtxYUInIlUUAJQAPq7FtGpBcXEoeDh_MO9nnA/s1080/Get%20Creative!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYDennT2aKIc-jxRfQX8HUm-LTs7TpmyMrajfYRudjjPWdWl38cYWoNKfQYJ_lwYymtDRO2A1tH2UXeWuVJ40tRZNxgYvuP7L2QdLACOgRz9ipFYbHiOlrR7H1L8eeX2FCx6z3FzN_yK0ptByF3bfYbtxYUInIlUUAJQAPq7FtGpBcXEoeDh_MO9nnA/s320/Get%20Creative!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">Primary</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">I have used this activity with kindergarten
and first grade students, using play dough to create an animal from a story
that was read aloud. Fun animal books like Panda-monium at Peek Zoo or Giraffes
Can’t Dance are perfect for this creativity challenge. After reading the story,
students can create an animal from the book, or use the grid below to create
something a little more unconventional. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>With students at this level, let’s make it a
game. Have students fold their paper in half and then half again creating four
rectangles. In each section, students will choose any number 1-4 and write it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERqB8M_P-XyKVFNbC2lwIkd_mrTgYU6VCsFHh5ocQLpOU-2kxjOzUXk9BfJ-zjL2EyEW46A50jaeyyuIi8RbJyT6FZe0UKqdP8yyW6yFnV7aOGr8ziQA9r8Fjz1ZAVWHFZbIcSVWEVI4NHh1e7p-touxSffCO6VwY6Jcy8Lftw9AAmfm6zslCbxprTg/s4032/IMG_0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERqB8M_P-XyKVFNbC2lwIkd_mrTgYU6VCsFHh5ocQLpOU-2kxjOzUXk9BfJ-zjL2EyEW46A50jaeyyuIi8RbJyT6FZe0UKqdP8yyW6yFnV7aOGr8ziQA9r8Fjz1ZAVWHFZbIcSVWEVI4NHh1e7p-touxSffCO6VwY6Jcy8Lftw9AAmfm6zslCbxprTg/s320/IMG_0310.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">After selecting their numbers, this student would work to create an insect (3) with glasses (2), that can sing and
dance (3) somewhere in your neighborhood (4). With students choosing different
number combinations, who knows what their creations will look like!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Upper
Elementary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">In a 4th grade classroom, students are working
on adding dialogue to their writing. They are also using tools like Makey-Makey
and <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/sustainability/children/build-the-change/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Lego Build the Change</span></a> in their STEM classes.
This creative challenge could offer an opportunity to integrate both.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Students can choose one item from each column
on the grid to create one animal character. Then they can connect with one
partner who has selected a different animal/character. Together, they can
create a scene where the two animals engage in dialogue. The students can
construct their characters out of cardboard, other recyclables, or building
bricks. Each partnership can create movement, lights, or sounds to enhance the
interaction between their characters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Middle
Level<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">This tool could also be used with middle level
learners. In a 7th grade class, I shared the book The Secret Seahorse. It is a
vibrantly colored book that explores ocean plants and animals. The
illustrations are made out of fabric with buttons, ribbons, and sequins
creating bold details in each creature. The middle school students then wrote
their own narrative stories about animals with an end goal to illustrate and
read their stories to their “book buddies” in first grade.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">For a different twist, middle school students
could use the challenge grid to select their main character, details and
setting for their story. Better yet, they might let their buddies do the
choosing! The older students can draft the story. The younger students can work
on creating creatures out of recycled fabrics and other sewing materials. Then,
the partners can come together to create a fabric book of the story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">I call this type of learning, <a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2023/03/choosing-books-to-remake-literacy.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Remaking Literacy</span></a>. When we add design,
engineering and hands-on making to our literacy instruction, we provide a more
meaningful and connected learning experience for students. Not only does this
approach promote collaboration and communication, but it also taps into
creative thinking.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Challenges like these can be used and reused
over time, since students can come up with different combinations every time.
You might also add a few more rows or even columns of your own.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">PS. I plan to share several other versions of
this in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">The <a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2023/03/8-ways-to-spark-creativity.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">30 Circles Challenge</span></a> is another idea that can
be added to your trick bag. This simple template can be used to spark
creativity but can also be used to connect to different content areas. We can
build our students’ ability to think outside of the box and look at problems in
new and unique ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">If you are looking for more ways to build
creative habits, check out my books <a href="https://edumatch-publishing.myshopify.com/products/unlock-creativity-by-jacie-maslyk?_pos=1&_sid=649ed7122&_ss=r">Unlock
Creativity: Open a World of Imagination With Your Students</a>. I have book
study questions and activities available for any school team that buys more
than 15 books.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">For more ideas, follow me on Twitter
@DrJacieMaslyk or subscribe to my website <a href="http://www.steam-makers.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">www.steam-makers.com</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-33551791982927477892023-04-12T06:18:00.000-07:002023-04-12T06:18:19.600-07:003 Ways Kids Can Help Our Earth<p> It’s springtime! We are spending more time
outdoors and appreciating all that comes with spring weather. Flowers are
growing, birds are singing, and animals are visiting our yards. Seeing the
signs of springtime also means that Earth Day is coming.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">One part of being a positive global citizen is
doing our part to help the world around us. Taking care of our world can mean
doing things within homes or neighborhoods. Sometimes it means taking
responsibility for our schools and towns. We can also expand that view with our
students and encourage them to think about our country and other countries
across the globe.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">In the book, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccphW890GTo"><span style="color: #1155cc;">10
Things I Can Do To Help My World</span></a>, Melanie Walsh shares some simple
ways that we can get students thinking about ways they can make a difference.
Not only will this book encourage young learners to think beyond themselves, it
will also promote sustainability, conservation, and recycling. It is a great
book to share with students as we approach Earth Day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">This post will share ideas from Walsh’s book
as well as three actionable steps you can take with your students. Through <a href="https://www.amazon.com/STEAM-Makers-Creativity-Innovation-Elementary/dp/1506311245/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=zqmty&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_p=bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_r=10WCP33NXX0EWMCF5PK0&pd_rd_wg=1HkxL&pd_rd_r=551e051e-7379-4fb8-b186-b82b115d5bbe&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m"><span style="color: #1155cc;">STEAM Maker</span></a> connections (any way that we can
incorporate STEM, STEAM, or hands-on making into our curriculum in meaningful
ways) and creating for social good, students can help our Earth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7bBoLiI8OGglPsCCaa6ni56WhKL5wvwXfYIbgxI3K7j9VmIKzOKhUlWazixD0B83NgfdKKmnu8qBpCAnljgWYMdXNPvfniZZ2rU2ZwkHWBiOWW4vHd7GWYkrDvUcxnF42wI_3hM2MzQckZR6ln-7gvLS3BV7vTpZBLswFPAeZR2tNmWY3d802oF9zw/s1080/3%20Ways%20to%20Help%20Our%20Earth%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7bBoLiI8OGglPsCCaa6ni56WhKL5wvwXfYIbgxI3K7j9VmIKzOKhUlWazixD0B83NgfdKKmnu8qBpCAnljgWYMdXNPvfniZZ2rU2ZwkHWBiOWW4vHd7GWYkrDvUcxnF42wI_3hM2MzQckZR6ln-7gvLS3BV7vTpZBLswFPAeZR2tNmWY3d802oF9zw/s320/3%20Ways%20to%20Help%20Our%20Earth%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Turn It Off!<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Even our youngest students can learn about
conservation. Turning off the lights, TV, or other items that use electricity
can help to conserve energy. We can teach students the importance of saving
energy and discuss all of the things at home and school that use energy.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Students can also learn about turning off
water sources. Not letting our faucets run when we brush our teeth or not
taking extra long showers can help to conserve water. Students will be amazed
at how much water they can save just by making some simple changes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><b><i>STEAM Maker Connections:</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Create a poster or a short video
clip explaining why turning things off is an important task that we can all do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Design an invention that can turn
off the water for you while brushing your teeth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Learn about alternative ways that
things can be powered (wind, solar, etc.)</span></p>
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Tackle the Trash<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Throwing away our trash in the right place is
something we can all do to help our world. Putting garbage in the can after we
eat our lunch at school or putting plastic bottles in the recycling bin at home
can help to keep our world clean.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Better yet, use the trash in responsible ways.
Using both sides of our papers at school can reduce the amount of trees cut
down to make paper. Reusing plastics can reduce the amount of trash that ends
up in our landfills.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><b><i>STEAM Maker Connections:</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Collect plastic bottles and
containers for a week, then design a way to repurpose them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">List 10 different ways that you
can use and reuse paper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Design a way to sort the recycling
at home or at school</span></p>
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Take Care<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Taking care of plants and animals is another
way to be responsible global citizens. We can make sure that birds and bees
have places to live and food to eat. We can increase awareness about the amount
of pollution that we put into the water, so that animals are safe when they
swim in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. We can reduce the amount of pollution
that we put into the air from driving cars and using chemicals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">When we take care of our world, we are taking
positive action steps towards making a difference. Teaching students this at a
young age can help them as they grow into responsible adults caring for the
Earth.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><b><i>STEAM Maker Connections:</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Plant seeds in the classroom or
design a school garden<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Construct <a href="https://re-store.org/critters-buggin-kids-guide-building-insect-hotel/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxMmhBhDJARIsANFGOSvhp4_in9PBZL5sii8-huD4Hq3Cmf_DLr6WYgWgZbmQAyGgLXckFpoaAgSaEALw_wcB"><span style="color: #1155cc;">bee hotels</span></a> so that they can continue to
pollinate flowers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN">Research organizations in your
area that take care of plants and animals (zoo, aquarium, botanical garden,
aviary, wildlife refuge) and find out how your school can partner with them</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">There are so many ways to get our students
involved in making a difference. From planting gardens to recycling plastics
and increasing awareness about pollution and conservation. We can engage them
through the books we read and the activities that we design for them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Be on the lookout for an upcoming post with
other books perfect for celebrating Earth Day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-57611075406672612852023-04-05T07:07:00.003-07:002023-04-05T07:07:43.152-07:007 STEM Books to Use With Novel Effect<p> <b><span lang="EN">7 STEM
Books to Use With Novel Effect</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">I remember coming home from a conference a
year or so ago and introducing my young sons to this “new app”, <a href="https://noveleffect.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Novel Effect</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We added the app to my phone and looked for a
story to try. They immediately picked Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, a childhood
favorite. The boys loved hearing the beachy vibe and the waves in the
background. They were amazed at the sounds of the coconuts and the effects when
the alphabet letters climbed up and eventually falling down from the tree.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">The app truly enhanced our reading experience
at home, prompting me to share it with the students in the schools that I
serve. With my passion for STEM education, I especially love the books in the
STEAM category within the Novel Effect app.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">This post will share seven of my favorite read
aloud selections that can be used with the app. In addition, I share some
possible “after reading” activities that extend student thinking and give
learners the chance to engage in hands-on learning connected to great
literature. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxLLKMDyoWA7zmfQgyWWPLx3MdMmw8QnXM5luQV8Hxmmeo7g3E08AKPc6e5aWkcvuJBPhmcbCoGp5hGWrkCjwv2nser2XItTntQCaxkkAk0QbDzpYGqzqx59j4eQwnXZ5UceGGtSn98vqM2be2iaQLImfRXaedhZq2KHzKoX1n5d3BM8cBbIFSlmE9w/s1080/8%20STEM%20Books%20to%20use%20with%20novel%20effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxLLKMDyoWA7zmfQgyWWPLx3MdMmw8QnXM5luQV8Hxmmeo7g3E08AKPc6e5aWkcvuJBPhmcbCoGp5hGWrkCjwv2nser2XItTntQCaxkkAk0QbDzpYGqzqx59j4eQwnXZ5UceGGtSn98vqM2be2iaQLImfRXaedhZq2KHzKoX1n5d3BM8cBbIFSlmE9w/w320-h320/8%20STEM%20Books%20to%20use%20with%20novel%20effect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span lang="EN">Mae
Among the Stars by Rosa Ahmed</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: times;">This is an inspirational story of an amazing woman in
STEM. Mae Jemison dreamed about being an astronaut. Her teacher tried to deter
her from pursuing this dream, but Mae didn’t give up. With great determination,
Mae continues to work towards achieving her dream. She gets support from her
parents, pushing her to reach her dream of seeing Earth from space.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">After reading:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Design and construct their own spacecraft including
movement, lights, or sounds<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Build a model of outer space using recyclables</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">The
Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times;">When Temple Grandin was diagnosed
with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become a well-respected
voice in science. She was a determined visual thinker transforming her ideas
into inventions. Temple felt in tune with animals, helping her invent
improvements for farms around the globe. Her unique perspective and innovative
thinking are shared in this story.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">After reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Brainstorm ways you might help different kinds of
animals<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Prototype an invention from an idea that you came up
with</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">We Are
Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202122; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times;">This is a story of a girl
and the important lesson that she learns from her grandmother. Students will
reflect on the importance of water in their lives. The Ojibwe people tell the
story of a black snake that will one day destroy their land and poison their
water. The girl discovers that this “black snake” has already come in the form
of an oil pipeline through their land. She takes action to protect their water
supply. Becoming a water protector means
doing whatever it takes for the sake of the environment and the people, plants,
and animals of the Earth.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">After reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Create a digital poster telling about the importance
of water<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Build a model showing a important source of water
where you live</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">The
Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN">As a child </span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; line-height: 115%;">Chris loved rockets and pretending he was a brave
astronaut. He didn’t feel so brave though, because was afraid of the dark.
After watching the moon landing on TV, he knew that he had to become an
astronaut one day. Chris goes on to </span><span lang="EN">be the first Canadian
to perform extravehicular activity in outer space. He flew in two Space Shuttle
missions and also served as commander of the International Space Station.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">After reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Construct a rocket and a mechanism to launch it<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Design an invention to help kids who are afraid of
the dark</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">How to
Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #1e1915; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">Pearl and her robot want to build a sandcastle before
summer vacation is over. They decide to do it using code. Breaking the problem
into smaller steps, Pearl uses conditionals and loops to tell Pascal what to
do. They find that building a sandcastle isn’t as easy as it sounds when lots
of things get in their way.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">After reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Build a robot that can move through a maze (or use
your favorite robot like </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://ozobot.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw8qmhBhClARIsANAtboeRkch8jF8sBX70caKeMsrzvGlqCEXmlQ52fvBN51TiulDOrfWoyKQaAlAgEALw_wcB"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; mso-highlight: white;">ozobots</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"> or Dot and Dash)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Try some </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/6-unplugged-coding-activities-for-hour-of-code"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc; mso-highlight: white;">unplugged coding
activities</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">Here We
Are by Oliver Jeffers <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #1f1f1f; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">This book is meant to serve as a guide to life on Earth. The
author created it for his son as a lesson for how we should take care of our
world. Whether on land, in the oceans, or in outer space, it is our
responsibility to care for the plants and animals that live here. With a focus
on kindness, this is a great book for kids of all ages.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">After reading:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Encourage your students to take action. Make a short
video to tell others about taking care of the Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">Design a new planet. What would it look like? What
special features would it have?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: times;">Over
and Under the Pond by Kate Messner<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">In this book, </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #040c28;">readers will discover the
plants and animals that make up the interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond</span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">. The unique
illustrations of both under water and sky will interest young learners. With
minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing, we can see different
creatures who make up this rich ecosystem.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124; mso-highlight: white;">After reading:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">Research and create a model of a
different type of ecosystem<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">Design divided illustrations (like in the
book) where you can see over/under or inside/outside of different things</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">From coding to space travel to sustainability and the environment, there
are so many great STEM topics to share. </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://noveleffect.com/"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">Novel Effect</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;"> has a library of books that keeps on
growing! They have books connected to all subject areas and many different
themes, perfect for the elementary classroom.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;">Pairing great books with STEM activities is a part of what I call
“remaking” our literacy practices. This approach offers hands-on strategies to
connect with children’s literature, helping students to engage more in reading,
writing, and vocabulary, but also activating their creative thinking. For more
ideas like these, check out the book </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remaking-Literacy-Innovative-Instructional-Strategies/dp/1947604694"><span style="background: white; color: #1155cc;">Remaking Literacy:
Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: times;">.</span><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-52085279787472884672023-03-30T05:34:00.001-07:002023-03-31T05:56:37.191-07:00Choosing Books to Remake Literacy<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sir Ken Robinson said, “Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” While I would never argue with the wisdom of the late Sir Ken, educators are skillfully integrating literacy AND creativity in ways that can exponentially expand student understanding and innovative thinking. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cNYB66NHjCG1mNuBtOZFUg1RcSxraJD7jFJnvSR0B2LwUqVRVzIJIdNLfBZrzkchhOSdX_y7dYI3Xl4KN8BNWUBNBh0w_rIru9yeQ6VI-kf-7XrYhSI3nzCezjfw7sN3zPQ1H4D_e0Y4hJgvVVSgOeQ42oD7lXl2VtiB4z7iTiu9h0TDvXI69KfGeQ/s1500/creativity-is-now-as-important.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cNYB66NHjCG1mNuBtOZFUg1RcSxraJD7jFJnvSR0B2LwUqVRVzIJIdNLfBZrzkchhOSdX_y7dYI3Xl4KN8BNWUBNBh0w_rIru9yeQ6VI-kf-7XrYhSI3nzCezjfw7sN3zPQ1H4D_e0Y4hJgvVVSgOeQ42oD7lXl2VtiB4z7iTiu9h0TDvXI69KfGeQ/w256-h239/creativity-is-now-as-important.png" width="256" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">I call this mix of learning—Remaking Literacy. It is a way of thinking that creates new experiences around literacy teaching and learning through creativity and design. It includes the integration of STEM, STEAM, and Maker Education in meaningful ways connected to quality literature. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6a2601ee-7fff-d297-fd79-57ed643f813d" style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know that good readers are active readers. They think, question, consider, and reflect. They put themselves into the minds of the characters or the author as they analyze dialogue, make predictions, and solve problems. Students are doing this in classrooms around the world through discussions, research papers, charts, and notetaking. But what if, instead they could take their understanding of reading and writing and develop it in visible, creative, and engaging ways through hands-on making? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have shared in previous posts a number of ways to engage students in "remaking" that is connected to text. Through tinkering with different materials, thinking and planning, and engaging in the engineering design process, our students can engage in learning that activates their curiosity. As educators, we can thoughtfully select books that foster student creativity while also building on important skills in literacy.</span></p></span><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Books for Tinkering</b></span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers<br /></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Extra Yarn by Mac Bennett<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building Books by Megan Llyod<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Izzy Gizmo by Pip Jones<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutss Aston<br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ojichan’s Gift by </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chieri Uegaki</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-14013bed-7fff-a840-9077-a24300f8ca48"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Books for Thinking</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drawn Together by Mihn Le</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Agi and The Thought Compass by Betsy O’Neill-Sheehan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">A House That Once Was by Julie Fogliano</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Save the Bees by Bethany Stahl</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just How Long Can a Long String Be? by Keith Baker</span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Books for Design</b></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Stuck by Oliver Jeffers</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Wanna New Room by Karen Kaufman Orloff</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Betty Builds It by Julie Hampton</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pandamonium at Peek Zoo by Kevin Waldron</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Inky’s Amazing Escape by Sy Montgomery</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay tuned!</span></h4><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In future posts, I will share lesson ideas for these books including hands-on ways to "remake" our literacy practices. Adding quick design thinking exercises or including an engineering twist to a book, students will not only engage more in the classroom, but chances are they will also build vocabulary and comprehension skills along the way. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, students will tap into their creativity as they brainstorm, design, engineer, and collaborate with others. If you are interested in more ways to incorporate tinkering, thinking, and design into your classroom, check out my book:</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span class="a-size-extra-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 36px !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remaking-Literacy-Innovative-Instructional-Strategies/dp/1947604694/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15GGM8G9BUDCG&keywords=jacie+maslyk&qid=1680267183&sprefix=%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1">Remaking Literacy: Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning, Grades K-5; Classroom Maker Projects for Elementary Literacy Education</a></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimeMio-W9iWI28x_XQ1Pew0Z1frN3Mu5nJvod-OInfbfNZVgdTeASaRGxdwqmF3vj1J_I40CxyFfNHU_K5BxdWZzQI-3ssmdNMjNsqBMpqb1rq0yvi98G3_cELGG3bBQ24P6-PKEijZ2Uk-VOw6yerCHUUGLPvz1YwmSpau0vAQfDsQWAsGqfbPwnEqw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimeMio-W9iWI28x_XQ1Pew0Z1frN3Mu5nJvod-OInfbfNZVgdTeASaRGxdwqmF3vj1J_I40CxyFfNHU_K5BxdWZzQI-3ssmdNMjNsqBMpqb1rq0yvi98G3_cELGG3bBQ24P6-PKEijZ2Uk-VOw6yerCHUUGLPvz1YwmSpau0vAQfDsQWAsGqfbPwnEqw" width="168" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-77647993893022717312023-03-26T08:53:00.004-07:002023-03-26T08:59:34.802-07:008 Ways to Spark Creativity<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Have you tried the 30 Circle Challenge?</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;">This is a great tool to use in classrooms with students (I also use it when I am providing professional learning for teachers and school leaders). This simple challenge
created by Robert McKim, Professor Emeritus at Stanford's Department of Mechanical
Engineering and <a href="https://www.ideo.com/blog/build-your-creative-confidence-thirty-circles-exercise">popularized
by Kelley brothers at IDEO</a> is a fun way to spark some creativity.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qJRGtcHyiZmkfB-5dI8R5T7pmRd_Hak9fz4e2gM1sSJTtE4TTcL97HhG7HtNrxB6FmfnT5-nyaeBW0VHZtwG7iEy34kw0plF7mF7qiCAotXZprBQpwDdTGeC6_TY571dYOHzDxJ8uZxOpH9N2mNyVQCIkubkmQ5nPtbxfYhykhYVwCt_ZzuciTk26Q/s959/creative%20thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="959" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qJRGtcHyiZmkfB-5dI8R5T7pmRd_Hak9fz4e2gM1sSJTtE4TTcL97HhG7HtNrxB6FmfnT5-nyaeBW0VHZtwG7iEy34kw0plF7mF7qiCAotXZprBQpwDdTGeC6_TY571dYOHzDxJ8uZxOpH9N2mNyVQCIkubkmQ5nPtbxfYhykhYVwCt_ZzuciTk26Q/s320/creative%20thinking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;">The
<a href="https://www.theglobalday.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Worksheet-30-Circles-Bernstein-Maya.pdf">template</a> for the 30 Circle Challenge can be used in different ways that extend
beyond the opportunity to provide a quick, creative jumpstart. With simple directions to turn as many as the blank circles into recognizable
objects in three minutes, this can be a great warm-up exercises for learners of
all ages.</span></span><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;">The template doesn’t have to include 30
circles either. You can create a grid
with any number of circles depending on the level/age of the learner or the
nature of the activity. 12 or 20 circles
work just fine! You could also try it with squares, triangles, or a mix of shapes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><o:p> Whether creative thinking is your focus or you are working within a specific content area, there are other ways to use and adapt the 30 circles. </o:p></span>Here are some different options for using the template in other subject areas and for other purposes throughout the school year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Getting to Know You</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> This can be used for back-to-school time or as a class icebreaker. </span>Ask students to
fill the circles with things that tell about themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ideas might include pictures or names of
family members, hobbies, pets, friends or places to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students can then share 1-2 circles with
different classmates as a way to get to know one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Magic Number</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>Use the circles in
math to show different ways to represent the value of a number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if the magic number is 12
students can show addition or subtraction equations that equal 12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might write the word “twelve” or show
twelve tally marks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might use dice
or a clock or Roman numerals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">30-Word Summary</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>After reading a
story, watching a video, or listening to a speech, students can write a summary
with exactly 30 words. Summarizing can be a challenging skill for some students. Reading (or listening) and then capturing the gist of the text provides practice for students. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Poetry</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>Write a poem with 30
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can include rhyming, be free
verse, or any other style.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Make an Observation</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>Students can
use the template as a way to document things they observe, in the classroom, on
a nature walk, or at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Draw or write
about the things that you see, hear, and feel. This is a great fit for the end of a science lesson or an exit ticket for an art class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Word Study</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>Write as many words as
you can that mean the same as the target word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, write words that are synonyms for the word "good".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will help students to develop vocabulary
and create a bank of stronger or more descriptive words for use<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in their writing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Character Analysis</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> </span>Use the
template to write or draw ideas connected to a character including things like
character traits, important quotes, phrases, or pictures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN">Connecting Ideas</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="EN"><span> </span><span> D</span>raw lines
connecting circles together to create a visual timeline, word web, or story
map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add colors to show ideas that are
related and dotted lines to show your thinking path. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span><span> </span>These represent just a few ways to utilize the 30 Circle Challenge in your classroom. What other ways have you tried? Share your comments below!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: times;"> If you are interested in more ways to spark creative thinking with your students, check out my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Creativity-Opening-Imagination-Students-ebook/dp/B07WPF66PJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27MO1RE6E70KF&keywords=creativity+maslyk&qid=1679845585&sprefix=creativity+maslyk%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1">Unlock Creativity: Open a World of Imagination With Your Students</a>. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-15426721680168691212023-02-20T07:52:00.000-08:002023-02-20T07:52:45.572-08:00How to Start a STEM Library<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This post was previously published by Carly and Adam.</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How to Start a STEM Library</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f037892d-7fff-450a-af6d-b77176f5378e"><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.54286; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p-T4c4pCVGWW0-eY05oaae7Y12_JbRAKKVs35iU_t6r01_cLN5m4zQASHpYoCwTFbrUslEZ3CVmpb84TvDq1OLAHCcSBuvjbl1lycm40TDw7nVW35LIxwwROPE8EoT8Ja65Lyv1_aUCMS8reP1S4VuJagz2-om1RlkIUIYojgdg7r7EYV-zOhKCKYg/s1598/inkys-amazing-escape-9781534480445_hr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1598" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4p-T4c4pCVGWW0-eY05oaae7Y12_JbRAKKVs35iU_t6r01_cLN5m4zQASHpYoCwTFbrUslEZ3CVmpb84TvDq1OLAHCcSBuvjbl1lycm40TDw7nVW35LIxwwROPE8EoT8Ja65Lyv1_aUCMS8reP1S4VuJagz2-om1RlkIUIYojgdg7r7EYV-zOhKCKYg/w192-h168/inkys-amazing-escape-9781534480445_hr.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kids love the story </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inky's Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The brightly illustrated book engages students as they learn about octopus and other undersea creatures. They gain empathy when Inky is captured in the lobster trap and they root for him when he attempts to escape the aquarium. The story of Inky provides knowledge in science through the exploration of the ocean. It also provides a glimpse into different STEM-related jobs (fisherman, marine biologist, zoo/aquarium workers). </span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.54286; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story can also offer an opportunity for students to engage in hands-on STEM learning after they read the book. Designing a lobster trap, planning for a class fish tank, or constructing a model of a coral reef, students can extend their STEM learning through additional experiences. This story (and so many others) can support STEM learning in a variety of ways. Obtaining a few STEM read alouds is your first step in starting your STEM library.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What exactly is a STEM library?</span></b></span></p><br /><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.54286; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A STEM library is a collection of children’s books that support STEM content and foster student thinking, design, and exploration. These may be books that are used for classroom read aloud selections, used in learning centers, or ones that students can read on their own. Building these resources in your school or classroom can increase student engagement in both the language arts and the STEM content. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adding read alouds to your STEM learning</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can offer many benefits including sparking creativity, promoting more reading, and building student understanding. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Why is a STEM library important? </span></b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Access to quality reading materials is critical for every child to develop and grow as a reader. Whether you are a classroom teacher, STEM teacher, or a librarian, adding books that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math will create connections across subject areas and deepen student understanding. STEM read aloud selections can also develop other skills and dispositions in our students like flexibility, perseverance, and cooperation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where do I start</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">?</span></span></b></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start small. Look through the books that you already have and pull out ones that are connected to science, technology, engineering, and math. Think about STEM-related topics like weather, plants, animals, or machines. These may be some of your first additions to your STEM library. Begin using those as your classroom read alouds or add them to a learning center where students can read them on their own. (You can even add some manipulatives so that students can design, build, and experiment after exploring the books.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Books on a Budget</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t have much of a book budget? There are lots of ways to find books without spending a ton of money. Be on the lookout for book sales. Online publishers offer a $1 sale every few months, which is a great time to stock up on books. Local public libraries also have book sales. (I’ve been able to grab some great used books for as low as 25 cents!) Don’t forget yard sales as another way to pick up used books to add to your STEM library.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you don’t have a budget at all, hit up the public library. Librarians can also be a great resource to suggest STEM books. You might also plan a book drive. Ask parents and community members to donate books to your classroom. Sometimes your school book fair can also be set up to allocate book donations directly to your classroom. You might suggest topics or accept any donations of any type. Lots of teachers have discovered the benefits of Donors Choose and #ClearTheLists. These are other ways that you can get support for your STEM library. Posting your projects or lists allows people to see ways that they can donate to help your students. Lastly, be on the lookout for<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">grants. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even if you are writing a grant for technology or STEM equipment, always include some funding for books. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ready to Build Your Library?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are so many great STEM books, it is hard to just recommend a few. Here are some with links to simple STEM activities that are connected to each book. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xK7ntWENWkMvmn3D8cJPgJWOs8-ip4P3mpMzYGxtC2cXluRIJSndf2RpAxDAKyWnyO3N2yWUbwTwoXIVKkrDPQRkDF5eVoGM6uo7tjdtlgcNgxRsDdVDulU9NgONn584wWm2ywQ_7VFLZzbcmSPeGSvGtpWkyiHwOkTjxDm0FV87oTtf3wUgtqk_jg/s350/51teTu7VHKL._SL350_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="350" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xK7ntWENWkMvmn3D8cJPgJWOs8-ip4P3mpMzYGxtC2cXluRIJSndf2RpAxDAKyWnyO3N2yWUbwTwoXIVKkrDPQRkDF5eVoGM6uo7tjdtlgcNgxRsDdVDulU9NgONn584wWm2ywQ_7VFLZzbcmSPeGSvGtpWkyiHwOkTjxDm0FV87oTtf3wUgtqk_jg/w210-h180/51teTu7VHKL._SL350_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Most Magnificent Thing</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a great book to add to your STEM library. With a focus on the engineering design cycle and persevering through challenges, the story is the perfect way to start the STEM conversation in your classroom. </span></p></li></ul><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Plastic Bag can be connected to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">different STEM challenges</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> connected to the environment, sustainability, and the importance of recycling.</span></p></li></ul><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Ferris and His Wheel provides some history about the invention of the Ferris Wheel, prompting students to build one of their own. </span></p></li></ul><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mae Among the Stars</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American female in space. Students will be asking to design and build rockets after reading this story.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need more book ideas?</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili_OqfjAgMJgfU-GKrjbqOwEharIOET34nm2skX2CDHMbcaHCa1X_KAyBRMmhQEtPCCLtiBLIEc-mxBsxpRN1lnOMm4mEJ22kN5ifaj19PqWcOpFVfh-JKaWvZ2HUnKRBdU0LA3vv5DWeZWdf3kVUJ2tAGlAE2XmMVwpgURw1zvd1eA86cgYdhLiNZA/s1080/Books%20to%20Start%20Your%20STEM%20Library.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEili_OqfjAgMJgfU-GKrjbqOwEharIOET34nm2skX2CDHMbcaHCa1X_KAyBRMmhQEtPCCLtiBLIEc-mxBsxpRN1lnOMm4mEJ22kN5ifaj19PqWcOpFVfh-JKaWvZ2HUnKRBdU0LA3vv5DWeZWdf3kVUJ2tAGlAE2XmMVwpgURw1zvd1eA86cgYdhLiNZA/s320/Books%20to%20Start%20Your%20STEM%20Library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><br /></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we connect children’s literature to hands-on learning, not only do we see a rise in student engagement, but also in student understanding. We can incorporate a read aloud to introduce a science concept or align a story to an engineering design challenge. We can add building blocks, circuits, and coding to our read alouds. (Check out </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Remaking-Literacy-Innovative-Instructional-Strategies/dp/1947604694/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=remaking+literacy&qid=1629033686&sr=8-1" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remaking Literacy: Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for different ways to connect STEM and great children’s books.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can continue to build your STEM library over time. You don’t need to have hundreds of books right away. You might even consider partnering with other teachers in your grade level or on your team and share books with one another. In time, your library will grow. Surrounding your students with quality STEM books will help them to continue to thrive in their literacy skills and their STEM skills, too!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-10407949949802692412023-02-02T07:12:00.001-08:002023-02-02T07:12:49.126-08:00A Good Kind of Tired<h1 style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Good Kind of Tired</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9897539d-7fff-1381-d64a-dc312f3da84a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all know that “teacher tired” is a different kind of tired, especially at the beginning of the year or on a Friday. Pure exhaustion! There is another kind of tiredness, it’s the exhausted feeling that you feel after an educational conference. This is a good kind of tiredness that means you have used all of your senses to fully engage in all that comes with attending a conference. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is how I felt after attending the </span><a href="https://www.fetc.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FETC conference in New Orleans</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last week. It’s the feeling that your brain has been working hard to process new ideas. It’s the feeling that your heart is full from connections with your PLN. It’s the feeling that your body needs to rest after walking to lots of great sessions and your arms need to relax after plenty of waves, handshakes, and hugs. It is when you realize that your ears need some quiet to process the content and conversations that filled your days and nights. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attending a conference can overload the senses, especially after a period of time when we have functioned in isolation (with social distancing and all that came with living through years of a pandemic.) This sensory overload can tire you out while at the same time rejuvenate you and propel you forward into new learning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some say that you just need a little R&R; rest and relaxation. While those are good, after a conference, I say that you need 3 Rs: <b>recuperate</b> and <b>reflect</b> then <b>renew</b>. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recuperate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctHqLsjTJuEyODSKccERprBT_jvYDOcoPl7kFO4zrgFrE6exDGb1y3HihbemYnc54td7Ed7ihkHWq-tv1p5xkxzWk7yY7slkdpW_nukCOrDAo9nScpjZWHB0fqAWZssrU7XEtH5wzgXWxRhEzn23Lruw-w41XQtvDF2R7Bbp8AjieYyQhNcz9glXn_g/s1080/327276922_693374809105006_4206738908168496026_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctHqLsjTJuEyODSKccERprBT_jvYDOcoPl7kFO4zrgFrE6exDGb1y3HihbemYnc54td7Ed7ihkHWq-tv1p5xkxzWk7yY7slkdpW_nukCOrDAo9nScpjZWHB0fqAWZssrU7XEtH5wzgXWxRhEzn23Lruw-w41XQtvDF2R7Bbp8AjieYyQhNcz9glXn_g/w259-h194/327276922_693374809105006_4206738908168496026_n.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a conference, you may need to take a few days to recuperate. Long days of presenting or attending sessions and late nights enjoying a new city with friends, taking advantage of networking events, can also mean a little less sleep than normal. Recuperating might mean taking a relaxing bubble bath, loading up on Vitamin C, or taking an afternoon nap.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s also time to wind down from the hectic pace of conference life and assimilate back into life as parents and spouses, teachers, and leaders. Transitioning back to these other roles can be challenging. Shifting from conference-mode to mom-mode is always tough for me! As you do, it will be time to process all of the information that you have taken in during conference time and begin to consider what to do with it all.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reflect</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s face it, if you start each day with a keynote and attend a full schedule of sessions, things can get overwhelming. That is a lot of information to process! Taking time to reflect can mean reminiscing as you scroll through your photos and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/DrJacieMaslyk/status/1618252071882620929" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">post to social media</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Reflecting might also mean reviewing those all-important nuggets of learning and figuring out how you will incorporate those into your work moving forward.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the conference, I was invigorated by the ideas that were shared in the conference sessions by rockstar educators. Reading through my notes, revisiting slides, and conference resources, I reflected on new ideas and a validation of existing beliefs. I considered things I might try and decided on what ideas to let go.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was engaged by the expanse of vendors who shared the latest and greatest of all things educational technology. I returned home more excited to share the cool features of Canva, Novel Effect, and Book Creator with the school districts that I serve. The </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TxTechChick/status/1619500877714448384" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">incredible social events</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hosted by companies like Flip, Wakelet, Zoom, and Logitech made the conference experience even better. I was elated by the connections that I made with educators, librarians, tech coaches, and school leaders. As I reflect on the conversations, I am filled with appreciation for the new friends I’ve made and the ones I have had for years. Spending quality time with those who make you better is critical to personal and professional growth.<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One takeaway from my personal reflection was to return to blogging--thus this post! For me, writing has always been a vehicle for reflection. It allows me to process through my thinking and share my ideas with others. I hope to write more in the coming months and continue this tool for reflection.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Renew</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we feel a sense of renewal in the new year or after a special milestone. Renewal can feel motivating. It can come in the form of an energy surge. After a conference, I usually feel a bit of both.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the conference I felt a sense of renewal in a few ways. My motivation to learn and grow was renewed through the amazing people that I met and the new things that I learned. For a period of time, I lost my interest in socializing. Once I was able to reconnect with old friends, my interest in people was renewed. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxekuJdDDNP5c6u0FrbXKFvAiBgq6yfal-oP-hyGijB_jLk30V9SOmAx3Y4IZ5EhJEP20qEek96d0yTFpo40RWbPH4ijIwUs5-ZlrG6oz02czWzliY80Cs3LAthabtfe0D75zDdSu3w0uLIYbh_ZBquLK3i82Tx65GsGxBtGAc2gLaquDVLaNPFaqAww/s1124/326721875_1261284154799044_2722466496800264300_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxekuJdDDNP5c6u0FrbXKFvAiBgq6yfal-oP-hyGijB_jLk30V9SOmAx3Y4IZ5EhJEP20qEek96d0yTFpo40RWbPH4ijIwUs5-ZlrG6oz02czWzliY80Cs3LAthabtfe0D75zDdSu3w0uLIYbh_ZBquLK3i82Tx65GsGxBtGAc2gLaquDVLaNPFaqAww/s320/326721875_1261284154799044_2722466496800264300_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my role as an educational consultant and instructional coach, I visit schools across the country, but no longer have a “home district”. Sometimes my sense of belonging is skewed by my lack of connection with a district to call my own. However, at the conference, I was reconnected with my tribe and rediscovered the sense of belonging that makes me feel joyful, supported, and inspired.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For now, I am going to live in this fulfilling, yet tired feeling and wait for the </span><a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2019/07/reflections-on-iste19.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">next big conference</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></div></span></div><p><br /></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-61301255219942958712023-01-31T06:34:00.004-08:002023-01-31T06:34:53.566-08:005 Read Alouds to Support STEM and SEL: Relationship Skills<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Adapted from a post was previously published by Carly and Adam. It is based on STEM and SEL content that I developed.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.96px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: large;"><b>5 Read Alouds to Support STEM and SEL: Relationship Skills</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.96px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Social and emotional learning (SEL) has always been important, but we are at a critical turning point of understanding just how important these skills are for our learners. </span></span></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">The elementary STEM classroom is a great place to begin teaching students the foundational relationship skills needed to be successful in all other areas of their lives. Relationship skills allow your students the opportunity to put other SEL skills like self-awareness (how they feel) and social awareness (how others feel) into action (collaboration).</span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">What is Social Emotional Learning?</span></strong></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://casel.org/sel-framework/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 208, 255, 0.3); overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration-line: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>CASEL’s Social Emotional Learning Framework</b></span></a> include 5 core competencies which present a strong alignment to the work done in STEM. When students are taught relationship skills, they are better able to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, and work collaboratively to problem solve. As they develop their skills, they begin to learn how to negotiate conflicts constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands, and build leadership skills.</span></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Relationship Skills also include:</em></strong></p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; letter-spacing: 0.96px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Developing positive relationships</span></li><li>Demonstrating cultural competency</li><li>Resisting negative social pressure</li><li>Showing leadership in groups</li><li>Seeking or offering support and help when needed</li><li>Standing up for the rights of others</li></ul><h2 style="background-color: white; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Relationship Skills</span></strong></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Relationship skills are important for our students because they are often asked to work in small groups. It’s easy to take for granted that the students may or may not already know how to work together in these situations. </span><span style="font-family: times; letter-spacing: 0.96px;">Teaching relationship skills to the students in your classroom will allow them to think about:</span></p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.96px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">What does it look like to work within a group?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">What is my role within the group?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">What happens if my group fails?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">What happens if my group is successful?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">How do I agree with my classmates?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">How do I disagree with my classmates and still remain respectful?</span></li></ul><h2 style="background-color: white; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Incorporating Read Alouds</span></strong></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Integrating SEL in our classrooms doesn’t have to be another thing that we add to our already packed schedules. SEL skills and strategies can be incorporated into the content we are already teaching. There are many connections between the goals of meaningful STEM learning and the tenets of social emotional development. </p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some great read aloud selections to introduce relationship building. Each book also has a connection to STEM, incorporating ways for students to apply their relationship skills while working collaboratively with others.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Coding to Kindness</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 25px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8zutE28I6TRjm65-M2RmgOwR1v4MfCRYTFWu2zTvB1LJSfqWwkwlPFxeYsff4RblUw8bN6NOfZdWuNZNRmSdmTmVleCfpV-vbaIeSicWV5fAB35jPp71n578dimGXhf5ZCHIYCxZV0_sUH-atcT8NEVRqV-v2nV-Aj2nrNP1gWYsQQACSQMQeb1rEhg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="210" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8zutE28I6TRjm65-M2RmgOwR1v4MfCRYTFWu2zTvB1LJSfqWwkwlPFxeYsff4RblUw8bN6NOfZdWuNZNRmSdmTmVleCfpV-vbaIeSicWV5fAB35jPp71n578dimGXhf5ZCHIYCxZV0_sUH-atcT8NEVRqV-v2nV-Aj2nrNP1gWYsQQACSQMQeb1rEhg=w197-h197" width="197" /></a></div></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Coding to Kindness</em><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </em>by Valerie Sousa is about three friends who sometimes get into disagreements. As they navigate these sticky situations, this interactive picture book allows friends to use coding to find solutions. </p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Coding to Kindness, the characters use the directions and sequence of their code to listen to each other, share with one another, and solve problems. Just like friendships, coding takes multiple steps before the code. Each step we take towards being kind to others helps to build our friendship with them.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book offers some unplugged coding activities for students. Students can also engage in the engineering design process by designing and constructing a model swing for the friends in the story to play on. </p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 25px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHjMFkn2UIF2z1DpSU6RnaclguxQ6hOKcfbt_okIOi_-rIOLssCzcGDhgTKlOmikA34dkGQylVqDQfIWfOlx30Bazv4PKjlZHaE7FnXuGcN6emFk2_Ua16wXk7WRv5kqsEaNmnABjFApgDGSzOTAa80voFXczKALDD00ISo7WUZtIwE65WALDhG3wBw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="398" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHjMFkn2UIF2z1DpSU6RnaclguxQ6hOKcfbt_okIOi_-rIOLssCzcGDhgTKlOmikA34dkGQylVqDQfIWfOlx30Bazv4PKjlZHaE7FnXuGcN6emFk2_Ua16wXk7WRv5kqsEaNmnABjFApgDGSzOTAa80voFXczKALDD00ISo7WUZtIwE65WALDhG3wBw=w178-h179" width="178" /></a></div></strong></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker</em> by Christianne Jones is the story of an owl who talks and talks. She talked all day and all night until one day, she lost her voice. This unexpected disruption in her day made her realize just how much she was missing out on by talking too much and not listening enough.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a focus on communication, one partner builds something with building bricks, without showing the final product to their partner. Then, the write down the directions to build an identical item. Then, their partner gets the same set of building bricks and tries to construct the same object. Will the directions clearly communicate the steps?</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rulers of the Playground</span></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh10auADIBb3A_5ZP7GzP1BAdcP0vKACCP2A_uS48wOxjq12_6DGU0bOhLaNakY-MaNDoYc5VgpMRAg4V5pIjTEwTMKIyQGmLmxY2-tDOBD64mtdkwnw_6HC-LONiFjqoLHjhkKFHFCAyb0b5utQHR5alsed0pSWUVPtjgGx8Majh8bWmnQXYjlQMTGhQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1920" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh10auADIBb3A_5ZP7GzP1BAdcP0vKACCP2A_uS48wOxjq12_6DGU0bOhLaNakY-MaNDoYc5VgpMRAg4V5pIjTEwTMKIyQGmLmxY2-tDOBD64mtdkwnw_6HC-LONiFjqoLHjhkKFHFCAyb0b5utQHR5alsed0pSWUVPtjgGx8Majh8bWmnQXYjlQMTGhQ" width="320" /></a></strong></div><p></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://josephkuefler.com/work/rulers-of-the-playground/">Rulers of the Playground</a></em> by Joseph Kuefler is the story of Jonah who decides to rule over the school playground as his personal kingdom. Everything was going just fine until another friend decided that she also wanted to rule the playground. With divided loyalties, the playground was no longer a fun place to be. </p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using recyclable materials (think: cardboard, clean plastics, or other available craft materials) students will design a playground with<strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </strong>inclusion in mind. They are challenged to think about things that kids of different ages would like to play on, incorporate structures that are wheelchair friendly, and include toys for individuals and groups.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Giant Jam Sandwich </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 25px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFrLfnAgprLItT3oJvv8xu63QJQoeGoHwvXaa3DnRpw5sclZlkm_oZh66m1vL_0_X9R3z1653A8EDgOWApP26FlNsWBtnjXOrNhoQVG0tPa2w3gb_aZKnFynXguozCqfXQQ1ACDrKu4HI9AFSXDBi6XeHhlLNdmJzHwxyWmgYHzxOMbJ-Wvfm-ESGKaA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="840" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFrLfnAgprLItT3oJvv8xu63QJQoeGoHwvXaa3DnRpw5sclZlkm_oZh66m1vL_0_X9R3z1653A8EDgOWApP26FlNsWBtnjXOrNhoQVG0tPa2w3gb_aZKnFynXguozCqfXQQ1ACDrKu4HI9AFSXDBi6XeHhlLNdmJzHwxyWmgYHzxOMbJ-Wvfm-ESGKaA" width="311" /></a></div></strong></h2><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Giant Jam Sandwich</em> by John Vernon Lord is a clever, rhyming storybook of the townspeople of Itching Down who came together to solve a problem. Their town was invaded by wasps, but they had a plan. Each person played their role to come together to create a giant jam sandwich that doubled as a wasp trap.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Putting together a giant jam sandwich took a lot of work (and an entire town!). Engaging in problem solving and design, students can brainstorm solutions for how they might trap the wasps. </p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Zach Apologizes</span></strong></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">In <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Zach Apologizes</em> by William Mulcahy, Zach makes a mistake by pushing his brother, Alex, for taking his favorite toy. When Zach was in trouble, nothing seemed right, not even playing with his toys, but putting his apology into action made everything right again. Zach’s mom walked through the four-square apology to teach him how to apologize to his brother.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">With inventing in mind, your students can help Zach apologize by making a toy for his brother. Using recyclable materials, students will sketch their ideas and build a prototype, working through the engineering design process. </p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">STEM and SEL</span></b></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">In schools across the globe, we are working to develop opportunities for our students to build social emotional skills that will benefit them in school and in social settings. While we can teach them these skills, it is even more important to give them the chance to apply and practice these skills in a safe environment. By connecting children's literature that focuses on relationship building with STEM experiences where they can work with others to design, build, and problem solving, we can not only foster SEL development, but also promote STEM learning, as well.</span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-65775049702324989312022-04-20T10:08:00.001-07:002022-04-20T10:12:03.311-07:008 Tools for Creative Thinking and Play!<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*previously published by Carly & Adam </span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">**This post contains an affiliate link.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learning through play can engage students by making learning
more hands-on and active. We can introduce students to tools that support
play-based learning and provide opportunities for students to use these tools
throughout the school day and in a variety of ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you ready to infuse some play-based learning into your
classroom? This post will share eight tools (some of which you probably use
already) to try with your students, as well as a few quick ideas for classroom
use.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Play dough<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grab any color of dough and create anything your
imagination comes up with. A character from a favorite book, something from
nature, or a favorite pet, play dough can be used to create anything. Bright
colors and smooth textures make it a playful tool for any classroom. Play dough
can also serve as a tool to fidget with or help as a stress reliever.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwAablnkUw09h-X25XPygd4YOgmxuEvtrfVHWK6ZlNtaMu_R9uFUNSDU2s079XTDQ_Hq2ax0ObzKatTxIR_-P00ZJRhnde1QsPf7V1g1Q9x08hiP9Uk07VECgp7bKcycHyj7_mn6--96_tFpqhavMiO6KxAqlDS8Git6LrBa3GuJHEP6aQcG8DD0pLw/s275/download%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwAablnkUw09h-X25XPygd4YOgmxuEvtrfVHWK6ZlNtaMu_R9uFUNSDU2s079XTDQ_Hq2ax0ObzKatTxIR_-P00ZJRhnde1QsPf7V1g1Q9x08hiP9Uk07VECgp7bKcycHyj7_mn6--96_tFpqhavMiO6KxAqlDS8Git6LrBa3GuJHEP6aQcG8DD0pLw/s1600/download%20(9).jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cori<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you haven’t tried Cori yet, you are missing
out! This unique cardboard kit allows students to build and design vehicles and
contraptions or create something completely on their own. Easy to use and
sturdy for building, this tool is perfect for a play break or to incorporate
into your next STEM lesson. <a href="https://coricreate.com/?sca_ref=1338466.p0UxdgZdMn">Add some Cori products to your school makerspace</a> or
include it as a building tool in your classroom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fancy markers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smelly markers, fat markers. Bold colors or
pastels. Glitter pens or highlighters, kids love creating with fancy markers.
Offer any kind of marker for a play break and let students imaginations soar! Students
can use fancy markers to sketchnote their ideas after reading a story or to
draw a graphic organizer to further their understanding. Write their spelling
words in rainbow colors or practice counting by 2’s with “bingo daubers”.
Markers can be a playful way to highlight a text or just have fun and doodle.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Puzzles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jigsaw puzzles offer a space for groups to
gather and work together. Digital puzzles can be fun too. Learners might also
like word puzzles, math-related puzzles, and brain teasers. All types of
puzzles can engage learners in different types of play. Consider having an area
in the classroom where students can access different puzzles. These can be used
during learning centers, free choice time, or even at recess. Better yet, find
ways to incorporate puzzles into your content lessons.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRSfEl9_LU1GtD6Wrt_e0AsFT76y9bttpe7Fp5ApYL8aqRNPuxd-X7HpnybFwbkAUi-Z08kZEHlZ8oO-pxJflfTmW6hDerL_WfybMZtuCVWwrEZuEi-Gz-7gUJAKFxCpsFB9J6Lcw7Va_wwggZj3JaAe77jMt81f6IsZicuhQG7XK0WY3fP6WEF8-aw/s689/Strawbees_zakladni_tvary_689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="689" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRSfEl9_LU1GtD6Wrt_e0AsFT76y9bttpe7Fp5ApYL8aqRNPuxd-X7HpnybFwbkAUi-Z08kZEHlZ8oO-pxJflfTmW6hDerL_WfybMZtuCVWwrEZuEi-Gz-7gUJAKFxCpsFB9J6Lcw7Va_wwggZj3JaAe77jMt81f6IsZicuhQG7XK0WY3fP6WEF8-aw/s320/Strawbees_zakladni_tvary_689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo5; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strawbees<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These simple straws and connectors can offer
hours of fun. In a learning center or for a play break, students can build on
their own or use the idea cards that come in the Strawbees kits. Construct
a house or even a skyscraper. Build a build or a helicopter. Students can play
freely with Strawbees or build to meet a specific challenge.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MJkHN0Z1omFwGGCKpYZ4A5UxIAupw-pgZvcuUR0EhvI_2lIZdh3f3j4GwKqz7ZhgDhdzK0jyuRMOMo-n37fMCJONzxEtRU0Ieu_FwwjCK1MT2soIshJg5ZGpNqM26ClMGEWMT10kW-Hip0_76sZ6xbQJNisdJHTv4njK5jt0UfhdkCJeJsWfmbbNMg/s275/download%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MJkHN0Z1omFwGGCKpYZ4A5UxIAupw-pgZvcuUR0EhvI_2lIZdh3f3j4GwKqz7ZhgDhdzK0jyuRMOMo-n37fMCJONzxEtRU0Ieu_FwwjCK1MT2soIshJg5ZGpNqM26ClMGEWMT10kW-Hip0_76sZ6xbQJNisdJHTv4njK5jt0UfhdkCJeJsWfmbbNMg/s1600/download%20(3).jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sidewalk Chalk<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Write your name or your vocabulary words in
squiggly rainbow letters. Draw a map or try some hopscotch. A little chalk and
an empty sidewalk are an invitation for little kids (and big ones, too) to
play. Take is outside to create a Venn diagram or to write math facts. Sidewalk
chalk will make any lesson a little more playful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf_FElhKV5vIso7cMwlyrQwKIPLChHR7yJCn7165K3Ln4BsnpPLnK8u6tvOTTu6GLgztia2TBbw3dnbg3osyMgA-F3HLWh8Jwfh4SAr7YXqzPwFzBK67S5ezQ_0ML5vYrmDzd33GB93Os7XFIZISXt4lU6OFdND-jLrNCugKqRt8YUBC0aZPBVfAqOg/s1600/specdrums-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf_FElhKV5vIso7cMwlyrQwKIPLChHR7yJCn7165K3Ln4BsnpPLnK8u6tvOTTu6GLgztia2TBbw3dnbg3osyMgA-F3HLWh8Jwfh4SAr7YXqzPwFzBK67S5ezQ_0ML5vYrmDzd33GB93Os7XFIZISXt4lU6OFdND-jLrNCugKqRt8YUBC0aZPBVfAqOg/s320/specdrums-image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo7; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Specdrums<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Sphero, this hands-on tech tool offers
creative kids the chance to make and remix their own music. Add the Specdrum
rings to your fingers, then tap any surface to create different sounds and
beats. This active technology allows anyone to become a music maker. Students
will love exploring sounds with this tool, while others might create a
soundtrack of their very own.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-indent: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Canva<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This app isn’t just for graphic designers. Canva
is a cool digital tool for making just about anything--slides, posters, or
invitations. Creative kids can use Canva’s free platform to explore with
colors, images, fonts, and stickers bringing to life whatever comes to mind.
Create a story map or an image of your favorite character. Design a brochure of
a location you are learning about in social studies. Canva is easy to use and designs
can be downloaded and shared.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Want to play?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These aren’t the only tools that promote play in the
classroom. You may use different tools depending on the </span><a href="https://theplayfulclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Types-of-play.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">type of play</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that
you want to encourage. Think about any tool that sparks student interest while
encouraging them to think in creative and interesting ways.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can </span><a href="https://carlyandadam.com/thecarlyandadam/3-ways-to-unlock-creativity-in-teachers-and-students?rq=creativity"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">unlock creativity</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> by
offering students different types of building materials, tools that encourage
movement, or materials that inspire art. All of these will foster a playful
mindset in the classroom and encourage your students to engage with others in
play!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-14330714340949545142022-04-11T12:18:00.001-07:002022-04-11T12:18:22.806-07:008 Children's Books That Inspire Play<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> *previously published by Carly & Adam</span></p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can inspire playful learning in our classrooms through the activities we plan, the materials we offer our students, and through the books we read. Play can be fostered when we play a game, introduce a fun new tool, or when we offer students <a href="https://carlyandadam.com/thecarlyandadam/creativity-challenges-and-stem" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0, 208, 255, 0.3); color: #00d0ff; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 0.05em; text-decoration-line: none; transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out 0s, color 0.15s ease-out 0s;" target="_blank">creativity challenges</a>.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students enjoy different types of play. Some will prefer physical play, while others might like creative play. Think about the different ways that you can infuse playful experiences into your classroom.</p><p class="" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Books are a great way to provide inspiration and share playful ideas with your students. Any of these books could be a perfect read aloud selection or an introduction to a playful activity that you offer your students. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXNpPNH3YGS2EOKaxGHBSQTaOhCtZo6ctd5-InmvrwGZDd__89VRoKSQYXIEAUu08DviX_Qpbj3fWiUtu7EAhrM0rKysh4KHgxYw_okXeRxj8t8STIBhBqw0QOAGSqY0dvx58l4K0zeAlU_fBmCEXHhcFC_cDYYjADZEAMU1nXCNqkRCyy6Y2Cuse_g/s499/612ZVtlUy9L._SX389_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="391" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXNpPNH3YGS2EOKaxGHBSQTaOhCtZo6ctd5-InmvrwGZDd__89VRoKSQYXIEAUu08DviX_Qpbj3fWiUtu7EAhrM0rKysh4KHgxYw_okXeRxj8t8STIBhBqw0QOAGSqY0dvx58l4K0zeAlU_fBmCEXHhcFC_cDYYjADZEAMU1nXCNqkRCyy6Y2Cuse_g/w202-h257/612ZVtlUy9L._SX389_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">1. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Run Wild by David Covell</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">This book will prompt students to put down their devices and head outside to explore the outdoors. The sights and sounds of nature are shared in this beautiful rhyming tale. Go outside for a nature hunt, search for insects and animals, or take photographs of plants and flowers. Look at the sky and feel the wind blow. Encouraging outdoor play will open new opportunities for students. </p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">A little boy spends the night in an office building where his parents work. There they pretend they are in the “Kingdom of the Paper King.” The parents tell a story of kings, queens, and dragons, entertaining their son while they clean the office. Students can create with paper too, folding, constructing, and imagining. Paper crowns, thrones, or swords, students can create their own imaginary kingdom right in your classroom!</p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Move! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Full of different animal movements, this book will get students up and moving. Swinging, leaping, dancing, and climbing, students will have fun trying to do each movement. This book introduces some unusual animals and interesting opportunities to move. Incorporate animal movements for a brain break or as a playful way to line up for lunch. Make your own game where hopping, slithering, and flittering are the way to navigate through the classroom space.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ4avFl_frBcIbCkroO08JhpnG3XwuZNBqtuJsIlrkR2MWPXN3a0wttVvPngfM0F0SXeTrC_HKnJm3Vy7VkJnKEUN0uoKDgGrf3EtaNPb_lG2NJQTDeGClTW6e2PIi_0MhXySGjILzGvILVPJSkUJA1Gp-ghtjTdnABlvS3R8CX84kFLr2rNCPaXKyw/s500/61S9JLKJkpL._SX477_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="479" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ4avFl_frBcIbCkroO08JhpnG3XwuZNBqtuJsIlrkR2MWPXN3a0wttVvPngfM0F0SXeTrC_HKnJm3Vy7VkJnKEUN0uoKDgGrf3EtaNPb_lG2NJQTDeGClTW6e2PIi_0MhXySGjILzGvILVPJSkUJA1Gp-ghtjTdnABlvS3R8CX84kFLr2rNCPaXKyw/s320/61S9JLKJkpL._SX477_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="307" /></a></div></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">How to Find Gold by Viviane Schwarz</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Anna and Crocodile head out on an adventure to find gold. Together, they draw a map to find their gold. Crocodile draws and tells a story about pirate ships and sea monsters. They head out to sea on their adventure until they find their treasure. Students will love the chance to create their own map. Trade maps with a friend and see if you can follow their directions to find the riches. Imagine the pirates are after your treasure. Write a creative story to tell what happens. Act out the story. You can even make props and costumes to go with it.</p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Please Bring Balloons by Lindsay Ward</strong> </span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">This story will activate the imaginations of your students. Colorful illustrations of a wonderful carousel and the notes written by a polar bear to a young girl. Together, they fly over the town before arriving at the North Pole for a polar bear party.</p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">What If . . . by Samantha Berger</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">This story will inspire students to write, draw and fold paper to tell stories. The young girl shares the creative ideas she will try: carving her chair into an airplane, painting on her walls, and removing the floorboards. Drawing in the dirt or making shapes in the snow, there is no end to her creative imagination.</p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">7. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">A fun book that shows kids that it’s OK to get messy. Vibrant and colorful, our mistakes can turn into something amazing if we open our imaginations. Papers can tear and paint can spill, but there are always new possibilities that come from an oops. What kind of classroom mistakes can we turn into something creative and beautiful? Scraps of fabric, broken crayons, or pieces of cardboard can be transformed into something new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbAKgevzbmlHeIRZuaA898LPuQc08ffZgzuBmaj7-iqevN5aq22-qgnB-W3dKbsqYaZXhQeo9UGndkARr_b9xFR5uPk0kRcPv1HtbDixWyZabQe7GNgYPvdGTZb6E_vVUrfeF1bzJa8PeW5_mpiq59Cl9mvJ81XqdqbBjilmH4sWq0Sguh9yVyIg8Bw/s499/51IVjjxTmdL._SX375_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbAKgevzbmlHeIRZuaA898LPuQc08ffZgzuBmaj7-iqevN5aq22-qgnB-W3dKbsqYaZXhQeo9UGndkARr_b9xFR5uPk0kRcPv1HtbDixWyZabQe7GNgYPvdGTZb6E_vVUrfeF1bzJa8PeW5_mpiq59Cl9mvJ81XqdqbBjilmH4sWq0Sguh9yVyIg8Bw/s320/51IVjjxTmdL._SX375_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="242" /></a></div></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">8. </strong><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Also an Octopus by Maggie Tokuda-Hall</strong></span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">A playful approach to storytelling, this quirky book about an octopus will make kids laugh while also inspiring them to write their own creative stories or build their own purple spaceship out of found materials, or plan a parade with musical instruments. </p></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Pick a book!</em></strong></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: KGRed !important; font-size: 25px; font-weight: 300; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="" style="font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; hyphens: manual !important; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">There are so many great children’s books that inspire play and prompt students to get creative. These books (and so many others) can amplify play-based learning while also focusing on the joy of reading. Silly books, colorful books, and imaginative books are perfect to spark some play in the classroom.</p></h2><ol data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: white; font-family: Rubik; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.96px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="counter-increment: rte-list 1; list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="hyphens: manual !important; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p></li></ol>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-49177045687947664872022-03-15T07:45:00.001-07:002022-03-15T07:45:10.490-07:0014 Diverse STEM Picture Books for Elementary Students<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*previously published by Carly and Adam </span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our classroom libraries and the stories that we share with our students should be reflective of the diversity that makes up our world. Every child should have the opportunity to see themselves represented within a main character, a story setting, or a book author.</span></p><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether sharing a book about a student of color or one that depicts a unique culture from around the world, it is our responsibility to highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion within our read aloud selections. This is especially important in STEM, demonstrating that science, technology, engineering, and math are accessible to ALL students.</p><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">This post will share 14 engaging STEM picture books that showcase diverse characters, authors, and topics. Along with each book summary, there are a few hands-on activities to support elementary learners.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgM1g65DZJBmh8dkUkeWlVIf9ZLU5qL5UNOJM0aBF_oz90ubPRLvjJRd9wgB0xUJOAoEY7LXqbyUU1CJ4HivDnUN0WzqstzKwhuhjRgKMadhdYLoPZijjp5nJeQnVJ8fT0obq5KARCQK4cEr4oMABc127YHqTv4DJOGVYsUWyrAtVgY9FJJQqSzD1Osg=s255" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="198" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgM1g65DZJBmh8dkUkeWlVIf9ZLU5qL5UNOJM0aBF_oz90ubPRLvjJRd9wgB0xUJOAoEY7LXqbyUU1CJ4HivDnUN0WzqstzKwhuhjRgKMadhdYLoPZijjp5nJeQnVJ8fT0obq5KARCQK4cEr4oMABc127YHqTv4DJOGVYsUWyrAtVgY9FJJQqSzD1Osg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">1. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143500457/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143500457&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=36d535c1933243180beb37d19cad129f&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">This colorfully illustrated book tells a story of an Aboriginal community waiting for rain in Australia. It shows how rain, or lack thereof, has an impact on plants, animals, and people. </p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Design a device that will collect rainwater. Think about the ways that water can be used to help others.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Observe and graph the weather for a week. Which weather occurred the most? Were there any big rainstorms?</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conduct an experiment. Plant two seeds. Water one with rainwater and the other with tap water. What happened? What differences do you notice?</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1897476892/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=1897476892&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=3da552f0d101c701c8c0feec28469adb&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Wild Berries by Julie Flett</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Native American boy and his grandma walk through the woods picking berries together. Throughout the story, keywords are also shared in Cree, the language of the Plains Indians. </p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Construct a basket or bucket for Clarence to carry his berries in.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weave your own spider web using string.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use a map to locate the region where different Native American tribes live. </p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br /></strong></p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">3. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VDMCY8N/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07VDMCY8N&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=101deeda2cc44c50de9b8dfd57c715cd&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson</a></p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruby and her neighbor head out for a walk in Central Park. Ruby wants to sing and talk but her neighbor is quiet and serious with the hope that they will see a warbler. </p></li><ul data-rte-list="default" style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Build your own binoculars and head outside to see what birds you can find. Create a chart or graph to show the results.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bird-Feeder-Recycling-Earth-Day-STEM-Activity-TpT-Digital-Distance-Learning-3097448" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Construct a bird feeder</a> so that local birds will gather to eat.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research different types of birds and create a model of your favorite. </p></li></ul></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/132878133X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=132878133X&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=2475141ad849e408a0479608629d7e4a&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nya and her sister walk from their village to the watering hole to get water for their family. When her sister got sick, Nya had to carry the water and her sister.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Construct a model of a hut-like the ones in Nya’s village.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Water-Princess-Water-Filter-READ-ALOUD-STEM-Activity-Distance-Learning-4447305" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">system to filter water</a>.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Build a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nyas-Long-Walk-Water-Pump-READ-ALOUD-SCIENCE-Activity-TpT-Digital-5256930?st=a59b94fc911f57fe822b2dddc837951e" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">water pump</a>.</p></li></ul><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9Kms0YwEq8SW87Csriz8dRhoGzviZb3lWCQiZJD1WTkdDDiDNXWZtF5i7xgVzO39qc2Ou9lomb4OM9joXIurTFNKKaDHVoZuV8_ujF5TXjLMMQfiGKTA5nMDWoZ4TdnB1iAGc3z5HfEoUUsqv_oP6nnpNiSmOEOWtQ0jn-BLDK-XR1XQFTPMv0b-P-A=s350" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9Kms0YwEq8SW87Csriz8dRhoGzviZb3lWCQiZJD1WTkdDDiDNXWZtF5i7xgVzO39qc2Ou9lomb4OM9joXIurTFNKKaDHVoZuV8_ujF5TXjLMMQfiGKTA5nMDWoZ4TdnB1iAGc3z5HfEoUUsqv_oP6nnpNiSmOEOWtQ0jn-BLDK-XR1XQFTPMv0b-P-A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580893864/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=1580893864&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=b4458b4976c99c5193870152224454de&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Magic Trash by J.H. Shapiro</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tyree Guyton’s family didn’t have enough money to buy new toys, so he collected things to make his own. Inspired by his grandfather, he went to art school and used his skills to brighten up his neighborhood.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use craft sticks to build a small structure.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Collect found materials to construct a vehicle that can travel across the room.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan a community beautification project.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141973704X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=141973704X&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=d46c3451a7daabd5692e50861a550222&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sofia was a helper from an early age, spending time with her grandfather, Abuelo. She learned early how to take action and advocate for her community. Sofia used her talents and skills to make a difference!</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan one way that you will help a friend or neighbor this week.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Design a community park that will serve the interests of the people in your neighborhood.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a poster (physical or digital) to bring attention to an important community issue.</p></li></ul><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHOSlvl_NPDYqI9OjWN30JyCZfv-AKKW7L3ex9vPTKK2ZTAgo-q_GR4Cpn-lBOD1t6dkmybBA7fCYivH3DgE097OK1mVprQOtHtgGeCHWH8MgLoCBIp8Zb6NLnyJSWkZzSlzRZq6aYAryp_gU49lwvnP6om6XejKeCpXA_t-fdLmxUebkUynmHsf3v6w=s225" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHOSlvl_NPDYqI9OjWN30JyCZfv-AKKW7L3ex9vPTKK2ZTAgo-q_GR4Cpn-lBOD1t6dkmybBA7fCYivH3DgE097OK1mVprQOtHtgGeCHWH8MgLoCBIp8Zb6NLnyJSWkZzSlzRZq6aYAryp_gU49lwvnP6om6XejKeCpXA_t-fdLmxUebkUynmHsf3v6w" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">7. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316519006/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316519006&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=a78a700d655e30444e7c973291c6163f&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the first day of school, two sisters walk together. The younger sister tells a story of pride about her older sister wearing her hijab, but the other children don’t understand why she wears it. The story focuses on pride of culture and family, above all.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Construct something that symbolizes your family or culture.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a video to explain why your family is important and share the video with others.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">8. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140564411/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140564411&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=bed0db8cadb475bc666e2ffad7a1a185&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter has a new baby sister and he’s not too sure how he feels about it. All of the things that used to be his are now being given to the new baby. When he realizes that he’s too big for those things, including his chair, he helps his dad paint them for his sister.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Construct a chair out of newspaper. Can you build it strong enough to hold you?</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think about an old item that you can repurpose and turn it into something brand new.</p></li></ul><div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBm9BkjlkZPrYts6JxHLa45jSbNKepg5jZHk2wv6Fo31aMkPwajgMirpom1g6vUVZCkUAeAO_mQYQslQQoMu2eiiFVTQcJMi6dQ3Hm15IBYLVa-1o2563ZeiqV_ESOrfhMNizXmfzFSnh2YGq5i30n8UZ7XqbMzv9MuvYVwhkX0q1qeBUMxy4drfN_9Q=s325" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBm9BkjlkZPrYts6JxHLa45jSbNKepg5jZHk2wv6Fo31aMkPwajgMirpom1g6vUVZCkUAeAO_mQYQslQQoMu2eiiFVTQcJMi6dQ3Hm15IBYLVa-1o2563ZeiqV_ESOrfhMNizXmfzFSnh2YGq5i30n8UZ7XqbMzv9MuvYVwhkX0q1qeBUMxy4drfN_9Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616898437/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616898437&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=04da0e582b3303aaeb009d2252ca0564&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Patience, Miyuki by Roxane Marie Galliez</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miyuki and her grandfather visit the garden on the first day of spring. Miyuki asks many things in nature like the clouds, the waterfall, and the creatures to help her. They all try to teach her to be patient, but Miyuki has a hard time waiting.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try some paper folding and create an origami swan-like the one on the cover of the book.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn about the flowers that bloom in the springtime where you live. Plant some flower seeds and watch them grow.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1536207160/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=1536207160&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=75245e44cfce0478e36328fd714c04d9&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jabari is determined to create a flying machine that will zoom across his yard. His sister really wants to help him. They work together through different designs until their flying machine is successful.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Construct a ramp that will help you to launch a flying machine (or another vehicle). </p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Design and build a flying machine and see how far it will fly.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a look at another <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Jabari-Jumps-Self-Awareness-SEL-Activity-and-Read-Aloud-STEM-Challenge-6910998" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Jabari story </a>that helps to practice SEL strategies.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145493381X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=145493381X&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=6711818940d9d7e879ac60fc9a5be369&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Invent a Pet by Vicky Fang</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie wanted a unique pet. She uses an extraordinary machine in her living room that would help her invent a pet of her very own. The machine creates all sorts of animals until finally, Katie designs one that is just right for her.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine a pet that you would like to invent and build a model of what it would look like.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a new formula that Katie’s machine might use to create something brand new.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0688109918/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=0688109918&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=3983d17154ede942748a4c540f7125f7&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kondi collects all sorts of items in an old shoebox. He uses the items to make things. He’s saving wire to make a “galimoto.” Galimoto means car in Chichewa, the official language of Malawi. Kondi bargained and traded for the things he needed to finally create his own toy car so he could play with the other children in his village.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use pipe cleaners and other recyclable materials to make your own galimoto.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Design and construct a different type of toy. What will it be made from? Who will play with it?</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419721372/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419721372&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=111bfbb84a08e2b157150a186b66df17&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ada was curious and had lots of great ideas in her head but did not speak until she turned three. That’s when all of her questions came out and she explored everything in sight. Ada hypothesized and experimented to learn about the things she was curious about.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conduct an experiment with your senses and categorize objects based on their scents.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brainstorm some topics you are curious about. Create a hypothesis and design your own experiment using the scientific method.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complete an experiment of your own by making <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ada-Twist-Scientist-READ-ALOUD-STEM-and-SCIENCE-Activity-5287972?st=c1752d06b69796953f44ab864cd4c6ac" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">elephant toothpaste</a>.</p></li></ul><div><h2 style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #333333; font-family: europa; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14. </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803735111/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?creative=9325&creativeASIN=0803735111&ie=UTF8&linkCode=as2&linkId=dc285f2621550e3bb393df2286c61fe2&tag=thcaanadbl-20" style="background: transparent; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: opacity 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer</a></h2><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">William lived in a small village in Malawi where there was no power for lights. He was interested in how things worked, he read books, and even built some things on his own. He used materials from the junkyard to build a structure to use wind to create energy for his village.</p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deconstruct an old toy or broken piece of electronics and find out what’s inside.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use recycled materials to build a truck, like William did.</p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Boy-Who-Harnessed-The-Wind-READ-ALOUD-SCIENCE-Activity-TpT-Digital-5268603" style="background: transparent; color: #cb5c4d; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Build a wind turbine</a> or another way to harness wind power.</p><p class="" data-rte-preserve-empty="true" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p></li></ul><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Picture books are a great way to introduce interesting people and cultures to your students. It is important for all students to see themselves in the selection of books that you read aloud. Highlighting people from different places and those with diverse backgrounds helps students to celebrate the uniqueness of those around them. </p><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through our read aloud selections, we can build an interest in STEM and show our students the diversity all around us.</p><p class="" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #444444; font-family: minion-pro; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;">What other great books would you add to the list?</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-70550719010104864662022-01-12T07:33:00.002-08:002022-01-12T07:33:36.963-08:00Winter STEM Ideas<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Previously published by Defined Learning.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Stuck inside? During the cold months of winter, it is easy to get bogged down by the weather, gray skies, and cold temperatures. Whether we are at home or in school, we can engage learners in <a href="https://blog.definedlearning.com/sticking-with-stem" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #005994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1155cc;">meaningful STEM learning</span></a> that reflects the winter months.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Students can get involved in winter STEM learning through inquiry and engineering design challenges. These opportunities allow learners the chance to fuel their curiosity on different topics and continue to apply their creative problem solving skills throughout the year.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With many schools engaging in remote learning, the ideas shared in this post can be implemented in school or at home. Think of the ways you might explore the cold or build a better winter gadget as a part of STEM learning.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Explore the Cold</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfHkC9jfYaNPvXJcq6Ei6wj-YVltOWaRWpDuGSzrMFJMjMfLRZUlre0wVcluLUsRHS1j5DeSGP4SNmjTqeslr8J_znoh3AdzkeZ3d-dOIaan51TAIaovMqvsQIpB0z8LQjt_NdzLmGB4GQ0cA0QctqA5WnA9haXfYz4pb1PL-zSHD6ny5B2nQmax1-PA=s265" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfHkC9jfYaNPvXJcq6Ei6wj-YVltOWaRWpDuGSzrMFJMjMfLRZUlre0wVcluLUsRHS1j5DeSGP4SNmjTqeslr8J_znoh3AdzkeZ3d-dOIaan51TAIaovMqvsQIpB0z8LQjt_NdzLmGB4GQ0cA0QctqA5WnA9haXfYz4pb1PL-zSHD6ny5B2nQmax1-PA=w223-h160" width="223" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Think of all the cold weather things that students can explore during the winter months. This is a great time for inquiry-based learning and the discovery of why things are the way they are in winter. This ongoing exploration can start by generating a list of winter questions:</span></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What do snowflakes really look like?</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Why do animals hibernate in the winter?</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What makes cars slide on the ice?</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">How long does winter last?</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Where does the word blizzard come from?</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Does the winter season look different across the globe? Why?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Students can explore these STEM-related topics independently, with a partner, or with the entire class. These can be posted to your class website or displayed on a wall in your classroom. Uncovering the answers to these questions can be an opportunity for students to engage in research, discussion, and experimentation. It might even be the springboard into a <a href="https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/what-is-project-based-learning" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #005994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1155cc;">project-based learning</span></a> experience or a genius hour opportunity for students. Students can share the answers to the questions by creating a video, blogging, or building a model. The open-ended nature of inquiry-based learning means that students can show their understanding in a way that fits their knowledge, skills, and interests.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Build It Better</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Setting up engineering design challenges for students is a great way to keep their minds thinking and their hands actively working. Building something better allows students to reflect on things that already exist (products, experiences, processes) and figure out ways to improve them.</span></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; margin-top: 1.5rem;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Slippery Sledding - </em></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With a layer of fresh snow, the kids are heading outside for a sled ride. Bundle up and grab your sleds or snowboards. Why do some sleds work better than others? Research (and try out!) different types of sleds or snowboards. Which materials work best? Plastic, metal, or something else? What shape makes for the smoothest ride? Sketch and design a better sled or snowboard. Students can even build a prototype as a part of the design process.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Shovel It - </em></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the heavy snows come, it is time to bring out the shovel or maybe the snow blower. What features make shoveling the snow easier? How many different types of snow shovel designs exist? What makes one shovel more efficient over another? Can you design one that looks better, is easier to grip, or lighter when lifted? What could you add to a snow blower to make it run more smoothly? All of these design components can be researched and considered within the engineering design process.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Snow Fort - </em></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Once all that snow is piled up from shoveling, take advantage and build a snow fort. Surely, we all remember doing this as a child or with our own children. Snow forts can come in many shapes and sizes. You can build an igloo with snow bricks or dig a tunnel into a snowy dome. The possibilities are endless for learners who want to create a fun spot for winter. Expand on this activity and have students sketch and design a model for a snow fort. What shape will it have? How many people will fit inside? (This could be practical or a snowy “dream” house.) Infuse some math and have students include the dimensions for the fort. Tap into some technology tools and have students use <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tayasui-sketches-school/id1354087061" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #005994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1155cc;">Sketches School </span></a>or <a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/paper-by-wetransfer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #005994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1155cc;">Paper</span></a> to create their images digitally. Student designs can be posted on the class website or even shared on social media.</span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6GzhswGJ-JsPqZ7OYZLsACGmlS6q-PBxbpVc3mORy5lVca4OaGDrPB8cFx24RddH1Cwdm8seEVyrosvhH0wUFoCjWzeE1jD61zFAMh2bq0WmJBjqGMfUf5bqz0bcly0Nck1mKHp5BMnYZP-X3PMEV5bwLVTpU91Ll4QXhwx40ujqtaxJNsEBm0od76w=s301" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6GzhswGJ-JsPqZ7OYZLsACGmlS6q-PBxbpVc3mORy5lVca4OaGDrPB8cFx24RddH1Cwdm8seEVyrosvhH0wUFoCjWzeE1jD61zFAMh2bq0WmJBjqGMfUf5bqz0bcly0Nck1mKHp5BMnYZP-X3PMEV5bwLVTpU91Ll4QXhwx40ujqtaxJNsEBm0od76w" width="301" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #424343; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Of course, <a href="https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/authentic-stem-projects" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #005994; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1155cc;">STEM learning</span></a> can be explored all year long. Design challenges and exploration in science, technology, engineering, and math can happen no matter the weather. Keep the STEM learners in your life engaged by incorporating these opportunities into the classroom this month!</span></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-57303741945241850122022-01-06T07:49:00.003-08:002022-01-06T07:49:36.415-08:00Integrating STEM and SEL: 5 Benefits For Your Students<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This post was previously published by Carly & Adam. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A first grade teacher welcomes her students back to the classroom. She is excited to have a busy space, full of learners talking, working, and playing. Her excitement is balanced with concern as she knows that many students are nervous to return to school and some may be coming for the first time in a long time. She has planned fun icebreaker activities, reading lessons, and cooperative learning tasks. Not only does she want to build a sense of classroom community, but she also wants to welcome students into a safe, collaborative, and enjoyable learning environment. </span></span></p><p class="" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9OXTV3sivj7y-hSAdL5VUuGchnLTwg761hXpUZETPM9tj0AOVAntzrAPqYaoiwFusWYcAsaEo--uJiT6jgzYGnvJcL_kOu23lJxMRrFfRfq900SQBSYCqNsT1mqpxDY-aRlQ0iPxBGIdS1euNhQX1pNh5cEgJ01Vr5GBDNcmbjOWB22726yzoRnUQ_Q=s240" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="185" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9OXTV3sivj7y-hSAdL5VUuGchnLTwg761hXpUZETPM9tj0AOVAntzrAPqYaoiwFusWYcAsaEo--uJiT6jgzYGnvJcL_kOu23lJxMRrFfRfq900SQBSYCqNsT1mqpxDY-aRlQ0iPxBGIdS1euNhQX1pNh5cEgJ01Vr5GBDNcmbjOWB22726yzoRnUQ_Q" width="185" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;">She plans to do several read alouds with a focus on starting a new school year, making new friends, and how to work together. She shares the book<em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </em>The Name Jar and other stories that help students develop self-awareness that is important at the first grade level. She has planned some getting to know you activities where students communicate with one another and share their interests. She understands that building relationships are critical in school and in life. These students work together on some problem-solving tasks. </span><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">These activities will help students develop and learn together, fostering collaboration skills along with building new knowledge. When combined, these activities also connect two important instructional ideas, teaching STEM and providing a foundation for social emotional learning in school.</span></span></div><p class="" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1641482697585_605" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://carlyandadam.com/thecarlyandadam/stem-and-sel-important-connections-for-student-development" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1641482697585_604" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out 0s, border-color 100ms ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">STEM education and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)</a> have many common components that align including: </span></span></p><ul data-rte-list="default" style="font-size: 18px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Teamwork</strong>: the importance of working as a team but also recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses. </span></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Relationship Skills and Self-Awareness</strong>: the challenge of developing an awareness of others while continuing to build confidence in yourself. </span></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Social Awareness</strong>: the reward of having positive relationships and the hard work that goes with creating them. </span></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type: none; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Responsible Decision-Making</strong>: the understanding that the choices you make have consequences for yourself and those around you. </span></span></p></li></ul><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">It makes sense to provide instruction that can build skills in both STEM and SEL. These two paths may seem different in some ways, but they have many strategies in common. STEM and SEL can work together to accomplish similar goals. When taught in alignment, students can reap the benefits of this integrated approach. </span></span></p><p class="" style="color: #444444; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></strong></p><p class="" style="font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times;">Here’s a closer look at the 5 benefits of integrating STEM and SEL:</span></strong></p><div style="line-height: 1.5em; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> 1. Promotes Academic Growth</span></strong></div><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">Students who are struggling with their own social emotional development may be coming to school, but they aren’t necessarily ready to learn. When we find ways to address social emotional needs in the classroom, we can remove those barriers to learning and promote academic growth. If we can fill some of their social and emotional needs through teaching social skills, then students can begin to attack the content in STEM and other subject areas.</span></span></p><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">In the classroom:</em> </strong>The first grade teacher used read alouds to engage students in the topics of empathy, reputation, and growth mindset. In turn, when she planned a read aloud STEM challenge for her class after reading The Bad Seed, she hoped that she would see students activating those skills. Since the students have also discussed working together and solving problems, they were able to use that knowledge when the teacher challenged them to design, build, and test a seed home for The Bad Seed. This challenge has allowed students to recognize their strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose. Because the students learned the skills to be self-aware and effective in small group settings, they were able to succeed in the challenge. </span></span></p><p class="" style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZbU4niShTKrlSJjbUE_L61qUTCXIN5FydmmqD1Io2vxgHUXVWW13pQ9Y0O4zpjJg-h7RY8TJ-sUGW11mFbJR2aYUTJm6XELvA-2-wS40CqhK0IZbsqlAUkE0yKJbp9wMKCbdR6nbGudfcQlWHGLsqOiLDxgdLIAFTi4JUV_0Alb8pRDfIduGifdLQDg=s338" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="338" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZbU4niShTKrlSJjbUE_L61qUTCXIN5FydmmqD1Io2vxgHUXVWW13pQ9Y0O4zpjJg-h7RY8TJ-sUGW11mFbJR2aYUTJm6XELvA-2-wS40CqhK0IZbsqlAUkE0yKJbp9wMKCbdR6nbGudfcQlWHGLsqOiLDxgdLIAFTi4JUV_0Alb8pRDfIduGifdLQDg=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Offers Hands-on Connections</span><span style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></strong><span style="background-color: white;">When hands-on opportunities are embedded in content learning, students are more engaged and can better grasp the information. As we provide social emotional learning strategies for communication and organizational skills, students can practice them within the STEM learning tasks we design, in turn giving them a hands-on experience connected to their social emotional development.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUimQIwUkGdRmmsX43v6yUqhKTxUoYwpBpvoeVLp2SrACX4b_aCv1d1MjoMvNDcxbgI2MsJbyOEJYSJyqTI-MHfybRXSIia1nFDQjVY-9xUCu5DFt2bsPV4iYZuR-gXn-5BtC-zSroHynBntdLNQG0SvWXDlPc8ftaFLaI2tEXUZz7HNrjw_5bbaWVFQ=s180" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="179" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUimQIwUkGdRmmsX43v6yUqhKTxUoYwpBpvoeVLp2SrACX4b_aCv1d1MjoMvNDcxbgI2MsJbyOEJYSJyqTI-MHfybRXSIia1nFDQjVY-9xUCu5DFt2bsPV4iYZuR-gXn-5BtC-zSroHynBntdLNQG0SvWXDlPc8ftaFLaI2tEXUZz7HNrjw_5bbaWVFQ" width="179" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="color: #444444; margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br /></em></strong></span></div>In the classroom:</em></strong> In a kindergarten classroom, the teacher talked with her students about self-management. She read the story My Magic Breath. The story teaches students to use mindful breathing strategies when they need to calm down. The class made their own pendulums with markers, string, and tape to practice different breathing techniques. Now the students have a physical tool to help them to practice their breathing with something they designed and built themselves!</span></span></div><p></p><h2 style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">3. Provides Practical Application</span></strong></h2><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">We can equip our students with skills to communicate, collaborate, and make responsible decisions, but if we don’t give them the chance to practice these skills, we are missing a big opportunity. Engaging in a science experiment or a building challenge requires teamwork. Problem-solving can provide practical application for students who are developing their social emotional learning strategies.</span></span></p><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">In the classroom:</em></strong><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </em>A class of 4th graders has been working on responsible decision-making skills and their teacher is encouraging them to utilize different strategies to stay focused to meet their goals. In a small group, they create a plan for cleaning up and improving the school grounds. The students work together, using their personal strengths, to increase the success of the group as a whole. Their project requires STEM skills like design, innovation, and engineering, but also self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making.</span></span></p><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">4. Increase Positive Interactions</span></strong></p><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">Part of social emotional wellness means being able to connect with others in a positive way, communicating, and building relationships with those around you. Students need to practice navigating these interactions and using the right language to engage with others. These are a natural part of work in STEM and makerspaces, as students work with others to design, construct, and give feedback to one another.</span></span></p><p class="" style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">In the classroom:</em></strong><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </em>The second-grade class is trying their first engineering design challenge. The teacher has assigned each student a role (team captain, materials manager, head architect, and testing supervisor). The students embrace their roles and work collaboratively to accomplish their challenges. Once teams have completed one iteration of their design, they move around the room and provide feedback to their peers, building positive communication skills and deepening understanding in the classroom. </span></span></p><h2 style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong style="background-color: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">5. Build Skills For Life</span></strong></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">As students learn social emotional skills alongside skills in science, technology, engineering, and math, they are preparing for daily interactions with others, but also for potential careers. While some careers may function in isolation, most require positive interpersonal skills and working with a team. Opportunities in STEM offer the chance to build the skills which will help them in school, career, community, and beyond. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">In the classroom:</em></strong><em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </em>Within the STEM lab, you’ll rarely hear anyone say, “Why do I need to learn this?!?” Students understand that solving problems and working together are a part of life. They see it in action when they are challenged to construct new living spaces, design new contraptions, and take steps toward coding. STEM learning experiences allow them to better understand themselves and others which will benefit them during all stages of their life.<br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">STEM and SEL are building blocks. When stacked together they can create a strong foundation for our students. The benefits of incorporating these two instructional areas exist for both students and for teachers. SEL isn’t something extra that we need to teach. It’s not the latest “add-on.” It is the foundation on which we have been planning STEM learning all along!</span></span></div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-33579862615972504532021-11-28T12:26:00.001-08:002021-11-28T12:26:47.277-08:00Fostering a STEM Mindset<p> This post was previously published on the <a href="https://coricreate.com/blogs/news/fostering-a-stem-mindset">CORI website</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtrZXvP4jDpOP2rHG0q-0vQn9uCFTruXDOVJQRdwQc7xzfqcGMZMz_IJE7lVOsDiDjkIHJEvteYFZUrHvOzZ3UocwuZRyNcT7Q9LqvJXmhUdkE6ez3AhQWSu8D4tIVlZZtdWAfjgtLf1k/s1080/Fostering_a_STEM_Mindset_1080x.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtrZXvP4jDpOP2rHG0q-0vQn9uCFTruXDOVJQRdwQc7xzfqcGMZMz_IJE7lVOsDiDjkIHJEvteYFZUrHvOzZ3UocwuZRyNcT7Q9LqvJXmhUdkE6ez3AhQWSu8D4tIVlZZtdWAfjgtLf1k/w398-h224/Fostering_a_STEM_Mindset_1080x.png" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa;">“I really think our game should focus on adding and subtracting decimals,” one student suggests. “I think that might be a little challenging. Maybe we should just focus on rounding decimals since that’s what we have been working on mostly in class,” shares another. “I like that idea. Can we all come to an agreement on that?”</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; overflow-anchor: none;"></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">This was part of a conversation that I recently overheard in a fifth-grade classroom, where students were working together to design and build board games. All the games needed to include relevant math content, as well as different characteristics of gaming. Students engaged in meaningful conversation as a part of the engineering design process. They shared ideas and politely disagreed. Each student’s voice provided value to the group, allowing them to work collaboratively on the task. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">“Can I add that maybe we could use the adding and subtracting like Daniel said as like a “power up“ within the game?” one student offered. “Ooh, I like that idea. Then we are making a game that everyone can play, but there are also ways to make things a little bit harder” says one student as she high-fived her teammate. “What do you guys think about creating cards for the game? I’d like to design those and you guys can start on constructing the game board.”</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">The conversations between the students were rich and focused. They made decisions and solved problems in a collaborative spirit that allowed them to fully engage in the task. Together, the team worked to design and build their game board using recyclable materials and art supplies from their classroom STEM cart. They activated their imaginations and skillfully used their resources to create aspects of the game that reinforced math concepts. The group incorporated their challenge cards and wrote instructions for how their game was to be played, all while infusing their math knowledge as the primary content for the game. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; overflow-anchor: none;">Mindset in action</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">Students in this classroom example are demonstrating </span><a href="https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/steam-makers/book245982" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(218, 112, 25); box-sizing: border-box; color: #da7019; overflow-anchor: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 150ms ease 0s, background-color 150ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">a STEM mindset</span></a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;"> in action. They are working to accomplish a common goal that requires collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Students are thinking flexibly about the problem in front of them, but also activating their personal experiences to enhance their project. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">When this type of mindset is cultivated in a classroom, it is evident through student conversations like this one. As students are presented challenges, they utilize their collective skills and strengths to analyze and solve problems. This mindset can be developed in any classroom and at any age. With personalization, perseverance, and patience, we can foster this mindset in our students, setting them up for success in school and beyond.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; overflow-anchor: none;">Developing the mindset</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;"> A STEM mindset is flexible and curious and is often thought of as “outside the box” thinking. A STEM mindset is challenging, as learners wonder about problems that aren’t always easily solved. It includes things like combining ideas to create new things and taking apart things to find out how they work. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">This mindset is not something that you can force upon learners, but rather something that you guide students towards. With support, we can encourage our learners to explore new materials, tackle big challenges, and extend their thinking beyond what is possible.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">Developing a STEM mindset can be difficult for some, both students and teachers alike. It requires grappling with ideas and experiencing failure, things that are not comfortable for many. As learners encounter setbacks, they build resilience, rebounding into new learning. As teachers experience challenges, they rethink their instruction and reimagine ways to engage students in STEM learning.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">For some students, STEM experiences are when they have the chance to thrive. It is when they get to try new things (and then try some more). It is often when students get to access different types of learning modalities, beyond what occurs within traditional courses. The nature of STEM learning represents possibilities for creativity and innovation.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; overflow-anchor: none;">Experiencing failure</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">In schools where students engage in STEM learning, things don’t always turn out the way they were planned. And that is OK! Groups of students engage in an </span><a href="https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2018/01/3-word-design-challenges.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(218, 112, 25); box-sizing: border-box; color: #da7019; overflow-anchor: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 150ms ease 0s, background-color 150ms ease 0s;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">engineering design challenge</span></a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;"> or conduct an experiment—sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. STEM learning can be messy and unconventional. It may require trial and error. Students may encounter obstacles or find shortcuts. It is likely that at some point, they will fail. How students respond to that failure is a part of the STEM mindset.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">John Dewey said, “Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks, learns quite as much from his failures that from his successes.” This is a tough lesson for kids to learn. Failing and bouncing back from that failure is critical to a STEM mindset, and to life. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">STEM learning is meant to be open ended, which is why learners encounter stumbling blocks and experience failed experiments or designs. In authentic STEM experiences, there shouldn’t be one anticipated endpoint or product of this learning. It is what the learners construct it to be.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; overflow-anchor: none;">Where STEM thrives</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">Learning spaces that embrace STEM are places where students say:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">I wonder how that works? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">What if we would combine these two materials? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">Can I try that? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">What can we create together? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #423f3f; font-family: "Work Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; overflow-anchor: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f6fa; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-anchor: none;">As we work to foster a STEM mindset within our students, we welcome these questions of curiosity and exploration. We invite students to get messy, learn new things, and explore new materials. Through their exploration, a mindset of discovery and creativity will thrive!</span></p><p>Interested in developing a STEM mindset with your students? Check out the <a href="https://coricreate.com/?sca_ref=1338466.p0UxdgZdMn">cool cardboard materials from Cori</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyk0wjNUTjmkHL5sSTdZ0K2B9p13iLxVj6s549pq6TdHsPoy5vd2IGw8zxd8cRXQAo823eCJ1qN-yXAGfrgEQ51zGF07euW7gScv5l3XEwPjvfy1KA1RpH90-ceofYbov4gc04dzq76cH/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyk0wjNUTjmkHL5sSTdZ0K2B9p13iLxVj6s549pq6TdHsPoy5vd2IGw8zxd8cRXQAo823eCJ1qN-yXAGfrgEQ51zGF07euW7gScv5l3XEwPjvfy1KA1RpH90-ceofYbov4gc04dzq76cH/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-63249409940421472562021-07-12T05:10:00.000-07:002021-07-12T05:10:42.516-07:00What's in Your Makerspace?<p> Educators often reach out and ask for a list of materials when they’re getting started with a makerspace or STEM/STEAM program. I often hesitate to provide a list, because I believe every space should be unique. With the opportunity to visit lots of spaces, each is a bit different--different set-up, different areas of interest, different feeling. That's what is great about a space that allows you to connect, collaborate, and apply your creativity in different ways.</p><p> After the start up of STEAM Maker spaces into school districts that I worked on, I learned one important thing – that the materials you put in your space should be based on the needs and interests of your students. The ideas and experiences should be co-created with the students you serve. </p><p>I understand that those just beginning this work may need a little jumpstart, so I created a blog post several years ago with makerspace items from A to Z. The list is often shared on social media and many teachers have reached out saying how helpful it has been. Whether starting a new maker space in your school or developing stem learning centers for your classroom, having a basic materials list is helpful. (especially for those writing grants or vying for budget items from school and district leaders.)</p><p>I figured that it was about time to update the original list and make it a bit more comprehensive, I reached out to my friend (and one of the most creative makers I know), Chris Woods. You know Chris as @DailySTEM. His social media posts, podcast, and book have been an inspiration to me and many. We collaborated on this list in an effort to include a wide variety of items that we know kids love and educators need. It includes consumable items like glue and markers, as well as donated recyclable items like cardboard and plastic containers. The list also includes tools and tech items, like Hummingbird robotics and Makedo. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgQHUK-llk_fIAlzYzc4uVXMRyarXeaPaHLafz9U9pfRcszJUkzLlf0fmJKlFCMZTkrlmJFkoO1A1RHUO8bwXRJIYXqL3uldkzapBs8jv-R5EVuqVplEdSBQvFhp-bXcmlLNDSfwBRWug/s2000/Maker+Monday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="800" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgQHUK-llk_fIAlzYzc4uVXMRyarXeaPaHLafz9U9pfRcszJUkzLlf0fmJKlFCMZTkrlmJFkoO1A1RHUO8bwXRJIYXqL3uldkzapBs8jv-R5EVuqVplEdSBQvFhp-bXcmlLNDSfwBRWug/w206-h492/Maker+Monday.JPG" width="206" /></a></div><p></p><div dir="ltr">While this is not an exhaustive list, we think it is a good start for maker educators and STEM enthusiasts. If you think we missed anything, add your comment below! </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Happy #MakerMonday!</div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-67295198475350893222021-05-24T08:30:00.004-07:002021-05-25T07:39:17.332-07:00Incorporating SEL into Your Interview Process<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">It is that time of year when school districts will be starting the interviewing process. Whether looking to add new teachers to the team or anyone from classroom assistants to school and district leaders, the process may likely include new and different interview questions. In response to the last year teaching and learning in a global pandemic, interview teams will be looking to see how you have been able to thrive during these challenging circumstances. Furthermore, schools will want to know how you supported students during a time when building relationships and fostering well being has been more important than ever. </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gaWJTH-hA5vTcDqyqL0CvwwXiW4k1tl9z-9ZJq_mg5RYirP39cwlJLmBU9kERL5mwfOlyt-ODnKfn84H5UdOM1YyD_AcQqUK_Ww_7dI7HMreXejUHRRcQJaqe7uB7EG_xoseBWER3hDr/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="249" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gaWJTH-hA5vTcDqyqL0CvwwXiW4k1tl9z-9ZJq_mg5RYirP39cwlJLmBU9kERL5mwfOlyt-ODnKfn84H5UdOM1YyD_AcQqUK_Ww_7dI7HMreXejUHRRcQJaqe7uB7EG_xoseBWER3hDr/w220-h178/image.png" width="220" /></span></a></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"></span></p><div class="adn ads" data-legacy-message-id="1787043715c1f542" data-message-id="#msg-f:1695328419363026242" style="background-color: white; border-left: none; color: #222222; display: flex; padding: 0px;"><div class="gs" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; width: 1134px;"><div><div class="ii gt" id=":1cs" style="direction: ltr; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="a3s aiL" id=":1cr" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.5; overflow: hidden;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When preparing for interview season, consider the following questions with a focus on social emotional development:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What classroom practices have you implemented in the last year to build empathy and understanding in your students?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">How have Random Acts of Kindness (or a similar experience) been used in your school? How did you contribute to its development? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What do you do to ensure the ongoing social emotional development of your students? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What do you believe are the essential components of social emotional learning? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What <span class="il">SEL</span> resources have you found to be the most beneficial? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What strategies would you suggest to a student who was having difficult with self-regulation in the classroom? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">How do you develop social awareness within your students? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">What do you do personally to practice self care and social emotional development? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The social emotional development of our students (and ourselves) is so important. When we are bringing new people onto our team, we need to have conversations, (starting during the interview process) that communicates SEL as a primary goal within the school system. What SEL questions have you asked interview candidates? As an interviewee, have you been asked any questions regarding social emotional learning in schools?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Share your thoughts in the comments below.</span></div></div></div><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="yj6qo"></div><div class="yj6qo"></div></div><div class="hi" style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-left-radius: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></div></div></div><div class="ajx" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="gA gt acV" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top: none; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><div class="gB xu" style="border-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="ip iq" style="border-top: none; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 16px 0px;"><div id=":1ct"><table class="cf wS" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td class="amq" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 16px; vertical-align: top; visibility: hidden; width: 44px;"><img class="ajn bofPge" data-hovercard-id="jaciemaslyk@gmail.com" id=":n2_6" jid="jaciemaslyk@gmail.com" name=":n2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/AOh14GgXV-ItCkHiCXYdD8Kh046K5_38yw0MS0L6MAGJqg=s40" style="border-radius: 50%; display: block; height: 40px; width: 40px;" /></td><td class="amr" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1134px;"><div class="nr wR" style="border-radius: 1px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: none 0s ease 0s;"><div class="amn" style="align-items: center; color: inherit; display: flex; height: auto; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ams bkH" face=""Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" id=":1cm" jslog="21576; u014N:cOuCgd,Kr2w4b;" role="link" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-user-drag: none; align-items: center; background: none; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5f6368; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; font-size: 0.875rem; height: 36px; justify-content: center; letter-spacing: 0.25px; margin-right: 12px; min-width: 104px; outline: none; padding: 0px 16px 0px 12px; position: relative; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reply</span></span></span><span class="ams bkG" face=""Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" id=":1co" jslog="21578; u014N:cOuCgd,Kr2w4b;" role="link" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-user-drag: none; align-items: center; background: none; border-radius: 4px; border: none; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5f6368; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; font-size: 0.875rem; height: 36px; justify-content: center; letter-spacing: 0.25px; margin-right: 12px; min-width: 104px; outline: none; padding: 0px 16px 0px 12px; position: relative; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Forward</span></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div>Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-54754699696157380882020-03-25T16:50:00.000-07:002020-03-25T16:50:03.864-07:00The Gift of Time The Gift of Time<br />
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Earlier this month we gained an hour of daylight with the change over to Daylight Savings Time. I love this change and the fact that it's still light out after dinner when my kids and I take our dog for a walk. While it is still dark in the morning when we wake up, the later sunset in the evening is truly a blessing as our family can play outside take advantage of that extra time together.<br />
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<a href="https://www.warner.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for time" border="0" height="133" src="https://www.warner.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Clock.jpg" width="200" /></a>Later in the month, we all received an unexpected gift of time, courtesy of the virus that is changing our world as we know it. We now have this abundance of time. The exterior factors that once governed the time and influenced many of our day-to-day decisions are no longer in effect for many of us. Time isn't dictating when we need to get up in the morning, the time we needed to spend at work and school, the time we had to be at practices or events. All of that has somehow been pushed aside. Without the constraints of time, we now have choices to make on how we are going to use this gift.</div>
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Think about that. How many times have you said, "If only I had more time."</div>
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I need more time to finish my work. </div>
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There's never enough time to . . . </div>
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If only there was an extra hour in the day.</div>
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If I had more time, I could . . .</div>
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Well, now you can. We've all been given this gift of time. </div>
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You can start that project that you've been putting off. You can reach out to that person you've been missing. You can spend the time doing whatever it is that you need to. It's your time.</div>
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You can clean out that closet that you've been saying you would. You can watch that old movie with your spouse. You can read that extra chapter at night with the kids. You can play that extra-long board game as a family. Because there's time. </div>
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There's time to do something for yourself--to take that bubble bath or read that trashy novel. There's time to try a new recipe or take a long walk. There's time to take extra good care of yourself and those around you.</div>
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Even though we are separated by distance, take the time to connect with those who matter most. Take the time to reach out to a neighbor in need, to a former student, to a colleague. Send a personal note to your best friend in another state. Call your favorite aunt to say hello. Set up a regular time for your kids to FaceTime their grandparents. </div>
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Be intentional about making time to connect with others in whatever way works best for you--but take the time.<br />
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We can use our time to make a difference. What are you doing with this gift of time?</div>
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Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-40329294185032152562020-03-18T06:07:00.000-07:002020-03-18T06:24:52.579-07:00#GrandparentProjectI had to have a very difficult conversation with my mom yesterday. She's 71. She's a retail worker in a neighborhood store. She's a friend, a wife, a mom, and probably her most beloved role, she's a grammy.<br />
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Most weeks, she drives out to our house (about 20 minutes away) and spends time with my sons, ages 5 and 7. She plays WWE wrestlers with them. She chases them around in our yard. She walks them to the park. She learns the names on all their Pokemon cards. She reads books with them. </div>
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She sneaks them extra treats like most grandparents do. She lets them stay up later than they should. She doesn't get mad when they break the rules. </div>
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Together, they make slime with them and play board games. They build Lego creations and have impromptu dance parties in the living room. They have cereal for dinner.</div>
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My children cherish this time and can't wait to know when Grammy is coming to visit. In turn, I know my mom looks forward to this time more than anything. </div>
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My mom is active, but she is not always the picture of health. She's in that over 70 age bracket that puts her in a vulnerable position, especially when it comes to my children and COVID19. If it is possible that my kids could carry the virus and pass it onto her, then we could be putting her in danger. </div>
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I can't do that.</div>
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I had to tell my mom that it was not a good idea for her to come out and see the kids for a little while. I had to deny her the complete joy that I know she gets when she sees my boys. While we believe that is the best way to proceed right now, it felt horrible, to say the least.</div>
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Since that conversation, I have been reflecting a lot about the grammies, nanas, paps, and poppas of the world. While they are worried about their own health and wellness, they are also being separated from some of the people that they love the most. Being with their grandkids brings them so much joy and often keeps them motivated to stay healthy.</div>
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How are you staying connected to grandparents and relatives in your family? Here are some of the things that you can do while your kids are at home and separated from loved ones.</div>
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1. Facetime-- As you are figuring out your schedule for the "new normal" add in time to Facetime a grandparent or loved one each day. Make that connection. Revel in the smiles and check in with the people that matter.<br />
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Make this time meaningful for your kids and your family. My boys are generating questions that they are going to ask Grammy when then talk to her today:<br />
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<li>What do you like to do when you get bored at home?</li>
<li>Was school ever closed like this when you were little?</li>
<li>Do you have a favorite movie or TV show?</li>
<li>If you could safely travel anywhere right now, where would you go?</li>
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I'm planning to extend this idea as the days go on and have my kids interview my mom. I'm thinking about all the generational things that my kids can learn from her, while also building a sense of family history.</div>
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<li>Where did you go to school when you were my age?</li>
<li>Did you have a favorite subject? favorite teacher?</li>
<li>What activities did you like to do when you were little?</li>
<li>Did your family go on vacation when you were in elementary school? Where did you go?</li>
<li>What things do you remember doing with your grandparents? </li>
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2. Pen Pals--Keep your kids' minds sharp (and their older loved ones too) by writing letters to family members. This can certainly be an email, but the idea of traditional letter writing allows kids to practice some academic skills at home, too.<br />
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Here are some things my boys are going to write (and draw):<br />
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<li>My favorite thing to do with Grammy</li>
<li>The funniest thing Grammy ever did</li>
<li>What Grammy would do if she hit the lottery</li>
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3. "Play" Together--This is a challenge to do from a distance, but think creatively. Create videos to share with one another. Can grandparents share a magic trick or cooking tip with the kids? Can the kids tell jokes or teach their grandparents how to code a robot? Send videos back and forth as another way to stay connected. </div>
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I'm sure there are lots of other ideas that we can try, but my family is going to start here. I will continue to post more ideas on how to stay connected. We are going to do one thing each day to connect with the loved ones who feel so far away right now. I know this will help my kids during this time of uncertainty, but it will also help my mom. It will help all of the grandparents out there who are craving time with the little people in their lives. What will you do stay safe and stay connected?<br />
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Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-35888555051613369532020-02-22T05:21:00.004-08:002020-02-22T05:21:47.750-08:00Cool Tech for Creative Learners<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This post includes affiliate links.</span></div>
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Do your students love creating videos? In this YouTube generation, many creative young minds in our classrooms crave the chance to make their own videos. Some might have the imagination but not the interest in being in front of the camera. Others might want to design the background or do the sound effects. In creative classrooms, students are embracing these challenges and turning them into opportunities to communicate with peers, think critically about new ideas and collaborate with others. <br />
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Ask a group of elementary students if they want to try out a new creative technology tool and chances are, they are going to jump at the chance. Add to the experience that they get to connect with the designers of the game and provide feedback after playing it. This was an opportunity posed to some of our students this year.<br />
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With their curiosity piqued, a group of third-grade students in our district had the chance to try out Toaster Pets. This is a new classroom tool that pairs digital creation through a simple-to-use <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toaster-pets-my-virtual-pets/id1324326569">app</a> with the hands-on manipulation of character blocks. With a tabletop green screen and small animal characters, <a href="https://store.toasterpets.com/product/toaster-pets-cartoons-studio-kit/?ref=8">Toaster Pets</a> provides a variety of options for students looking to design and create. This collaborative tool turns students into script-writers and movie makers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV4r122ggPxkwwjW5XWhdU6nh7l-i5PDg7VpU86_WvGYxWCuR2UGC5opjDD2Un9jhVzXF3PkbU0w30p8x_WjP62rcWvqs08UiRUupDqPjDSSlHhxCwc1BOnQo9K6bAvJa63kTrMS5udK4/s1600/IMG_8392+%25281%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV4r122ggPxkwwjW5XWhdU6nh7l-i5PDg7VpU86_WvGYxWCuR2UGC5opjDD2Un9jhVzXF3PkbU0w30p8x_WjP62rcWvqs08UiRUupDqPjDSSlHhxCwc1BOnQo9K6bAvJa63kTrMS5udK4/s320/IMG_8392+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>What can students create in the classroom? </b><br />
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When students use their device to open the Toaster Pets app and try out their characters, they can use their imaginations to create just about anything. Your students might create: <br />
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<li>Animated movies</li>
<li>Music videos </li>
<li>Educational videos </li>
<li>Video messages </li>
<li>Cartoons </li>
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<b>How did our students respond? </b><br />
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Our 3rd graders absolutely loved the app and hands-on characters. With very little direction at all, the students were quick to figure out features like adding music and adding their own voice recording for each character. Working in small groups of 2-4 students, groups accessed virtual props and colorful backgrounds to tell their stories and create their videos. Students adjusted images and added different effects as they enhanced their scenes and developed interactions with their characters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYlijUJHNdqDaSqf3RYOCgYbGvXgRWx37pISAe5l-iIciIfg0TF8lebixvapHYWhnXD-3Nv2QH8j5lvsnVmCZGJb_Txa6b7puwnVE2leX58Gd47DCYQiDMovxhGQ0H6dtjih95Xz54jXI/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYlijUJHNdqDaSqf3RYOCgYbGvXgRWx37pISAe5l-iIciIfg0TF8lebixvapHYWhnXD-3Nv2QH8j5lvsnVmCZGJb_Txa6b7puwnVE2leX58Gd47DCYQiDMovxhGQ0H6dtjih95Xz54jXI/s320/IMG_8393.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Students explored the app for about 45 minutes and could’ve kept going, but paused to reflect on the experiences and share some feedback with the design team. Students wanted access to more props and characters. They had ideas for different scenes and types of music to add. Some were even ready to design their own! Each group was thoroughly engaged in the discussion and had meaningful feedback to share with the <a href="https://store.toasterpets.com/product/toaster-pets-cartoons-studio-kit/?ref=8">Toaster Pets</a> team. <br />
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At the conclusion of the experience, students were asked to leave a compliment on a sticky note for the team to take back with them. Here are a few things the students shared: <br />
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“I liked that you could unlock multiple characters.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rGn2pFD6X_Ngu3MQkb_yNj2rP8vjfrJx-Iut7ZnruFoBsj2xekPz0xVn4_ezBqpIneiKGt4aDzxBTDsPZssxBxu41MWa85_qUCqBrOvBFOrAiEzROXf0kASYTVoB2skpgM7Wmo0hr431/s1600/IMG_8398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rGn2pFD6X_Ngu3MQkb_yNj2rP8vjfrJx-Iut7ZnruFoBsj2xekPz0xVn4_ezBqpIneiKGt4aDzxBTDsPZssxBxu41MWa85_qUCqBrOvBFOrAiEzROXf0kASYTVoB2skpgM7Wmo0hr431/s200/IMG_8398.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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“I made a racing scene and another scene with soccer.” <br />
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“I loved it! It was so much fun.” <br />
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<b>Ready to try it? </b><br />
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You will be amazed at the imaginative thinking that happens when students are given the freedom to create using this tool. Toaster Pets can be used with Apple or Android devices. Use this <a href="https://store.toasterpets.com/product/toaster-pets-cartoons-studio-kit/?ref=8"><span style="font-size: large;">link</span></a> to check out all that Toaster Pets has to offer! <br />
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Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-55813851249933937602019-12-30T06:45:00.000-08:002019-12-30T06:45:52.823-08:00#OneWord2020Over the course of the last year, I focused on the word <a href="http://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/2019/01/oneword2019.html">Balance</a>. 2019 brought a new sense of balance for me as I continued to juggle being a mom, a wife, a friend, an educator, author, and speaker. Within all of those roles, I also tried to create a particular sense of balance when it came to my personal health and wellness. While that will always require an ongoing effort, I know that I made great strides in the last year--losing 90lbs, regaining my energy, and carving out time each day to exercise. I regained a sense of balance that I never thought I could!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4BGr-3qKQgPD4HaWPNeXou7nSAh3f06Cpw2Gz-s_00xjjgGcV_IXViAvwFsXL_SfY5eQIkxk0_kN3cUzxoJ6dyxWywDnY4YGJSn4CYCabGLt8qH-58uqURIMR3OdbVa9_sAVWWXg713S/s1600/71LESEKiazL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1059" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4BGr-3qKQgPD4HaWPNeXou7nSAh3f06Cpw2Gz-s_00xjjgGcV_IXViAvwFsXL_SfY5eQIkxk0_kN3cUzxoJ6dyxWywDnY4YGJSn4CYCabGLt8qH-58uqURIMR3OdbVa9_sAVWWXg713S/s200/71LESEKiazL.jpg" width="131" /></a>Since my word for last year was so fitting and much needed in my life, choosing a word for this year was quite challenging. Just like you, I looked for inspiration in lots of places, through my social media #PLN and through things that I've read.<br />
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About a month ago, a friend of mine suggested that I read Melinda Gates' book. We were chatting back and forth on Voxer and agreed that we would both grab a copy and read it. Although I didn't know much about Gates' personal story, I recalled seeing it in an airport bookstore while traveling to a speaking engagement the week before. I hopped onto Amazon and had the book in my hand the next day.<br />
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The book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moment-Lift-Empowering-Women-Changes/dp/1250313570/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LCQINALI7NIR&keywords=moment+of+lift&qid=1577716908&s=books&sprefix=moment+of+%2Caps%2C153&sr=1-1">The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World</a> </i>has inspired my one word for 2020 . . . LIFT.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NetOX2EEOtWOKwdkFwhpLEycGy2JD-_lTfeHaJs4wJD1Y1C8ooE8N7IZzdIrbnCzywSD_hFcF_s0qSpj5hqZMVndF40Np-UCL3wks00pR2cMMjHEE45eIBB_iNWwLufiH7tC0aC9d86u/s1600/Lift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NetOX2EEOtWOKwdkFwhpLEycGy2JD-_lTfeHaJs4wJD1Y1C8ooE8N7IZzdIrbnCzywSD_hFcF_s0qSpj5hqZMVndF40Np-UCL3wks00pR2cMMjHEE45eIBB_iNWwLufiH7tC0aC9d86u/s320/Lift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you haven't had the opportunity to read this book, I would highly encourage you to grab a copy. The stories that are shared span the globe and detail the inadequacies that exist within systems throughout the world. Gates shares her personal journey towards empowerment and the importance of the relationships that she has built over time through the work of the foundation. And while there are numerous takeaways from this book (gender equity issues in the workplace, developing empathy, and enacting change), I personally kept returning to the title and the simple idea of LIFT.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrx_gNVE7hvMNmGhdmK66KPn6M7GkCX6ocN2T0AgOw28LsAIPM2EYmoAWD2Pe6s1cFBnoMTc0xxoHRQSOP0DaWqMc2Exx6N_yqoNTMG1GZf9b5Q-h2z74ggD9o9yVbyTQ1A6IjeRZ03gu/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrx_gNVE7hvMNmGhdmK66KPn6M7GkCX6ocN2T0AgOw28LsAIPM2EYmoAWD2Pe6s1cFBnoMTc0xxoHRQSOP0DaWqMc2Exx6N_yqoNTMG1GZf9b5Q-h2z74ggD9o9yVbyTQ1A6IjeRZ03gu/s200/download.jpg" width="192" /></a>Particularly in the fast-paced world that we live in and with the abundance of things that we all try to balance in our lives, it is important to stop and think about the potential opportunities that we might miss to create those moments of lift. As Robert Ingersoll reminds us, "We rise by lifting others."<br />
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Reflecting on the way that this word connects with my personal and professional life, I was flooded with questions:<br />
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Who do I lift? Do I take opportunities to lift up my children and family? In what ways can I do a better job of creating moments of lift for the teachers and students in my school district? How can I use my platform to lift up important ideas and share them with others? In what ways can I let my guard down and allow others to lift me?<br />
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How might I grow through a yearlong focus on this one word?<br />
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Believing that this single word can create positive momentum for others, how might I support those who need lifting? Are there small steps that I can take to build up and empower others? What conditions need to be present in order for someone to find their moment of lift? <br />
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Within the different roles that I take on--as a family member, friend, colleague, leader, I need to be intentional about seeking out ways to create lift, accept lift, and promote lift in others.<br />
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I don't claim to have the answers to any of these questions yet, but I know that over the course of the next year, I will pursue each of them in an effort to explore the importance of lift.<br />
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I think about all of the tremendous ways that Melinda Gates and the <a href="https://www.gatesfoundation.org/where-we-work/india-office">Gates Foundation</a> have lifted up the voices of women and others who are on the fringe. While I know that the magnitude of their work is unmatchable, I hope that I will find small ways each day to create lift--for others, for students and teachers that I serve, and for myself. <br />
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I wish everyone a Happy 2020. As you discover moments of lift this year, please share the ways that you are lifting others or ways that you have been lifted by those around you.Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-3752834305541621472019-12-15T15:31:00.000-08:002019-12-16T06:13:52.021-08:003 Holiday Gift Ideas to Unlock Creativity in Everyone <div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
Are you struggling with last-minute gift ideas? Do you want to find that perfect something that will excite the young person in your world and keep them engaged all year long? Impossible, right?</div>
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When you tap into creativity you can unlock a world of imagination in others. This might mean the children in your home, the ones in your classroom, or even yourself. Young and old alike can benefit from that creative spark that motivates them to create new things or explore new ideas. Sometimes it just takes some simple materials or an imaginative tool to get the mind going. Here are a few gift ideas to unlock creativity in everyone:<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81TkP%2B2zQ6L._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for scratch art" border="0" height="167" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81TkP%2B2zQ6L._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a>1. Ok, this may date me a bit, but I remember being about 7 or 8 years old and making my own "scratch art" paper with my neighbor. Did you do this too? We would heavily scribble rainbow colors to cover an entire sheet of paper only to then cover it all in even heavier black crayon. (My Crayolas definitely took a beating!) Once our sheet was covered we would scratch the black away in intricate designs revealing bold colors underneath. I remember creating dozens of these and hanging them on the fridge. Boy, we were innovators back then because now you can buy your own ready-to-go sheets.<br />
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ROIsMAvlL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Plus-Plus - Construction Building Toy, Mini Maker Tube - 70 Piece - Unicorn" border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ROIsMAvlL.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Scratch-Art-Paper/dp/B0060K8R90">https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Scratch-Art-Paper/dp/B0060K8R90</a><br />
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I shared this with my own children (ages 5 and 7) and I think we might stick with the homemade version. #MakersGonnaMake<br />
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2. Maybe you're not the artistic type but still enjoy creating. Tired of Legos or K'Nex and looking for a new and different type of building material? Try <a href="https://www.amazon.com/PLUS-Construction-Building-Piece-Basic/dp/B07KKP1VVP/ref=sxin_1_ac_d_pm?ac_md=1-0-VW5kZXIgJDIw-ac_d_pm&keywords=plus+plus&pd_rd_i=B07KKP1VVP&pd_rd_r=adb96a47-e288-4f19-8740-13ff2f52bbfd&pd_rd_w=Vx0sG&pd_rd_wg=sk8Kv&pf_rd_p=aba5dc0d-7593-4752-a14d-357ecc5c98cc&pf_rd_r=RV70R36BED2JVGKYNQ1E&psc=1&qid=1576452154">Plus Plus</a>. These mini plastic "plus signs" interlock as you design 2-D and 3-D creations. They now come with a base plate that allows the creative genius in your family to engineer multi-level structures and bring new ideas to life. Plus Plus are cool tools for any classroom and great for home use, too.<br />
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3. Paper. Yep, just paper. There are so many cool paper crafts that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Check out this video that shares 10 ideas for kids that can engage their creative minds through measuring, cutting, folding, weaving, and curling. Simple activities like these don't require lots of fancy materials, but can provide hours of fun!<br />
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When in doubt and you need some creative stocking stuffers--head to your local dollar store. (It is a makers best friend!) You can find tons of materials to make your own little creativity kit. Markers and construction paper. Stencils and colored pencils. Crayons and coloring books. Stickers and notebooks. Glitter, glue, and borax (to make some slime). String and beads for necklace making. Balloons, tissue paper, and glue for papier mache. The possibilities are endless!<br />
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All of these gift ideas are pretty simple, but especially useful when you are on the go this holiday season. Toss them in the car for the road trip to grandma's house or the plane ride to visit Aunt Barb and Uncle Ned. Staying at home for the holidays? Gather around the dining table for some messy creativity and try some artistic design with the family.<br />
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Want more ideas for unlocking creativity in the classroom? Check out my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Creativity-Opening-Imagination-Students/dp/1970133325/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=unlock+creativity&qid=1576445891&sr=8-1">Unlock Creativity: Opening a World of Imagination With Your Students </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Creativity-Opening-Imagination-Students/dp/1970133325/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=unlock+creativity&qid=1576445891&sr=8-1"><img height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51I%2BAcUnxtL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
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<br />Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-73339998977023643022019-07-03T14:10:00.000-07:002019-07-03T14:43:16.687-07:00Reflections on ISTE19I was told this was a huge conference (and that I'd better bring comfortable walking shoes). I heard that the Expo Hall was crazy. Colleagues explained that the sessions with BIG speakers would have people waiting in line just to get in. I found all of this to be true but the biggest and best takeaway from the conference wasn't found in the inspiring Ignite Talks or the TED Master Class presentations. It wasn't in the new innovations showcased on the Expo floor. It wasn't the valuable nuggets of information shared in the workshops and interactive sessions from stellar presenters that I attended.<br />
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<b>It was the people.</b><br />
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The hellos, hugs, and conversations with incredible educators from across the county, many of whom I'd only communicated with through social media. It was the immediate connections with people who I met just that morning but felt like I'd known for a lifetime.<br />
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I know that may seem odd to some (like my husband, who isn't an educator), but the bonds that I have with my PLN sometimes surpass the face-to-face interactions with people I see on a daily basis. It is truly amazing the way that Twitter and Voxer have transformed my personal and professional development. These tools allow me to connect with people and develop meaningful relationships with individuals that I've never even met--until ISTE!<br />
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I connected with the <b>awesome people of ISTE</b> in sessions, at the PLN Lounge and at the wonderful social events that surround the conference venue. We shared knowledge, stories, and laughs (and maybe some dance moves, too 😉).<br />
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You see, these are the people I go to all year long when I need some inspiration, leadership advice or input on decisions. These are also the people I seek out to lift me up when I'm down or to vent to when I just need a listening ear. They fuel my professional excitement and fill my heart with personal friendships.<br />
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These educators have areas of expertise that I don't--social emotional learning, AR/VR, or character education. They have experiences with people and places that I don't, but we use the collective learning of everyone in the PLN to make our knowledge stronger. These individuals fill me up in areas that I need to grow and push my thinking. Their experiences are deep, meaningful, and relatable, but more importantly, their openness to share and welcome others in is remarkable.<br />
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When people ask, "How was the conference?" I reflect on the knowledge that I gained in Philly. I share some of the great tech tools that made an impression on me. But most of all, I light up thinking about the people that contributed to making my first ISTE experience an unforgettable one.<br />
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Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-33289671533062213322019-03-30T05:26:00.000-07:002019-03-30T05:26:21.464-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know about you, but I’m the kind of educator who has a real fear of missing out. I don’t want to be left in the dark on any new ideas, new technologies, or trends. I hate when someone knows about a resource that I haven’t heard of, so I strive to always learn and grow. As a district leader, I know that I can never stop learning if I want to keep leading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My need for continuous learning pushes me to seek out about new things, read about them, and try them out, doing whatever I can to learn more and keep current. If you have FOMO too, then you know that internal drive to keep learning. That is particularly true when it comes to technology.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As school and district leaders, we need to stay on top of the changing educational landscape while ensuring that our schools, our teachers, and our students are equipped to thrive within this technologically advancing environment. Regularly reading edtech blogs and attending conferences can be great ways to keep current, but sometimes you need some hands-on exposure to a new tool to really find its value.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Technology is changing by the minute as artificial intelligence, and virtual reality is altering the way we approach teaching and learning. Augmented reality is one pathway for teachers to immerse students in learning experiences that combine creativity and technology skills. You may have heard about 3DBear, a new augmented reality tool that is opening doors for students and unlocking their creativity.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grab a free trial so that you can learn more about using this tech tool in your school. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><a href="https://3dbear.io/freetrial"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://3dbear.io/freetrial</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Creation, Not Consumption</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As leaders, we want students in our schools spending time in creation, not merely consumption. For this to truly happen, we need to equip our teachers with the knowledge to design these learning opportunities for our teachers. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Students can certainly read about medieval times or learn about dinosaurs in textbooks or through video. What if instead, students could immerse themselves in this learning making and creating the very topics they are learning about? When students create using augmented reality, they activate their imaginations and skillfully craft products that they can share immediately with others, offering opportunities for global collaboration.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><img height="66" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/88-dPCHsqib_ncGLrNWaREg69Xmqo01ka7RYEWR-YkAANFLFQHOfOCazxLJkR0Vi3e9k0GHE67cAkdk5m00jbgVDJjQjeSOGHEB6qhfmaJUGBL5Hea8d734T-1u3i6CLfHC93xh_" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="241" /></span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JgYb_T2wy2JqHdnmhk_kax3VkHegv5NcPIceVAsiwyZaGjK1ddbLYyJI9Z31p8VKZlXiNn70Iar0sFIB8el2r6Ouh9mg1GwJXFw48SRiCMPv5ftkVx62h0bQBbbn8VGzHWLzwx2d" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JgYb_T2wy2JqHdnmhk_kax3VkHegv5NcPIceVAsiwyZaGjK1ddbLYyJI9Z31p8VKZlXiNn70Iar0sFIB8el2r6Ouh9mg1GwJXFw48SRiCMPv5ftkVx62h0bQBbbn8VGzHWLzwx2d" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="248" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3DBear provides endless possibilities for classroom creation. In any subject area and at any grade level, this app will allow students to create scenes that invoke creativity, demonstrate knowledge and build technology skills. Once students (and teachers) start to engage with the app, they will soon discover that they can bring their creations to life by connecting to a 3-D printer. No longer focused on consuming information, students have the ability to create and produce their own designs.</span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Activate Creative Thinking</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I want students to be problem solvers and complex thinkers. We need classrooms where students are challenged to engage in thinking, planning, and iterating as they develop collaboration and critical thinking skills. When students are working in 3DBear they will activate creative thinking as they plan and design their images, carefully mapping out their images and making their learning visible for others. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Exploring with this tool, I quickly found my creative juices flowing. Looking outside at the flurries falling from the sky, I used the 3DBear app to create a virtual flower garden indoors. As I worked, I found myself rearranging the plants and flowers thinking about the aesthetics of my image. While I was informally creating with the app, I wondered how students might use this to redesign their classroom, build an ancient structure, or create a welcoming landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My augmented reality flower garden</span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Content Integration</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When teachers are designing lessons, 3DBear offers ways to enhance learning within the content areas. English Language Arts teachers looking for another layer of engagement can have students design scenes from the stories they are reading. Math teachers looking to develop spatial awareness and build an understanding of geometry concepts with find options within the app. Science teachers will love the bank of images that can be used when students are studying plants and animals or the solar system. Merging knowledge from math and science with tech is a great step towards STEM and STEAM lesson integration as well. Check out this solar system image I created after just a few minutes tinkering with the app on my phone. Imagine what students might create when given the time and space to explore augmented reality in the classroom.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Solar System Exploration in 3DBear</span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Engagement At All Levels</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3DBear can be used in simple ways in the primary classroom but can increase in complexity throughout the grade levels. First-grade classrooms can jump into augmented reality to build words and even practice spelling. The tool can be used to practice vocabulary and create images to enhance word meaning. Intermediate level students can expand use to build intricate scenes connected to creative storytelling and narrative writing. Middle-level science classes create animal habitats. High school students design homes and 3-D print the components. 3DBear can support academic learning, social-emotional learning, but it can also just be for fun. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This weekend my sons (ages 4 and 6) messed around with the app and created this image for March Madness. Even my preschooler was engaged and used his iPad to create other scenes on his own. </span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ease of Use</span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We know that adding something new to the plates of our teachers can present its challenges, but 3DBear makes it easy with a teacher dashboard. This tool provides lesson plans and resources so teachers can get started right away. The dashboard provides examples for all subject areas making 3DBear an easy-to-learn and quick to use the platform. Get this into the hands of your teachers, so that can share in the fun with your students.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since this tool is easy to use and can work across grades and subject areas, I can see this becoming a favorite app for teachers and students. Check out </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://3dbear.io/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://3dbear.io/</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> for more information.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a district leader and educator, this is the kind of tool that I want my teachers exploring. It provides an opportunity for exploration and student creation in so many ways. Teachers will find 3DBear easy to use, as will students. Take advantage of their free 30-day trials for teachers and sign up for an account here </span><span lang="EN"><a href="https://3dbear.io/freetrial"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">https://3dbear.io/freetrial</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516220280730392582.post-61822073818195751362019-03-16T05:26:00.002-07:002019-03-16T05:26:25.966-07:00Stop Teaching Skills That DisappearI recently had the opportunity to watch the educational documentary, <i><a href="https://teddintersmith.com/mltsfilm/">Most Likely to Succeed</a> </i>by Ted Dintersmith. It's a pretty powerful video. While there were dozens of ideas that struck me during the viewing, there was one particular idea that I keep circling back to.<br />
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I understand that we all have a curriculum to teach and standards to align our instruction to, but I think we need to ask ourselves some tough questions about what exactly we are teaching.<br />
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Are we teaching students things that stay with them or are we teaching them <b>things that disappear</b>?<br />
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If you really think hard about this, it might be a game-changing question for you.<br />
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My son is in first grade and every Friday he has a spelling test, a vocabulary quiz, and a reading test. Don't get me started on the fact that a 6 year old has already deemed Fridays as "test days". He knows about the 5-day death march that we trudge through week after week.<br />
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Luckily, he doesn't have to study a lot for these tests, as he has strong literacy skills. But, imagine if he didn't. Some students have to study for 4 or 5 tests every Friday. Let's think about what it is that he is learning. He gets a set of spelling words on Monday and then is tested at the end of the week. Once Friday comes and goes, that knowledge also goes. While he will apply spelling patterns in the future, he'll never have to regurgitate that list again. Why have we created these routines in education?<br />
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Consider a similar situation in an upper level math class. Our students memorize formulas for the big test and then throw that information away once it has served its purpose. I fear that we are forcing our students to consume information that they will never use again. What if we taught students things that stuck with them, like how to work in a group or how to think flexibly about a problem. What if our lessons focused on how to communicate with others and confidently present an idea.<span style="background-color: white;"> Then we would be equipping students with skills for life, the skills that don't disappear on Friday or any day a year or two from now. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We wonder why kids say--when am I ever going to use this? It's because we are teaching them things that will disappear--likely sooner than later. </span><span style="background-color: white;">How can we change that trajectory?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Connect with kids--</b>Every conversation we have with our students allows us to model the importance of relationships. The interactions we have and the stories we tell shows students that people matter. Their words matter. That is a life lesson that won't fade away throughout their schooling.</span><br />
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<b>Design tasks that matter--</b>Rethink your instruction and create tasks that push student thinking and force them to tap into skills that don't disappear like grit, empathy, and perseverance. Memorized skills and rote repetition won't stick with your students much beyond Friday's test. Opt for learning experiences that will expand creativity<span style="background-color: white;"> and equip them to solve problems. These are tools that will help them in any class, job, or life experience.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Provide a purpose-</b>Learning a topic "because we have to" or taking a test on Friday out of habit are not good enough reasons for me. Tell your students why they are learning what they are learning. Define the purpose and make sure it's a good one! Provide students with the reasons behind the content they are learning. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">When we provide a purpose, connect with kids, and design tasks that matter, we are building knowledge within our learners that won't fade away over time. We can give them a foundation for learning that will stick with them and show them the value in this thing we call school.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">This week, reflect on what you are teaching and assessing. Are you focused on skills for Friday or skills for the future? Teach your students the things that won't disappear. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Share a comment below about your reflection. </span><br />
<br />Jacie Maslykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601704759270776796noreply@blogger.com0