Teaching with Jennifer Findley
Upper Elementary Teaching Blog
Engineering and STEM activities are perfect during the months of spring. They work well for engaging lessons or even for behavior rewards. You can use the engaging activities as a reward for on-task and good behavior during the days/weeks leading up to the activity. This post shares TWO spring engineering activities with jelly beans that your students will … [Read more...] about Spring Engineering Activities with Jelly Beans
Plastic eggs fill the shelves during the months of March and April. March and April are also the months of the year when students get a bit antsy and ready for spring break. Mixing things up is a must! This post will share some fun and pretty simple to prep review games and ideas to use with plastic eggs. 1. Egg Hunt Egg hunts are so much! Simply fill eggs with … [Read more...] about Review Games and Ideas with Plastic Eggs
St. Patrick's Day is a fun little holiday that comes during a time in the classroom when behavior can be a bit dicey. State testing is on the horizon but so is Spring Break. Those don't often make the best combinations in the classroom. However, St. Patrick's Day can add a bit of fun and whimsy into what can otherwise be a stressful month. This post will share a favorite … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day Science Activity | Walking Rainbow
I remember the shift from multiple choice reading assessments to constructed response reading questions like it was yesterday. When we first made the shift, we got everything from blank stares (because they didn't understand the question), to single-word answers, simple phrases, off-topic answers, and let's not even talk about grammar and spelling. Hint: It was rough. … [Read more...] about Tips for Teaching RACE Constructed Response Strategy
Imagine this: You spend all weekend (or summer) prepping engaging reading centers. You are excited to introduce them to your students to supplement their independent reading and help them master the skills in new, engaging ways. But, how do you make sure your students actually do the work instead of goofing off? And then those who do the work, how do you make sure … [Read more...] about Reading Centers Management in 4th and 5th Grade
Confession: I had to relearn 4th and 5th grade math conceptually in order to best teach and support my students. I learned that when I taught algorithms and tricks without the foundation of a conceptual understanding, it really affected my students' mathematical understandings and how they solved word problems. When my students didn't have a conceptual understanding of … [Read more...] about Multiplying Fractions and Whole Numbers: Two Types of Problems
Fractions...otherwise known as the trickiest math concept known to man. Well, I may be exaggerating, but fractions certainly are not your average 5th grader's favorite math concept. Nor are they typically a teacher's favorite unit to teach. However, armed with some activities, tools, and tricks, fractions really don't have to be all that bad. This post will share … [Read more...] about Fraction Mats: Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers
One of my favorite parts of teaching is bringing in something totally unrelated to normal teaching, like candy, styrofoam balls, or even whipped cream, and telling the students that it is part of their lesson for the day. Their eyes light up. Some of them don't believe it. Some of them cheer. No matter what the response, they are instantly hooked, and a great lesson … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day Science Activity: Chocolate States of Matter
Multi-digit multiplication and division review can seem a bit tedious for some students. This multiplication and division game that uses Jenga to review is a perfect way to spice up your review and engage your students. Multiplication and Division Game Materials: For this game, you will need: Colored Jenga blocks —> I buy the precolored ones from Amazon … [Read more...] about Multiplication and Division Game with Jenga Blocks
Jenga games have always been a hit with my students. Since trying out Jenga with my students and seeing how engaged they were, I brainstormed even more math games to create (and share with you). This post will share a Jenga whole number game that reviews whole number skills and is perfect for 3rd-5th grade students (depending on the numbers you choose to use). Whole … [Read more...] about Whole Number Game | FREE Jenga Game
Valentine's Day is one of the best holidays for candy science activities. I typically do the candy hearts in various types of liquids, but a lot of times, by 5th grade, students have done that before, and we do similar science activities for dissolving candy pumpkins and dissolving candy canes in various types of liquid. One of my new go-to Valentine's Day science … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day Science Activity: Dissolving Candy Hearts in Varying Temperatures
Holidays are a great time to implement STEM activities. This post will share a fun Valentine STEM and reading activity involving Cupid's bow and arrow. I am obsessed with adding in the reading component to STEM activities to integrate literacy so this will share a reading passage to activate students prior knowledge and get them excited before the activity. For … [Read more...] about Valentine STEM and Reading Activity | Free Printables
