Grouping students for lessons can sometimes border on the mundane.  It can be very easy to fall into a predictable manor by which we place students into groups for activities in class.  Part of what keeps a class interesting is unpredictability…the good kind! To that end, we have compiled twelve different ideas, four for each size [...]

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, many people use this occasion to honor Mexican contributions to our country. Take advantage of this holiday to have your students look around your community for examples of Mexican tradition and [...]

If you teach elementary school and want a fun activity that teaches some of the trivia related to Halloween in under 30 minutes, we have just the thing for you! This activity uses a PowerPoint  provided by www.uncw.edu/EdGames.  You can download this template by clicking on the picture or clicking here. Halloween Game 1.  Print [...]

With this being an election year, it’d be a shame to pass up an opportunity to highten students awareness of how presidential elections are waged.  We have created a new game for you to play with your secondary students that we think you’ll love.  Everything y0u need to play the game including a lesson is [...]

Get your students and their  family to join in as the Democrats and Republicans nominate their candidate for President of the United States! Print this sheet out and make a copy for each student to take home before each acceptance speech.  Use it as a civics assignment, homework, or just to get their geek on! [...]

Imagine taking a class of middle school students outside to play “capture the flag.”  The mere mention of going outside for class will cause some middle schoolers to wet themselves in blissful anticipation of escaping the confines of school!  The addition of playing a popular outdoor game only heightens that feeling.  Better yet, the whole [...]

I came across a great, free resource of assorted IWB (Interactive Whiteboard) tools. The resources are by Triptico and can be downloaded HERE. Some are typical tools also found in IWB-maker software such as timers and student pickers. However, I found some really creative ones that create fun games such as the image you see [...]

The National Archives (@TodaysDocument on Twitter) has a great tool that I’ve become a big fan of. The tool is called Today’s Doc. You can visit the website here or get the app for your Apple or Android device here. Each day, you can view a great primary source document tied to our history. Sometimes they [...]

A good definition of Disruptive Technology can be summed up as:  “A new technology that changes the current way of approaching a particular problem or issue.”  Using this definition, tablets certainly fit the bill.  From our earliest days of life, we are hard-wired as humans to reach out and touch what we want.  Tablets allow [...]

“Game” doesn’t have to be a bad word in classrooms. Well executed, purposeful games can be an active way for students to process information. Games can also help students retain and recall information because, if done thoughtfuly, they can engage several multiple intelligences. Here are 8 games that you can use in virtually any subject [...]