Be a Dinosaur Detective - STEAM, Biomimimicy

By: Sparking Children’s Thinkibility
Grades 1st-4th Archaeology, Science, Critical Thinking, English, Poems
 
Many children are fascinated by the magnificent dinosaurs. They are mysterious and exciting! So this dinosaur unit will surely be a hit with your students.

These activities are a  perfect way to think about what information is and how we get information. Palaeontologists do not always agree. A great way to get students excited about science.

This package contains:

Introduction to the unit. What we know, What we think we know, What we want to know.

1. What do you know? What do you want to learn?
2. Ways to find out about dinosaurs
3. What if I found an egg
4. When is an egg a dinosaur egg? Make a tally
5. My Dinosaur Egg Gallery
6. Write a story about a paleontologist who finds a dinosaur egg.
7. Dinosaurs - have, are, can. Dinosaurs are cool because. . .
8. Dinosaurs - have, are, can, what if, how, when, where, Dinosaurs are cool because. . .
9. Draw me
10. How do we know dinosaurs existed?
11. Digging for bones
12. Tricky but cool words
13. Ask the Dinosaurs Sparkling Questions
14. What did they look like?
15. My Gallery of Dinosaurs
16. Put up a display at the Dino Museum
17. I am a dinosaur – perhaps!
18. What if you could solve a dino mystery? - Storywriting
19. What if I found a dino baby? - Storywriting
20. Dinosaur or not a dinosaur - What do you think?
21. Shape Poem
22. Carnivore, Herbivore What did Dinosaurs eat?
23. Haunting but beautiful cries! Write a song. Invent an Instrument.
24. Dinosaur bridge
25. Invent a robot, toy, or car.
26. What if you were a dentist? Inspired by plant-eaters
27. Reflection on the learning.
28. How to use biomimicry in the classroom

Link to the Be a Dinosaur Detective - STEAM, Biomimimicy

 

One biomimicry activity includes using plant-eating dinosaurs as inspiration for new ideas. Why not grow new teeth?

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STEM - Be a Rabbit Detective - Life Cycle, Biomimicry, Inspiration for Ideas

By: Sparking Children’s Thinkibility
Grades Kindergarten-4th Science, Visual Arts, Critical Thinking

Rabbits are fluffy with long ears but they are also tremendously interesting. Popular pets and wonderful inspiration for new ideas and innovations!

This package contains:

1. Cards

2. Can you identify the different stages?
3. Fun facts
4. Rabbit Poem
5. What makes an animal a mammal?
6. Mammal or Non-Mammal - What do you think?
7. Rabbit words - make your own dictionary
8. When is a rabbit a rabbit and not a hare?
9. What do rabbits eat?
10. Ask the rabbit Sparkling Questions
11. Describe rabbit
12. Story writing prompt
13. Excited about jumping!
14. Draw Rabbits
15.Invent a jumping robot or. . .
16. What if you were trapped in a cage with no friends or toys to play with?
17. Use rabbits' ears as inspiration.
18. Reflection - assessment
19. How to use biomimicry in the classroom

Link to the STEM - Be a Rabbit Detective - Life Cycle, Biomimicry, Inspiration for Ideas

I would be delighted if you like to follow me on:
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Games Around the World

by Globe Trottin' Kids
K-5

It's time to play!!

Connect children to their peers around the world through traditional games like tag, hopscotch, tic-tac-toe, and dominoes. This fun and engaging product contains 35 games played by children in 23 different countries around the world. 

Each game card includes clear instructions to prepare and play the game, its country of origin, and printables when necessary.

Also included...

A world map 
Students locate the country of the game they will be playing.

A summary list 
Teachers and parents can quickly plan materials or equipment needed to play each game, as well as best setting to play (indoor/outdoor) and the number of children needed to play.

Additional activities
A selection of eight additional activities and related worksheets are included. For example, children are invited to create their own game or teach one of the games to their friends. 

Games Around the World

Globe Trottin' Kids creates and shares resources 

for teaching kids about world geography and cultures.

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Website/Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

STEAM - Biomimicry for Young Children - Animals in Snow

By Sparking Children's Thinkibility 
Grades: Kindergarten -4th, homeschooling,  Biology, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking

Animals do the most amazing things in the snow. Some of the things they do can be used to design cities and jumping robots.

Lessons about biomimicry require a brave approach to teaching since there is a move away from an approach where teachers are asking questions and looking for quick answers. Instead, young learners are given an opportunity to shape and explore their own ideas. Biomimicry and bioinspiration are constantly evolving and new ideas are explored to solve problems and designing innovations.

The booklet contains the following animals

Fox, Polar Bear, Squirrel, Seal, Reindeer/Caribou

1. Introduction to biomimicry

2. Fox observations

3. When is it good not to be seen?

4. Design something that makes you almost invisible

5. Fox mousing robot

6. Squirrels have great paws

7. Snow digging machine

8. My snow city

9. Polar bears are fascinating

10. Feet like a polar bear

11. Picture inspiration - polar bear challenge

12. Acrostic poem

13. What if I was a seal? Invent a wet suit or a . . .

14. Whiskers

15. Whiskers - story writing

16. I am in awe of caribou because. . .

17. Chasing a thief challenge

18. Eyes that change color

19. Observation cards

20. How to use biomimicry in the classroom

21. Links and book tips

22. 2 posters

Link to STEAM - Biomimicry for Young Children - Animals in Snow

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Encourage Critical Thinking this November!

       In our classrooms, we need to encourage critical thinking when it comes to popular historical events. We are sentimental as a nation, which is natural, and we are proud of our heritage, as we should be! But history has many viewpoints, and there is never just one side to a story.

This set requires kids to think about the following:

• What might others think about the first Thanksgiving? 
• What would a Wampanoag child think or feel if he/she were to meet the Pilgrims? 
• What would a Pilgrim child think at first sight of the Native Americans?
• Write a letter to Squanto. What would you say to him if he were alive today?
• Was he a hero? Or was he a traitor to his own people, and Chief Massasoit?
• What is the writer's point of view? Purpose? Message?

The sample below is just a preview of 23 pages in my new Thanksgiving resource: Squanto: Friend, Guide, and Teacher. This set encourages students to determine fact from opinion, and to write from 2 different points of view. This set includes vocabulary and prompts for writing. This is designed with grades 2-4 in mind, considering text level and questions. I hope this a meaningful resource for teachers and home-schoolers.

Click on the link below to check it out. 

SQUANTO: FRIEND, GUIDE, TEACHER

Thanks for checking this out!

Language Arts Lesson - "Digital Literacy - Can We Use Wikipedia?"

Language Arts Lesson - "Digital Literacy - Can We Use Wikipedia?"

By Mary Pat Mahoney Just Add Students

Grades 6 - 8

Getting students started on a research project, whether big or small, can be fraught with snags. Where should the research begin? What resources should students use? That’s why digital literacy is so important to teach! 

A first step into assessing online information is to look at the undoubtedly biggest and best loved resource: Wikipedia.

Whether you allow students to use Wikipedia or not, this activity will help them understand how and why it works. This is also a perfect lesson to use as a jumping off point for evaluating websites for bias and learning how to cite sources. 

This resource includes everything you need to start teaching today!

*Daily lesson plans
*Student survey activity with data collection and analysis
*Analysis of Wikipedia pages

*QR codes for easy reference
*Exit slips/ journal topics for each lesson
*Rubric for graphing analysis activity
*Answer keys