IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for THE ELECTION!

It's about time for the Presidential Election in the U.S.  My favorite way to teach election vocabulary is with ELECTION HINK PINKS, et al.  These word riddles help children learn to problem solve while exercising vocabulary skills (definitions, synonyms, parts of speech, rimes, ...).  These task cards prompt learners to interpret data, make inferences, draw conclusions, and analyze new information. Here's a sample:

These Hink Pink puzzles are ideal for upper elementary and middle school classes.

You may also like resources about presidents:

These resources focus on the 50 states:

This is a great time for these patriotic products, too:

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for PUMPKINS!

 It's pumpkin season! Fill your classroom with pumpkin resources:

PUMPKINOES are domino style math activities perfect for your fall math centers. These pumpkin math games and activities exercise skills ranging from counting to critical thinking; basic operations to HOTS. Pumpkin dominoes are open ended, easily differentiated, and useful for all elementary math classes.

These Latin Squares math puzzles will challenge children's deductive reasoning skills and help them acquire the critical thinking needed to solve Sudoku puzzles.  PUMPKIN SQUARES begin with an easy 3x3 grid appropriate for young learners.  The tasks progress gradually, increasing in difficulty up to a 7x7 grid.  PUMPKIN SQUARES are available in print and digitally on TPT Easel.

HOW MANY WAYS? Fall Edition is an open-ended, math bulletin board that is perfect computation practice for any elementary classroom.  Challenge your students' critical thinking and fluency to determine how many ways they can reach the target number by combining the values on the pumpkins.  The task is similar to Boogle(TM) for numbers.  Post the operation symbols and the target number you choose to easily differentiate the task.

HALLOWEEN SQUARE PUZZLERS are fun, yet challenging brain teaser puzzles for kids. They exercise critical thinking & problem solving, build perseverance & stamina, and stimulate the brain while disguising it all as fun. Similar to Scrambled Squares(TM), these printable, differentiated, logic puzzles must be reconstructed so the images match on every interior side. Use them for centers, stations, rotations, fast finishers, enrichment, GATE, and/or a class reward. Adored by all ages.

While the theme of this product is Halloween, the graphics have been chosen carefully to preclude concerns about frightening and/or evil visuals. The icons used are owls, pumpkins (no Jack-o'-lanterns), candy corn, and bats. All objects are presented in rainbow colors, adding to the light and happy feel of the puzzles.

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for SUDOKU!

 

Teaching your students to play SUDOKU has so much more value than just fun. Working on these puzzles gives your learners experience with problem solving skills, critical thinking abilities, perseveration practice, and improved focus. If you haven't introduced SUDOKU to your class, let me help you.

Use this animated PowerPoint presentation to break the process down into digestible bits.

Get it here:

Once you've given your students the tools to solve the puzzles, give them puzzles!  These are differentiated:

I use SUDOKU for:

• a critical thinking center
• differentiated instruction for enrichment and gifted students
• challenging fast finishers
• an anchor activity
• indoor recess
• a class reward

You may wish to provide "pre-sudoku" practice with Latin Squares.  They give similar practice on 3x3 through 7x7 grids. Here's an example:

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for MITTENS!

 

Each January I look forward to teaching The Mitten, any and all versions. To that end, I invite you to check out these resources for immersing your learners in all things MITTENS!

You can save 30% if you opt for the bundle:

IT'S ABOUT TIME, TEACHERS, for CREATIVE THINKING CHALLENGES

• Are you looking for weekly challenges to your learners' creative thinking? 
• Would you love it to be a home assignment?
• Would you be thrilled to get a full year of challenges that are print and go?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you should check out Destination: Imagination via Creative Thinking.

This eclectic collection of activities was created for use in my gifted and talented classrooms. The goal is to promote the 4 traits of gifted children: fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. But really, what child wouldn't benefit from working on those aspects? I have found these projects works very well with heterogeneous groups and have successfully used them with 1st - 5th graders.

These challenges are also a wonderful home-school connection that directs eager parents to work with their children in a constructive manner. Another benefit is that children learn to share their products with purpose and confidence. 

All of the project assignments are ready to print and send home.  Also included are notes to the teacher to help ensure the success of your students.  These notes are based on years of experience with the challenges.

TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT.   You can get a better sense of what this project offers by checking out this FREE activity that is included in Destination: Imagination via Creative Thinking Vol. 2: