I know, I know, I know. A quilt activity and display isn’t anything new. And yet I can’t resist sharing this free activity I found at TheMailbox.com. The idea can easily be adapted for use in any grade level. It’s quick and easy for teachers, and it encourages students to embrace themselves and others just…
Social Studies
Why Thursday?
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on a Thursday? If you follow the turkey trail, it appears that the midweek celebration dates back to the early history of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, when post-harvest holidays were celebrated on the weekday regularly set aside as Lecture Day. Yet Thanksgivings past haven’t…
The Poop on Poppies
Yes, I just used the word poop. There I used it again. I believe the Common Core State Standards would define this use of language as informal. And I am an informal type of gal. With today being Veterans Day, I wanted to share some interesting facts about poppies. Up until last night, I only…
Flat or Round?
Next Monday, October 12th, is Columbus Day. When I was a kid, Christopher Columbus was a hero—at least in my mind. Parts of the poem “In 1492” remain ingrained in my brain: In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He had three ships and left from Spain. He sailed through sunshine, wind,…
45 Years Strong
Next Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day—a day on which people around the world renew their commitment to our Earth’s environment. What began in the United States 45 years ago as a day of environmental teaching and awareness is now celebrated in classrooms around the globe. Very nifty, indeed! If you haven’t yet selected your…
Will We Ever Get There?
The people: My best friend, Jules, and me The plan: We will travel overseas for Thanksgiving The problems: Planning with a three hour time difference (she’s in California, and I’m in North Carolina), flight hassles, lodging issues, inability to speak French So that pretty much sums it up. I love to travel—and I really love…
I Need a New Car!
My car has character. And by character, I mean that the gas gauge doesn’t work; the fan only works on number 3 (it’s pretty much hurricane winds or nothing); the car needs new brakes and new tires; there are three separate oil leaks; plus there’s something wrong with the ignition switch so it randomly tells…
Make An Editor’s Day!
Are your ears burning? If they’re not, they should be! You know how the saying goes; if your ears burn someone is talkin’ about ya. And I’m here to report that you are being talked about in a really, really great way! You see the editors here at The Mailbox know you have the very…
History Without Standards
I went looking for a different kind of standard. We have the Common Core State Standards, which cover mathematics and language arts. We also have the Next Generation Science Standards, already adopted by six states. But what about history standards? (And the arts? And civics? And common sense?) What I found was the National Center…
A Few of My Favorite Things
Over the last several years, I’ve enjoyed working closely with the other editors here at The Mailbox to create, edit, and share a slew of great ideas for upper grades teachers. Just for fun, I’d like to share a few of my favorite ideas for your consideration. “My Page” – Sure, kids these days are…