Colonial America and American Revolution Resources

One of the things that I LOVE the most about teaching 5th grade social studies is when we get to the lessons for Colonial America (the Original Thirteen Colonies) and The Revolutionary War.  As a student, I loathed social studies because it was soooooo boring.  We'd read out of the book and answer the questions at the end of the chapter on a sheet of paper.  Then, we'd move on.  I never remembered anything.  Of course, I don't blame my teachers.  This is what they were supposed to do.

When I started teaching, I realized that I was doing the same thing to my students.  They were responding the same way that I did when I was in their shoes.  I needed to change some things up! After many years of creating, researching, and tweaking, I rarely use the text as more than a curriculum mapping tool.  I do use the pictures and some of the activities, but I usually throw in my own spin with an interactive project or a graphic novel- something to really get the kids interested.  This has transformed my teaching and the kids' interest in some really great lessons from American history.  Here are some of my resources that you can get to use in your own classroom.  Click on any of the links (titles) or images to get them.  You can also visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store here for lots of FREE and for-sale items.

If I was an Explorer... An Autobiography Writing Project

This kicks off our U.S. History studies.  We learn about the most famous people to explore the Americas, which leads into the European Colonization of North America.

The Roanoke Missing Persons Case...SOLVED!!!

This is always a big hit with my students and is one of my best-sellers.  Students learn about the missing colonists of Roanoke (Island) and use the clues that they write in their casebooks to create their own version of what really happened to the colonists.  It comes with a casebook, rubric, and more.

Jamestown Colony Newspaper Project

This is another writing project that describes important from the Jamestown Settlement, as the first successful English Settlement in America. 

Colonial America (Original Thirteen Colonies) Journal and Letter Writing Activity

This is based on the book "If I Lived in Colonial Times," but it's not necessary to use that book to complete this activity.  Students learn about life in Colonial America.  Then, they write a letter to their parents from the perspective of a Colonial child. They explain how different their life is as a Colonial kid compared to their real life.

Revolutionary War Vocabulary Activities and Games

This is what I use to introduce students to some of them most important vocabulary they will need to understand when learning About the American Revolutionary War.  The terms are general and are used across all of the resources we use for studying the revolutionary War.

My Brother Sam is Dead Vocabulary Activities and Games

This is a set of vocabulary activities and games for the novel My Brother Sam is Dead.  All 11 activities focus on the same 10 words.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  You can visit me at my Teachers Pay Teachers store to see all of my Elementary and Middle School resources.

Fractured Fairy Tales

This Fractured Fairy Tale Writing Set is one of my most popular items (with students and teachers).   This creative and narrative writing activity requires students to choose a traditional fairy tale to use as a springboard to compose a new "fractured" version of the story.  They will have to focus on one character's perspective and write the story from his/her point of view.  (So, it's really a great lesson for teacher character perspective or point of view also).  You can download it by clicking here or on any of the links or pictures.

This is very versatile, and can be used across several grade levels.  The set is easy to use.  You just print and go.  It includes:

- Teacher information
- Student directions
- Brainstorming organizers
- Student-friendly rubric
- Original teacher-created examples of brainstorming organizer and story
- Writing paper for final copies
- Pages to create a student or class book

I love creating a class book after all students are done with their final copies.  It goes in the class library for everyone to read throughout the year.  At the end of the year, I auction it off during a class celebration.  It's also fun to keep a copy from year-to-year and share those with students.

Thank you for visiting!

Simile and Metaphor Poetry Set

Simile and Metaphor Poetry Set

Studying similes and metaphors can be tricky, especially for students who have limited experience with figurative language or who are learning about it for the first time.  This resource is intended to support all students learning about figurative language.  Students will use similes and metaphors to create a poem about any topic they choose.  You can require very basic similes and metaphors or more detailed and descriptive ones.  You can get yours at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store or click on any of the links or the picture below.

  I've included the following resources in this product:

· Teacher Information and Directions

This includes a general overview, objectives, and directions.

· Posters for Simile and Metaphor

One poster for each with examples and graphics

· Writing Organizers/Idea Webs

There is a blank copy and a copy that tells what should go in each space.

· Examples of Organizer and Completed Poem

These are my examples that I use to model the process and final product.

· Student Rubric

You can use this of you want to grade the poem.  It includes areas for ideas, organization, imagery, and conventions.

· Writing Paper

 There are 5 pages of decorative paper if you want to have students write their poems on them.

Valentine's Day Activities: Games, Writing, Math

Valentine's Day can be a wacky day and a fun one for sure!  Here are some resources that can help teachers get some academic work done on Valentine's Day.  Click here to go to the complete set of resources or click on any of the product images below to go directly to those items. 

This is one of two Valentine's Day Math activities for students in grades 3-6. 

 

 Valentine's Day Word Games

 

Click here for a Valentine's Day Letter Writing Assignment. 

It includes a rubric and decorative writing paper!

Christmas Games, Writing, Math, and More

This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year to be a teacher.  There are so many fun, educational (and some just fun) things to do in the classroom.  People are happy, the air smells of hot cocoa at least once a week (thanks to some amazing parents), and the snow brings on such excitement.

As our two week break gets closer, there are some activities that I like to do to keep the kiddos interested and motivated in the classroom.  You can find all of these activities in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Use this link to go directly to the Christmas Resources page.  You can click on any of the links or pictures below to go directly to the product pages also.

 

 

Christmas Taboo and Scattergories Games

 

 

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Mad Libs Edition

Dear Santa,...

A Holiday Gift Persuasive Writing Activity

 

 

 



Holiday Gift Tags (FREE)

 

 

 

Holiday Writing Paper

 

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

 

Thanksgiving Activities

Here are a few of my new and updated Thanksgiving resources.  Enjoy!

A Turkey's Troubles:  A Persuasive Writing Activity

 

Students write from the perspective of a turkey and try to convince a shopper to buy a different turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner.  Included are student directions, brainstorming organizer, student rubric, and Thanksgiving themed writing paper.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Taboo and Scattergories Games

 

I LOVE games.  I created these two games based off the board games Scattergories and Taboo.  These are super for small groups, centers, or whole class.  Both provide great oral language practice and can be beneficial for students learning the English language.

 

 

 

 

 

Guided Reading and Literacy Center Schedule

Guided Reading and Center time is precious.  Keeping students informed on where to go, what to do, and when it should happen can be a huge time-sucker.  It can cut right into your sacred group time. 

I decided to create a schedule that can be displayed on my board and easily changed out every day to keep student aware of what the day's guided reading and literacy schedule would be.  After introducing how it would work, we practiced a few times, and students quickly got the hang of it.  No longer did I have to worry about interruptions during guided reading groups or while meeting with students with questions such as "Where do I go?"  and "When do I go to _____?"  To get your materials, click on any of the links or pictures below.



**************It's 50% off for the first 24 hours!****************

Guided Reading and Literacy Center Labels

 



 

 

 

FREE Writing Center to Celebrate

That's right...FREE!  No strings attached either.  I have recently made a Teachers Pay Teachers Store milestone, and I am celebrating and thanking all of my wonderful buyers and loyal followers.  For the next week, I will be offering one of my best selling Writing Centers for FREE.  It's called Are You Kidding Me? and is based off of the game Would You Rather?  It includes student directions, a planner, choice cards, a rubric, and writing paper.  It's a lot of fun for a range of grade levels.  You can get it here.  (Please remember copyright rules still apply.  If you have a friend or colleague who would also like this, they must visit my store and download their own set.)  I appreciate the referrals and any feedback you have.  This activity is one of four in a writing center bundle that I have in my store. 

Being part of the Teachers Pay Teachers community has been an amazing ride, and I have been rejuvenated as a teacher and as a person.  My students benefit so much as well, as I am constantly reflecting on every lesson or activity, new or old, to think about how to make it better. 

If you don't follow me on TpT, please consider.  My store name is Keep Calm and Teach.  I will be launching a surprise week of deals and steals in October, and being a follower will provide you with all of the information you'll need to get these great deals. 

No More Book Reports, Introducing...Book Recommendations

That's right- NO MORE BOOK REPORTS.  I have always said that I had some of the greatest teachers when I was growing up, but if there was one thing that I didn't enjoy about their classes was doing book reports.  They were always so boring, and I felt like I was always writing the same thing.

Being a teacher now, I can understand the objectives behind them (kind of), and I appreciate that I did learn some skills like summarizing, distinguishing between main ideas and minor details, and learning about plot.  However, I also remember how boring they were for me, and I can only imagine how boring they would be for my students if I assigned them.  I'm not blaming my teachers at all.  Times were just different.  No big deal.  I'm pretty sure that the ones who are still teaching haven't done a traditional book report in years anyway.

So, in order to keep the objectives in place but to make it a bit more interesting and personal for students, I have created my own version of Student Book Recommendations.  Allowing students to critique and rate books empowers them and gives them ownership of their work.   They love to see their critiques displayed and read by other students.  I like to refer students to the display of Book Recommendations so they can browse them to see if they find something they are interested in.

For the past couple of years, I have designated a specific wall or bulletin board in my classroom to display student recommendations and the materials students need to complete the activity.  Sometimes, I assign them as a literacy center, use them after a group finishes a literature circle book, or allow students to complete them instead of doing their Reader's Workshop Response Log.  

Coming soon will be a picture of the bulletin board with the student recommendations that my students have just finished.  

Here are some values I have found in this activity:
1. Kids are excited about being the expert, or person who gets to critique something.
2. Kids love to see their work displayed.
3. The kids enjoy when other students ask them about the book after reading their recommendation.
4. Kids like being able to choose which books they write about.
5. I learn which books my students are really interested in without having to take a formal poll.
6. This can be a quick assessment.
7. Kids are interactively positively with reading.
8. It makes a great looking bulletin board.

Click here or on any of the images below to get your own set, which includes:

- Teacher Information/Suggestions for Use

- Student Directions

- Student Writing Forms in 8 styles (1 pictured below)

- Student Rubric

- Book Recommendation Cover Page

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 



Creative Writing

How the Creature Got its Feature

Creative Writing Project

 

 

 

This creative writing assignment is one that I have really enjoyed doing with my students for the past few years.  I'm always amazed at what they come up with.  This would definitely work in grades 4-8.  Depending on your students' abilities, this could be adjusted and used at other levels too.  It can be used in different ways also when considering writing (shared, writer's workshop, writing centers, etc.)

 

Basically, students choose an animal that has a specific characteristic (ex. a zebra with stripes, a pig's curly tail, or a chameleon's changing colors) and writes a fictional, narrative story that tells "how the animal got its feature." 

 

Included in this set of materials are a lesson plan, an example story that I wrote with my class, student planning organizers, a student rubric, decorative writing paper, and materials to use to put a class book together (cover page, table of contents, about the author page).  I tried to make this collection complete so that you don't have to do anything but read through the materials and copy items that you want to use.  You can click here or on the picture to get the materials.

 

I'd love to hear your experience if you use this so please leave comments below.  Also, if you have any suggestions or ways to use this differently, please share.  Enjoy!

 

 

Writing Centers

On Sale Now...

 

 

This set of 4 Upper Elementary Writing Centers is now on sale.   Writing is always tricky in the upper elementary and middle school grades because students often see it as a daunting task.  These centers are fun, differentitated, and engaging.  Each of them comes with a pre-writing organizer and a rubric.  There are even several pages of decorative writing paper included. 

 

Centers included are:

- Are You Kidding Me?  (based on the activity Would You Rather...)

- R.A.F.T.

- Let Me Help You With That

- Picture Prompts

 

I have used them as whole class and intervention activities also.  Click below to preview the set.  Enjoy!

 



Writing Center: Would You Rather...?

I have to admit that I really didn't do much with literacy centers until about 5 years ago.  Up until then, it was something that always seemed more "primary" than "intermediate" elementary. 

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!!  Centers are what keep me sane (minus the planning and organizing of them).  My students love them, and they have really helped to keep my students engaged, on task, and have allowed them to really take a concept that we have learned and expand it.

So, I created some writing centers.  The one that I'd like to share today is called "Are You Kidding Me?"  It's based off of the game Would You Rather?

I created some of my own Would You Rather Cards and even bought the card game.  I laminated them, cute them out and out them in a tin can,.  Easy so far....

Then came the more difficult part- what do I want the outcome to be for my students?

I developed a planner/organizer in which students have to choose which item they would rather do (for example- Would you rather wear boots all summer or sandals all winter?).  They have to write down their choice and think of three reasons why they chose this.  Then, they have to list three details to defend each reason.  So, it became an expository/persuasive type or writing.  I created and gave them a rubric so they could do the next step- the official writing!

This is what amazed me.  I was so shocked at the increadible writing that they did.  Some used humor, some were extremely serioius, and some were a combination of both.  They were so fun to read a share with each other. 

So, I am now trying this with only 6 days left of school, and becuase of the timing I have to spruce it up a bit.  Today, students paired up, and went through the cards until they found one that they disagreed on.  Then, they started their organizers.  We will start the writing tomorrow with the editing and final copies to follow next week.  The new part of the assignment is that they will have to convince the rest of the class that their opinion is the more desireable one.  They will present their writing to the class, and the students will vote for which person convinced them the most.  This is definitely more persuasive writing than expository.  I'm excited to see how it turns out.  They could't stay quiet today becuase they kept telling each other why their choice was better. 

If you'd like to check out these materials, click here.

Click here to preview an entire set of writing centers.



Upper Elementary Writing Centers with Rubrics, Organizer, and Writing Paper

Literature Circles

One of my favorite activities to do with my students is literature circles.  I think it's because they love them so much.  It wasn't always like this for me.  Why?????  Well that's because it used to seem like a daunting task.  With literature circles, it's all about student generated discussions to foster deep understanding of the text.  It's very difficult to get students to be able to discuss among themselves.  So, I spent a lot of time several years thinking about different learning styles and Bloom's Taxonomy to develop activities, games, and journal pages for students to use in literature circles.  Now, with some training, students are able to run their own groups while having powerful discussions in which they learn so much from one another.  Below are some of the materials that I use and some pictures some AWESOME fifth graders working on the activities.  Click on any of the materials (or this link) to get them for yourself!



Cameron & Zolin work on
the Acrostic Poem for
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

 

Kat & Manuel work on the Party Invitation
for
The Mouse and the Motorcycle.



Nayeli and Melissa work on the
Party Invitation for
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Emely and Jessie work on the
Acrostic Poem and Party Invitation
for Someone Named Eva.

Everardo, Adriana, and Odalys work on
the Character Interview Activity
for Homer Price.

Camila and Alyssa work on the
Word Search Activity for
Homer Price.



       

Jaylynn works on the Word Search
for Someone Named Eva.



Get These Materials for Yourself
 

Literature Circle Bundle with all Literature Circle Materials



 



Character Map Activity

Acrostic Poem Activity



 

Book Recommendation Activity



Word Search Activity

 

Illustration Summary Activity

 

 

Literature Circle Activity Rubric

 

Literature Circle Job/Role Cards

Literature Circle Question Cards

Literature Circle Journal Cover

Literature Circle Journal Pages

Literature Circle Student Evaluation Form