Student Engagement/Review Activity: 4 Corners

Do you want an engaging way to teach or review material?  How about an activity that involves movement?  Then 4 Corners is for you!

I got my inspiration for this activity from Responsive Classroom's Middle School Motivators! 22 Interactive Learning Structures.  Even though is says "Middle School", this activity could easily be used for upper elementary students as well.

The idea is to be able to use a multiple-choice test have students moving to different corners of the room, marked with the letters of the test choices.  I made letters big enough to see from anywhere in the room with PowerPoint.  I decided to laminate them so they would last longer.

Once they were laminated and cut apart, I hot-glued them to each of the corners of the room.  This glue gun is awesome!  It has the capability to be cordless and stays hot for a long time.  It's one of my Teacher Must-Haves to Start the Year Smoothly.

                                  

The last step is to read from the test or project it on the Interactive Whiteboard.  I have students pair up and discuss the answer before I let them choose an answer.  They must have a reason they can explain/support before moving to a corner.

And that's it!

Have you used any ideas from Middle School Motivators?  Do you use movement to review material in your classroom?  I'd love to hear about it!

Virginia Studies SOL Review and a FREEBIE

Would you like some resources to teach and/or review your Virginia Studies content?  Then this post if for you!  I'm sharing my favorite resources for the following:  SOL review, the Civil War, the American Revolution, and a FREEBIE that focuses on abolitionists and the formation of West Virginia.

To read the full post, go to the Virginia is for Teachers blog.
Virginia Studies SOL Review and Grammar Correction

Major Civil War Battles of Virginia Map

Patrick Henry Readers Theater

FREEBIE: Abolitionists and Formation of West Virginia PDF and Cloze Activity

To read the full post, go to the Virginia is for Teachers blog.

What are your go-to review activities for the Virginia Studies SOL?  I'd love to hear about them!

Growth Mindset Read-Aloud: Cornelius by Leo Lionni

As I was reading Cornelius by Leo Lionni, it occurred to me what a wonderful book this is to teach Growth Mindset.

After being picked on for being different by his friends, Cornelius decides to set off into the world to live life for himself.  He soon meets a monkey who can stand on his head and hang from his tail.  Cornelius decides that he, too, would like to stand on his head and hang from his tail.

The monkey reminds him that he can learn anything with "a lot of hard work and a little help."

I love the part about achieving your goals through hard work and a little help!  Eventually, Cornelius does learn to do the seemingly impossible task of standing on his head and hanging from his tail.


In true Leo Lionni style, the pictures are colorful, the words are few but well thought out, and the lessons go deep.


Have you used this book for other lessons?  I'd love to hear how!

Teacher Saviors: Beef Broth in the Crock Pot

It seems like everyone is getting sick right now!  Would you like to increase your immunity with an easy crock pot recipe?  If so, then read this post to see how I make Beef Bone Broth and Soup in my crock pot!

The first two steps are done the week or so BEFORE I make the broth.

1: I either save the bones from a beef roast/steaks, or I buy bones from the grocery store.  

These need to be stored in the freezer.

2: I collect the trimmings from my veggies as I cut them and put them in a Ziploc.  

Things I collect: The ends of carrots, onions, zucchini, celery and peppers, as well as slightly wilted spinach and leafy greens.  Basically, any kind of vegetable you'd expect to find in a vegetable soup.  These Ziplocs go in the freezer until they are full.

3: once I have a full Ziploc of veggie cuttings, I add those to the bottom of the crock pot.

You really only need to add enough veggies to fill about 1/2 of the pot.

****Add the following FRESH veggies if you haven't collected them as frozen veggies:  An onion, several carrots, and several pieces of celery.

4: I add the bones on top of the veggies.

5: I add 5-6 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon.

6: I liberally sprinkle Basil, Parsley, Oregano, and Thyme on top of the bones and veggies.

7: I fill the crock with water, leaving about 2 inches at the top. 

8: I set it on low for 8-10 hours (overnight on a weekend is great).

9: I strain out the bones and veggies, leaving just the broth.
This is a strainer on top of a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup.  Straining it into a measuring cup makes it easier to pour into the muffin cups in the next step.

10: I let the broth cool and then put it in 1-cup muffin tin to freeze it.
Once the broth is frozen, I pop it out of the muffin tin and put it in a Ziploc to store in my freezer.  When I'm ready to make soup, I just thaw several cups and use it as my soup base.

Do you have any crock pot bone broth recipes?  I'd love to hear about them!