Figuring out how to set up your upper elementary classroom library can feel overwhelming – there is so much to think about! Lessen the overwhelm by starting with first things first – how do you want your books to be sorted and arranged in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? After you have figured out how to arrange your …
Congratulations to the winners of the Teaching Made Practical 2023 Limerick Contest!Thanks to all who participated! I enjoyed reading through all of the thoughtful haiku so much, that I decided to host a limerick contest in the spring of 2023! You can make sure you are notified of any upcoming contests by signing up to my newsletter. You can do …
A change of scenery – especially when it involves learning outside – is a great way to reengage your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. Below, find 11 different example activities for taking your classroom outdoors! All of the activities are educational – you will find ideas for taking ELA lessons, math lessons, and science lessons outside. I sometimes recommend …
Are you wanting to celebrate National Poetry Month with your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students, but not sure where to start? Check out the 11 ideas below. There are no prep lesson activities, poetry lessons that will take you and your students outside, poetry book suggestions, easy bulletin board display ideas, tips for teaching students to write their own …
Have a poetry writing unit coming up soon? It doesn’t have to be intimidating, to you or your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students! Start with a template of one of the short forms of poetry below, and your students will quickly learn to love writing poems!Short Poems Your 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students Will Love to Write1. CoupletsWith …
Teaching Made Practical is having its first ever limerick writing contest! It’s easy…have your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students write their own original limerick, and submit it for it a chance for them to win! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will all receive a prize – and their teacher will win a prize as well!Limerick Contest Rules Entrants …
Congratulations to the winners of the Teaching Made Practical 2022 Haiku Contest!Thanks to all who participated! I enjoyed reading through all of the thoughtful haiku so much, that I decided to host a limerick contest in the spring of 2023! You can make sure you are notified of any upcoming contests by signing up to my newsletter. You can do …
Winter provides a unique opportunity in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms – a chance to celebrate all things cold. The winter activity ideas below cover a range of topics and can be used to help you easily spice up your winter lesson plans. Snowmen, polar bears, penguins, sled dogs, read alouds, snowball fights, and more. There are winter reading, …
Brave Irene is an interesting story of a young girl that braves a blizzard in order to make sure the duchess has her dress in time for the ball. The vocabulary and figurative language that the author William Steig uses is vivid and captivating. It lends itself to a variety of different reading activities to do along with reading the …
Snowmen at Night is a fun winter read aloud that draws out the imaginative side of kids. The text in this snowman book is not complicated, so it is often used for younger grade levels. However, the whimsy in this story appeals to readers of all ages, and the activity ideas below are geared towards 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade …