Where did Christmas Come From?
Watch this video and come away educated:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbUVKXdu4lQ&w=560&h=315]Share this:
14 Holiday Websites and 5 Projects
Need a few websites to fill in free minutes? Here are holiday websites that will keep students busy while teaching them (click for updates to list):
- 12 Days of Christmas
- 55 Christmas Project Ideas for Elementary Schoolage Students
- Christmas Celebrations Across the World (video)
- Christmas puzzles and games
- Christmas—history—fun video
- Christmas Traditions Around the World (video)
- Gift Hunt–updated version of 12 Days of Christmas–just as much fun
- Holiday Crossword
- Holiday Elf Games
- Holiday—Math Facts
- Holiday—North Pole Academy
- Holiday STEM Activities
- Phone call from Santa
- Santa Tracker
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Holiday Gifts for Teachers
Holiday gifts for teachers are a challenge. If your child has many teachers, it’s difficult to find a personalized gift for each that is both affordable and valued. For me, as a teacher, I am always happy with a gift certificate that works anywhere but there are time-proven gifts that don’t sound sounds like “money”.
Most popular gifts
When I chat with teacher friends, here are the most popular gifts they’ve gotten over the years. Many are free and others allow you to spend only what you can afford while still giving a gift the teacher will love.
Compliments to the Administration
Happy parents often forget to share their joy with the teachers’ administrators. Too often, Principals hear from parents only when they’re angry about the teacher or some class activity. Providing unsolicited good news about the teacher’s effectiveness is a wonderful treat for both the teacher and the school’s administrators.
A Thank You Letter
Handwrite a note to the teacher telling them how much you and your child appreciate what they do. There’s little more valuable to a teacher than the acknowledgment from stakeholders that their efforts are appreciated.
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Five Must-Do Skills to Accomplish During High School
Lou Holtz, the University of Notre Dame’s erudite ex-coach, entrusted with turning UND football players into graduates, once exhorted, “How you respond to the challenge in the second half will determine what you become after the game, whether you are a winner or a loser.”High School is like the second half, and you’re about to find out if you’re a winner. At the starting line, all students are equal, crossing the freshman threshold with the same opportunities, and same possibilities for their future. The 4.0 student stands shoulder to shoulder with the star athlete, and the C student who aspires to nothing more than minimum wage work has an equal chance that inspiration will strike. Every one approaches the starting line, not knowing if the race will be won with brains, hard work, willpower, or intensity of desire.
But you’re different. You know what you want: USNA. There are five general skills you’ll have to learn over the next three years (if you don’t have them by the time applications go out, prior to senior year, it’ll be too late).
- How to solve problems
- How to manage your time
- How to prioritize
- How to get along with people
- How to think
Maybe you’re thinking, that’s easy. I do it every day. Or maybe you’re wondering: How do I make this happen? I can answer both: It’s not easy or everyone would do it. The only thing easy is the instructions for making it happen. (more…)
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7 Online Resources About Creating a #MakerSpace
A school-based makerspace is a hands-on, creative environment where students can explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and other interdisciplinary subjects. These spaces empower students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills while working on real-world projects. Key features are:
- Tools and Equipment:
- Basic Tools: Screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, and measuring devices.
- Technology: 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and vinyl cutters.
- Electronics: Arduino kits, Raspberry Pi boards, soldering stations, and basic circuitry tools.
- Crafting Tools: Sewing machines, paper cutters, and hot glue guns.
- Workstations:
- Dedicated areas for specific tasks like soldering, 3D printing, coding, or woodworking.
- Materials:
- Cardboard, wood, fabric, plastics, LEDs, wires, and recyclables for prototyping and building.
- Software:
- Tools for design, coding, and 3D modeling (e.g., Tinkercad, Fusion 360, Scratch, or Python IDEs).
- Learning Opportunities:
- Workshops or guided projects on topics like robotics, coding, 3D modeling, and engineering principles.
- Integration with the school’s curriculum to reinforce learning in subjects like physics, math,
Here are 7 online resources to help you create a school-based MakerSpace (click here for updates on this list):
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Three Projects to Kick Off the Holidays
Click to enlarge lesson plan
A Holiday Calendar
Kids love making this calendar. They get to talk about their upcoming vacations and hear what their friends are doing. It’s simple enough for third grade with advanced tools that satisfy a fifth graders growing intellect.
A Holiday Newsletter
Have students collaborate on a newsletter for a classroom unit of inquiry or a theme (colonies, animals, etc). Pick a template. Add text and pictures. Pay attention to layout details. Allow several class periods to complete
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Teacher-Authors: What’s Happening on my Writer’s Blog
A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog for writers. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month here.
In my prehistoric fiction, my characters must squat because sitting in chairs didn’t become popular until about 4,000 BCE and my current trilogy takes place 75,000 BCE. To my surprise, a lot of readers had comments about this. If you have time, click through to the original article and check out what they had to say! (more…)
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What You Might Have Missed in November–What’s up in December
Here are the most-read posts for the past month:
- Tips for Supporting Students With Special Needs Using Technology
- 26 Online LMS Resources
- 7 Ways to Evaluate Websites
- National STEM Day Nov. 8th
- A Day to Remember Veterans
- Geography Awareness Week: November 11-15, 2024
- How to Put Kindness in Your Classes
- 4 Critical Pieces of Every Lesson and How to Gamify Them video
- 14 Apps and 2 Projects for Thanksgiving
- Thanksgiving Activities That Keep You in Charge of Learning
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:
- What’s happening on my writer’s blog
- Three projects to kick off the holidays
- 7 online resources about Maker Spaces
- 14 holiday websites and 5+ projects
- We’re closed for the holidays!
–image credit to Deposit Photo
Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm
“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
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Subscriber Special: Free PDF with your print book purchase
Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching.
December 2-5, 2024
Structured Learning
A Free PDF of the print textbook you purchased
with proof of purchase.
Email a copy of the purchase receipt
showing the K-8 textbook or
toolkit you ordered and the date you
ordered it to:
Enjoy making all of these wonderful
projects even more with a FREE PDF.
Offer good thirty days from purchase only
Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm
“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
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Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders
Ask a Tech Teacher is officially on Thanksgiving break so I’m going to pop in here with two posts from our international team that just couldn’t wait:
- Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders: Building Skills with Fun–perfect for those still doing Hour of Code in December (see below)
-
From Blank Page to First Chapter: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Start Writing a Book–for the teacher-authors following Ask a Tech Teacher, a how-to primer on writing the book that rattles around in your head (click link)
Top 5 Game Development Platforms for Young Coders: Building Skills with Fun
Imagine a world where kids can bring their wildest ideas to life, creating games full of flying dragons, talking robots, and mysterious mazes. What if coding could be that fun? Well, it absolutely can be! Learning to code through game development is like having a backstage pass to the world of game creation, where kids don’t just play games—they build them!
At CodaKid, we believe coding should be as exciting as the games kids love to play. With a little guidance, young coders can learn the basics of programming, all while designing their own worlds, characters, and stories. And the best part? Game development teaches kids valuable skills like creativity, problem-solving, and persistence—skills they’ll use for life!
In this article, we’ll explore five awesome game development platforms that make learning to code as fun as a high-score screen. Let’s dive in and find the perfect platform to inspire your young game designer! (more…)