How to Use Canva to Create Custom Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids to Share
Now that Groundhog Day has come and gone, Valentine’s Day is the next holiday that my daughters are looking forward to celebrating. Yesterday, both of them came home from school with letters from their teachers about Valentine’s Day activities planned for their classrooms. The activities are mostly the exchange of little cards between classmates. I’m […]
Brief Explanations of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Why Some States No Longer Have Columbus Day
Monday is Indigenous Peoples’ Day here in Maine. In other states it is still referred to as Columbus Day. The Daily Bellringer offers a good video that explains the history of Columbus Day and why some cities and states are now celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead. Watch the video on YouTube and open the description to find […]
A Few Short Lessons About Labor Day
This coming weekend is Labor Day Weekend in the United States and Canada. For most of us it is a three day weekend. It is the traditional “end of summer” in the minds of many of us. If you’re planning to answer questions about Labor Day or teach any lessons about it, here are some […]
My Updated List of Halloween-themed Activities and Resources
Halloween is just a couple of weeks away. My daughters are getting excited to wear their costumes (they’re going to be Winnie the Pooh and Tigger). Their excitement reminded me that it’s time for me to publish my annual list of Halloween-themed lesson activities and resources. This year’s list includes some of my old favorites […]
Three Short Lessons About Labor Day
Next Monday is Labor Day in the U.S. For most of us it is a three day weekend. It is the traditional “end of summer” in the minds of many of us. If you’re planning to answer questions about Labor Day or teach any lessons about it, here are some short videos to add to […]
Edible Glass Hearts and Other Lessons About Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is this coming Sunday. My daughter’s preschool is having a little celebration on Friday during which little cards will be exchanged. She’s very excited about Valentine’s Day as is her little sister. As I write this they’re making Valentine’s Day cookies (with supervision). Another Valentine’s Day activity that they could be doing (with […]
The Differences Between American and Canadian Thanksgiving
American Thanksgiving is later this week. My Canadian friends celebrated Thanksgiving last month. Besides the timing of the holiday, there are some other differences between American Thanksgiving and Canadian Thanksgiving. There are also some commonalities between the two holidays. The following videos provide a humorous look at the similarities and differences between American Thanksgiving and […]
Educational and Moving Memorial Day Videos
Tomorrow is Memorial Day here in the United States. Students often confuse the origin and purpose of Memorial Day with those of Veterans Day. The following videos can help students understand the origins and meanings of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The Meaning of Memorial Day is a two minute video covering the origins of […]
Woodrow Wilson’s Mother’s Day Proclamation and the History of Mother’s Day
According to President Woodrow Wilson’s proclamation in 1914, the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day in the United States. As the second Sunday in May is approaching, the U.S. National Archives recently featured President Wilson’s proclamation in the daily documents feed. That document can be used as part of the Emergence of Modern America […]
More Halloween Science and Math Lessons
Last week I shared a handful of Halloween-themed math and science activities. PBS Learning Media also has a collection of Halloween-themed science and mathematics lessons. PBS Learning Media’s Halloween collection includes lessons that can be used in elementary school, middle school, and high school classrooms. One of the elementary school Halloween-themed lessons is all about […]
Three Short Lessons About the Origins of Labor Day
This weekend, Labor Day weekend, is the unofficial end of summer. After this weekend nearly all students and teachers will be back in school. If you’re already back in school, you and your students are probably looking forward to the three day weekend. Before you start the three day weekend, take a few minutes to […]
Why Americans and Canadians Celebrate Labor Day
Next Monday is Labor Day. For most of us in the U.S. and Canada this marks the unofficial end of summer. If your students are wondering why they don’t have school on Monday, consider having them complete the TED-Ed lesson Why do Americans and Canadians Celebrate Labor Day? Through this lesson students can learn about the […]
The Origin of Memorial Day
Due to an injury and some pressing personal matters requiring my attention, posts for the rest of the week will be favorites from the archive. Memorial Day is on Monday. Here are a couple of quick resources that you may want to include in a lesson about Memorial Day. The Meaning of Memorial Day is a […]
The History of Mother’s Day
Happy 1st Mother’s Day to Jess. Isla’s awesome mom! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms reading my blog today! Hi Mom! (Yes, my mom reads my blog). Until today I never really wondered about the origin of Mother’s Day. So I did what most people do when they wonder about something now, I […]
A Couple of Short Lessons About Labor Day
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer in North America. Schools that started in August had a long weekend and the rest will start this week. If you’re looking for a short explanation of Labor Day to share with students, take a look at the two videos below. History of the Holidays is a […]
PBS LearningMedia Introduces New Curriculum-based iBooks
PBS LearningMedia has released a new series of iBooks for K-8 teachers. The series promises to provide teachers with iBooks on topics in math, English language arts, social studies, and Spanish language and culture. Each iBook will include lesson plans, videos, games, and other activities aligned to NCSS, ACTFL, and Common Core standards. Two iBooks […]