Ninja Notes

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BrainNinjasWP

9 Spectacular Art Projects For a Pen and Paper

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If you are looking for some very simple art projects you can do in your upper elementary classroom with just a pen and paper. We've included all the instructions so you can create these beautiful but very simple art projects for elementary students. Come take a look and find the one you'll save when you need something in a pinch.

Quick art projects using only pen and paper are essential for busy elementary teachers. This post is especially for those who don’t consider themselves “art people” or who face budget constraints, classroom size limits or material shortages. Unlike complex art lessons requiring setup time and specialty supplies, these 9 projects can be done in 15–30 minutes with just a black Sharpie and printer paper. They’re classroom-tested, prep-free, and guaranteed to work in any upper elementary (grades 3–6) setting. Continue reading to learn more.

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5 Fascinating and Inspiring Canadian Trailblazers

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There are many interesting Canadian trailblazers who have stood up in the face of discrimination. Come learn more about Mary Two-Axe Earley, Viola Desmond, Elsie MacGill, Willie O'Ree and Abhayjeet Singh Sachal.

We teamed up with several Canadian teacher-authors to collaborate on different historical (and modern) Canadian trailblazers that you should be teaching your students about.

A trailblazer is the first to do something or to lead the way for others. This term is often used to describe someone who pioneers a new idea, creates a new path, or achieves something that has never been done before. Trailblazers are often seen as innovators or leaders who inspire others to follow in their footsteps. They create positive change in society. They may face challenges and obstacles along the way, but they persist in pursuing their goals and paving the way for others to follow.

How well do you know these Canadian trailblazers?

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How to Make Teaching Patterns Painless

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Patterns are everywhere! Use this set of activities and lessons to show your students where they can find patterns in nature, in math class and how patterns and math are connected. Come have a read and get your upper elementary patterns unit planned in minutes.

For younger grades, teaching patterns seems easier because the use of pattern blocks and colour makes it more fun and interesting. But older grades benefit from finding patterns, too. How do patterns help build math brains? They help teach number sense, develop numerical thinking, and help students make predictions based on what they know. Come learn some of the activities we use to make teaching patterns painless.

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Astronomy Lessons That Are Out of This World

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Are you trying to find lessons for your space or astronomy unit? We gathered up our best lessons that inspire your students to research, learn, create and inquire about all thing space including stars, planets, space travel and astronauts. Come take a look and get your science lessons planned for the whole unit!

Ever since I can remember, the objects in space have fascinated me. Whether learning about Halley’s Comet in science class or taking astronomy lessons while in university, it has always been exciting to learn about the different objects in the Universe.

As an adult, learning about the different ways cultures talk about objects in space has been even more interesting. During a trip to Australia, the stories of the people who lived in the Luritja lands were shared during an astronomy presentation. It was the first time I had an appreciation that the Greek-named constellations and the stories I had learned growing up weren’t the first stories to be told about the stars. At that time, I started seeking out the stories told by Indigenous People across North America.

That is when I decided there were many more astronomy lessons to be learned in the classroom. Read on to see some of the lessons we use in our classroom.

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Amazing Measurement Activities to Stretch Math

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Are you looking for measurement activities to spice up your math lessons? We collected all our favourite ideas for our upper elementary classroom and put it all together for you. Come have a read and get your math class class planned in minutes.

Measurement is one of those math strands that requires lots of hands-on activities and practice. While students can learn about the different measurements and units through learning about them, it essentially takes a lot of practice measuring to really understand how all the measurements work together.

We have found that a combination of book learning and reference materials supports students while they use units to measure different items. Read on to learn about some of the different measurement activities we use to help students master the metric system (and other units of measurement).

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15 Ways to Use Sticky Notes in the Classroom

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Are you looking for ways to use sticky notes in your classroom? We put together a list of some of the ways we use sticky notes because we love to use them. They are so easy to use, kids love them and there are endless possibilities. Come read!

Sticky notes are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of ways to enhance classroom learning. It’s no secret that most teachers love sticky notes because they come in a variety of styles, sizes and colours. There are so many different ways to use them whether they have lines or are blank. We’ve collected our favourite ways to use sticky notes in the classroom and felt we had to share them with you.

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