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Social Studies

Geography Skills Your Students Need to Know

by BrainNinjasWP

Teaching geography skills if a life skill your students need. Come learn some of the different ways we embed geography skills throughout our lessons.

Teaching geography skills is one of our favourite activities because maps are generally objective. Students who like math tend to do well with map reading because they’re so black and white (no pun intended). Come learn some of the ways we bring geography skills alive for our students without just reading boring maps over and over.

[Read more…] about Geography Skills Your Students Need to Know

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: engaging lessons, Geography, geography activities, Lesson Plans, making a map, map activities, map lessons, map reading, map skills, Social Studies, social studies lessons, Teachers Pay Teachers

Fun Ways to Review Map Reading With Your Students

by BrainNinjasWP

Are you looking for ways to practice map reading skills in practical but fun ways? Check out these activities that turn geography skills into creative learning.

Every year, we have to practice map reading with our students. Some skills stick, but others evaporate over the summer. Even with all the technology of Google Maps and other apps, students still need basic map reading skills. Learn how we review (or teach) geography skills and use a fun project to show off what students have learned.

[Read more…] about Fun Ways to Review Map Reading With Your Students

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Geography, geography activities, geography lessons, making a map, map activities, map lessons, map reading, map skills, Social Studies, social studies lessons, Teachers Pay Teachers

5 Fascinating and Inspiring Canadian Trailblazers

by BrainNinjasWP

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?

[Read more…] about 5 Fascinating and Inspiring Canadian Trailblazers

Filed Under: Classroom Tips, Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Biographies, Canadian History, Canadian Trailblazers, English Language Arts, Indigenous People in Canada, Language Arts, Social Studies

How to Keep Students Accountable During Project Based Learning

by BrainNinjasWP

Does project based learning fall apart in your upper elementary classroom because you don't know how to keep kids accountable? Do they get to the end with nothing to show for it? These classroom management strategies will help you get the most out of project based learning in your classroom without the stress and strife. Come take a look and get some practical tools you can use right away.

We love using project based learning as one teaching strategy to engage students. The challenge with this type of learning is keeping students on track. Nothing is worse than getting to a deadline and discovering none of the students are done. So, how do we keep our students accountable during project based learning?

[Read more…] about How to Keep Students Accountable During Project Based Learning

Filed Under: Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Alberta science, Classroom Management, Classroom Management Strategies, group work, PBL, Project Based Learning, science, Social Emotional Learning, Social Studies

Ways to Teach Drama in the Classroom

by BrainNinjasWP

Drama has many uses in the classroom. It promotes reading, fluency, expression and can help with confidence and public speaking. Come learn some of the ways you can use drama in your classroom.

Students love role-playing and dramatic play, but many find the pressure of a performance overwhelming. Add some drama to your classroom by using drama circles, role-playing and storytelling in a low-risk environment.

Read on to find out all the reasons you should add some drama to your classroom and ways you can add a little bit every day.

[Read more…] about Ways to Teach Drama in the Classroom

Filed Under: Classroom Tips, Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Canadian History, Drama, Drama Circles, Historic Women, Indigenous Cultures, Seven Teachings, Social Studies, The Famous Five

Disguise Research Skills as a Scavenger Hunt

by BrainNinjasWP

Give your students meaningful practice doing research by completing scavenger hunts. They're fun and serve a purpose. Come find out how we use them in our classroom.

Sometimes students don’t understand how time is of the essence when doing research. They lack the research skills to use text features, skim materials, and find items quickly. Not only does this slow down their work, it often results in incomplete research and general frustration.

It is a struggle year after year.

However, we have managed to find some activities that help students refine their research skills: scavenger hunts. It turns out that making research fun and game-like can have a positive impact on how students complete research.

[Read more…] about Disguise Research Skills as a Scavenger Hunt

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons, Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Digital Citizenship, Digital Safety, ELA, English Language Arts, Geography, research, research skills, scavenger hunts, Social Studies, Teachers Pay Teachers, TpT Products

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