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How to Add Some Meat to Your Idioms Lessons

by BrainNinjasWP

Idioms can be challenging for students, so we brainstormed different ways to learn and practice the meaning of different idioms in the classroom. Come have a read.

Idioms are a complicated thing for many English Language Learners. In fact, many students struggle with them in their day-to-day life. Every language has its own idioms: phrases that say one thing literally but mean another thing figuratively.

Learning idioms helps students understand the cultural context and conversational skills. Many idioms come naturally to native English speakers, making them challenging for English Language Learners. Students with learning challenges like Autism or cognitive issues can find figurative language misleading and frustrating. In our experience, many native English speakers don’t always know the meanings of the idioms either, so they are great for all your students to learn.

What are some different ways you can help your students learn idioms?

[Read more…] about How to Add Some Meat to Your Idioms Lessons

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Book Recommendations, books, English Language Arts, english language learners, Figurative Language, Idioms, Language Arts, task cards, Teachers Pay Teachers

Resources to Celebrate Diwali in the Classroom

by BrainNinjasWP

Are you looking for resources to use to celebrate Diwali in the classroom? We put together a list of resources to learn all about the Festival of Lights including a book list, videos and art projects to celebrate. Come have a read!

Diwali is the Festival of Lights. It is also known as Dipawali and it is the most important festival of the year for the Hindi religion. Other religions like Buddists also celebrate Diwali. While it was traditionally celebrated by Hindus, now it is more widely celebrated by people around the world including by Buddists, Jains and Sikhs. Since this celebration is important to many different people around the world, it is very possible you will have students in your classroom who celebrate. To those students, Diwali is as important to them as Christmas is to Christians. Many school districts in Canada have added Diwali to their school calendars. Read on to find resources you can use to celebrate Diwali in the classroom.

[Read more…] about Resources to Celebrate Diwali in the Classroom

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Art, Art Lessons, Classroom Community, Collaborative Posters, Diwali, Holidays, Holidays and Seasonal, Teachers Pay Teachers, Writing Prompts

How to Honour National Indigenous Veterans Day

by BrainNinjasWP

How will you be observing National Indigenous Veterans Day in your school or community? Come read about some of the ways you can teach your students about the important contributions made and learn about some of the most notable Indigenous veterans from Canada.

Canadians are aware of observations and ceremonies that honour the service of Canadians in the military. Those who served and died in war are remembered on cenotaphs, named in ceremonies and recognized in military records. But Indigenous Veterans Day is unknown to many Canadians. Only in recent years have Canadians started to recognize the service of those who identify as First Nations, Metis and Inuit and their contributions in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is now recognized on November 8 each year. What does your school or community do to National Indigenous Veterans Day?

[Read more…] about How to Honour National Indigenous Veterans Day

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Canadian History, Holidays, Holidays and Seasonal, Indigenous Cultures, Indigenous People of Canada, Indigenous Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, Remembrance Day Art Lessons, Teachers Pay Teachers

15 Free Activities for the First Month of School

by BrainNinjasWP

Are you looking for free activities you can use during the first month of school? We gathered up some of our favourite writing, math, reading, art and classroom community activities just for you. Best of all, they're all free! Come check it out!

The first month of school is filled with so many new adventures. There is so much to do regarding setting up classroom routines. We don’t start teaching content until a few weeks into the school year. Up until that time, we see what our students can do. We generally assess reading and writing, and review math. This is a great way to get to know your students so you can plan your lessons for their needs. Here are nine free activities we use for the first month of school.

[Read more…] about 15 Free Activities for the First Month of School

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Art Lessons, Back to School, Classroom Community, Classroom Set Up, Free Activities, Holidays and Seasonal, Reading, Teachers Pay Teachers, Writing Activities, Writing Prompts

How to Use Collaborative Tasks to Create Classroom Community

by BrainNinjasWP

Collaborative tasks help students learn to work together toward the classroom community they want to achieve. Read more about how we use collaborative tasks to build classroom community and learn more about the types of tasks we use.

One of the most effective classroom management strategies is the classroom community you build with your students. We start our school year with collaborative tasks to help students get to know each other. These activities help students learn to communicate and build trust. Collaborative tasks help students learn to work together toward the classroom community they want to achieve.

Come learn more about how we use collaborative tasks in our classroom.

[Read more…] about How to Use Collaborative Tasks to Create Classroom Community

Filed Under: Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Alberta, Back to School, Brain Ninjas Shop, Bulletin Boards, Classroom Community, Classroom Management, Collaborative Posters, Collaborative tasks, Diwali, Eid, Eid Al-Fitr, group work, Indigenous Cultures, Indigenous People of Canada, Posters, Remembrance Day, research, research skills, Teachers Pay Teachers, Teamwork

How to Escalate Your Chemistry Experiments

by BrainNinjasWP

Are you looking for some simple and easy chemistry experiments that can be done safely in the classroom with household materials? We've got lots of resources for you. Come read!

Our classroom chemistry unit is one of our favourites to teach because it allows for so many opportunities for students to explore and experiment. Sometimes, we let students explore on their own by posing questions to them. Other times, we demonstrate experiments. Either way, experiments take a bit of work to set up, do, and clean up. Don’t let that stop you. Here are some of our favourite chemistry experiments!

[Read more…] about How to Escalate Your Chemistry Experiments

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons Tagged With: Chemistry, Chemistry Experiments, Chemistry for Kids, Classroom Chemistry, Classroom Organization, Experiments, Makerspace, stem, Teachers Pay Teachers, TpT Products

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  • You can excite your elementary students to learn French by teaching them all about French Canadian celebrations. We put together lessons and activities that can help inspire your students about French culture while you teach the basics of the French language. These lessons are designed for teachers who are not native speakers so come learn more.
    How to Learn French With French Canadian Celebrations
    Every year, Francophone communities across Canada...
  • Create these adorable watercolour love trees for Valentine's Day, World Kindness Day, Earth Day or Pink Shirt Day. They make a great bulletin board and our post features step by step instructions for your elementary classroom. Come read the whole post.
    How to Make Valentine's Day Love Trees
    Do you need a Valentine's Day...
  • Do your students need a fun way to share what they are reading in class? This is a great twist on literature circles and book clubs that your students will enjoy. Come read the whole post and get some ideas for your upper elementary or middle school language arts lessons.
    Give Your Reading Instruction an Easy Twist
    For years we've done Literature Circles...

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