Class Movies During COVID & Beyond

 

Movies are loved by students not only in the physical classroom but also in the digital classroom!  For centuries teachers have used movies as a way for students to relate content to real-life, reinforce standards previously taught or introduced and/or for emergency sub plans.  Let’s face it as teachers we can’t replicate the imagery of movies!  So when we find a good fit it’s a win/win both for teacher planning and student engagement. 

Most educators have figured how to incorporate curriculum-based films into their physical classrooms, but our new challenge with COVID has left many feeling like they can’t utilize this learning experience.  That is NOT true, keep reading!

Here is a perfect example.  The 2011 film ‘Beyond the Blackboard’ by the Hallmark Channel is a great film related to Early Childhood Education and Teaching Professions.  The movie is available for purchase or FREE on YouTube. 

Many older films are available on the internet for free viewing allowing you to directly link the movie to your learning management system (ex. Google Classroom) then accompany the link with a movie guide or follow up a quiz for students to complete during e-learning.  By doing this you are utilizing any in-person time focused on concepts that can’t be covered by supplemental materials such as online textbooks or videos. 

 

 

To view, the movie trailer click here!

So what does this look like for e-learners?

 

Ask students to watch the video then chose one of the following activities that will meet the needs of your school/students or give them a choice to differentiate your lesson!

• Complete a quiz reviewing concepts taught/reviewed in the movie.
• Have students respond to reflective questions.
• Meet virtually as a class/group and host a discussion about the movie. (reflective questions could be used to facilitate the discussion)
• Allow students to select a number or questions to complete from a movie guide or assign the entire movie guide. 

 

Many movies are great learning opportunities and can be the perfect fit for the classroom or e-learning!

Want to use the ‘Beyond the Blackboard’ movie in your classroom or for an e-learning activity?  No worries, I've created materials to help students follow along and be reflective.  The movie package is now available for purchase at my Etsy Shop or through my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. The download includes a student movie guide, reflective questions, quiz, and answer keys to allow teacher options or student differentiation.

 

‘Beyond the Blackboard’  Movie Package

 

 

Have you used any movies while teaching remotely?

 

 

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A Classroom Tool you will “flippin” LOVE

Who is excited about summer break?

While this time of year is exciting it is also tiring trying to keep students engaged. Wait…keeping ourselves engaged can be a day’s work too!

With only a few days or weeks remaining of school it can be a challenge to find activities, classroom tools, or lessons that energize the students and yourself. Check out these quick Google integrated review tools that you can use! As many of you prepare for exams and final unit test this website may be something new and refreshing, but not too much work…………flippity!

The website offers a host of online games that are SIMPLE to build! Each game is just a google sheet that you edit. Easy peasy…input questions/answers, publish and BOOM DONE……super simple! 

This simple template is provided, all you need to do it edit with your questions/answers.

So simple that you could make multiple games within minutes and allow students a choice to differentiate how they review for your next assessment.

Just a few options on flippity.net

A couple of my personal favorites are Flippity Scavenger Hunt and the Matching Game! The scavenger hunt is similar to a break out box, students are asked a question such as the one below, if they are able to answer the question correctly they will be able to unlock the lock!

Want to give students a hint? That is easy too! Add pictures or links so when students need a nudge all they have to do is click on the light bulb and they are directed to more information. 

My 2nd favorite is the matching game, especially for vocabulary!

Super simple matching game!

Click here and see all the easy to implement options!

Want something more low tech? Play Hot Potato Review


Career Planning Guide and 3 NEW lesson plans being released May 2019! Be sure you don't miss these releases, follow my blog by email. >>>>>>>

For the LOVE of FCS

I LOVE celebrating the holidays with my students, each holiday brings a reason to decorate and have fun with your students! This year make Valentine’s Day in your classroom one of the loveliest days of all...try some of these heart-pumping standard-based activities that your students will be sure to LOVE!

Teach Heart Health! Use the holiday as an opportunity to teach your students a little anatomy and ways individuals can take care of their heart. Then prepare a heart-healthy snack to demonstrate cooking methods that increase nutritional value, lower calorie and fat content, and utilize herbs and spice to enhance flavor (8.5.14)! 

Check out the heartfelt resources from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  Use these materials to teach National FCS standard 9.4.5 design instruction on nutrition to promote wellness and disease prevention. 

Click the image to view heart health tip sheets and resources.

Be cupid and introduce your students to the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman in your personal wellness, health or life skills class! Start with introducing each LOVE Language then have students take the quiz (paper copy) to find out which of the 5 speaks the loudest for them! 

Then check out some sweet ideas from A Symphony of Praise blog for fun ways to speak the 5 Love Languages.  Turn these ideas into class projects to teach students to build and maintain interpersonal relationships (13.1.1) and analyze factors that contribute to healthy and unhealthy relationships (13.1.4). 

Image from A Symphony of Praise

If your students enjoy this topic, make it a larger project by checking out the The Teens Guide of the 5 Love Languages!

Valentine’s Day is a holiday shared by the young and old. Make this holiday special for your students who are learning about little ones! Host a Valentine’s Day party by arranging some preschool games that help build motor skills, providing a healthy kid-friendly snack (4.4.4: Plan safe and healthy meals and snacks that meet USDA standards), and/or playing a fun game of Valentine Bingo to demonstrate an activity that teaches language skills. 

Click for FREE Valentine's Day Bingo Cards!

While your students are busy making memories they will also be learning more about physical, emotional, social, moral, and cognitive development (12.1.1). 

Valentine's Day is all about design, the design of a flower arrangement, cards that convey feelings through design, decorations that spread LOVE with their design and much more! Bring this design element of the holiday to your classroom. Have students make a special gift for themselves or someone else by hosting a canvas painting party with a Valentine's Day focus.


Check out some of these darling design ideas by other bloggers for inspiration...

Image from Easy Peasy and Fun Blog

Image and idea from The Farm Wife Crafts Blog

Image and idea from Typically Simple Blog

As your student paint (small canvas can be purchased at Dollar Tree) and sip on sparkling grape juice, they will also be analyzing the effect that the principles and elements of design have on aesthetics and function (11.2.3).

Want to go more simple? Have students use their creativity to participate in a fun childhood craft, use Perler Beads to create a Valentine's Day design!

The LOVE doesn’t end there! Have your clothing and textiles class put their hand sewing skills to use by making small felt hearts and turning them into keychains or magnets! 

Image and idea from www.instructables.com

Students may also apply basic and complex color schemes and color theory (16.3.2) to create Mandala Dot Art wooden heart magnets! 

Don't forget to share the love with your career exploration or planning courses!  Valentine's Day is a cherished time to teach students about affectionate, people oriented, big-hearted careers!  Discuss and research the different careers that require compassion and love for others.

After teaching and discussing (1.1.6: Develop a life plan, including pathways to acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to achieve individual, family, and career goals) more about these specific careers have students make a Valentine for someone who is currently working in one of these careers.  Add a sweet treat to put the icing on someone's Valentine's Day!

How do you spread the LOVE of FCS 

in your classroom on Valentine's Day?

Netflix Binge to Teach Organizational Skills!

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and get ready for a Netflix binge in the classroom!  The new Netflix series ‘Tidying Up’ has everyone talking about organization!  Your students will not be disappointed with your choice to implement this new series into your Interior design, child development, adult roles or relationships curriculum. 

The new Netflix series that was just released January 1st and is based on the KonMari organizational strategies by Marie Kondo.  She inspires individuals to tidy up their spaces using the spark of joy to bring happiness and ease to the home.  While helping individuals and families organize their homes she addresses the National FCS standard 2.2.2 - Apply time management, organizational, and process skills to prioritize tasks and achieve goals, by teaching an easy 5 step organizational process.  You can learn more about her “style” and simple techniques by visiting her website at https://konmari.com/. 

Image by konmari.com

Let the binge begin…..grab the hot chocolate, your favorite cozy blanket and settle down to find a new kind of motivation inspired by Marie!  

Purchase the ‘Tidying Up Movie Guides' that includes movie guides for 5 episodes and answer keys! Your students will be engaged, and walk away motivated!  

(Expires 1/20/19)

Visit my Etsy Shop and use the code TIDYUP19 to save 50% on this package of 5 movie guides!  

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What are some of your favorite Netflix shows to use in the classroom? 

Fun Interactive Meal Planning!

Teaching and Stickers are just a natural fit! …….so when I ran across this AWESOME sticker book on Amazon I immediately thought about how I could use this in the classroom!

Image by melissaanddoug.com

Melissa & Doug makes a super cool sticker book for children and they have one with food!  For $4.99 on Amazon, you get 15 place settings and 225 stickers.  What a great way to end a lesson on nutrition or plating!

                                                       Image by melissaanddoug.com

Here are some additional ideas of how you could use this sticker book to engage your students!

• Have student use their nutrition knowledge to build a balanced meal. 
• Ask students to use the stickers to demonstrate Mise en place. 
• Use the Make a Meal sticker book as an introductory activity – ask students to create a plate then calculate the total calories, etc. 
• Using their food label knowledge have students create a meal under “xxx” calories.

Got another idea? Share it!  

How else can you use this awesome educational tool? 

Farm to Family & Consumer Sciences!

It’s harvest time across the Midwest.  Which means a couple things, slow-moving machinery, harvest moons, open fields, and an educational opportunity!  Farming is what led me to a career in Family & Consumer Sciences so many years ago.  I valued the love and labor my family put into feeding this country and knew I could be a part of that teaching by helping students learn to purchase, prepare, and preserve the commodities!

Being from small rural America I didn’t know when I entered this profession how many students would not know where their food comes from or how many products are derived from the grain yields of today’s farms!  I enjoy sharing these facts with the students....

Did you know that chewing gum is made of field corn?  

Click the chart below to learn more about what other items are made from corn.

Image from Iowa State University & National Corn Gowers Association

Did you know one United State's farm feeds about 165 people?  
Click the image below to learn more Farm and Food Facts.

Image from American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture

In the classroom, I seize the harvest season as an opportunity to teach students about the farm and how food is grown, shipped, and stored in addition to purchased, prepared, and preserved.  Since Family & Consumer Science programs outweigh Agriculture programs in today’s education system it is only fair to do our part to educate students using the farm to table platform. 

Farm Bureau is a national organization that speaks out on issues of concern for the nation’s farmers and ranchers, rural Americans, and consumers who care about maintaining our nation’s food security. This wonderful organization can help you bring this platform to your classroom.  The organization stands to support the nation’s food supply and has created an educational platform to educate everyone on agricultural related topics.  This service is provided through “Agriculture in the Classroom.”  The website and volunteers offer a wealth of educational resources that can be used in your classrooms. 

Check out these examples!

Farm to Table Video

Food & Nutrition Resources

Agriculture Careers

Energy Bar Exploration: Project-Based Lesson

Culinary Concepts: Project-Based Lesson

The quicker the better? Lesson

That is not it, there are many more!  Go check out their AWESOME "Ag in the Classroom" website and educate your students about our food network.  

In addition to the free items provided on the website, the organization has volunteers that will come speak to your students!  Reach out to your state program about availability in your area. 

Interested in learning more about Ag in the classroom?  Check out their annual conference – scholarships are available to help pay for this professional development!  Also, follow "Ag in the Classroom" on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for new resource updates.

Do you have a partnership with your local Farm Bureau organization?

UPDATED: Child Development Planning Guide

Do you teach Child Development?  Do you LOVE teaching but don't have time to plan?  If you answered "YES" then grab this FREE download!  It's a Child Development Planning Guide, yes the full scope and sequence! 

Click the image to download your FREE copy!

This document was recently updated with new resources!  If you don't want to miss the release of new lessons be sure to follow my blog, Teachers Pay Teacher Store and/or Etsy Shop.  

Want to know more about the planning guide?  See my previous post by clicking the image below!

Click the image to view the previous blog post.

What lesson do you want to see me release next?  Did you know that in recent months I have been designing on request - don't hesitate to ask!