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!

It’s Spooky, It’s Educational, It’s Halloween Fun!

As a high school teacher, I always leverage the holidays as a great way to incorporate a little fun into my curriculum, an opportunity to lighten the mood of the classroom and bring the joy of school back to the learning environment.  These small moments throughout the school year put smiles on the faces of my students and myself, especially when teaching child development! 

Halloween is one of those little spooky holidays that many high school students remember celebrating as a child.  So why not continue to howl and celebrate?  A little strand of wicked pumpkin lights across the whiteboard, a black tablecloth draped across my podium and let the kids do the rest!

Grab a pack of cheap paper plates, some paints, construction and tissue paper, party streamers, and string to get the midnight decorating started.  Have your students make a Halloween Paper Plate Craft to decorate the room. Need ideas? Visit the Crafty Morning Blog for some of my personal favorites!

Image from Crafty Morning Blog

This activity is a great craft for after a unit test or quiz.  Students can begin crafting quietly while others are still testing. When they are finished have them hang their masterpieces on the walls and/or from the ceilings to make your classroom a little haunted. 

In addition to decorating the classroom, I don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate!  On or near Halloween Day my Child Development class participates in a standard-based Halloween party!  The party if fun, educational, and most of all a great marketing tool!  

Activities included in the Child Development Halloween Party Lesson Plan include...

• Crafts
• Coloring
• Games
• Snacks

The Child Development Halloween Lesson Plan download includes printables, grouping labels, directions for activities, aligned national FCS standards, and a follow-up written assignment and rubric. 

You can purchase this great Lesson Plan by visiting my Etsy Store, TeachingSuccessFCS.   

Use the code: SPOOKYFUN to save 25% through midnight Monday, October 8th!

How do you celebrate

Halloween in your classroom?

Taking the Finish Line with FCCLA Professional Development

This past week I was very honored to be invited to present at the Indiana FCCLA Fall Rally Adviser workshop held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  This group of professionals works hard every day not just teaching but bringing the ultimate leadership experience to their students.

While students were learning about skills to help them win the 'race'.  I was able to work with both new and veteran advisers from across the state in 'pit row.' 


The first presentation focused on educating new advisers about FCCLA through an interactive presentation that incorporated the experience of veteran advisers.  Did you know FCCLA has 164,000 members and it takes just 12 for you to have your own chapter!

**Click the logo to view more facts about FCCLA**

We were able to 'start the race' with a simple icebreaker, click the image below to download a FREE copy to use at your next chapter meeting!

Click the image to download your FREE copy!  or visit TpT Store: Teaching Success with FCS.

Using Nearpod we discussed how to get an FCCLA chapter started by recruiting, affiliating and engaging 'the fans!'  This was followed by topics such as meetings, officers, planning events and fundraising - all the 'race day' essentials!

As part of the workshop, advisers were provided an agenda template to use at their next chapter meeting.  In celebration of this 'victorious' professional development, you can download a FREE copy too!

Click the image to download your FREE copy!  or visit TpT Store: Teaching Success with FCS.

In the afternoon training, advisers learned how to incorporate FCCLA STAR Events into their classroom.  The presentation explained how STAR Events meet students learning needs through standards-based teaching, differentiation, project-based learning, and many more current best teaching practices to 'win the race!'

Did you know that the My Career Plan and Career Investigation STAR Event are great companions?  Check out the FREE outline to 'fuel' your classroom!

Click the image to download your FREE copy! 

Do you need a speaker at your next FCCLA event?  Contact me to discuss how I could bring some of these learning opportunities to your group!

Fundraiser Fatigue?

Do you get Fundraising Fatigue?

Do the words “Fundraiser Fatigue” describe your feelings when thinking about student clubs and/or organizations? The amazing opportunities students are provided through these extra curricula’s are often overshadowed by the door to door sales or hosted events to raise adequate funds. All this can be exhausting in addition to your “day job”. If you can relate to this I would encourage you to pick up a copy of the book “Club Funding Smarter Not Harder” written by Ryan M. Judge.

Judge is a former Family, Career and Community Leaders of America advisor who perfected and eliminated traditional fundraisers. I recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing his book. The publication is easy to read and outlines how to acquire business sponsorships to fund your club or organizations needs in an effort to reduce teacher burn out, parent frustration, and fundraiser competition within your school.

I appreciated the texts attention to detail, providing helpful insight into a proven model for success. Judge not only provides essential documents for setting up a corporate sponsorship model but also how to begin networking with local businesses to support your program. The book provides all the information and tools you need to maximize your donation dollars with sponsorship levels and ideas on how to give back to your donors. He shares with his readers letter templates to get started along with tips on how to personalize each letter and set up an efficient contact database. Judge's simple to follow process and materials are worth the read for anyone looking to let go of the “fundraiser fatigue” as we begin a new school year.


To help eliminate your fatigue, Judge includes how to incorporate his model into your club or organizations handbook and suggest getting students and parents involved in the process. He shares his best practices for including all members. Involving parents and students can add diversity to the outreach of companies, personalized your approach and lessen the workload of the advisor.

If you are interested in spending more time planning your student’s next learning experience versus a fundraiser check out this book. 

You can purchase “Club Funding Smarter Not Harder” on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or by visiting www.theseasonedgroup.com/publications and use the code: SUMMER by September 8th to SAVE $5 on your order!


Do you use business sponsorships to fund your club or organizations events?

Back to School SALE!

Summer is ending, but the back to school sales are just beginning! Do not miss this ONCE a year BIG savings. With several ways to save be sure to stock up on some of my customer favorites!

Save 50% on last years top 5 sellers by visiting my Teaching Success FCS Etsy Store! In addition to these great items, other lessons and activities will be discounted for a limited time. The Back to School sale will end August 15th – don’t miss out!

• Education Options that lead to a career! Complete Lesson plan & Activities

• Breastfeeding vs. Formula Trial Lesson Plan

• Kitchen Equipment Identification Activity

• Infant Development Lesson Plan and Activities

• Who's Career Is It?  Activity

Prefer to shop Teachers Pay Teachers? Pop into my Teaching Success with FCS store for the Back to School sale August 1^st and 2^nd use the code above to save! Selected items are up to 25% off of their regular price.  This is the greatest savings all year!

Looking for a new best practice to make formative assessments EASY?  Check out the Formative Assessment Toolkit!

Welcome Back!  Be sure to subscribe to my blog for free resources and my latest instructional creations!  

Teacher Appreciation SALE

Happy teacher appreciation week! 

Teaching is a true passion from the heart, one that requires dedication, patience, and empathy. One who unselfishly fills hearts with kindness, little minds with knowledge, and souls with spirit can never be thanked enough! Each of you deserves a gold star for the work you do! 

To show my appreciation for all your hard work and as a thank you for supporting my curriculum passion I have the BEST SALE of the year going on through Sunday, May 13th! Visit my Etsy Shop: Teaching Success FCS to check out innovate lessons, engaging activities and instructional products.


**New lessons/activities Posted – Go Check Them Out!**

Classroom Toilet Trouble

I love to play games and I love to incorporate them into my lessons.  Games are a great way to engage students! 

Toilet Trouble is a new popular game that can be used to bring laughter and increase student engagement in your classroom!  Don’t miss this opportunity to utilize a new game to perk up a review session or help your students to get to know each other!  Check out how to incorporate this game into your curriculum.

1. Toilet Trouble Test Review. Students take turns, when it is the players turn he/she spins the toilet paper, then the player is asked a question from a review sheet, if he/she gets it correct they get to avoid flushing the toilet, if he/she gets the question wrong they must flush the toilet the number of times indicated from their spin. Keep playing until all questions have been answered. 

**Students play in groups of no more than 4

2. Bathroom Break Review. With a few minutes left in class or during a lesson, ask for student volunteers. Students who come forward will spin the toilet paper. If a student’s spins a 1 they must summarize one thing they have learned. Spin a 2 and the student must flush twice. Spin a 3 and win a prize! This is a fun way to end class, an exit ticket plus game = fun lesson!

**Can also be played at the end of the class using review questions, answer the question correctly or flush!

3. Flushing Friends! Put students into groups of 4 to 5 and provide each group with a 20 Questions about YOU handout, taking turns each student spins the toilet paper, on his/her turn they must answer the number of questions (1 or 2) spun, student spins a 3 and they have to flush!

4. Toilet Team 'Flushdown'. Divide the class into 2 teams. Each team will send a person to the front of the room. The teacher will then spin the toilet paper, and ask the two students a question. The first student to answer the question correctly will earn a point for their team. The other student (team) must flush as many times as what was previously rolled by the teacher. If the student is the recipient of a ‘flush’ their team also loses a point!

Popular holiday games such as Toilet Trouble can often be found a few months later on the shelves of local thrift stores or at yard sales for a minimal cost. Adding this game to your classroom will bring a lot of laughter, fun review, and creativity to your lessons!

What ideas do you have for using Toilet Trouble in the classroom?

Find additional great lesson plans at my Etsy Shop - Teaching Success FCS and be sure to follow this blog to be notified of future lesson plans and teaching ideas!

Minimalism in the Classroom - Teaching Students Personal Finance and Consumerism

If you have not viewed the documentary 'Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things' you must add it to your list! This well-produced film addresses a lot of great topics for a personal finance or a consumerism class. 

 #MinimalismFilm

Mark and Joshua are former business professionals who rediscover themselves after climbing the corporate ladder by reevaluating their needs and wants. Their drive for becoming minimalist is to live a meaningful life with less. The film focuses on how one can manage his/her spending and still live a fulfilled life. 

To preview the documentary click here!

In addition, to the 1 ½ hour documentary that you can purchase from Ryan & Joshua's website or view using a variety of video accounts such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. They also offer web series, a TED Talk and an assortment of podcasts on their website at https://www.theminimalists.com/.

Show this film as an introduction to budgeting, with a highly engaging storyline leave the film for sub plans, or discuss spending trends and economic impacts with your consumerism class.  This film has many learning opportunities and is perfect for a personal finance or consumerism class!

Want to use the film in your classroom?  No worries, I've created materials to help students follow along and be reflective.  The movie guide is now available for purchase at my Etsy Shop. The download includes a student movie guide, answer key, and reflective questions. (click below to purchase) The reflective questions may be answered individually by students after viewing the documentary or used to lead a class discussion.

Minimalism Movie Guide & Reflection

What are other video's you use to teach personal finance?

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Hot Potato Review!

No Prep Review Game!

This is one of the easiest review games EVER!  To start locate a potato, real or stuffed, you can purchase stuffed potatoes from my crafty friends on Etsy.  

Next, find some good music, your review questions, a cup, and 2 sets of numbered jumbo craft sticks 1-20. 

**If you have purchased and created the Formative Assessment Tool Kit just grab 2 sets from your baskets.


Have students stand in a circle around the classroom.  Start the music and have students pass the potato while the music plays, at random stop the music, ask the student holding the potato a review question.  

If the student provides a correct answer they stay in the game, if they don't they go back to their seat.  


How to keep the students engaged who are now out of the game?  

Using 2 sets of Jumbo Craft Sticks numbered 1-20, each time a student is eliminated from the game and sent back to his/her seat give them a numbered stick, starting with 1 and counting forward.

In a cup place a stick with the same number as given to the student.

When a question is answered incorrectly from the game, draw a stick, the person who has that number will be given a chance to answer that question correctly and re-enter the game!

Students still standing after you have asked all your review quesitons are WINNERS!  

What games do you use to review content before an upcoming test or quiz?

Be sure to follow this blog for future updates!

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? The content and activities of the Successful Entrepreneur Lesson will help students explore the personality traits, skills, and challenges faced by different entrepreneurs! The lesson addresses national standards on teaching entrepreneurship with a focus on specific student learning objectives.

This lesson opens with a vocabulary activity that will engage your students and allow them to successfully master the definition of entrepreneur.

Photo Credit: Bryli Burns (age 7)

A card sort activity helps students learn the traits of successful entrepreneurs in conjunction with a researched based activity where students research an entrepreneur to create a gallery. This gallery is then used as an in-class activity to reinforce the objectives of the lesson.

In addition to all the other great resources in this lesson, it also includes a rubric for easy teacher grading and a professionally designed PowerPoint to teach and guide!

Several review activities are suggested in the lesson to meet the needs of different students. These review activities include worksheets, questions, and formative assessments.

You will not be disappointed with all the different assessments embedded into this lesson. Tracking student growth will be easy!

To purchase this NEW lesson please visit my Etsy Shop – Teaching Success FCS or CLICK HERE!

What activities do you do in your classroom to inspire young entrepreneurs?

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