Teaching kids about our world, geography, maps, and more. Kindergarten Social Studies Lessons made easy #kindergarten #socialstudies

Multiplication can be challenging for kids to learn and for teachers to teach! Here are a few tips to make teaching multiplication easier.

Looking for ways to engage your students while teaching the continents and oceans? I've got you covered with games, songs, vidoes, and more!

I love using interactive lapbooks in the classroom. They are fun to create, engaging and can be used throughout the year to review skills taught. I finally completely my Lapbook Bundle and I am happy to share the lapbooks included with you. Whether you think your learners will enjoy creating all of the lapbooks, if you

Learn about the science of beaches, plus get fun math, language, and geography practice, in this printable beach unit study!

Learn how to create simple models and maps with early years students with this free geography printable!

If you are getting started with inquiry, you may wonder where to start and how to prepare for something that is student-led. Although using an inquiry

Fact fluency – It’s a BIG deal. Our state standards call for fact fluency and we all know how much easier it is for students who just “get it.” So how do we support fact fluency in our classrooms and help those students who stumble. Ugh. The struggle is REAL! Over my years of teaching I have learned a few tricks that make fact practice time fun, engaging, quick and help my struggling students see their improvement! So they may never win if we player “Round the World” (aka – they may never be the fastest in their class at facts), but I can help them feel SUCCESSFUL! Since I teach 3rd Grade, I will be sharing mostly about multiplication, but many of these ideas can be modified for other facts. Differentiating Fact Fluency Practice - Great Intervention Last year I learned about the free online fact practice site called XtraMath. At first, I wasn’t convinced, but after sticking with it anyway, boy am I glad I did! It allowed my students to progress at their own pace and level, and now that I have done it for over half of the school year, I can see it has made a difference. I had students who were just struggling with addition facts at the beginning of the year, but now they are much quicker and it has tremendously helped with multiplication (even though some of them are still working on addition or subtraction in January in XtraMath). I often teach my students strategies such as, if you know 5x6=30, then you just add 6 more for 6x6. For students who are fluent in addition, this is no problem, but for our strugglers, it is a HUGE deal - cue the counting fingers from 30 to 36. Since I have used XtraMath everyday, I see less finger counting and more confident students. This is also wonderful RTI (INTERVENTIONS) data. You are intervening at their level and pace. I do teach my students their multiplication facts whole class, but XtraMath allows me to continue supporting their intervention needs. Multiples with Music If you can’t use YouTube in the classroom, I apologize in advance, because that is where this links to. We can teach our students just about anything, but if it is set to music, they are much more likely to remember it. Not too long ago, I was getting ready to introduce the multiples of 7 to my 3rd graders. I told them about the fun multiples of 7 song we were going to learn, and I said “I bet even the 8th graders remember this song!” Well of course inquiring minds want to know. So we called down to the 8th grade (small school privileges) and guess what? They rocked it! My heart was beaming because even 5 years later, my former students remembered it! Sooo, without further ado, here is the amazing video we rock out to with out pretend guitars and microphones, ever year! Disappearing Skip Counting Sooooo, I could explain this, buuuuut a video is so much better! Once we learn a song or jingle like the song I linked to above, I will quickly write the numbers on the board and each time we sing the song, I will erase a few numbers. This is especially helpful for visual learners, because even though the number gets erased, they can still "picture it in their mind." Fact Fluency Tents I was so tired of copying flash card for my students, taking the time to cut them out and write the answers on back, only for them to lose some of the cards! So, that is why I created fact fluency tents! It's like having 50 flash cards on one page! Yay! How do I use them? Almost everyday, we pair up right after recess and practice just like in the video here with the green x2 fact tent. Once we get the routine down, it literally only takes us 5 minutes. I also assign it as homework every night. My students write their progress down on a fact tracker sheet and I check to see if they completed it as homework and have a parent leave their initials. You can grab a FREE sample of these fact fluency tents here. >>> Free Fact Fluency Tents Excited about the fact fluency tents and want them all now? >>> Fact Fluency Tents Bundle (You can buy fact fluency tents separately. Just look in the description on TpT for links.) Growth Mindset One of the BIGGEST changes I have made in the last 3 years is teaching "the power of yet." So often, students feel like they fail when they can't beat the "fastest multiplier in the west." I say that is bull-oney! The BEST tactic I have ever instilled is NOT fastest or best; it is "I am not good at this YET, but I WILL be great!" I have my students track the number of facts that they finish in one minute each day so THEY can see THEIR OWN GROWTH! At the end of the week (or when we are finishing up a fact), I allow my students to share their growth if they want to. I am always amazed by how many of them share and how many really encourage each other with positive affirmations. My students will share their growth with, "I started by finishing __#, and today I finished ____#." For some students those numbers are 3 to 24 and for others it is 14 to 52. Whatever the progress, I make sure and reply with a positive affirmation, and I love it when other students join in with their positive words. This is the FACT TRACKER SHEET I use for each fact. You can snag it for free with the Free Fact Fluency Tents. Donut Math I use donut math when my kids have the wiggles and we just need to get up out of our seat. This is a fun team competition type of game that my friend Kim from Elementary Antics explained in a previous blog post here in All About 3rd Grade. Check out the donut math post here with all the simple step by step directions! Silly Fact Sayings Some of the facts just need a silly saying in order to memorize them, so here are some ideas: Skate x Skate = Slicky Floor, 8 x 8 = 64 I tell my students to imagine that they have ice skates on and they are making figure eights on the slick icy floor. Four wheel drive when I am 16, 4 x 4 = 16 I do come from a rural school where lots of families have 4 wheel drive vehicles, plus you can get a drivers license in our state when you turn 16. I am not sure if some states have changed the license age. 5, 6, 7, 8.... 56 = 7 x 8 6 x 8 is really great, 6 x 8 = 48 6 x 7 is stuck in glue, 6 x 7 = 42 3 x 7 is lots of fun, 3 x 7 = 21 Games and Centers I am a fan of fun and hands-on! If I can make it "click" with my students using activities rather than worksheets, I am all over it. Multiplication and Division Bump My students often choose this as a free time Friday (if they have earned it) activity or an indoor recess game. Yay! Basically the students are playing against each other on a multiplication or division game board and trying to claim as many spots on the board before their opponent knocks them off. They can claim spots on the board by correctly answering a math fact, but an opponent can also knock them off it they draw (or roll with dice) the same fact. If you are interested in bump games, you can see several different bump versions here in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Multiplication and Division Sorts These are my favorite! Why do I love sorts? My students can do this activity again and again, unlike worksheets that can only be done once. I send sorts home as homework, use them in my centers, send them with anyone who may be working with my students for interventions, use them in my small math groups....... you get the picture. Repetition is the key with multiplication and sorts allow you to have students repeat a sort again and again without having to reinvent the wheel. You can easily make some sorts just using index cards and colorful markers. If you are pressed for time, you can also get your students involved and have them help you make some sets or you can purchase some on TpT. I have several sorts available because I am a huge fan of math sorts. They are available in these bundles or you can check out the individual resources within the description. 3rd Grade Math Centers Year Round Bundle 3rd Grade Math Centers Winter Theme 3rd Grade Math Centers Spring Theme I hope that you can go back to school tomorrow with at least ONE NEW IDEA and you feel inspired to be able to help your struggling multipliers tackle the "POWER OF YET" for their multiplication facts. You can do this!

Learn how to create simple models and maps with early years students with this free geography printable!

It seems like most kids go through a phase when they are interested in maps and globes and where things are in the world (though my daughter hilariously protests every time I pull out an atlas; no …

Wondering how to start a nature journal with your children? This ultimate guide to nature journals for children is full of ideas you can use to make your own nature journal, start a nature study, and explore the natural world. The ultimate guide to nature journals for children Use these links to dive into […]

Reading about the explorers to America and doing hands-on activities helps us too explore. This time, we're exploring the explorers!

ALL ABOUT EARTH Get ready for a month filled with so many fun activities to teach your kiddos all about our planet Earth . I teach this unit in April so it coincides with Earth Day. I’ve loaded up this blog post post with read aloud book ideas, free videos you can share with your students,

Looking for fun and engaging kindergarten social studies resources? Check out the interactive notebook that your students will love!

Volcanoes are fascinating and scary. They can spew out hot toxic gases, ash, magma and even fiery rocks!

I am so excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our Family Unit Studies: The Ocean Unit Study! Did you know that there is an animal that lives in the ocean that never ever dies? Did you know that 80% of oceans are unexplored? Did you know that jellyfish have been around for

Learn about five different biomes as you color and read key facts about with free printable Biome Coloring Pages for Prek-4th graders.

Have fun with this FREE Nature Study with Trees and Leaves that lets upper elementary and middle school students draw, label, color, and more!

Free map printables! Welcome, homeschooling parents, to a journey of exploration and

A Charlotte's Web unit study perfect for homeschool, classroom, or thematic novel study. The book study resources listed in this post are all FREE!

I love teaching about trees because there’s much to discover all year, during any season. From bark to leaves, trees are amazing wonders of nature! If you’re planning on studying trees …

Study the human body anatomy with kids by making an anatomy model with these free printable life-size human body organs!

Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]

The story of Zacchaeus is a great way to teach your little ones how they should treat their friends. A man that no one was too fond of and Jesus went to HIS house...what a great story of kindness!Here's how I taught this story to my little learners...ARRIVALWe started class just like every week. During the

These fantastic activities are definitely the way to go.

Check out our FREE unit studies that explore science, history, and biographies! Each one accompanies a Who Was, Magic Tree House, I Survived or Carole Marsh book!

This 9-week poetry study guide will take you through nine poems written by Helen Beatrix Potter. Each week (or longer) your student will study one poem.

Kids will have fun while learning where do I Live with this printable activity perfect for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten students.

World Geography can be boring for students but you can make it FUN! Your kiddos will LOVE creating their own globe using a balloon and cut-outs. This set includes: Student materials list and directions, detailed continent shapes, more broad continent shapes (easier cutting), compass graphic, continent labels, ocean labels, North Pole labels, reference map of the world. Balloon Suggestion (affiliate link): 12"latex balloons (100 count), Royal Blue Don't want to use a balloon? Some teachers have told me they've used paper mache, pumpkins, and posters. If you happen to take pictures of your completed projects, I would LOVE to see them! You can tag me on Instagram (@Learning_Lab) or email them to me at [email protected].

Do you teach Virginia Studies? Here are some of the best Jamestown activities and games to use as part of your Jamestown unit.

Teaching about the presidential election process? Even if you're just teaching U.S. forms of government, this free unit study will help.

Let's dive into some new options to teach vocabulary, for those who have the time and energy to pursue them. In this post and podcast, I'm sharing ten ideas for making the study of vocabulary something students might even look forward to.

Learn about countries for kids with Around the WOrld Country Coloring Pages! These coloring sheets are easy way to explore 19 countries!

This Australia Lapbook contains lots of fun and interesting elements as well as hands-on activity for children to learn about this unique country.

So, yesterday I showed you how I got my angle studies kicked off with my students–how I solidified understanding of “right angle”. We had lots left to accomplish–so I’ll try to share some of the different lessons and activities we did over the next days! Tip 1: If you can get your hands on thin […]

Hello friends! We are seeing more and more of our pollinator friends as the summer heats up – giant yellow swallowtails, dainty painted ladies, busy monarchs, and fascinating hawk moths. I pu…

First impressions are powerful. Make your first statement to your students a positive one.

The sound of unit studies may seem like a daunting task, but it's not! With a little help, here is a year filled with wonderful ideas on free unit studies that kids will love and busy moms enjoy.

We are currently doing a short study of the human body. We recently finished up our unit on the Brain and Nerves, and here are some of the activities we did and resources we used.

Pinay Homeschooler is a blog that shares homeschool and afterschool activity of kids from babies to elementary level.

30+ hands-on, playful and fun kindergarten activities. Check out this amazing list of learning activities for kids 5 to 7 years old.