4 Poetry activities you can use tomorrow!

My students enjoy writing poetry in my class because it gives them the opportunity to be creative and demonstrate their knowledge a fun and different and fun way.

Here are some examples of using poetry activities I use in my class.

1) Cinquain Poem:  This is an old social studies stand by.  It can be easily used with ANY unit or concept.  Students who might struggle with writing poems also enjoy the Cinquain Poem since it follows a pattern.  But, writing the poem stretches the student's academically as they use words to describe the subject.

2) Acrostic Poem:  Another social studies teacher trusty activity.  An acrostic is a poem based upon a word (or a historical person) written in a vertical line.  Each letter of the word starts the line of the poem.

3)Diamante:  This poem is like the Cinquain poem since it follows a similar structure. But, this poem is written in the shape of a diamond.

4)Historical Person Poem:  Students follow a pattern to complete a poem about a historical significant person.

All these poetry activities are engaging for students.  Also, I sometime have students create color pictures with these poems.  By having students draw a picture is includes another modality of learning.

How to evaluate and where to find rubrics for these activities?  Here are rubrics for ALL of these poetry activities.CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO THE RUBRICS.

Multiple Intelligence: TOP 5 Linguistics lessons I've use in Social Studies

I love using the Multiple Intelligence principles in my social studies classroom.  Here are the TOP 5 assignments in the area of Linguistics I use.

1) Poetry:  When students write a poem based upon social studies content, it stresses their minds.  Even for those students who struggle with poetry writing, here are some poems which follow a formula.This link will connect you to some NO PREP poetry assignments and rubrics!

2) Creating crossword puzzles:  This a fun and simply way for students to demonstrate their understanding of basic social studies vocabulary.  Here is a link to a free online crossword puzzle maker.

3) Letter writing:  Have students write a letter to the editor that states their reasons supporting a historical position, such as women's right to vote.  Or students might write a letter to a relative about their witness to a historical event.  This is simple, but very engaging for the students!

4) Obituary: Students write an obituary about a historical person.  This is a fun and engaging way for students to demonstrate their understanding about a historical person.

5) Using analogies.  Washington DC is to the USA as Tokyo is to ________....The answer is Japan.  This really gets my students thinking. Analogies can be used in many social studies disciplines.  I analogies in geography, history, and government.  Students love them!  Here is one lesson I've used that combines sports and geography!

If you liked this post, please visit the best resource for social studies lessons and activities: Social Studies Super Store! 

Graphic History of the 20 Dollar Bill.

With all the news about the historical change of the twenty dollar bill, it is fascinating to see the visual history of it. The bill has changed in size, color, and by whom and what has appeared on it. So check out this interesting web site that shows the many changes of the American twenty dollar bill has gone through.  If you notice, you can see the United States had a woman on the twenty already.Click here to view the changing twenty dollar bill.

Also, LOOKING for the BEST social studies lessons, activities, or movie guides? The BEST social studies lessons, activities, and movie guides HERE! Check out the Social Studies Super Store!

5 ENGAGING CIVIL RIGHTS INTERNET RESOURCES

Looking for virtual tours or primary source information about the Civil Rights Movement?  Then check out these resources.
 

1.  This site gives students a virtual tour of Dr. King's childhood home.  Students will see where young Martin ate dinner, played board games, or where he slept. Each room includes interesting information about Dr. Kings' youth and his family.  Click here to take the virtual tours now: MLK's Childhood home.
2. This educational resource allows students to view the 1955-57 Montgomery Bus Boycott from the perspective of a newspaper investigative reporter. Students are guided through a series of bus stops where they are given scenarios of the unfair treatment and conditions under which blacks during a bus ride in Montgomery, AL.  Click here to check it out: Bus Interactivity.
3. The African American Museum of Iowa is a special, hidden resources.that few people know about.  The virtual museum is very user friendly.  Also this site has an outstanding list of African American resources.  Take time to explore and you will find many useful resources! African American Museum of Iowa.
4. The Henry Ford Museum allows students to take a special peak at the famous Bus that Rosa Parks rode on.   The Ford Museum-Rosa Park Bus.
5. This is PACKED full of primary sources such newspapers and oral histories.  The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is one of the best places on the Internet to find classroom resources.  Click here to go directly to the Galley section to find these resources: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute-Gallery.  

Also, don't forget to visit the Social Studies Super Store to find the best Social Studies activities and lessons around.  Check it out right here- Social Studies Super Store.

One SUPER easy way to begin to take control of your classroom

This past week, as the flowers began to bloom and old man winter bids farewell,  my middle school students are struck with spring fever.
 

This fever causes even the well behaved students to act irrationally and strange.  And those students that found focusing difficult before the fervor, are about to jump out of their skin...

So, the best solution to all this can be found in three words:  New Seating Chart.  WHY? Here are 5 reasons:

REASON #1)  Moving students around to new seats changes the dynamics of the classroom.  John and his best friend that sat next to each for the past two months, are now on the opposite sides of the classroom.  Now it becomes very difficult to share their jokes in the middle of class.

REASON #2) It's a wonderful opportunity for students to work with new students.  If you have students complete assignments in teams, a new seating students mixes up the teams.  And, this breaks down barriers.

REASON #3)  It is so easy to implement.  But remember, keep the chart handy for a few days to remind students where their new seat is located.

REASON #4) Moving students might help some struggling students.  You might have a students that tries to hide in the very back.  You know, this kid.  He doesn't talk much.  Keeps his head down as he is holding his pencil and praying not to be noticed by you.  So now is his time to move to the front.  And, when you move all the other students it only seems like a random chance that he is moved to the front of the class.

REASON #5)  In some cases, you just need to do this to reassert control of the classroom.  Let's face it. I hope it is not needed often, but if a class needs to little nudge; a new seating chart can do this.

If you find this hand, please visit Social Studies Super Store for the BEST in social studies activity's and lesson: