5 SUPER reasons Bizarre Foods is SUPER for your classroom.

My seventh grade World Geography look forward to Thursday Bizarre Day.
This is the day when we view a video with Andrew Zimmern in Bizarre Foods.  He is always trying strange foods such as fried tranchulas from Thailand or lung fish from Uganda.  But here are five reason this is a SUPER resource to share with your students.

• There is not better way to grab a middle schoolers attention then with a person eating strange foods.  Students at this age love anything dealing with food.  What better way to get their attention then combining geography and culture than with food.

• Bizarre Foods series does a wonderful job of integrating the subject of food with so many other issues. When ever they begin the show, the show map of the region to familiar the area of the world they will be visiting.  

• The is made for school.  The commercial free shows are about 45 minutes in length.  Just right for a 55 or 60 minute class so you have time to review the show with the students.  Also, the show is divided into 3-4 segments.  These segments allow for transitions to keep the students engaged. 

• For the most part, Zimmern is PG kind of guy.  The subjects are always classroom appropriated.  However, I have seen one or two that I would not show...like the trip to China where an animals sexual organ.  But, that was only one out of many....So, as always, preview to be cautious. 

• In general, it is so easy to weave into your curriculum.  It makes a great sub plan or one of those days like right before Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

Then to help students understand these big ideas, I have create the WORLD'S best video guides for this show.  These video guides include short answer and fill-in the blank questions for students to complete as they watch the video.  Please check out this Bizarre Foods video guide for Uganda: Uganda video guide.

Constitution Day; are you ready?

On September 17th, 1787 the Constitutional Convention delegates final created the document that would become the American Constitution.

This being the case, September 17th is become Constitution Day.  A day when teachers and schools across America reflect, focus, and have some fun teaching about the Constitution. 

Here is funny video from the 1960s Andy Griffith show that pokes fun at Barney.   I hope my students do a better job then Barney.

Okay, here are the TOP 5 awesome Constitution Day resources:
#1:  Everybody loves a game.  This short quiz matches your personality to one of Founders.  I got James Madison - Founder's Game
#2: What to visit Independence Hall, but short the cash?  Then check out this virtual tour put together by Grand Valley State University- Virtual Tour
#3: The interactive Constitution-this allows students to explore the text of the Constitution in a more meaningful way.  Thanks to our friends from the Constitutional Center - interactive-constitution
#4: Which Founder would you supported if they were running for office?  This short quiz explores the polices of the six Founders.  I think you might be surprised by some of the answers, so might your students. Support a Founder
#5: Can't have this list without the School House Rock Preamble video.  This is video I plan on showing my school.  I am hoping to have the students sing along.... School House Rock Video

Happy Constitution Day!