Tag: High School

All About Me: Hexagonal Doodle Blocks

I have been implementing hexagonal block activities in my classroom for the past couple of years and wanted to find a way to utilize them at the beginning of the year. Because our students will all be returning in person, the “All About Me: Hexagonal Doodle Blocks” will be a great way to ease them back from remote/cyber learning and help all of us reestablish relationships with this creative, hands-on activity.

The Wild Unicorn Game

So excited to share “The Wild Unicorn Game” created by the talented Tisha Richmond! Tisha is a Student Engagement & PD Specialist and Canvas Coordinator and former FACS teacher from Oregon. You may be familiar with her blog, podcast and book titled, “Make Learning Magical” (affiliate link) which offer a variety of engaging teaching and gamification activities! Read on to find out more about how to play “The Wild Unicorn Game!”

Kitchen Crime Scene

Having just started watching the series, I was so excited when Shawna Strenfel, a FACS teacher from New York shared this Kitchen Crime Scene problem based lab activity! Shawna’s Kitchen Crime Scene is based on the popular television show Crime Scene Kitchen! So, if you love the show, you’ll be anxious to give this a try with your students!

Lifestyle Creep Hyperdoc

Many people, including teens, suffer from this problem! The Lifestyle Creep Hyperdoc introduces students to the concept and explores not only what the signs and effects are, but also how it change a person’s life as well as how it can be prevented. It’s a great lead in to the importance of living within your means and budgeting!

Quick Tips Postcard Project

If you’ve ever subscribed or read “Cooks Illustrated,” you may be familiar with a recurring feature called “Quick Tips.” In this feature, tips are provided to make food prep easier and more convenient. I have taken this concept and turned it into the “Quick Tips Postcard Project” as a way to add visual interest to classroom bulletin boards or displays!

ABC Children Index Card Bulletin Board Activity

Each fall, when I go back to my classroom, I’m always faced with blank bulletin boards! Because I like to decorate my room with student work, I often use this ABC Children Index Card Bulletin Board Activity during the first week of school in my child development class. Not only does it help make my room more aesthetically pleasing, but it’s an engaging filler that’s easy to adapt for that intial period when schedules are in constant flux.

43 Minute Lab Series: High Protein Nachos

After noticing continuous requests for lab suggestions that are doable in 43 minute class periods, I’ve decided to do a recurring series, featuring recipes that can be completed from beginning to end in a 43 minute time frame. In some cases, longer recipes will broken into two day labs. In addition, I will include my pre-lab review questions that pertain specifically to the recipe. This helps to ensure that students are reading the recipe. It also allows me time to show any videos that may demonstrate the product or specific techniques. So, without further ado, I present the 43 Minute Lab Series: High Protein Nachos!

PROTEIN: Polaroid Notes

Just before the pandemic started in March of 2020, I had discovered a feature on Ditch That Textbook about Polaroid Notes: Using Google Slides to create dynamic notes in an instant! I loved the concept and had an idea in mind for Protein: Poloroid Notes, which was to be one of my next topics and lessons. Unfortunately, due to the shutdown, I never got a chance to implement it with my students until a year later. This method of note taking puts the students in charge, using the resources you’ve provided! I hope this gets you thinking of all the different ways you can utilize this template in your classroom!

Dramatic Play

Do you remember pretend play when you were young? As a child, it was one of my favorite activities to engage in with my sisters, usually in the form of “house, office, school or “dress-up”! Regardless of whether you call it dramatic play, pretend play or fantasy play, it still plays a valuable role in the lives of children especially in day care centers!

Face to Face Conversation Challenge

As you may be aware, many of our students do not feel comfortable communicating face to face with adults, even if they are familiar with them. They openly admit they are scared, uncomfortable and would rather text than talk! Because of this, I created the Face to Face Conversation Challenge to help them practice their skills and hopefully feel more at ease when conversing with others, both familiar and unfamiliar! Admittedly, students were not enthusiastic about this assignment because it forced them to face their fear and step out of their comfort zone. Afterwards, my heart was full as students actually thanked me for giving them this assignment! They shared how it helped them grow and they realized that this is a practical life skill they are going to need throughout their personal and professional life!