Bring Hanukkah Into Your Classroom: Book, Snack, and Teaching Resource!

As the winter season approaches, it’s the perfect time to teach students about diverse celebrations that bring light, joy, and togetherness. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday filled with meaningful traditions like lighting the menorah, spinning dreidels, and sharing delicious treats like latkes. 

In this post, I’ll share a beautiful picture book to introduce Hanukkah, a simple classroom-friendly snack, and a resource to make planning your lesson easy and engaging.

Read A Picture Book

“Hanukkah Bear” by Eric A. Kimmel is a great read aloud. This heartwarming and humorous story follows Bubba Brayna, who mistakenly serves her Hanukkah latkes to a hungry bear, thinking he is the rabbi. With charming illustrations and an engaging plot, this book introduces students to Hanukkah traditions like lighting the menorah and enjoying festive meals. 

Why It’s Great for the Classroom: 

• The playful storyline keeps students engaged. 
• Includes a recipe for latkes, connecting to the holiday’s cultural traditions.

Enjoy a Taste of Hanukkah Snack 

Latkes or applesauce bring Hanukkah to life with a taste of tradition! Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a beloved Hanukkah dish that symbolize the miracle of the oil. While making latkes from scratch might not be practical in a classroom setting, you can: 

•  Bring in pre-made frozen latkes to heat and share. 
•  Serve applesauce as a standalone snack, a popular latke topping.

Hands-On Activities with a Reading Passage 

To dive deeper into Hanukkah, my My Countdown to Winter Break: Winter Holidays Around the World Activities resource includes a dedicated Hanukkah reading passage and an engaging activity. Students will learn about the history of the holiday, its traditions, and its cultural significance while developing reading comprehension skills. 

What’s Included: 

•  A two-page reading passage explaining Hanukkah in kid-friendly language. 
• A matching activity that reinforces key facts about the holiday. 
• Printable and digital options for flexible classroom use. 

Why Teachers Love It: 

• This resource saves time with ready-made materials.
• It provides a meaningful way to introduce Hanukkah in an inclusive and educational way.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights in Your Classroom!

Hanukkah offers a wonderful opportunity to teach students about resilience, faith, and the joy of sharing traditions. With a story like Hanukkah Bear, a taste of latkes or applesauce, and a hands-on resource, your students will walk away with a deeper appreciation for this special holiday. 

Ready to bring Hanukkah into your classroom? Explore my Countdown to Winter Break: Winter Holidays Around the World Activities resource featuring Hanukkah and nine other global celebrations. This all-in-one resource makes it easy to celebrate diversity and keep students engaged throughout the season! 

 👉 Countdown to Winter Break: Winter Holidays Around the World Activities

👉  Follow me on Instagram for daily countdown reels celebrating each of the ten holidays! 

Engaging Ways to Teach Animal Care, Growth, and Development in the Classroom

Ready To Explore The Wild Wonders Of The Animal Kingdom? 

From the buzzing rainforests to the sweeping deserts—and every habitat in between—your students are going to love learning about animals! These engaging activities are perfect for sparking curiosity and building connections with the natural world. Teaching about animal care, life cycles, habitats, and adaptations not only ignites young imaginations, but also helps students develop a deeper appreciation for our planet and the creatures we share it with.

Here are five of my favorite ways to explore animals with young students:

1. Explore Life Cycles with Visual Timelines

Help students visualize the stages of animal growth and development by creating interactive timelines. For example, students can study the life cycle of a butterfly, frog, or even a human by arranging digital images or using slide animations to sequence the stages. 

Observing a complete life cycle is such a fun way to get students engaged in science. Order a butterfly kit for your classroom to watch the stages!  

2. Classify Animals Like Scientists

Animal classification is a fun way to introduce the diversity of the animal kingdom. Explore the common traits among each classification. Use animal figures, visual slides, or  picture cards to help students sort animals into groups like mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. 

Challenge students to research a specific animal and determine its classification. To make it interactive, play a sorting game where students match animals to their groups. 

3. Bring Habitats to Life 

Dive into the unique ecosystems where animals live! Explore a variety of habitats, such as woodlands, grasslands, deserts, polar regions, and ocean habitat. As a fun treat, have students use animal crackers to determine what they need from their environment to thrive and survive.

Create a virtual "field trip" to different habitats using digital slides with vivid images and descriptions. Set up small sensory bins representing different habitats, such as a desert, rainforest, or ocean. Fill them with materials like sand, moss, water, or rocks, and include small plastic animals that belong in each habitat. Students can explore these hands-on habitats, sorting animals into their correct environments or even using their imaginations to bring each habitat to life!

Discuss how animals have adapted to survive in their environments. Students can then design their own habitat and explain how the animals within it meet their basic needs. 

4. Discuss Interdependence and Conservation

Highlight the connection between animals, their habitats, and human activity. Use discussion prompts or role-playing scenarios to explore topics like conservation, endangered species, and the impact of pollution. Students can brainstorm solutions for protecting animal habitats and share their ideas in small groups or as a class presentation.

Teach children about simple conservation practices, such as gardening, composting, and wildlife protection 

5. Interactive Activities for Animal Needs and Care 

Teach students about how animals depend on humans for care by role-playing scenarios, such as creating care plans for a pet or understanding what animals need to stay healthy. Digital activities like matching animals to their basic needs or designing care charts are fun ways to reinforce this important topic.

Have students create pretend pets (from rocks, paper, straws, etc). Students detail their pets' needs, growth, and development while practicing caring for their "pets".  

Need More Ideas? 

If you’re looking for a resource with ready-to-use teaching slides, interactive activities, and engaging themes, check out my Animal Needs, Life Cycles, Habitats, Adaptations Digital Resource and Activities on Teachers Pay Teachers. It includes eight complete lesson slide sets to support your teaching!

Animal Needs, Life Cycles, Habitats, Adaptations Digital Resource and Activities

$8.99

Teaching About Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day in the Classroom

Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day offer teachers meaningful opportunities to guide students in understanding and honouring the bravery, service, and sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers and Indigenous veterans. 

Both days are essential in Canadian history, fostering reflection, respect, and awareness of the diverse contributions to peace and freedom. Whether you’re looking for ways to teach Remembrance Day, National Indigenous Veterans Day, or both, here are some ideas to create an impactful and respectful classroom experience.

Begin with the Meaning of Remembrance 

Start your lesson by exploring what remembrance means. Encourage students to share their thoughts on what it means to remember someone or something significant. This can be an excellent opportunity to introduce concepts of service, sacrifice, and gratitude. 

Show images of the National War Memorial, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and fields of poppies. This visual focus can help students grasp the powerful emotions connected to Remembrance Day.

Resource Spotlight: My Canada Remembrance Day Slides and Reading Passages is perfect for starting this discussion. The slides introduce the significance of November 11 and offer reading passages that bring historical events and personal stories to life for young learners.

Highlight the Symbol of the Poppy 

The red poppy is an iconic symbol of Remembrance Day in Canada. Teaching students why we wear poppies each November is a beautiful way to connect them with history and community. Discuss the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, which inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. 

Activity Idea: After reading In Flanders Fields, let students create their own paper poppies or write a poem expressing what remembrance means to them.

Discuss National Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8) 

National Indigenous Veterans Day, observed on November 8, honours the sacrifices and contributions of Indigenous soldiers, who played a crucial role in Canadian military history. Many students may not be aware of this important day, so dedicating time to it helps bring a fuller picture of our history. 

Share the story of Tommy Prince, one of Canada’s most decorated Indigenous soldiers. His incredible story of bravery and resilience is both inspiring and educational.

Resource Spotlight: Tommy Prince Truth and Reconciliation Reading Passages offers a moving look at Tommy Prince’s life, allowing students to learn about Indigenous contributions to Canada’s military efforts. This resource is excellent for bridging discussions about Indigenous heritage and the impact of war on Indigenous communities.

Hold a Moment of Silence and Reflection Activity 

After learning about Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day, invite students to participate in a moment of silence. Explain that this is a time to reflect on those who have served and sacrificed for Canada’s freedom. 

Reflection Activity: Following the moment of silence, provide students with prompts such as, “What does peace mean to you?” or “Why is it important to remember?” Have them journal their thoughts or share with a partner.

Reading Passages and Comprehension Activities 

Engage students with reading passages that bring historical events to a relatable level. Reading passages about Canadian soldiers, significant battles, and Indigenous veterans make history accessible and personal for students. 

Comprehension Activities: After reading, try activities like sequencing events or answering comprehension questions to reinforce understanding. This also encourages students to think critically about historical events and their significance.

Create a Classroom Display of Remembrance 

Let students create artwork, write thank-you letters to veterans, or display their poppy crafts. This classroom display can stay up through the month of November as a tribute to those who have served. 

Activity Idea: Encourage students to research a Canadian veteran or Indigenous soldier and create a small poster or booklet that tells their story. This brings a personal, research-based element to the learning experience.

Why These Teaching Resources Make a Difference 

Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day are powerful moments for students to connect with Canadian history in a meaningful way. Resources like the Remembrance Day Slides and Reading Passages and Tommy Prince Reading Passages are designed to make these lessons engaging and accessible. Through thoughtfully crafted passages, comprehension questions, and slides, students will come away with a deeper understanding and respect for Canada’s veterans and peacekeepers. 

Canada Remembrance Day Slides, Reading Passages, Questions, Activities Canadian

$5.00

Tommy Prince Truth & Reconciliation Remembrance Day Reading Passages & Questions

$4.00

By incorporating these activities and resources, you are giving students the opportunity to honour and remember, ensuring that the legacy of Canada’s veterans and Indigenous soldiers lives on.

Spook-tacular Halloween Classroom Ideas

Halloween is such an exciting time in the classroom! From costumes and candy to pumpkins and spooky decorations, it's a season that really captures students' imaginations. But beyond the fun, Halloween is also a great opportunity to sneak in some creative, engaging learning activities that keep students focused and on task while celebrating the holiday. 

Here are a few ideas to bring a little Halloween magic into your classroom, all while reinforcing important skills.

Incorporate Halloween Themes Into Your Lessons

Halloween provides a fantastic theme to weave into subjects like reading, writing, and math. For reading activities, consider introducing themed passages where students can practice comprehension while learning about bats, witches, or even the history of Halloween itself. You can also tie writing lessons into the season with spooky story prompts or by having students write about what they would do if they lived in a haunted house! 

For math, Halloween-themed word problems are a fun way to practice math concepts like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Even simple activities like counting candy corn or using Halloween-themed manipulatives can turn a typical math lesson into something students look forward to.

Get Creative With Halloween Science

Halloween naturally lends itself to hands-on science activities that your students will love. Explore the science behind pumpkins by having students investigate their size, weight, and the number of seeds inside. You can also explore the properties of matter by creating Halloween-themed slime or conducting candy experiments to learn about dissolving, melting, and chemical reactions. STEM stations are another way to incorporate engineering and problem-solving. You can have students work in teams to design a pumpkin catapult, build structures with candy corn and toothpicks, or even create their own spooky mazes.

Make Room For Halloween Fun

While it's important to keep the focus on learning, a little Halloween fun goes a long way in keeping students engaged. Organize classroom games like Halloween bingo, scavenger hunts, or a costume-themed guessing game. These activities can be used as brain breaks or rewards, helping students stay motivated throughout the day. If you're feeling adventurous, an escape room activity is a great way to combine fun with problem-solving. You can transform your classroom into a spooky escape room where students work together to solve puzzles and find clues, all while reinforcing math and critical thinking skills.

Celebrate with Halloween Stations

Setting up Halloween-themed stations allows students to rotate through different activities, making learning feel like a party! You can have a math station where students solve Halloween-themed puzzles, a writing station with spooky story prompts, and a reading station where students read and discuss Halloween-themed passages. Adding a crafting or decorating station will also give your students an opportunity to use their creativity. Pumpkin decorating or Halloween-themed art projects are always a hit and can be tied back to lessons in science (life cycles of pumpkins) or math (symmetry, shapes, and patterns).

A Treat For You! No Tricks!

If you're looking for some ready-to-use, no-prep Halloween activities to make planning easier, I’ve created a few that cover math, reading, writing, and STEM. The resources are perfect for keeping your students engaged while celebrating the spooky season. 

Halloween Escape Room Math Mystery Fun Review Activities, Games, and Worksheets

$3.00

Halloween Activities, Reading Passages, Language, Math, Writing & Fun Worksheets

$3.00

Fall Pumpkin STEM Stations and Pumpkins Activities Halloween

$3.00

Happy Halloween, and may your classroom be filled with both learning and spooky fun!

Engaging Ways to Teach Plants in the Classroom

Teaching about plants can be a truly exciting adventure for young learners. From watching seeds sprout to discovering the fascinating ways plants grow and survive, there is no shortage of wonder when it comes to exploring the plant world. Here are some fun, hands-on ideas to help students get immersed in learning about plants while keeping things interactive and engaging.

Start with Seed Exploration 

One of the best ways to begin a plant unit is by getting students up close and personal with different types of seeds. Provide a variety of seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower, or bean seeds, and let the students observe their differences. You can even have them plant the seeds and track their growth, introducing the concepts of germination and the conditions plants need to thrive.

 

Incorporate Nature Walks 

Take the learning outdoors with a nature walk! Students can observe various plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees in their natural environment. Give them a checklist to identify different plant parts like roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. This is a great way to introduce terms like “photosynthesis” and talk about how plants use sunlight to make food.

 

 

Create a Plant Life Cycle Wall 

Set up a large visual on your classroom wall that shows the life cycle of a plant. You can include seeds, seedlings, mature plants, flowers, and fruit. Add labels and diagrams to help students understand the different stages, and encourage them to contribute by drawing or adding their own observations. It is a wonderful way to reinforce vocabulary like “germination,” “pollination,” and “seed dispersal.”

Hands-on Learning with Plant Protection

Plants protect themselves in amazing ways. You can introduce this concept by discussing thorns, prickles, spines, and even toxins. Why not try a simple experiment where students pretend to be different types of plants and create defences to avoid being "eaten" by herbivores? It is a fun way to understand how plants have adapted over time.

The Importance of Plants in Our World 

Discuss how plants are essential not just for food, but for materials, oxygen, and even medicines. Students can brainstorm ways that they rely on plants in every day life. You can even bring in an eco-friendly discussion, where students think about how plants are important for the environment and what they can do to protect them.

End with a Plant Safari 

Tie in all the concepts with an exciting “plant safari,” where students explore different types of plants from around the world, such as the rainforest. They can complete challenges like identifying the parts of a plant or solving puzzles about how plants survive in different environments. It is a great way to summarize learning while making it adventurous.

Let Me Help You!

If you are looking for ready-made resources to support your plant unit, I have recently developed a comprehensive teaching slide set that covers all these topics and more, from seed dispersal to photosynthesis, in an engaging and student-friendly way. Stay tuned, as I’ll soon be releasing a printable activity booklet to accompany it!

Structures, Functions, and Materials

Teaching about structures is a great way to encourage hands-on learning, critical thinking, and real-world connections. From bridges and buildings to everyday objects, students love exploring how structures are designed, built, and how they hold up against different forces. In this post, I will share some fun and interactive teaching ideas that will bring this concept to life in your classroom.

Start with an Exploration of Real-World Structures 

Begin by showing students photos or videos of famous structures like bridges, towers, and even everyday objects like chairs or playground equipment. Ask them to think about why different materials are used in different types of structures. Why might a bridge be made of steel while a tipi is made from hides?

 

Hands-On Activity: Building with Toothpicks and Clay 

One of the best ways to teach students about structures is through building. Have your students construct their own frame, solid, and shell structures using toothpicks and clay. Let them experiment with different designs and then test their strength by adding weights or applying pressure. This activity not only encourages creativity, but also helps students understand how different types of structures can be designed for strength and stability.

Understanding Forces Acting on Structures 

Teaching students about the forces that act on structures, such as gravity, tension, compression, and shear, will deepen their understanding of why structures are built the way they are. A great classroom experiment is stacking books on different bridge designs to explore how weight distribution affects a structure's strength.

Integrating Reading and Writing 

Encourage your students to write about the structures they have built or studied. This can take the form of reading passages about famous engineers or construction projects, followed by a reflective writing piece. You could even have them create their own designs and explain the reasoning behind their choice of materials and structure types.

 

The Power of Observation: Examining Structures Around Us

Take your class outside (or do a virtual walk-through) and observe structures in your school or neighborhood. Ask students to sketch what they see and note which materials are used. This real-world connection will help solidify their understanding of why certain materials are chosen based on strength, flexibility, and durability. 

These ideas are just the beginning of how you can teach structures in a fun and interactive way! With a mix of hands-on activities, experiments, and reading passages, your students will not only understand the fundamentals of structures but also see how they apply to the world around them. 

Let Me Do The Planning!

If you are looking for a complete, ready-to-use resource that includes worksheets, experiments, reading passages, and more, check out my comprehensive Structures and Functions resources. The students will explore various kinds of structures, the materials used to build them, and the forces that impact their design. Students will discover key concepts like force, load, stability, strength, and balance as they investigate the real-world applications of engineering.

Dive into the science of engineering, guiding students through NINE sets of interactive teaching slides and activities. Each of the nine topics includes a set of interactive teaching slides paired with a print booklet containing hands-on activities, experiments, and reading passages to reinforce learning. 

Don't need slides? The second resource contains just the print activities. It has all the activities, experiments, and reading passages.

Both resources are designed to make your teaching life easier and your students more engaged in learning.

Structures & Functions, Materials Activities Worksheets Reading Passages Slides

$12.00

Structures & Functions Materials Forces Activities Experiments Reading Passages

$7.00