Author: dacline

MATH
Change out the names on the playing pieces to numbers, this is a fun math infused critical thinking game. Try to add color to the numbers to help visually identify repeated patterns Have a contest to see who comes up with the most similar sets.

HISTORY
This game originated in Japan. Have a class discussion on famous Japanese historical landmarks and try to create new game pieces showing six different places to visit in“The Land of the Rising Sun”.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Discuss different types of poetry and make playing pieces with the name of poetic forms like Limerick, Ode, Sonnet, Haiku, Elegy and Couplet.

SCIENCE
Try creating game pieces around the study of earth science and use space elements, like plants, galaxies or various
space anomalies to make different playing pieces. In the study of
astronomy try using six different constellations, the possibilities
in space are endless.

EXTENSION
Use your imagination to create a unique board game that reflects your personality. Try making game pieces using images of your favorite food, sports team, art, books, movies or theatrical performances.

MATH
Working with measurements requires math, sometimes converting quantities into the metric system or figuring out how to proportionality make larger or smaller amounts. Create a conversion table that will help with preparing food.

HISTORY
Historically ice-cream has been enjoyed by many cultures. Ice-cream or “Cream Ice” as it was called a long time ago, may have been seen at the table of Charles I during the 17th century. Create a skit and use ice-cream as one of the props.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Get creative and make a list of how many ways ice-cream may be served, for example, in a dish or in a cone or with cake or as a shake, See who can come up with the longest list.

SCIENCE
Sweet treats can be fun to eat, but talk about the nutritional value of fresh fruit and the vitamins provided in some of the ingredients. Discuss proportion size and how eating right and exercise are important factors in helping to stay healthy

EXTENSION
Take pictures of all the ice-cream creations and print them out and exhibit them in a school ice-cream social fund-raiser. Have students write fun captions under each photograph

MATH
Determine probable outcome. Determine probable outcome. When the student drops three sticks the probable outcome changes. Notice that every time you add an additional stick the pattern doubles 2 x 2 x 2 = 8.

HISTORY
Historically games are found in all cultures and promote social interaction. Write the name of games that do not require batteries or electricity on the sticks and toss them on the ground and try to come up with a new game using the names that appear face up on the sticks .

LANGUAGE ARTS
Write words on the sticks and then toss them on the ground, try making sentences or stories using the words that appear face up on the sticks.

SCIENCE
Write words on the sticks and then toss them on the ground, try making sentences or stories using the words that appear face up on the sticks.

EXTENSION
Write words on the sticks and then toss them on the ground, try making sentences or stories using the words that appear face up on the sticks.

MATH
Develop a formula for figuring out the true length of a coiled snake, if it were stretched out in a straight line.

HISTORY
During mid 1800’s people used candles as a source for lighting, but the smoke often left black marks on the ceiling. The spinning snakes helped to fan the smoke away. Talk about other inventions during this time period which were useful tools in daily life.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Let the students read about reptiles and have them try to write in a spiral on the underside of the snake. See if the students can read the words within the spiral outline of the snake’s body.

SCIENCE
Discuss how hot air rises and perform this simple experiment for demonstration purposes. The laws of physical science apply here as well. A body at rest tends to stay at rest until acted upon by an outside force. Talk about this invisible force at work. What visible effects are seen to prove this theory true?

EXTENSION
Have a contest among the students. Which snake spins the fastest or the longest. Predict which direction the snake will turn and graph your results.

MATH
Try making a book of mathematical formulas that can be used for easy reference, or famous mathematicians and their discoveries.

HISTORY
Try making a mini booklet of trivia containing notable political figures, or famous women in history. Think about using famous landmarks from around the globe, infused with interesting facts .

LANGUAGE ARTS
Try making a mini booklet of different types of poetry like, limericks, haiku’s, sonnets, couplets, an elegy, ode or villanelle. Add artistic images to go with the written words.

SCIENCE
Make a mini book showing the growth stages of a flower. Planets would be fun to add with a starry space like background. Even adding famous scientists and their discoveries would help enhance and engage students in this hands-on learning process.

EXTENSION
Create a mini art booklet, and have students do original images of different art styles, like pop art and abstract art and have them mention time periods and reference artists.

MATH
A reflection can be thought of as folding or “flipping” an object over the line of reflection. Identify the point of reflection in the purse card and try to design other styles of purse cards with different reflection points.

HISTORY
Discuss how the custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and early Egyptians conveyed greetings on papyrus scrolls. In 15th century, handmade greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. Contrast and compare greetings cards of the past and present.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Practice writing different greetings for different occasions, Try using rhyming and prose to convey a special thought or send a message.

SCIENCE
Talk about recycling and try making your own paper for the purse card project out of recycled materials. Discuss how recycling effects the environment and how it impacts the world in which we live on a global basis.

EXTENSION
Display the purse cards on a bulletin board and sell the cards at a school fund-raiser. Put a golden ticket inside one of the purse cards that gives the owner a special prize.

MATH
Children who lived during WWII often made their own toys from paper. Metal was often donated to the war effort. Today many toys are made of plastics. Have the students do a cost analysis of producing a paper windmill, compared to making one out of plastic materials. Discuss issue of the economy and the laws of supply and demand.

HISTORY
Try making a red, white and blue pinwheel to celebrate an American holiday like Veteran’s Day. Have a parade and let the pinwheels spin freely with pride.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Pinwheels are often perceived as a child’s toy. Sometimes they are incorporated into children’s nursery rhythms. Have the students come up with a fun nursery rhythm which talks about children at play with their pinwheels.

SCIENCE
Talk about how the wind is a valuable resource, and how it can be used to supply energy. Discuss the universal need for wind and give examples, like the windmills in Holland.

EXTENSION
Make pinwheels in school colors. Get together as a group and bring them to the next football game or sports tournament. Cheer your team on with spirit and pride, and add stickers and glitter.

MATH
Conduct a class discussion about geometric shapes and angles. Have students determine the number of squares needed to make up the cube shape in the illustration to the right.

HISTORY
The Rubik’s cube was invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, a Hungarian architect, who wanted a working model to help explain three-dimensional geometry. Being from Hungary, and at the time being behind the Iron Curtain, it meant that it took a few years to market the cube as a toy. Discuss how politics can hinder progress.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Create a cube of words or letters and roll the cube (or cubes) to makes words, sentences or come up with stories, A FREE cube template may be found at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cube-Pattern-2656662

SCIENCE
Scientists have developed an algorithm that will solve a Rubik’s cube with any dimensions. Talk about how step by step instructions are used in computer science.

EXTENSION
Create a pattern of perspective cubes by placing them side by side on a wall, creating a tessellated image. Try making a quilt pattern from the assembled perspective cube art.

MATH
This colorful montage would look stunning as a wall mural. Measure the area of a space on a wall in the room that you would like to display the montage and then figure out how many squares will be needed to make the mural.

HISTORY
“POP” art was an art movement that emerged in the United States during the 1950’s and became a popular style of art used in advertising and comic books. Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol were two famous Pop artists. Create a time-line of the POP art era using pictures and words.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Write a report or create a PowerPoint on the various types of Hispanic peppers using a montage of pictures and words.

SCIENCE
Hotter pepper plants use their spiciness as a defense mechanism against predation. Capsicums, including chilies and other hot peppers, are in the middle of the antimicrobial pack (killing or inhibiting up to 75 percent of bacteria). Discuss the health benefits of peppers and label the montage.

EXTENSION
Create recipe cards with montage images used to identify the different peppers used in the ingredients and have a cook-off. See if the contestants can match a pepper montage card to the correct recipe.

MATH
Try to calculate the number of flowers which can fit into a given size vase. Keep in mind that an odd number of flowers usually makes for a more visually appealing artistic arrangement.

HISTORY
Flowers have been symbolic throughout history. Create a poster of paper flowers used to commemorate various events like holidays or school graduation, using your school colors or the appropriate color for a special event.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Add a special touch to your next writing assignment. Have the students create paper flowers, and then spray them lightly with their favorite perfume. Have them compose a formal invitation to a special gala , in the correct format complete with RSVP, and attach the flowers to the invitation.

SCIENCE
Try studying and identifying different types of plants and recreate paper flowers as close as possible in color, size and shape.

EXTENSION
Build a flower box and fill it with colorful flowers. Add decorative bees and butterflies and some floral smelling air freshener, making it a real show stopper.