OK, so this post isn't about digital technology but it does present an idea for combining history with a maker lab of sorts that incorporates math, engineering and art. Let's take a look at a blog post from In Custodia Legis, which features, “A Historical Panorama of the Rebellion” myriopticon, a toy manufactured by Milton Bradley around 1865. "The myriopticon was an educational device targeted at prepubescent boys that consists of a box containing a painted scroll and two scroll tubes. A key … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Grade 5 Writing Prompts & Activities
September 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards for writing. The grade 5 writing prompts and activity ideas below build on the K-4 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes CCSS Grade 5 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. a. Introduce a topic or … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Grade 4 Writing Prompts & Activities
August 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards for writing. The Grade 4 writing prompts and activity ideas below build on the K-3 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 4 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. a. Introduce a topic or text … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Grade 3 Writing Prompts & Activities
August 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards. The Grade 3 writing prompts and activity ideas below build on the K-2 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 3 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. a. Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Grade 2 Writing Prompts & Activities
August 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Primary source images, including maps, are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards. The Grade 2 writing prompts and activity ideas below build on the K-1 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 2 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Grade 1 Writing Prompts & Activities
August 21, 2013 by 2 Comments
Primary source images, including maps, are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards. The Grade 1 writing prompts and activity ideas below build on the kindergarten writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 1 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, … [Read more...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Kindergarten Writing Prompts & Activities
August 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies into activities that meet Common Core State Standards. Text Types and Purposes Kindergarten Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity Ideas 1. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Close Reading Markup Strategies
February 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The plan today had been to post a CCSS-aligned primary source activity focused on close reading of images and texts but input from a great group of teachers at a professional development session necessitated a blog detour. So, instead, we'll share a close reading markup strategy remix and resource list. Keep in mind that close reading strategies can be used to dive deep into texts as well as a variety of other primary source types. Close reading markup strategies Number each paragraph, … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Primary Source Investigations
June 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
One of the design considerations of the Common Core State Standards is the integration of research and media skills into the literacy framework. To be ready for college, workforce training, and life in a technological society, students need the ability to gather, comprehend, evaluate, synthesize, and report on information and ideas, to conduct original research in order to answer questions or solve problems, and to analyze and create a high volume and extensive range of print and nonprint texts … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Primary Source Thinking Triangle Activity
April 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Educational consultant and author Dr. Bertie Kingore has some great ideas for teaching. TPS-Barat adapted her thinking triangle for use with primary source image analysis. This activity requires students to use higher level thinking skills as they interact with a primary source image. The thinking triangle also gives students practice in the visual equivalent of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) reading anchor standard 2. When implementing this activity, you may choose to use a single image … [Read more...]
General Moses Cleaveland arrived at mouth of Cuyahoga River. Check out our 
Alexander Calder born. Check out our 