Dot to Dot Game

 Also called dots and dashes, dots and boxes or pigs in a pen.  This is a really old game by French mathematician Édouard Lucas.  Now it can be educational and fun.  I first saw this by Rebecca at Unbroken Bonds and adapted it for my students.  

I put descriptions in each box (rotation vs. revolution) but you could make a generic grid and use it with any worksheet.

Students take turns drawing lines.  When they complete a box, they get a point if they can answer the question.  Either rotation or revolution or a question from a worksheet.

This makes a great early finisher activity or as part of a station rotation.

Hurricane Resource

During hurricane season, it's important for students to understand more about these powerful storms and how they form. 

To help students prepare and learn, we're excited to share an anchor chart and booklet foldable that covers key facts about hurricanes including:

• Where & how hurricanes form
• Hurricane season dates 
• 3 main parts of a hurricane
• Differences between the terms: hurricane, typhoon & cyclone
• Hurricane names
• The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale

With this resource, students can better understand hurricanes and stay informed during the hurricane season. 

Stay safe and be prepared!

• National Hurricane Center website
• The Weather Channel website
• CNN Weather website

Download the resource on hurricanes here.

Hope this helps students feel more confident and knowledgeable about hurricanes!

4 Ways to Use your Classroom Display as an Activity

I display various anchor charts around my classroom such as these Science Measurement Tools Anchor Charts.

Click image if you're looking for ready-to-use materials

Depending on the amount of time we have, students can do one of these activities: 

1. Scavenger Hunt - Divide into teams.  Give students a list of tools and ask them to write down what it measures. *Extend by having teams find the actual tools after completing the list.
• Thermometer - temperature
• Spring Scale - weight
• Balance - mass
• Graduated Cylinder - liquid volume
• Ruler - length
• Stopwatch - time
2. Interactive Lab Stations - Set up stations with measurement tools.  Students rotate through the stations using each tool to measure. 
3. Poster Project - Students choose  a measurement tool and make their own chart explaining how to properly use it. *Click here  for examples
4. Exit Ticket - Students answer a question about a measurement tool before leaving class.  Write the question on the board and have students write down their answer.
• What does a ruler measure?  length
• What Science tool would you use to measure liquid volume? graduated cylinder
• What Science tool measures how long something lasted? stopwatch
• What Science tool uses the standard units grams (g) and kilograms (kg)? balance
• What are the standard units does a thermometer use? Celsius or Kelvin (K)
• What Science tool is used to measure the amount of gravity on an object? spring scale

My students like getting out of their seats and there's not much prep for most of these activities.

Boost Science Safety in the Classroom with Tools & Equipment Anchor Charts

Looking for a way to ensure your students understand and use science tools and safety equipment properly? This resource is perfect for you! 

The Science Tools & Safety Equipment Anchor Charts provide clear, visual references for middle schoolers. The charts cover essential lab tools and safety rules, making it easier for students to follow proper procedures during experiments. 

These charts can be displayed in your classroom or used as a teaching guide to reinforce safety protocols and tool identification.

Check it out here.

Use the Upcoming Lunar Eclipse to Engage Students

The next lunar eclipse (partial) will occur on Sept. 17-18, 2024, and it will be visible from the Americas, western Europe, and parts of Africa. To find out the times in your area, click this link.

One of the best strategies to help students understand and retain information about lunar eclipses is by using visual and hands-on tools. Here’s how you can incorporate these resources effectively:

1. Solar & Lunar Eclipse Anchor Charts

Start your lunar eclipse unit by displaying a large, colorful anchor charts that outlines important terms like "umbra," "penumbra”. Use simple diagrams to show the alignment of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a lunar eclipse. Anchor charts can be left up for students to refer to throughout the lesson, serving as a helpful visual reminder.

2. Online Video

NASA Lunar Eclipse Essentials (1:46)

This short video allows students to visualize eclipses in action. It illustrates the shadow's movement across the moon including the umbra, penumbra and explains why the moon appears red.

3. Foldable Booklet

Foldables can help students review the phases of the moon, label a diagram of a lunar eclipse, and allow them to organize information in a fun and creative format. Students can fill out each section, reinforcing key concepts through active participation. This foldable also acts as a study tool they can revisit later.

4. Sorting Activity

To wrap up your lunar eclipse lesson using a sorting activity that allows students to compare and contrast solar and lunar eclipse facts. This not only checks for understanding but can also provide a collaborative learning opportunity if students work together to complete the activity.

If you're looking for ready-to-use materials, check out the lunar eclipse foldable booklet and anchor charts to save time while delivering a high-quality lesson.

Back to School Planning Checklist

Back to school already?

Time to make a list…

• Meet the teacher brochure
• Bulletin boards/Word Walls & Anchor Charts

• Learning goals (Bloom's Taxonomy Anchor Charts)
• Supplies (sticky notes, tissues, a timer, pencils, highlighters, scissors, glue, pencil sharpener, clipboard, stapler, binder clips, dry erase markers, magnets, stamps, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies - disinfecting wipes & paper towels)
• Seating Charts (its hard for me to remember names so I stand at the door as students are coming in and show them the chart which is also on the board and help direct them) I also make a seating chart for my desk with student's pictures

I modified a standard seating chart from desks to lab tables in ppt.

I put students names in and can drag and drop to change seating arrangements.

• 1st day activities with students

I'm starting with Lab Safety.  This also makes a great classroom display for Open House.  I review the safety procedures in the lab, let students try on aprons and goggles and demonstrate how to properly wear them then they make their own safety symbol.

Hope your year starts off great!

Back to School Science Escape Room - Easy & No Prep!

 My students love escape rooms!  I don't love the prep:(

These digital escape rooms are so easy to use and no prep! Just give your students 1 link (goes to a Google Site) or have them use the QR code (display on a document reader/projector or print the 1 page sheet and have them scan with their phones) they do the rest. Each clue leads to the next and they can't advance until the get the previous one correct. *Google Forms gives them as many tries as they need! 

Of course there is a print option which you can do as a traditional escape room where they solve one clue at a time or as a "Breakout" where you give them all the clues at once and they race to beat other teams.

Here are some other escape rooms that also use Google Sites/Forms and have a print option.  

I hope your students love them as much as mine!