Nitrogen Cycle Game

I was introduced to this game at the NSTA conference in Boston a couple of years ago.  It is an awesome way to get your students to develop an understanding of the way nitrogen moves and changes forms.

Plus it is completely free.  All you need is some card stock to print it on and some cute stamps or scented markers work well for students to track where they have been as they become a molecule of Nitrogen and move throughout the room from "station" to "station". 

The Nitrogen Cycle Game

Marble Mania

Teach students the importance of testing a hypothesis multiple times before drawing a conclusion while teaching students about probability.

Use Marble Mania with your interactive whiteboard to make it even more engaging!

Cabbage Contest

One of the highlights of the year for my 3rd grade science students is the Cabbage growing contest sponsored by Bonnie Plant Farm.  Our plants arrived today and I thought it would be a great program to share with others.  This is a national program that has been in existence for 9 years.  If you aren't familiar with it and you're a 3rd grade teacher, you really should check it out.

Cabbage Growing Contest

Groovy Food Group Review

While teaching food and nutrition I came across this great SMARTBoard Lesson.
It has just the right combination of cutesy graphics and interactive engagement for students in
the upper elementary grades to stay tuned in.

Groovy Food Group Review

Teaching with Picture Books

Teaching with Picture Books isn't a new concept and it's definitely not just for the little ones.  You don't have to take my word for it.  Check out this blog for more on the topic!

Creative Writing

Stumbled across these really creative writing prompts.  This teacher is really tapped into student gaming interests!  You've gotta read them even if you don't think you need any more creative writing prompts.

The TpT author is Carl Roberts and the free prompts can be found here.

Dust Bowl

I found this great documentary about the Dust Bowl.  It fits in great right now as I am teaching about erosion.  This is an example of how human impact combined with changing climate conditions significantly affected the Great Plains during the 1930s and opens the door for some engaging discussion about human impact on the land today.

Word of caution:  2 instances of language use that may be considered inappropriate for elementary students

I plan to fast forward past those spots. Make sure you preview completely before using in  your classroom.
Enjoy!

New Product Alert! Valentine's Day Graph Art

My newest product is here just in time for Valentine's Day.
It is a set of 3 pictures.  A Hershey Kiss, a flowering heart, and a sneaky cupid each leveled for varying difficulty.
Please check out the free preview and if you like what you see, consider purchasing the set.
(you might want to wait for the Thursday Roundup, though so you can get it on sale)

Spice up your Studying

Today's links include some great study tools.

Study Jams -- putting facts to music will increase their memory.  I've seen it time after time with my students.


Playing games makes learning fun.  Check out the gamequarium for fun review of science facts.

Today's links - quickie video blurbs

During the winter months, who isn't looking for ways to cut energy costs?
If you're like me, I use my science class as an opportunity to teach conservation throughout the year.

Here are two quick videos that are great for encouraging students to think about conservation.

Kids Power

Kids Water