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How Storytime Can Turn Into a Fun STEM Lesson for Kids

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Explore how children’s books can teach STEM concepts to young learners. Discover fun, engaging books and activities that bring science, technology, engineering, and math to life for kids.

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Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)

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Professional Development for K-12 Teachers - ORISE

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Professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers enable educators to collaborate with our nation’s leading scientists, explore STEM curriculum resources, and engage in learning with fellow educators.

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Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC)

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#smithsonianwhm #womenshistorymonth | Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC)

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Our free e-book series "Stories of Women in STEM" for readers ages 11-14 is now available on Kindle! 📚📱 Explore inspiring tales of women, past and present…

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Calling All Educators! Application period is now open for our Fall 2025 Cohort! Join Cohort 4 of the Smithsonian Institution’s Democracy in Dialogue Virtual…

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I first experienced an SEL (social-emotional learning) check-in during the pandemic at one of our virtual staff meetings. We were all working from home at the time, and our executive director, Lori Gracey, kicked off the meeting with one. Though the theme didn't stick in my memory, the check-in concept became a fixture for me. I also started noticing an uptick of presenters using them in their virtual workshops.

What is an SEL Check-in?

Visual cues, whether faces, characters, memes, or symbols, are a common thread for most SEL check-ins. These visuals should be instantly recognizable shorthand for feelings. Since imagery resonates with people more than abstract numbers or words, it's easier to quickly convey complex emotions by relating them to an image. A touch of humor or pop culture helps connect people to the scale, too!

You can also use an check-ins in the classroom with students. Students can be given the opportunity to share and reflect on their emotional state at any point throughout the school day. Some teachers keep SEL check-ins in their calming corners as tools for helping students identify their emotions.

Why are SEL check-ins important?

SEL check-ins are important for several reasons. Let's take a look at a few ways these check-ins support students' social-emotional development.

Incorporating SEL check-ins can:

Promote self-awareness: Checking in helps students become more aware of their emotions by giving them a way to identify them.

Develop emotional vocabulary: Checking in builds students' ability to articulate a range of feelings using proper vocabulary.

Foster classroom community: Sharing emotions regularly builds connections, empathy, and trust among classmates.

Inform instruction: Teachers can gauge student readiness to learn and adjust instruction accordingly based on check-in data.

Support at-risk students: Check-ins help identify students who may be struggling socially or emotionally and need extra support.

Teach emotion regulation: Checking in helps students reflect on feelings before reacting and manage their emotions in a healthy way.

Encourage sharing safely: Students learn it's safe and healthy to share feelings when given the space to do so.

Provide consistency: Daily check-ins become a predictable routine that adds stability.

Tools for Creating Your Own

I guess you could say that SEL check-ins are one of the silver linings of COVID-19. As a presenter, they are a great way to start off a workshop and check in with attendees as the workshop progresses. And with all the fun and creative tools available to us now, making one is easy. I used free images from Pixabay to create my first check-ins. If you are looking for copyright-free images, check out this blog. More recently Emoji Kitchen and Canva provide the fodder for my creative appetite. Remember, Canva is free for educators!

SEL check-ins, with visual cues and creative images, foster self-awareness, emotional vocabulary, and classroom support. Easily integrated into daily routines, they create a stable, engaging environment that bolsters instruction and student emotional growth. If you are considering incorporating emotional well-being into your classroom, I certainly hope this slide deck can help you out. And if you have an SEL check-in to share with the world, please drop the link into the comments.

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From LEGO heads to llamas, grab some themed SEL check-in templates! Plus, learn how they benefit students' social-emotional development.

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Abigail | Play ideas | Crafts | Mom Humor on Instagram: "🌙SALT MOON🌙 

Are you ready to blow your child’s mind with this super fun and engaging painting experiment? Let’s go! 

For this activity all you need to do is mix salt and water. It’s that simple 🙌

Tip: to speed up  the drying process use a hair dryer 😉

Follow @hands.on.learningforkids for more easy crafts and activities to do with your toddler or preschooler!"

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7,276 likes, 82 comments - hands.on.learningforkids on March 24, 2025: "🌙SALT MOON🌙 

Are you ready to blow your child’s mind with this super fun and engaging painting experiment? Let’s go! 

For this activity all you need to do is mix salt and water. It’s that simple 🙌

Tip: to speed up  the drying process use a hair dryer 😉

Follow @hands.on.learningforkids for more easy crafts and activities to do with your toddler or preschooler!". 

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During March is Reading Month, I had my students read chapters from inspring books with STEM themes. A chapter from an astronaut biography. A story of a great invention. Just another way to get them reading & engaging with STEM.

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Mark Montano on Instagram: "25 days of jewelry making! #papercraft #upcycling #jewelrymaking #makeyourmark"

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5,129 likes, 113 comments - themarkmontano on March 1, 2025: "25 days of jewelry making! #papercraft #upcycling #jewelrymaking #makeyourmark". 

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Jugando con las hijas on Instagram: "¡Experimento fácil y divertido para hacer con los peques! 🌸🎨✨ 

Aprende a hacer flores de servilleta con un efecto de cromatización sorprendente 🤯 

Los materiales 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Servilletas 
Marcadores de colores (importante, tienen que ser de agua)
Limpiapipas
Vasitos con agua

 ¿Te animas a probarlo? Cuéntame en los comentarios. 😉

#showoffyourplay #letsplayandlearntoday #march_play #playinmarch #kidsactivities"

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1,987 likes, 44 comments - jugando_con_las_hijas on March 27, 2025: "¡Experimento fácil y divertido para hacer con los peques! 🌸🎨✨ 

Aprende a hacer flores de servilleta con un efecto de cromatización sorprendente 🤯 

Los materiales 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
Servilletas 
Marcadores de colores (importante, tienen que ser de agua)
Limpiapipas
Vasitos con agua

 ¿Te animas a probarlo? Cuéntame en los comentarios. 😉

#showoffyourplay #letsplayandlearntoday #march_play #playinmarch #kidsactivities". 

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Shy Moon Threads (@shymoonthreads) on Threads

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Tonight’s Native American history lesson is about the Abenaki tribe 🪶 The Abenaki are a Native American tribe from the Northeastern Woodlands, primarily in present-day Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Quebec. They are part of the larger Algonquian language family and historically lived in villages along rivers and lakes, relying on hunting, fishing, and agriculture.🧵

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UNUM Ken Burns (@kenburnspbs) on Threads

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UNUM on the Road continued in Yorktown, VA, where @kenlburns stood on the very field where the British surrendered to George Washington in 1781. It marked the beginning of the end of the war, and the start of something entirely new.

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She was the first black woman to win a GOLD Olympic medal but they still did her dirty. The Untold Story of Alice Coachman: The Trailblazing Black Woman Who Won Olympic Gold

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After being drafted in 1969, Tom Geerdes served as an Army medic in the 11th Armored Cavalry in Vietnam and Cambodia. Like many veterans, he returned home a changed man. He opens up to his daughter about his long journey toward healing. Listen to his story, part of our Military Voices Initiative, in honor of NationalVietnamWarVeteransDay.

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Welcome to “Good Morning, Mammoth Heights!” #morningshow #principalsofinstagram

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The Marvelously Inventive Life of Mária Telkes | American Experience | PBS

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A look at the scientist’s breakthrough innovations, from the world’s first solar-heated home to an electricity-free Easy Bake Oven.

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Lush Life: Neotropical Rainforest Bats - Bat Conservation International

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The rainforests of South America contain the widest diversity of bats in the world.

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Hold on to your butt because we got an incredible new image from JWST! 🤯 This is an Einstein ring, formed by the gravity of a massive elliptical galaxy (center) warping space and distorting the light coming from objects behind it. When a background galaxy is perfectly aligned, its light can get smeared out in the shape of a ring! Here the background galaxy is a spiral, and you can see in the ring structures like spiral arms and star clusters and the like. 🤩 📸: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, G. Mahler

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Raye Montague wasn't allowed to study engineering at college because the program wouldn't admit African-American students, but she went on to revolutionize Naval ship design and become the first person in history to design a ship on a computer.

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Welcome to Smithsonian Open Access, where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian's images-right now, without asking. With new platforms and tools, you have easier access to more than 4.5 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections-with many more to come. This includes images and data from across the Smithsonian's 21 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo.

What will you create?

#SmithsonianOpenAccess

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Smithsonian Open Access | Smithsonian Institution

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Learn more about Smithsonian Open Access

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She doesn’t paint or draw — she hole punches. Jill Pam jillpamart turns ordinary office supplies into extraordinary art, crafting vibrant portraits from thousands of tiny confetti dots. From RBG to Lady Gaga, each piece is a celebration of patience, passion, and pop culture.

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On March 28, 1898, the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that anyone born on U.S. soil was an American citizen, citing the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. Stream THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel → https://to.pbs.org/4hOepeX

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Latinas in STEM (@latinasinstem) on Threads

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Have you learned about these amazing women?!#womenshistorymonth #pioneersinstem

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The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM

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Higher Order Thinking Questions for Your Next Lesson

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Use this list of higher order thinking questions from Blooms, Costa, and Webb to support higher cognitive demand in your lessons with students.

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The Female Quotient® (@femalequotient) on Threads

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You may know her as “America’s oldest park ranger.” But that’s only one of her many chapters. Here’s advice from 101-year-old Betty Reid Soskin: the versions of you can change—and change again. Stay ready for what’s next. 🎥 @briefbutspectacular

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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Transform your classroom with a wonder wall. This simple yet powerful tool sparks curiosity and empowers students to ask questions. https://buff.ly/ZI7nKlQ teacherthreads

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Asiya Sheikh (@asiyasheikh317) on Threads

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Cute DIY Drawing With Easy Tricks For Kids 🥰

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Emily on Instagram: "Experimenting with bleach gel round 3! 

The cornstarch definitely made the gel easier to work with, and I feel like it allowed more of the small details to come through. 

Part of me wonders if it would work even better with powder bleach instead of the bleach gel. 

I’m only still using the bleach gel because it’s what I have at the moment, but straight powdered bleach might be even more effective! And potentially safer since it won’t have all of the other chemicals found in the toilet cleaner gel.

Perhaps something to play with in the next round of testing…

This bleach printing series has been fun so far! I’m looking forward to printing on some t shirts and tote bags soon, once I’m happy with the printing results

Stay tuned, eventually I’ll have these bleach printed designs for sale on Etsy along with some stuff printed in white and black ink

#smallartist #batart #handmadeart #bats #localartist #bleach #bleachdye"

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6,877 likes, 56 comments - creature_comforts_studio on February 28, 2025: "Experimenting with bleach gel round 3! 

The cornstarch definitely made the gel easier to work with, and I feel like it allowed more of the small details to come through. 

Part of me wonders if it would work even better with powder bleach instead of the bleach gel. 

I’m only still using the bleach gel because it’s what I have at the moment, but straight powdered bleach might be even more effective! And potentially safer since it won’t have all of the other chemicals found in the toilet cleaner gel.

Perhaps something to play with in the next round of testing…

This bleach printing series has been fun so far! I’m looking forward to printing on some t shirts and tote bags soon, once I’m happy with the printing results

Stay tuned, eventually I’ll have these bleach printed designs for sale on Etsy along with some stuff printed in white and black ink

#smallartist #batart #handmadeart #bats #localartist #bleach #bleachdye". 

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New Project Lead The Way-Regeneron Grant Opportunity: If you're looking to… | Tennessee STEM Innovation Network

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New Project Lead The Way-Regeneron Grant Opportunity: If you're looking to implement or expand a PLTW Biomedical Science program at your school, this grant is…

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Culture • Awareness • Healing (@indigenousintentions) on Threads

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A brief history of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. You’ll learn this information (and more!) at Oconaluftee Indian Village living history museum and see it come to life onstage during Unto These Hills outdoor drama.
🎥; Cherokee Historical

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Test prep review with Easter eggs 🥚 #teachers #teachertips

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By Amy Cowen on November 4, 2022 4:00 PM
Inspire students of all ages to enjoy STEM when you let them loose in a creative makerspace! These hands-on engineering activities use simple materials and encourage students to brainstorm, problem solve, and innovate.
Enabling Exploration

Community makerspaces are collaborative spaces where people of all ages can get hands-on with science and engineering. With an array of materials available, a visit to a local makerspace is an invitation to play with science and engineering and really see how things work.

You may have a makerspace in your school or at the library, or maybe you have an area of your classroom dedicated to maker activities students can explore or certain days of the week on which you turn the room into a makerspace. With a few materials and a surface to work on, garage or basement spaces can easily be recast as home makerspaces, too!

You don't have to have expensive materials to start up your own makerspace. With an assortment of craft supplies, electronics parts, and recycled materials, you can set up a makerspace full of inspiring STEM that kids can explore. Figuring out what will work with the materials available is part of the challenge and part of the fun!

Bookmark or pin these projects to add to your makerspace!

Update! This post has been updated for 2022!

Free Projects and Activities for Your Makerspace

Try one of these STEM projects for creative hands-on science and engineering with a DIY "maker" flair:

Make Cardboard Automata: Plan and build an automaton from cardboard and craft materials.

Build a Wind-Powered Car: Add a sail to a DIY toy car and experiment to see how changes to the sail make a difference in the car's stability and speed.

Build a Differential from K'Nex®: Use the K'Nex® toy building system to build a model differential.

Build A Wall Marble Run: Use cardboard tubes and other simple materials to build a wall marble run.

Make an Awesome Paper Lantern: Design and make a paper lantern that holds a battery-operated tealight candle or uses a night light circuit.

Flippy, the Dancing Robot: Build a simple dancing robot and use the engineering design process to improve it.

Build a Paper Roller Coaster: Build a paper roller coaster and try to add a loop.

3D Print with Sand: No 3D Printer Required!: Use sand and glue to simulate one type of 3D printing.

DIY Mini Propeller Car: Make a small toy car with a simple circuit and a propeller.

Build a Robot Hand: Use craft materials to design and build a robotic hand.

Build a Mini Trebuchet: Use craft sticks, rubber bands, and other craft materials to make and explore the physics behind a miniature trebuchet.

DIY Light Up Unicorn Headband: Make a unicorn horn headband with a paper circuit that lights an LED at the tip.

Build a Rubber Band-Powered Car: Build a car with an axle made from straws and rubber bands that store potential energy when wound.

Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult: Make a small catapult from craft sticks and rubber bands.

Duplicate Your Drawings with a Machine: Make and experiment with a pantograph, a device that can be used to make a larger or smaller copy of a drawing.

Make a Paper Circuit: Learn how to make simple circuits from paper, copper tape (or aluminum foil), and a battery. (See Paper Circuits Science Projects for additional ways to explore.)

Make a Cotton Ball Launcher: Use a recycled cardboard tube to make a launcher that can launch lightweight materials.

The Impossible Arrow Illusion: 3D print and explore the "impossible arrow" illusion - the arrow's reflection in a mirror always points the other way!

Make Your Own Harmonica!: Explore how a harmonica creates sound waves by making a small one from wooden sticks, rubber bands, and a straw.

DIY Mini Drone: Make a basic mini drone. (Add additional parts to explore a series of questions related to drone flight.)

Build a Balloon Car: Use a balloon to power a homemade toy car.

Study Kinetic Energy with a Rube Goldberg Machine: Use assorted materials to create a set of chain reactions in a machine designed to perform a simple task.

Build a Cardboard Scissor Lift: Use craft materials to make a scissor lift and explore simple machines.

Junkbots: Robots from Recycled Materials: Design and build simple robots made from recycled and craft materials.

Build a Paper Speaker: Make a working speaker from paper and neodymium magnets.

Make a Night-Light: Build a working night-light with an intermediate circuit project and design the custom housing, too!

Makerspace Learning in Action

The following STEM videos demonstrate some of the highlighted activities:

Ready for More Makerspace Ideas?

See 16 Next-Level Makerspace STEM Projects for projects and activities to help scale your makerspace for students ready for additional challenge.

You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:

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26 Projects to Jump-start Your Makerspace | Science Buddies Blog

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26 engaging hands-on STEM activities that use recylced and craft materials for a home, library, or classroom makerspace

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Everglades Literacy | Everglades Education | Environmental Education |… | The Everglades Foundation

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📚 🐊 7,500 PreK-12 teachers across Florida have brought the Everglades to their students – and you can join them. Access our free, standards aligned resources…

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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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Into The Cloud | National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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A brand-new episode of "Into the Cloud" is available now! Join the NetSmartz team as they teach kids how to navigate the online world safely.

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I wanted to share an amazing opportunity for middle school teachers! I’ve been using this program for the past two years, and my students absolutely love…

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May 1 deadline- STE3M summer workshops at PSU, with free science kits for... | Dana Smerda-Mason, EdD

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May 1 deadline- STE3M summer workshops at PSU, with free science kits for your classroom- virtual and in-person options!

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MP Gautheron on Instagram: "Je garde un souvenir très agréable de mon enfance, lorsque j’avais créé une montgolfière en papier mâché à l’école. J’ai souhaité revivre ce moment avec mes filles 💚 Pour cela, nous avons utilisé des bandes plâtrées, de l’acrylique, du carton, des brindilles et du fil de nylon."

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67K likes, 371 comments - mpgautheron on February 19, 2025: "Je garde un souvenir très agréable de mon enfance, lorsque j’avais créé une montgolfière en papier mâché à l’école. J’ai souhaité revivre ce moment avec mes filles 💚 Pour cela, nous avons utilisé des bandes plâtrées, de l’acrylique, du carton, des brindilles et du fil de nylon.". 

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Kleyer Sonnenkinder eV on Instagram: "BLUMEN-DIY
Ihr braucht:
Wattepads
Einen Becher
Wasser und färbendes Krepp-Papier (alternativ kann man das Wasser auch mit anderer Farbe einfärben)
Glitzer (macht alles schöner)
Farbt die Wattepads in einer Farbe eurer Wahl ein und drückt danach das Wasser aus.
Im Anschluss legt ihr diese wie im Video über den Becherrand. Das wiederholt ihr so oft, bis genug Wattepads übereinander liegen.
Vorsichtig aus dem Becher entfernen, trocknen lassen und fertig ist die Blume #diy #kreativ #kreativität #projekt #kindergartenalltag #kindergarten #kita #team #maltisch #malen #pädagogik #elterninitiative #ideen #ideas #crafting #play #fyp #foryoupage #capcut #frühling"

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5,337 likes, 26 comments - kleyer_sonnenkinder_e.v on March 11, 2025: "BLUMEN-DIY
Ihr braucht:
Wattepads
Einen Becher
Wasser und färbendes Krepp-Papier (alternativ kann man das Wasser auch mit anderer Farbe einfärben)
Glitzer (macht alles schöner)
Farbt die Wattepads in einer Farbe eurer Wahl ein und drückt danach das Wasser aus.
Im Anschluss legt ihr diese wie im Video über den Becherrand. Das wiederholt ihr so oft, bis genug Wattepads übereinander liegen.
Vorsichtig aus dem Becher entfernen, trocknen lassen und fertig ist die Blume #diy #kreativ #kreativität #projekt #kindergartenalltag #kindergarten #kita #team #maltisch #malen #pädagogik #elterninitiative #ideen #ideas #crafting #play #fyp #foryoupage #capcut #frühling". 

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Page Street Publishing Co. on Instagram: "HAPPY NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CRAFT DAY!! 🎨✨🎉

In honor of creativity and for the love of crafting, try this DIY sticker hack from Timm Sevitz’s upcoming release, The Happiest Kids Crafts in the World! 

Discover the joy of creativity, confidence and happiness with this fun-filled craft book that will spark your imagination, build your skills and inspire kindness―all while using everyday materials for endless, joy filled crafting adventures!

Releases April 8th - Preorder your copy today!! ✨"

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4,568 likes, 82 comments - pagestreetpublishing on March 14, 2025: "HAPPY NATIONAL CHILDREN’S CRAFT DAY!! 🎨✨🎉

In honor of creativity and for the love of crafting, try this DIY sticker hack from Timm Sevitz’s upcoming release, The Happiest Kids Crafts in the World! 

Discover the joy of creativity, confidence and happiness with this fun-filled craft book that will spark your imagination, build your skills and inspire kindness―all while using everyday materials for endless, joy filled crafting adventures!

Releases April 8th - Preorder your copy today!! ✨". 

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Ms. Curd 🎨 K-8 Art Teacher on Instagram: "Anyone else ever done this project?? I love it! ☺️

#artteachersofinstagram #artteacherlife #teacherlife #artteacher #artteachers #middleschoolart"

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1,678 likes, 49 comments - sheeteaches on February 5, 2025: "Anyone else ever done this project?? I love it! ☺️

#artteachersofinstagram #artteacherlife #teacherlife #artteacher #artteachers #middleschoolart". 

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Sibia Torres Padilla | DIYs on Instagram: "Here’s how we made this wind chime:
We gathered mason jar lids
Collected clear plastic from strawberry containers and such
Cut the plastic to fit inside the lid.
Tested it to make sure it fits
Added a layer of modpodge (I used dishwasher safe since l plan to put this outside)
Placed pressed flowers on the plastic
When the first coat of modpodge was dry I added another coat to cover the flowers
When they were dry I popped the plastic into the lids. They fit snugly and I’m not worried about them falling out but if you are you can always secure them with hot glue or crazy glue I used twine to hang the mason jar lids from a branch and I will hang it up outside.
I was very inspired by my friend Daniella who made mason jar flower rings. She made them with contact paper and hung them from her tree so I thought I would try my own trashy version 😊"

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10K likes, 128 comments - sibster on January 29, 2025: "Here’s how we made this wind chime:
We gathered mason jar lids
Collected clear plastic from strawberry containers and such
Cut the plastic to fit inside the lid.
Tested it to make sure it fits
Added a layer of modpodge (I used dishwasher safe since l plan to put this outside)
Placed pressed flowers on the plastic
When the first coat of modpodge was dry I added another coat to cover the flowers
When they were dry I popped the plastic into the lids. They fit snugly and I’m not worried about them falling out but if you are you can always secure them with hot glue or crazy glue I used twine to hang the mason jar lids from a branch and I will hang it up outside.
I was very inspired by my friend Daniella who made mason jar flower rings. She made them with contact paper and hung them from her tree so I thought I would try my own trashy version 😊". 

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DIY con Angela Maria on Instagram: "🌸✨ Un corazón que florece con amor ✨🌸

Hoy te traigo una idea hermosa y creativa: un corazón en cartulina decorado con flores naturales. 💖🌿 Perfecto para darle un toque especial a tus espacios o sorprender con un detalle único. ¡Déjate inspirar por la belleza de la naturaleza! 🌷🎨

📌 Guarda este post para intentarlo más tarde y dime en los comentarios ¿de qué color harías el tuyo? 💬✨

#ArteConFlores #DIYCreativo #HechoAMano #Manualidades #Decoración #Creatividad #AmorEnCadaDetalle"

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271 likes, 3 comments - amybran1 on March 16, 2025: "🌸✨ Un corazón que florece con amor ✨🌸

Hoy te traigo una idea hermosa y creativa: un corazón en cartulina decorado con flores naturales. 💖🌿 Perfecto para darle un toque especial a tus espacios o sorprender con un detalle único. ¡Déjate inspirar por la belleza de la naturaleza! 🌷🎨

📌 Guarda este post para intentarlo más tarde y dime en los comentarios ¿de qué color harías el tuyo? 💬✨

#ArteConFlores #DIYCreativo #HechoAMano #Manualidades #Decoración #Creatividad #AmorEnCadaDetalle". 

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One Little Project #easycrafts on Instagram: "🐣✨ Easter eggs that hatch into a bird buffet? Yes, please! These DIY birdseed eggs are the cutest way to celebrate spring—and your backyard birds will love you for it. 🐦🌸

Made using plastic Easter egg molds, birdseed, and a little magic (aka gelatin), these hanging treats are fun to make, eco-friendly, and the perfect way to welcome springtime visitors to your trees. 🌿🐦

🐰 Want the step-by-step tutorial? Comment BIRD below 👇🏻 and I’ll send it your way!

Tag a fellow nature lover who needs to try this spring craft! 🌼✨

#onelittleproject #ontheblog #birdseed #easter #eastercrafts #kidsactivity #kidscrafts #eastereggs #naturecraft #birdwatching #birdfeeders #craftymom"

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6,590 likes, 346 comments - one_little_project on March 17, 2025: "🐣✨ Easter eggs that hatch into a bird buffet? Yes, please! These DIY birdseed eggs are the cutest way to celebrate spring—and your backyard birds will love you for it. 🐦🌸

Made using plastic Easter egg molds, birdseed, and a little magic (aka gelatin), these hanging treats are fun to make, eco-friendly, and the perfect way to welcome springtime visitors to your trees. 🌿🐦

🐰 Want the step-by-step tutorial? Comment BIRD below 👇🏻 and I’ll send it your way!

Tag a fellow nature lover who needs to try this spring craft! 🌼✨

#onelittleproject #ontheblog #birdseed #easter #eastercrafts #kidsactivity #kidscrafts #eastereggs #naturecraft #birdwatching #birdfeeders #craftymom". 

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An activity to learn the parts of an airplane and their functions.

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A Close Look at Caterpillars: Maria Merian’s Metamorphosis Meets Modern Science | Guardians of Memory

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Pioneering 17th century natural scientist, artist, and engraver Maria Sibylla Merian traveled to Suriname to observe and collect insect specimens. In 1705, she published a book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of Surinamese Insects) with large, vibrantly colored illustrations of exotic species that captivated natural history enthusiasts. Read about how a trans-disciplinary team from Preservation Research and Testing, Rare Books and Manuscripts and an Einstein Fellow worked together to examine the book and discuss research questions and goals.

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Teaching Resources for Women’s History Month | Teaching with the Library

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Blog posts, classroom materials, and resources from the Library offer ideas that can support teaching and learning about Women’s History Month in different subjects (Science/STEM, Social Studies, English Language Arts) and across grade levels.

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The Myth-Busting History of Edna Griffin — Civil Rights Teaching

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Edna Griffin was engaged in a series of social movements in Iowa including the Progressive Party, the Communist Party, a campaign to desegregate a lunch counter, labor union organizing, Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign, and protests against war and nuclear weapons. All the while, she was sur

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The Myth-Busting History of Edna Griffin — Civil Rights Teaching

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Edna Griffin was engaged in a series of social movements in Iowa including the Progressive Party, the Communist Party, a campaign to desegregate a lunch counter, labor union organizing, Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign, and protests against war and nuclear weapons. All the while, she was sur

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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How do you get students motivated to write? Give them a topic they’re passionate about! And we know many kids are passionate about sports! 🏀✍️ 📥Download a free activity sheet filled with ideas 🏅📄 https://buff.ly/xnvd8mS via Pobble
teacherthreads

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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How do you get students motivated to write? Give them a topic they’re passionate about! And we know many kids are passionate about sports! 🏀✍️ 📥Download a free activity sheet filled with ideas 🏅📄 https://buff.ly/xnvd8mS via Pobble
teacherthreads

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Stephanie & Katrina | Crafty Moms on Instagram: "Looking for a fun and easy DIY activity for the kids? Try making your own dot markers using empty water bottles, sponges, paint, and a little water! Just mix some paint with water in the bottle, secure a sponge to the top, and let the kids stamp away. The added water makes the paint flow more smoothly, creating vibrant, mess-friendly dots. It’s a great way to encourage creativity while repurposing materials you already have at home!
Inspired by @mothercould 
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#montessoriathome #diyplayideas #earlychildhoodeducation #kidsactivities #diy #toddlermom #homeschool"

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4,039 likes, 75 comments - crafty.moms on February 24, 2025: "Looking for a fun and easy DIY activity for the kids? Try making your own dot markers using empty water bottles, sponges, paint, and a little water! Just mix some paint with water in the bottle, secure a sponge to the top, and let the kids stamp away. The added water makes the paint flow more smoothly, creating vibrant, mess-friendly dots. It’s a great way to encourage creativity while repurposing materials you already have at home!
Inspired by @mothercould 
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#montessoriathome #diyplayideas #earlychildhoodeducation #kidsactivities #diy #toddlermom #homeschool". 

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245K views · 35K reactions | Human hair can absorb five times its weight in oil and, though unconventional, is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly methods for aiding oil spills. Matter of Trust @matteroftrust repurposes human hair, animal fur, wool and fleece to create absorption mats that clean up oil spills, accepting donations from salons, groomers and farmers. #environmental #ecofriendly #recycling #hair #humanhair #ecology | 60 Second Docs

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Human hair can absorb five times its weight in oil and, though unconventional, is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly methods for aiding oil spills. Matter of Trust @matteroftrust repurposes...

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Sandra Day OConnor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Sandra Day OConnor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who would become the second woman on the Supreme Court, was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 1933. Despite their differences, the first and second female Supreme Court justices found common ground on women’s equality in this excerpt from ‘Sisters in Law’ by Linda Hirshman. WomensHistoryMonth
https://to.pbs.org/3Rd6lbi

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The protein jiggle dance is our new favorite thing 💃🪩 Our newest episode of Chemists in the Kitchen is all about the science of making flan 🍮 🔗 Watch the full episode at our link in bio

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Asiya Sheikh (@asiyasheikh317) on Threads

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Easy Folding Surprise Drawing lessons For Kids 🥰 kidsactivities

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More than a decade after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because of her race, Marian Anderson gave her first paid performance at the venue on March 14, 1953, to an integrated audience. While this performance broke racial barriers at the hall, Anderson later recalled that “the essential point about wanting to appear in the hall was that I wanted to do so, because I felt I had that right as an artist.” WomensHistoryMonth
https://to.pbs.org/3Fsl141

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DC Public Library (@dcpubliclibrary) on Threads

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Introducing Hiveclass—an e-learning platform with high-quality, skill-based videos across 18+ sports & wellness activities! 🏀🏊‍♂️⚽ Available in English & Spanish, it’s fun, easy, and FREE with your library card! https://bit.ly/43wRUWX ht

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Alyssa Stokes (@playful.petals) on Threads

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Spring 🌼 Nature Wands We have been spending more time outside this week and I’m so ready for spring! For this craft, we gathered sticks on a neighborhood walk to begin our magic wands. I cut and painted flower shapes from cardboard for a whimsical topper. We then wrapped yarn around the sticks. I added an eye hole screw to the top of the stick to tie on the yarn streamers. This is a great craft for kids to join in with and my boys enjoyed designing their own!

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Born March 15, 1926, Ralph Anspach’s crusade against oil cartels and Parker Brothers would eventually bring to light the true origin story of Monopoly, the woman who invented the game, and the original—decidedly anti-capitalist—set of rules. Stream RUTHLESS: MONOPOLY’S SECRET HISTORY on YouTube and the @PBS App → https://youtu.be/IAsj9TvK_eI

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SoulMate Sam (@real_cleansweep) on Threads

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🎨 Unleash Your Child’s Creativity with Abstract Dot Painting! Inspire your child’s imagination with the magic of Abstract Dot Painting! 🖌️ With just a simple tap, kids can create stunning, one-of-a-kind artworks effortlessly. 👉 Let their imagination run wild — creativity starts with a dot! 🌈 #CreativeKids #DotPainting #ArtForKids #CreativePlay kidsactivities ParentingTips

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English Listening Lesson Library Online

ELLLO has over 3,000 free listening lessons for all levels! Most lessons have audio or video, a transcript, vocab support and interactive quizzes.

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ELLLO - English Listening Lesson Library Online

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ELLLO stands for English Listening Lesson Library Online and features natural English lessons that come with quizzes, vocabulary training, and free printable worksheets. ESL students and teachers can access over 2,000 free lessons that feature World English with speakers from over 100 countries.

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For 50 years, Elizebeth Friedman's contributions to WWII intelligence were a secret. Now her work has been fully brought to light.

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For 50 years, Elizebeth Friedman's contributions to WWII intelligence were a secret. Now her work has been fully brought to light.

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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📖 Need short, high-interest articles for your students? Check out these go-to resources for engaging, classroom-ready reads! 🔍📚 https://buff.ly/yUi4C8a teacherthreads

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The Women in STEM eBook series is a series of free educational eBooks for middle school age readers. Designed to highlight the often overlooked role of women in STEM, the eBooks feature biographies of trailblazing women who made history through their scientific discoveries and innovation. Each eBook has a theme or topic that unites the women’s stories, such as women in biotechnology. The short biographies highlight different paths, obstacles, and careers of women in STEM to inspire the next generation. Readers learn how women have overcome challenges and setbacks to advance the science, technology, engineering, and math industry.

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These trailblazers were behind a lot of scientific discovery and innovation as we know it. How cool? And how cool is it that you can watch something about each of them on PBS? 🔭 🔬

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Hip Hop MD (@hiphopscienceshow) on Threads

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Educators! I’m happy to announce I’m teaming up with NEI (National Eye Institute) for their Eye On The Future Teen Video Contest. If you work with students grades 9-12, this is a great way to spark their curiosity in STEM while also giving them the chance to win some incredible prizes! http://bit.ly/4b8zxJE

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Nádia Serique (@prof.nadiaserique) on Threads

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#Repost civiltikres com @use.repost ・・・
Dica de atividade para realizar com as crianças. Ideal para o dia das Mães. Você precisará de rolinhos de papel higiênico, tintas e imagem de vaso. 🎬Crédito: civiltikres

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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What if Jack had a parachute? 🤔💡 Story Bin STEM challenges make fairy tales more interactive—and more educational! https://buff.ly/44ZRUgT teacherthreads

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An Open Letter to Educators about Ramadan

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When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducts raids in a community, students are deeply affected. Even the threat of a raid or news of one in another part of the country can have painful lasting effects. To help educators serving students affected by ICE raids, see the strategies below.
See the printable flier of this infographic - bilingual English-Spanish (letter size pdf)

Provide trauma-informed care and services for students who experience or may experience trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ensure educators and staff are appropriately trained to recognize and respond to students' needs.

Have counselors, social workers and other professionals available to assist students, families, educators and staff. These professionals can respond directly to individual needs and can help to create a safe and positive school climate for everyone in a campus community.

Create a safe space, like a school gym, where students and families can wait if a parent is detained.

Identify a bilingual parent or family liaison to support students and families.

Connect with local community-based organizations that have expertise and resources. Distribute and post IDRA's alert on immigrant student rights "Welcoming Immigrant Students in Our Public Schools."

Obstruct - do not facilitate - the school-to-deportation pipeline. Ensure police officers are not present on campuses unnecessarily as this can re-traumatize students and discourage families from being on campus. Do not involve law enforcement needlessly or enforce criminal penalties against students that might trigger ICE intervention. Review Codes of Conduct to ensure they do not contain penalties or discipline procedures related to immigration status or English proficiency.

Affirmatively issue and post a statement that makes it clear that the district is a safe space for families. Many school districts have reaffirmed their policies to protect students' rights in light of uncertainty regarding federal immigration enforcement activities in their schools. Some districts have issued statements affirming the districts' mission to ensure all students have a safe and positive learning environment and outlining guidance to school personnel on how to, for example, respond to requests from ICE agents for data or access to their campus. (See samples in IDRA's resource, "School Districts Pass Resolutions on Responding to ICE"). Families should know:

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits schools from providing any outside agency (including ICE) with any information from a child's school file that would expose the student's undocumented status.

ICE agents are to refrain from enforcement actions at certain sensitive locations, which include schools, as detailed in ICE's own policies.

Schools should not ask for citizenship status when enrolling students or interacting with families.

All students, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to a free public education under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Have the district's "McKinney-Vento" liaison ensure that any students who become homeless as a result of a raid are given supports and legal protections afforded by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Make general public resources available to families (For example, www.immigrationlawhelp.org has information about non-profit legal service organizations by state.)

Equip school staff with training, resources and supports. School leaders have an important role in actively affirming the welcoming environment they intend to maintain. All staff should understand the district's non-discrimination policies, procedures for collecting student information, commitment to the communities they serve, and measures for communicating with students' families.

Many school districts have reaffirmed their policies to protect students' rights in light of uncertainty regarding federal immigration enforcement activities in their schools. Some districts have issued statements affirming the districts' mission to ensure all students have a safe and positive learning environment and outlining guidance to school personnel on how to, for example, respond to requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for data or access to their campus. (See samples in IDRA's resource, "School Districts Pass Resolutions on Responding to ICE".)

Educators and other adults in the school need to watch students who are being teased or bullied by other students related to their real - or perceived - immigration status or that of their family. Staff should be prepared in ways to intervene appropriately.

is one of four regional centers. Our Region II center covers Washington, D.C., and 11 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

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10 Strategies for How Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids - IDRA

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When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducts raids in a community, students are deeply affected. Even the threat of a raid or news of one in another part of the country can have painful lasting effects. To help educators serving students affected by ICE raids, see the strategies below.

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Building information and communication technology skills through Literacy article

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Building information and communication technology skills through Literacy article

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Douglas Fisher on LinkedIn: IRA Building ICT Skills

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Another opportunity to look back at an IRA article and bring relevant portions forward! In 2014, Nancy Frey and I wrote Building Information and Communication…

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Library of Congress (@librarycongress) on Threads

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Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone on this day in 1876. Judging by this concept drawing found in the Alexander Graham Bell Family Papers here at the Library, he may have also accidentally invented the 🗣️ emoji. 🤭 (He was an inventor, not an artist, OK?!)

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NOAA Office of Education and NASEM Gulf Research Program are excited to announce a new funding opportunity supporting environmental literacy for community…

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While curb cuts, ramps at building entrances, and braille on elevator buttons seem commonplace today, they were once the subject of a pitched battle that landed on the steps of Congress. CHANGE, NOT CHARITY: THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT tells the emotional and dramatic story of the decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the 1990 passage of the ADA, one of the most consequential civil rights bills in the nation’s history.

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Antioch New England Education (@auneeducation) on Threads

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How do we build a positive math identity? Often, students get turned off of math before they get a chance to get curious. We love this article from @edutopia that suggests that learning about the lives of famous mathematicians is a great way to spark that curiosity! https://buff.ly/4kmsFgf

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Abdul Rahim Roni (@abdulrahimroni) on Threads

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Placing silverware in hot water with baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil creates a small electric current. This redox reaction pulls sulfur from tarnished silver A process called Electrochemical reduction

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Children’s Defense Fund (@childdefender1973) on Threads

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🌟 Grant Alert! 🌟 The Early Learning Nation (ELN) Collective is funding community-led efforts to support children & families. Check your eligibility & apply today! 🔗 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V7Q9LKG

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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If you’ve ever stared at a blank lesson plan wondering where to start, ALDO is here to help. This structured approach keeps lessons focused, engaging, and effective—so you can spend less time planning and more time teaching! 💡 https://buff.ly/3ES3FgC teacherthreads

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Nathanael Adams (@_nathanaeladams) on Threads

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Did you know? During thunderstorms, leaves from trees and other plants create mini electric discharges that can significantly alter the surrounding air quality through the emission of hydroxyl (OH) and hydroperoxyl (HO2). NatureThreads

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TCEA | A Community of Educators (@tcea_org) on Threads

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How do you teach your students about digital citizenship and internet safety? https://buff.ly/4hP2rkH via Kathleen Morris
teacherthreads

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I often ask my 7th grade Pre-Algebra students "why do you think this is right?" when I look over their work.

Early on in the year, students assume they've got the answer wrong...surely a teacher wouldn't ask that question if they got it right.

They begin to realize that I will ask that question regardless if they got the answer right because I'm interested in their thought process. There are countless times I've asked that question to a student who got the right answer. However, as I probed their thinking, I found out they either got lucky or they just remembered a couple of rules to follow but couldn't say why the rules worked the way they did.
Right answers aren't enough.
As a math teacher, it's hard to gauge your students conceptual understanding by just looking at the right answers. A lot of times you don't NEED conceptual understanding to get right answers. You can take this number, multiply it by that one, put a negative sign here, and then hit this weird button on your calculator and then just write whatever number shows up.

These informal conversations with students serve as a great formative assessment of where they are at, but I wanted a more formal way of assessing a student's conceptual understanding. Blogging seemed like a great format and would give me a chance to teach them a few digital citizenship skills as well.

Math in my own words blog

We call it the 'Math in My Own Words' blog...or MiMOW. Once a semester, students pick one lesson from a unit we just finished to write a blog that explores the 'whys' behind the mathematical concept at hand.

, one student explored square & cube roots.

What do they blog about?

Most students won't know what to write if you just say 'tell me the whys behind the math.' To support them, I give them 3-5 writing prompts for each lesson that will help them dive a little more into the 'whys.' They get to choose which lesson they will write about.

For example, in Unit 1 we had five lessons:

1.1 Number Sets

1.2 Properties

1.3 Exponents

1.4 Square & Cube Roots

1.5 Order of Operations

If they wanted to write about square and cube roots, they were given the following prompts:

Walk the reader through what a square root and cube root are.

Discuss how we used cheez-its to figure out square roots and how we could use base-10 blocks to figure out cube roots.

Give an example of several perfect squares and perfect cubes and discuss why you think they call them 'perfect squares.'

Some people refer to raising a number to a power of 2 as that number squared and a power of 3 as that number cubed. What does it have to do with the shapes we call a square and cube?

How are square roots and cube roots similar and different?

I came up with several of the prompts myself, searched 'square and cube root writing prompts,' and checked the back of the chapter of any textbooks as they'll sometimes have a writing prompt.

Which blogging platform do they use?

& are both easy to get started on and even your less tech-savvy students can end up with a fairly polished product.

is better if you're planning on having multiple writing assignments. Students can create a simple homepage and then each writing assignment can be its own separate page that is linked from the home page.

is better if it's more of a one-off written assignment. Use the 'web page' format if going that route.

Who reads their math blog?

I didn't want to be the only person reading their blog...otherwise we could just do it on a Google Doc. In an effort to get their blog in front of more people, a very small part of their grade comes from the number of comments they get on their blog.

They can have classmates, parents, and other teachers read and comment. To get full credit on the comment portion of the rubric (see below), students have to have someone outside of our community read and comment. That can be a neighbor, family friend, a colleague of their parents, a teacher from another school, etc.

I give them an email template they can use when asking people outside the community for a comment. The email explains the assignment, gives the due date, what type of comment would be helpful, etc. It's a great opportunity for me to teach them how to send an email where you're asking someone you may not know very well to do something for you.

One issue is that neither Sites nor Spark has comments build in so I had students use the website to create a comment box that they could embed at the bottom of their blog

How are they assessed?

I created the following rubric explaining where most of their points are coming from. Most of the points come from how much they delve into the 'whys' of the math. They're also assessed on how many of the prompt questions they answer, the readability of their blog, and if they got comments.

Want to try blogging in your math class?

Get the Google Doc above emailed to you . Included with the rubric are some links to help students get started on either Sites or Spark, an email template for students to use when asking for comments, as well as an instructional video for students on how to create the comment box using .

When you get to the doc, go to File - Make A Copy to customize it for your class. If you end up doing it, let me know over on Twitter! ()

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Kids blogging in math class: Why and how - Ditch That Textbook

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I often ask my 7th grade Pre-Algebra students "why do you think this is right?" when I look over their work. Early on in the year, students assume they've got the answer wrong...surely a teacher wouldn't ask that question if they got it right.

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FREE professional learning for educators at ALL levels. AHA VA Conference featuring a plenary session with VA’s own Ed Ayers—Join us!Register here: bit.ly/AHAVA25

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I'm super stoked on the way, the pictures are coming out from these cameras that I'm making out of trash!! #filmphotography #emarldbay

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Using Instructional Rounds to Improve Learning Outcomes

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Learning walks provide a way to identify and remedy issues that may be hindering student learning.

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Smithsonian Associates has been educating and entertaining audiences for more than 50 Years.

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Roller Coaster - Project — Qweebi | Virtual Makerspace

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Jane Foster Designs (@janefosterdesigns) on Threads

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Brad Montague (@bradmontague) on Threads

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Idaho, you were a dream! Trying to get better at documenting these school visits, BUT I AM SLOW at posting. So so so many incredible stops the last few weeks from TN to TX to GA to MI to Hawaii and beyond. Grateful for every kid, every story, and every moment of weird wonder along the way.