What Causes the Seasons?

From an Astronomy point-of-view, teaching what causes the seasons is an important teacher goal.

I always found at least half of each class still held on to the thought that we are closer to the sun in the summer and farther away in the winter. Once they understand it's the angle of sunlight and that we are closer in the winter, kick it up a notch by having them go home and check out what their parents think!

My most favorite unit I've always called the "Skittles Lesson" because Skittles candies are used as units of heat. My students seemed to stay focused for the most part, especially since they knew they got to eat the candy when they had completed the worksheet!

Since it's such a complicated lesson (the first time), I've written a "How to Teach" handout so you can see what worked for me in getting across this concept.

CONSIDER THIS: Teach the Seasons using Skittles!
Click here for the Skittles Activity, the directions, and also a couple of other active learning activities for teaching "Reasons for the Seasons."

FUN LINKS: Tons of other kewl ideas!

The Perfect Animation for the Skittles Activity: Click here!

Vocab Matching Team Game

You're never too old to play games that help you learn.

My 92 year old father moved down here from Minnesota this summer to be near his family. We are loving having him just down the street. It's a real joy.

The Independent Living place he's moved into has already tapped him to help teach a computer class. They've figured out he's a real computer expert and has a lot to share with his neighbors.

So along with the Activity Director, he's teaching a beginning computer course to a couple dozen eager students.

Last week, I gave him a Matching Game for his course based on my old stand-by, the Vocab Matching Team Game. I made brightly colored sets of vocab and definitions from his beginning lesson.

He and the Activity Director decided to divide the class into two teams and away they went! And they LOVED the game!

So if you can substitute the kids in the above photo with 70-80-90-year olds, you've got the picture of that day in the computer classroom.

Dad said they started out slowly, but once they caught on to what the object of the game was, away they went!

And those that came to the class too late to participate, according to my Dad, will be on time next class just to see what tricks he has up his sleeve.

Stick with me, Dad. I've got lots more great ideas, that literally will work for students from 9 to 90!

CONSIDER THIS: Even if you teach high schoolers, a simple team game will add lots of punch and learning to your classroom.

FUN LINK: Check out my Active Games page.

Year-long Tree Observation Activity

I loved taking my students outside for a science project!

If you teach a yearlong class, this is a very worthwhile project. Take your students outside once a month. By the end of the school year, they will have produced an album of observations of their personal tree.

Be sure to have them read the Summary Questions each month to see what could be done that month.

CONSIDER THIS: Add a Tree Observation Unit to your curriculum!

FUN LINK: Adopt-A-Tree Journal

DOWNLOAD: Click here for a sample unit.

Coloring Sheets

I loved to put out Coloring Sheets for my students to color for extra credit.

I've always suspected some of my students thought I was off base when I would put out coloring sheets as bonus work. These were high school students. High school students don't color!

But they did! They loved to color. And I was very careful with the types of coloring sheets I would put out. The sheets had to have a pattern to them. By coloring to show a pattern, I figure they were exercising both sides of the brain.

They were only worth 1 point each. You'd be surprised how many students would grab the new ones when they showed up on my Pick-Up Table. Even worth that little.

CONSIDER THIS: Try coloring sheets in your classroom!

FUN LINKS: Celtic Knot; Flower Wheel; Stars Wreath

CHECK IT OUT: Minneapolis Institute of Arts - Color the classics!

Fun Fingerprinting Activity

Here's a fun activity that could be used in any type of science class. Even a substitute could tuck this in their bag and pull it out for a good active engaging hour of fun and learning!

I've done a version of this activity many times over the years. This one is based on a lesson from the University of Michigan. I've adapted it and turned it into a one page (front-back) activity that uses the skills of observation and classification.

All you need are graphite pencils, clear tape, and 3 x 5 cards.

Click here for the lesson.
Click here for an FBI handout.