Essential Collaborations: Empowering Learning Across the Curriculum
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VAASL Annual Conference | Chantilly, VA Friday, November 3, 2023 Gretchen Hazlin Librarian, Kilmer Middle School Rosanne Tempesta Librarian, Kilmer Middle School |
Lesson Ideas
Civics: Voting
Civics students learn about the political process by exploring voting trends, voting amendments, nonvoters, voting requirements in Virginia, and civic engagement. To better connect students with these topics, we personalized each station with individual people, for example scenarios to determine which person is most likely to vote and quotes from people who actively chose not to vote.
Reading: Interest Survey
Reading support classes visited the library to share their likes and dislikes on a form. When they visited the next class period, each student was given a table of books personally selected for them.
Algebra: Systems of Equations Escape Room
Students were tasked with solving systems of equations through a variety of ways: elimination, graphing, substitution, and word problems. We gamified the lesson, creating a scenario where students solved equations and opened lock boxes to escape Variable Lab.
Life Science: Water Quality
Science students engaged in a virtual aquarium to explore the effects of climate change on water quality and the impacts on the water cycle. Students learned about how scientists and agencies work to provide clean, safe water. This asynchronous activity can be used as a review or an extension.
English (LTEL): Following Directions
Long-term English language learners practiced following a variety of directions during challenges using building blocks, Legos, and other hands-on activities. This allowed LTELs an opportunity to further develop their language skills.
Social Studies: Badges
In this asynchronous lesson using a variety of tools such as EdPuzzle, Quizizz, Google Forms, and more students explored topics across a unit. This student-paced activity would work well as an introduction to a unit or as a unit review.
English 7: Poetry
English students analyzed figurative language, sound devices, and other poetic devices in songs, poems, and verse. They also applied their understanding of poetic devices through creative activities, like found poetry, black-out poems and writing verses of poetry.
Algebra: Equation Scrabble
Algebra students solved equations in pairs in order to build words on a Scrabble board. The letters worth more points required solving more challenging equations. This engaging lesson required collaboration and critical thinking in a fun, competitive environment.
Science: Spooky Science Vocabulary
Science students participated in Halloween-themed stations focusing on academic vocabulary. Students practiced describing and explaining, analyzing and inferring, and comparing and contrasting. They also read terrifying tales, determining cause and effect. Experimental Design Diagrams were used to evaluate experiments. Any theme could be applied to connect the activities.
English: Language Skills
Students practiced several language skills: figurative language; synonyms and antonyms; context clues; roots and affixes; dictionary use; and connotation/denotation. Activities for each topic were set up in an Engage-Explore-Apply-Evaluate model. At each station, students had hands-on practice with the option for additional online activities. Finally, students checked for their understanding with quick quizzes and earned stamps on their passports.
Civics students learn about the political process by exploring voting trends, voting amendments, nonvoters, voting requirements in Virginia, and civic engagement. To better connect students with these topics, we personalized each station with individual people, for example scenarios to determine which person is most likely to vote and quotes from people who actively chose not to vote.
Reading: Interest Survey
Reading support classes visited the library to share their likes and dislikes on a form. When they visited the next class period, each student was given a table of books personally selected for them.
Algebra: Systems of Equations Escape Room
Students were tasked with solving systems of equations through a variety of ways: elimination, graphing, substitution, and word problems. We gamified the lesson, creating a scenario where students solved equations and opened lock boxes to escape Variable Lab.
Life Science: Water Quality
Science students engaged in a virtual aquarium to explore the effects of climate change on water quality and the impacts on the water cycle. Students learned about how scientists and agencies work to provide clean, safe water. This asynchronous activity can be used as a review or an extension.
English (LTEL): Following Directions
Long-term English language learners practiced following a variety of directions during challenges using building blocks, Legos, and other hands-on activities. This allowed LTELs an opportunity to further develop their language skills.
Social Studies: Badges
In this asynchronous lesson using a variety of tools such as EdPuzzle, Quizizz, Google Forms, and more students explored topics across a unit. This student-paced activity would work well as an introduction to a unit or as a unit review.
English 7: Poetry
English students analyzed figurative language, sound devices, and other poetic devices in songs, poems, and verse. They also applied their understanding of poetic devices through creative activities, like found poetry, black-out poems and writing verses of poetry.
Algebra: Equation Scrabble
Algebra students solved equations in pairs in order to build words on a Scrabble board. The letters worth more points required solving more challenging equations. This engaging lesson required collaboration and critical thinking in a fun, competitive environment.
Science: Spooky Science Vocabulary
Science students participated in Halloween-themed stations focusing on academic vocabulary. Students practiced describing and explaining, analyzing and inferring, and comparing and contrasting. They also read terrifying tales, determining cause and effect. Experimental Design Diagrams were used to evaluate experiments. Any theme could be applied to connect the activities.
English: Language Skills
Students practiced several language skills: figurative language; synonyms and antonyms; context clues; roots and affixes; dictionary use; and connotation/denotation. Activities for each topic were set up in an Engage-Explore-Apply-Evaluate model. At each station, students had hands-on practice with the option for additional online activities. Finally, students checked for their understanding with quick quizzes and earned stamps on their passports.