Creative Minds

This project engages students in learning four types of writing: descriptive, expository, persuasive, and narrative. A simple potato is transformed into an un-potato and used as the character or subject of the various writing activities. Included is a day-by-day plan for Writers Workshop.

While studying various ecosystems, students learn about the ocean and engage in a research project about a chosen animal within that ecosystem.

This cooperative group project engages students in research about the Woodland Indians. Within their group, they design a wigwam and develop writing pieces (expository, persuasive, narrative, and descriptive). This activity could be adapted to other Native American groups as well.

First person writing activity of a water drop traveling through the water cycle.

Establishing procedures for independent reading during Readers Workshop is key to success for students. These procedures outline journal response expectations as well as behavioral expectations during independent reading.

This activity can be used to teach the affects of changing one variable during a science experiment. In this activity, we changed the amount of yeast as this was an activity integrated into our life sciences unit.

The purpose of the National Parks Project is to engage students in research related to the Earth Science unit as well as learn about the vast beauty of the National Parks throughout our country.

This is an individual or group project designed to engage students in applying knowledge of geometry concepts in the real world.

Students fill a grocery bag with required materials to be used in presenting a book talk to the class. This may include dressing up as a character in the book.

This experiment challenges students to use their senses in determining the flavor of Jellos during a science lab activity. In preparation for the lab, lemon Jello is used for all colors tested; using food coloring during preparation. Students are unaware of this prior to testing. The taste testing results are interesting as students lean toward using the color of the Jello instead of the flavor to make scientific observations.

This is a science and writing activity that involves research in the area of earth science.

This writing assignment focuses on using stronger verbs in writing. One bulletin board in the classroom is used as a cemetery to bury overused verbs or other parts of speech. Once placed in the graveyard, these words cannot be used in student writing. The obituary writing is a creative way to introduce the use of the thesaurus into daily writing.

This project was originally designed to incorporate animals and plants of Indiana into a student-created brochure. It could be adapted to other states.

This activity involves students working in cooperative groups to prepare and present teaching lessons for the parts of speech.

This document helps students organize their thoughts for book talks during Readers Workshop,

Students create step booklets that include a definition, illustration, and example of each step in the scientific method.

This lesson engages students in narrowing the focus of their virtual camera; creating an illustration and description of each step.

Students use a baby photo, strike a pose for a photo shoot in the present, and imagine what they might be in the future. Using the photos and their sketch of their likeness in the future, students create a tri-fold display with accompanying written descriptions.