FiftyinFifth

Are you looking for an engaging get-to-know-you activity at the beginning of the year? Not only is Nick Bruel’s Melvin Bubble an amusing read-aloud for all ages (the voices are so fun), it lends itself to a simple yet flexible writing activity where students get to write about themselves from different points-of-view. In addition to being a reading and writing activity, it also provides a fun and interactive way to learn about classmates. (As an added bonus, you can also review nouns!) This pr

LIFE instructions:Based on the popular board game, this game of LIFE teaches students about the finances of life in an engaging way. It reinforces skills of adding and subtracting with decimals, finding percentages, rounding with decimals, and overall money sense. The creative touches to this simulation enhance student’s interest and motivation!  Use this as a way to teach specific math skills, as reinforcement or review, as an incentive for quick finishers, or, after an introduction, an activit

Who doesn’t love a song to liven up a grammar lesson? This comma song reviews the rules of commas with a memorable tune to a popular song. Pick the verse that fits your individual grade level or sing them all. Students will be singing this all the time! CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.B CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.C CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.C CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.B CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2.A CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2.B CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.2.C Included: Ways to Use Song Lyrics Instruction sheet with l

Just like the parts of speech work together to create a sentence, this song takes 5 individual songs based on the parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, and adverb) and layers them together to create a melodic symphony of sound. (That sounds a bit too poetic for the sounds heard coming from my classroom, but my students had a riot learning this round. I even heard it sung in the hallways!) Use this song to liven up your study of parts-of-speech or as a review. Take a video and show

Looking for a way to secure the concept of photosynthesis into your students’ brains with a catchy tune and fun lyrics? We have been singing this song in our 5th grade classrooms for 15 years. Our students will come back to visit and tell us how they remember the equation for photosynthesis because of this song. Included: Instruction sheet with link to tune and recording Lyrics **Please note that the tune is based on a popular theme song.

Do you need a quick, creative writing activity? This would be great for a “Creative Writing Friday,” a writing center, choice time, activity for a guest teacher, or for a morning warm-up. This activity is so flexible! Alter the length as needed, use it for a variety of grade levels, adapt it to partner work or buddy time. You can also personalize this activity to your own school by adding your own slips! Not only can this activity used as a creative writing, it was also used to focus on a pa

This catchy song reviews the parts of the atom to the tune of a popular theme song. Each verse focuses on a different part of the atom. Divide your class in three or sing it all together. This was used in a 5th grade classroom for many years. Included: Atom’s Family lyrics Instruction sheet with link to tune and recording Ways to Use page