Project-Based Learning Central

Promote student accountability and self-reflection with this simple weekly behavior chart! Students color in the appropriate emoticon and check off behavior descriptors for their day's behavior. There is an area for you (or the student) to elaborate on the details of the day if necessary. Please note there are two versions: one with and one without an area for parents to initial. Please email me at graffkidlit@gmail.com if you'd like an editable version.

This lesson is a huge hit with young writers around Thanksgiving time. After a read-aloud, students use the graphic organizer and writing paper to make the convincing argument that their turkey is something other than a yummy turkey to eat. Instead, they choose to hide their turkey's true identity and persuade the audience not to eat them. As an optional extension, students can illustrate/create their turkey camouflaged as something else (a rock, a super hero, etc.) to go with their writing. In

Students enjoy this creative writing assignment. After providing some example read-aloud trickster tales, students use the "Mad Libs" style template to plan out their own trickster tale. Included: *full lesson plan with strategies for differentiating *recommended trickster titles *graphic oragnizer for student writing *writing paper for composing trickster tale ***Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This craft is easy to make and adorable to use for a decoration. Step-by-step instructions are included, as well as two read-aloud suggestions for highlighting life as a pilgrim boy or a pilgrim girl. Tracers are included, as well as photos to clearly show steps of assembly. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This lesson is memorable and easy to set up. Students explore the three types of motion using hands-on stations. Includes a full lesson plan and follow-up activity, as well as student recording sheet. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

I have done this activity every year, whether teaching first grade or fifth grade. After reading Stone Soup, students make their own soup with this easy and fun activity. Included: *Parent letter to request item from home for soup *Easy-to-adapt materials/ingredients list for teacher *Lesson plan, activity directions/tips Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

***For distance/remote/virtual learning, this project can be easily adapted!*** Instantly garner the trust, respect, and praise from your students' families that helps set the tone for the entire school year! Included are 15 lessons that will guide you and your students step by step in creating digital posters (or old-fashioned paper posters) for rules of areas in your school. Yes, even first and second graders will have researched rules for various areas of your school and built beautiful digit

Give yourself and your students a back-to-school gift that will set a life-changing tone for the rest of your year! This Project-Based Learning Back-to-School Boot Camp will have your students' families elated that their children are in your hands for the coming year, and your colleagues asking you to share what you're doing! These activities have been an instant hit for me year after year, earning the enthusiasm, respect, and trust of my students' families. Families, co-workers, and more import

This easy-to-use activity takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Prepare the materials as seen in the student recording sheet (or adapt it to suit your own needs), and partner children up to explore what sinks or floats.A follow-up activity can include a discussion or writing about what happened. Students are sure to remember what happened since they explored the stations themselves. *Interested in a complete week-long matter unit that includes this lesson/worksheets as part of the package? Check o

This craft is an easy and fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving! Students use tracers (provided) to make their own turkey. Step-by-step directions are given, as well as tips for making the craft go smoothly. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This is hands-down one of my students' favorite activities each year. We pretend we are in an old-fashioned classroom for at least a portion of our day, complete with games and snacks. The activity is followed up with a writing prompt to reinforce concepts.

The best way for students to learn about what materials dissolve, whether in hot or cold water, is through their own experience. This lesson plan and two recording sheets make it easy for students to figure out this objective. This package is meant for two 45 minute to 1 hour blocks, or roughly 2 days of science lessons. You can extend it to a third day by having them write about what happened on the two experimental/demonstration days. *Interested in a complete week-long matter unit that inclu

Students love learning when it includes yummy pictures of pizza, cookies, donuts, and more. In this activity, students cut and paste pictures of food to represent sharing with 1, 2, or 3 other people. Included: *two pages of cut and glue activity sheets *one page of food clip art

This is a fun and simple way to teach the concept of long ago versus today. Use the included parent letter to have students bring in old-fashioned toys from home, such as blocks, puzzles, yo-yos, and more. Suggested read-aloud and writing activity also included. Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

Two graphic organizers are included, one using Handwriting Without Tears lines for K-2 and one using lines that work better for grades 1-3. Each has a space for a topic sentence and four supporting detail sentences for young writers to form a paragraph. Final paragraph writing paper is included, as well. Preview writing lines coming up blotchy, but the actual pdf has no quality concerns.

This matter unit was designed for first grade, but depending on your county, may easily work for kindergarten or 2nd grade objectives. Very fun, very hands-on, and very memorable learning. Included: *5 days worth of lesson plans with step-by-step directions (bonus extension activity can add one day if needed). Each lesson is for a 45-minute to one-hour block of time. *3 recording sheets for 3 experiments *Bonus: a quick-check quiz with pictures that allows students with special needs, second-la

This step-by-step lesson plan uses Lio Lionni's Tillie and the Wall to teach primary students about the concept of perseverance, or not giving up. A read-aloud and discussion are followed up by student written response and a fun art project!

This is a two-part activity. First, a letter is sent home to families to see if they have a family member or family friend who has served in our armed forces. Next, the teacher sends home the second page where families allow their child to write about that hero and include their picture. Very easy and much-appreciated by families. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

Students LOVE feeling like they're keeping a journal of their travels as you explore a variety of habitats. This file contains a cover for the student passport, as well as insert pages that you can multiply based on how many habitats you want to teach. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This fun activity allows students to review months of the year, major holidays, seasonal change, and get to know one another. Best of all, it gets students up and moving! Included: *complete lesson plan *student bingo boards *month labels *month pictures *optional name labels Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.