Thematic Teacher
804 Followers
Wyoming, United States
About the store
Children (and other people) learn through play. That’s how they’re built. That’s what they are made to do. Play creates real and lasting learning, and it’s the kind of learning that’s deep enough to transfer to new situations without a lot of hoo haw. It results in new understanding, a different view of the world, a quantum leap in growth. And guess what? Learning through play can stand the test—yes, I actually mean standardized tests! The world is exceedingly greedy for student achievement, so why don’t we design our classrooms and teaching materials around the way they learn?
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Codes & Ciphers Thematic Unit
When I asked a class of fourth and fifth graders what topics they would choose if they could study anything they wanted, cryptography was one of their top choices. Codes & Ciphers is an integrated language arts, math, social studies, and science unit focused on cryptography, the study of secret writing. Students learn about the use of hidden messages from ancient times, how the science has developed, and some of the important people in the field. They experience several types of encryption
3rd - 6th
English Language Arts, Math, Science
CCSS
4.G.A.1
, CCRA.R.4
, CCRA.R.7
+5
The Bermuda Triangle Thematic Unit
When I asked a class of third and fourth graders what topics they would choose if they could study anything they wanted, the Bermuda Triangle was one of their top choices. The Bermuda Triangle is an integrated language arts, math, social studies, science, and art unit focused on examining the claims regarding mysterious forces of this notorious area of ocean. Students research records, including reports, newspaper articles, and letters, about a number of disasters purported to have occurred mys
4th - 6th
English Language Arts, Math, Science
CCSS, NGSS
5.G.B.3
, CCRA.W.1
, CCRA.W.2
+11
Rainforest Animal Puppet Masks
This item is INCLUDED in A Rainforest Rendezvous--Maps, Mural, Mini Museum. These colorful, realistic animal faces can be made into puppets or masks (included in the unit Rainforest Rendezvous--Maps, Mural, and Mini Museum). Information files are included for three grade levels-- preschool-first grade, grades 2-3, and grades 4-6. Print the information on the back of the puppets for the appropriate grade level. (You can't include the information if you make them as masks, as you
PreK - 5th
Biology, Environment, Science
Math Facts Flashcards, with Answers: Add, Sub, Mult, Divide
These simple flashcard sets, for individual use, include facts for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing from 0 to 9. Each set prints out on one 8.5x11 piece of cover stock or tag, double sided. You can make enough sets for each child to have their own, as well as sets for them to take home. Make sure the children use the side with the answer when they are trying to LEARN new facts. (How can you learn what you can't see?) Then, when they want to test themselves for accuracy and speed, t
1st - 6th
Basic Operations
Bird Nest Exploration v 2
Your kids can jump right into exploring and building their own bird nest with this thematic unit. Little fingers will be busy taking apart, putting together, building, cutting, and following directions. Science, literacy, and math activities are provided which can be teacher directed, placed in centers, or both. Three levels of materials are included--Preschool, K-1, and 2-3. Here's what you will find: Lesson Plans and Resources Build a Bird Nest "Read and Make" activity Nest Pos
PreK - 3rd
Math, Reading, Science
CCSS
K.NBT.A.1
, 1.NBT.B.2
, 1.NBT.B.2a
+12
Clip Art Seasons of an Apple Tree
Five images of apple trees in varying seasons will dress up your apple unit materials. Use them to create games, center activities, and worksheets. Teachers (small business only) may use the items on commercial products as long as they are flattened to the page.
~Tree Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Harvest, Fall
~Backgrounds: Small gingham in red and green, square and rectangle
~Frames: Zig Zag Stitch in white and red, square and rectangle
Marquee in red and white
You
PreK - 5th
Science
Rainforest Plants & Animals Display Cards (Included~Rainforest-MapMuralMuseum)
These Rainforest Display Cards (INCLUDED in A Rainforest Rendezvous--Maps, Mural, Mini Museum) are modeled after those found in museums. They may be mounted on the classroom wall, used to introduce a new item of study, stacked at a center, or bound together into a book. The cards come in three levels: preschool-first grade grades 2-3 grades 4-6 Each card contains interesting information about an unusual and diverse plant or animal that lives in rainforests around th
PreK - 6th
Environment, Reading, Science
Shoe Box Diorama Backgrounds
I usually liked to have my students make their own diorama backgrounds, but sometimes the effort is best spent on creating the display rather than the background. In that case, these ten clip art landscape backgrounds may be helpful. Each background comes in four pieces—left side, back, right side, and ground. The images are formatted to fit a shoe box, but may be stretched to fit any size box, as long as your printer can print the size needed. These landscapes have been used in shoe boxes u
PreK - 5th
Art, Science, Social Studies
Cave Paintings and Petroglyphs, Thematic Unit
Using this integrated, thematic unit, students will explore ancient rock art sites around the world, and create their own petroglyph by carving on a plaster rock. They will examine art prints to identify characteristics of early human art, and play a game to classify the designs, just like the paleoarchaeologists. Activities and materials include *Travel Tour Guide, a student reader in two versions (grades 3-4, and grades 5-6). Both levels can be used in the same class. *Vocabulary Boo
3rd - 6th
Art History, English Language Arts, For All Subjects
Thermometers for Student Practice
Print, laminate, trim, and assemble these manipulative thermometers for student practice. They are large enough that you can use them with the whole class--just dictate a temperature, give the students a few seconds to set it, and then have them hold up their responses for you to assess. They may be used to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, students may practice with them using partners, or they can rehearse alone. Set them out at a math or science center for children to use during free time. T
1st - 6th
Math, Measurement, Science
Rainforest Sorting Mats and Cards (Included in Rainforest: Map Mural Minimuseum)
Bring the rainforest to your classroom with these self-checking Plants and Animals of the Rainforest Study Cards (INCLUDED in A Rainforest Rendezvous--Maps, Mural, Mini Museum). Students of all ages can learn about the natural resources of rainforests around the world with these realistic photographs. There are 64 cards in each set, and there are 3 levels included:
preschool-first grade,
grades 2-3, and
grades 4-6.
The cards may be used individually, or they may be sorted in dif
PreK - 5th
Basic Principles, Environment, Science
The Loch Ness Monster: Thematic Unit
Just when you think the Loch Ness Monster has been thoroughly debunked, another scientific expedition sets out to study the matter. Recently there have been a flurry of articles lamenting the fact that no new sightings have occurred in the last year! I've never taught any theme that generates more student interest, excitement, and personal involvement than themes related to natural mysteries. This integrated, thematic unit causes passionate discussion among students, in the classroom, on the p
3rd - 6th
English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
CCSS
3.MD.B.3
, 3.MD.B.4
, 5.MD.B.2
+13
Rainforest: Maps, Mural, and Mini Museum (Classroom Museum Bundle)
UPDATED Version 3: Build a rainforest--right in your own classroom--using butcher paper, construction paper, cutouts (included), and silk plants. The mural directions include information for creating a stage backdrop. Use your classroom volunteers to help you create artifacts for students to "play" with in your rainforest museum. They can make materials that will last a lifetime, like a Plant press Table cloth "forest floor" Terrarium Wonder Tree Then stock your classroom museu
PreK - 6th
Biology, Environment, Performing Arts
Clip Art Seasons of an Apple Tree Line Drawings
Eight images of apple tree line drawings in varying seasons will dress up your apple unit materials. Each image has 2 versions: standard for larger use, and Heavy OutLine (HOL) to make reduced images clearer. Use them to create games, center activities, and worksheets. Teachers (small business only selling directly to other teachers) may use the items on commercial products as long as they are flattened to the page.
* Tree Seasons: Winter, Early Spring, Spring Full Bloom, Summer, Harves
K - 5th
Art, Science
Clip Art Geometric Solids (for Personal and Commercial Use)
Use these colorful clip art geometric solids (300 dpi) to make your own games, flashcards, manipulatives, and worksheets. Younger students can use them for patterning and counting, while older students may use them to identify faces, vertices, and edges, and to calculate volume.
*Cubes, Cones, Rectangular Prisms, Triangular Prisms, and Spheres
*Red, Yellow, Blue, White, Green, Pink, Purple, Orange, and Plain White
Terms of Use
This clip art was created to help teachers prepare classroom mate
PreK - 5th
Geometry, Math
The Mayflower: Ship Posters
Four posters of the Mayflower depict the ship as many historians believe it was. The posters may be mounted on the classroom wall, one on top of the other, to give the illusion that students are looking into the ship, or displayed in any way you choose. They are 11X17 in size and may be printed on 2 sheets of letter size paper on a standard printer, or 1 sheet of ledger size paper on a large format printer. Two worksheets are included. One provides students with practice on the use of a map
3rd - 8th
U.S. History
Symmetry in Nature Study Cards
These cards are INCLUDED in Art of the Pennsylvania Dutch Thematic Unit
Twenty-four study cards demonstrate nature’s use of symmetry. The front of each card shows the natural item, and the back explains the symmetrical properties displayed. Run off on quality paper once, and laminate, for a lifetime of use. Appropriate for grades 3-5. A “WORD” template is also included so that students can add their own photographs and make additional cards.
These items are also available:
Art of the Penn
3rd - 6th
Art History, Geometry, Math
Clip Art-Apples Borders & Frames
These clip art images and line drawings coordinate with the other apple clip art products and may be used on materials you create for your own classroom, as well as on products you sell directly to other teachers on sites such as this. Images include:
Apple Bough seasonal borders & frames
Apple frames
Tiny Apple borders & frames
There are 51 images in the collection. They are 300 DPI and can be enlarged, reduced, and flipped. I hope you'll find them helpful for letters, notes, worksheets, a
PreK - 6th
Art, Science
Natural Resources Matching Puzzles (Included in Nat Resources Colonial America)
THIS ITEM IS INCLUDED IN Natural Resources of Colonial America.
Students match puzzle pairs to learn about products made from natural resources. Many resources have several different products. There are 39 puzzle pairs are included in the game. Natural Resources of the Colonial period of American history are highlighted in this game.
1st - 5th
Science, Social Studies
Savanna Safari Animal Families Matching Puzzles (INCLUDED in MiniMuseum)
THIS ITEM IS INCLUDED IN Savanna Safari: Maps, Mural, MiniMuseum (COMPLETE Bundle)
Students match and read puzzle pieces to learn about the gender names of 15 animals of the African savanna. They will use sight words a, mother, father, baby, and is, as they read these puzzles. Animals included are:
Giraffe
Lion
Cheetah
Hippo
Elephant
Zebra
Warthog
Leopard
Hyena
Baboon
African Wild Dog
Ostrich
Meerkat
Jackal
Monkey
This product is suitable for emerging and beginning readers.
You may also b
PreK - 2nd
Balanced Literacy, Environment
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About the store
Experience
Children (and other people) learn through play. That’s how they’re built. That’s what they are made to do. Play creates real and lasting learning, and it’s the kind of learning that’s deep enough to transfer to new situations without a lot of hoo haw. It results in new understanding, a different view of the world, a quantum leap in growth. And guess what? Learning through play can stand the test—yes, I actually mean standardized tests! The world is exceedingly greedy for student achievement, so why don’t we design our classrooms and teaching materials around the way they learn?
Teaching style
I started life as a preschool teacher, and that’s how I learned about how I (and other people) learn. I couldn’t understand why preschoolers were so good at learning a new language, but so poor at learning to read. That’s how I got started researching—child development, then, and new content areas now. Wow! Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky—these guys made some sense, even to a bewildered sixteen year old. I started inventing some activities based on child development theories and some of them actually worked! I spent the next 34 years of my life exploring, admiring, probing, experimenting, supporting, analyzing, researching, growing, testing, evaluating, puzzling over, and loving learners!
As a preschool teacher I was introduced to thematic teaching—presenting basic skills through playing on a theme, usually a science or social studies subject. At the preschool where I was nurtured (as a teacher), we had a “library” of books, toys, games, and manipulative stuff cataloged according to themes such as fall, leaves, winter, snow, hibernation, trees, spring, plants, animals, pond life…well, you get the idea. We added our own ideas to a notebook shared with the whole staff. It was a very collegiate atmosphere, and an amazing place for a new teacher to get started. That’s what I hope to do here--share some of my ideas based on art, science, and social studies content--and hope some of them will be helpful to you. I especially want the world to know Thematic Teaching isn't just for preschool anymore! Thanks for looking!
My own education history
Bachelor's Degree in English
Master's Degree in Special Education
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