Build an Atom With This Hands-On 5th Grade Activity
Atoms are one of those science topics that feel abstract to students. They hear words like protons, neutrons, and electrons, but it can be tough for them to picture how…
Jessica shares her passion for teaching and education on What I Have Learned. Jessica has 16 years of elementary teaching experience and currently homeschools her two middle school boys. She enjoys scaffolding learning for students, focusing on helping our most challenging learners achieve success in all academic areas.
Atoms are one of those science topics that feel abstract to students. They hear words like protons, neutrons, and electrons, but it can be tough for them to picture how…
By fifth grade, students are ready to move beyond simple observations and start thinking like scientists and engineers. They want to test ideas, collect data, and explain what’s happening, not…
Teaching energy in fourth grade can feel tricky. Students can memorize vocabulary like potential energy and kinetic energy, yet still struggle to explain what those ideas actually look like in…
February writing time can feel a little chaotic. Students are excited about Valentine’s Day, routines are wobbly, and getting kids to focus on meaningful writing can take extra effort. At…
Natural hazards feel abstract to students until they can connect them to real experiences. Snow days, icy roads, power outages, and storm warnings are things many kids have either lived…
Teaching three-digit addition and subtraction can feel like a turning point for students. This is where place value really starts to matter, regrouping becomes meaningful, and strategies move beyond counting…
Weather maps are everywhere—on the news, weather apps, and websites—but for third graders, those symbols and lines can feel confusing without direct instruction. Teaching meteorology at this grade level works…
Teaching weather and the water cycle in third grade works best when students can see the science happening. Clouds feel abstract when they live only in diagrams or textbooks, yet…
When the mascot for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was announced, it wasn’t a polar bear, wolf, or snow leopard. It was a stoat. That tiny, speedy animal with…
Teaching kids about Ruby Bridges is one of those moments that stays with students long after the lesson ends. Her story opens the door to conversations about courage, fairness, and…
Teachers are constantly trying to answer one big question: Are my students actually getting this? Some days it’s obvious—students are nodding, participating, and turning in work that makes your teacher’s…
Some students need more time, more scaffolding, and more reteaching to reach grade-level expectations. Writing report card comments for struggling students can feel especially difficult. Parents may not realize how…
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