Meridian
High interest learning resources for the Middle School student - fun, challenging and varied.
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High interest learning resources for the Middle School student - fun, challenging and varied.
How to be a Super Speaker - Manual
Fearless Public Speaking for Kids
More than 40 pages of essential information for Middle School students wanting to improve their public speaking skills.
From writing the speech to constructing a speech, and delivering a speech with fun, quotes and impact - it’s all here presented in a fun and inspirational way.
Learning how to speak in front of an audience is one of the most important skills that any student should leave school with, and this manual will help your students to practise the right things.
After all, public speaking is all about practice.
I’d be disappointed if anyone does not feel that this pack suits their needs. If it doesn’t, please get in touch and your money will be returned - no issue at all.
35 Speechwriting Techniques ****INFO SHEET****
This product consists of two A3 Information Sheets listing 35 Speechwriting techniques (including examples of each) that the professional speechwriter uses.
Download and print out the pdf’s and students can reference them when writing a speech.
Speechwriting and public speaking are important learning experiences in my language classes - hope you agree.
Students entering speaking competitions only need to included a few of these techniques and they will impress any judge.
I’d be disappointed if anyone does not feel that this download suits. If it’s not suitable, please get in touch and your money will be returned - no issue at all.
Speak Without Stress
10 simple actions that anyone can take to overcome the fear of public speaking.
Overcoming that fear helps people stand out at work, take charge at family events and be upfront at any school celebration.
Everyone will be thankful that it is you standing there speaking. Your life will be changed when you have the confidence to speak to any audience at any time.
Download this 38 page manual of tips, actions and templates that will help you speak with confidence.
I’d be disappointed if anyone does not feel that this pack suits their needs. If it doesn’t, please get in touch and your money will be returned - no issue at all.
The Gratitude Journal ** INFO SHEET **
This Single A3 Info Sheet encourages the use of a Gratitude Journal
Includes:
purpose of a journal
some starting ideas
reasons for creating a #gratitudeattitude
keyword list that will help to start writing
I’d be disappointed if anyone does not feel that this download suits. If it’s not suitable, please get in touch and your money will be returned - no issue at all.
How to Have a Meeting
One of the most common events that will happen to anybody who enters work life, will be to participate in meetings.
It is important for Middle School students to start learning how to conduct themselves at meetings, and to learn about meeting procedures.
This pack of worksheets includes activities on:
creating an agenda
note taking
being a chairperson
taking minutes
proposing a motion
Have fun conducting your own class meetings once these worksheets have been completed.
I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.
Learn an Australian Indigenous Language
Many Australians are unaware of the distinctive features of Aboriginal languages, how many were spoken in Australia at the time of the first arrival of overseas explorers and even what they sound and look like.
This curriculum of short simple lessons explore the principles of language, how sounds are created, and the key features of an indigenous language. The topic is a fascinating one and it is a series of lessons I have delivered to a variety of audiences - from secondary students to highly engaged corporate employees.
This program uses a particular language as a case study - a language spoken in the Pilbara region of the north-west of Western Australia. And the language features learnt here apply to many other indigenous languages throughout Australia. They are all related, but they are all so different.
By the end of the program you will:
have an understanding of the mechanics of articulating Indigenous letters of the alphabet
have built up a vocabulary of more than 100 Indigenous words from this language
learn how different the grammar rules can be(almost like Latin)
learn how culture and language are so intertwined
increase your understanding of an Australia Indigenous view of the world
The program won’t equip you to be a fluent speaker of the language, but you will be provided with a sound base of language knowledge that will give you the appreciation of some of the uniqueness of an Indigenous language still spoken in Australia.
This program is suitable for anybody wanting:
To improve their knowledge of the Australia Indigenous culture
To gain some linguistic exposure to Indigenous languages
To acquire knowledge of the mechanics of language
To develop a basis for further in-depth study of Australian Indigenous Language
There are 12 lessons in this course (5-15 minutes each), and the course also includes a free download of the dictionary from the languages used throughout the course, as well as a free copy of the scrapbook of photos taken from my time with this community.
I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.
50+ Things To Do On Google Maps & Google Earth
Google Maps is an endless supply of fun and educational learning. This list of things to do will ensure that your students can experiment with just about every feature that Google Maps and Google Street View have implemented in their Application. Google Maps is a free application available online or as an app.
I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.
The New7Wonders of the World ***Activities***
Explore each one of the New7Wonders with Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Street View and more.
I have created a Google Site for a better student experience with a separate page of learning activities for each of the New7Wonders.
The activities are unique and explorative. They will stimulate interest in a lot of areas that relate to these historical wonders of the world.
The download includes the link to the Google site and the answer sheet for each of the activities.
The New7Wonders include:
Petra
Taj Mahal
Machu Picchu
The Roman Colosseum
Chichen Itza
Christ the Redeemer Statue
The Great Wall of China
Activities include:
Creating timelines
Reviewing myths
Calculating map scales
Going on Google Earth Voyager trips
Finding hidden gems on Google Earth
Calculating distance on Google Maps
Exploring with Google Street View
And a bit of Latin learning
… and more
I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.
Google Maps, Google Earth Info Sheet
Simple single A3 information sheet that students reference to best use Google Maps, Google Earth and Google Earth Pro.
Each of these applications is free to use and easy to access from any device.
This info sheet explains the differences between the applications, shows how to access the various functions, and expands on all available menus.
Simple explanations that will enhance any Google Maps or Google Earth user.
I’d be disappointed if anyone does not feel that this download suits. If it’s not suitable, please get in touch and your money will be returned - no issue at all.
Essential Tips for Writing a Speech
25 Plus pages of worksheets for students to practice these tips and then compile them all in to a speech for any purpose. Includes an answer key.
A good speech is like a good play, movie, or song. It is a form of entertainment. And like all entertainment, if it doesn’t entertain, then the feedback is immediate.
There are not many classes that teach students how to write a speech, however there are many occasions in later life when we need to give a speech.
These tips will help your students to develop an effective speech. The tips aren’t the normal ones (like, ‘make sure your speech has a beginning, a middle and an ending’). They are from many years of personal experience. I’ve written speeches for all occasions and a variety of professions.
Negative versus Positive Humour
It is important for any student to understand the difference between the two types of humour - one that hurts and offends, compared to the type that makes you feel good, energised and relaxed, and there are no victims that feel bad.
These ten worksheets focus on helping Middle School students identify the difference between the types of humour.
The worksheets analyse the Sarcastic Wit, the Nit Wit, and the Clowning Wit.
I have found that teaching humour in the classroom is such fun - of course - and it can have relevance to many parts of the curriculum.
Answer key included
Sarcasm - Worksheets & Movie
"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” - Groucho Marx
“The problem with common sense is that most people are morons.” - The Sarcasm Society
Sarcasm can be witty, but in the school environment it can be hurting. Teach your students to recognise sarcasm and to be careful with its use.
This bundle includes a great introductory Full Quality narrated slidedeck that introduces the topic of sarcasm.
The slidedeck includes:
- samples from Groucho Marx,
- how sarcasm can hurt others,
- some samples for students to test their sarcasm detector, and
- some examples for sarcastic body language.
The bundle also includes a starter pack of humour worksheets centred around the topic of Sarcasm.
Topics include:
- Irony v Sarcasm
- Sarcasm Detector
- Sarcasm as Verbal Bullying
- Groucho Marx and his form of Sarcasm
- Comparing Sarcasm with being Sincere
- Plotting types of Sarcasm on the Nasty v Nice scale, and the Funny v not Funny scale
… and more
Great fun for the classroom, but this pack also relates to the topic of emotional bullying and how some words that seem funny to others can impact a victim’s feelings.
How to Tell a Joke
Telling a joke to a group of people is a real art - and no-one ever teaches us how to do it! These worksheets explore some key aspects of joke telling and they can be great fun in any middle classroom.
I suggest setting the ground rules with the class right at the beginning so that any inappropriate material is not used as a joke… but that never really happened in any of the lessons that I conducted with my students, so hopefully it is a non-issue for your class as well.
This pack includes 12 pages of worksheets plus an answer key showing some suggested answers to the questions about jokes.
Headings in the pack include:
- Defining a joke
- Putting on your humor hat
- What is the best joke you have ever heard?
- Know your audience
- Joke types
- How to write your own joke
- How to deliver a joke
I really enjoy working with humor in my classes and I have about a dozen packs of worksheets that worked in my class in my TES store.
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I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.
How To Interview a School Visitor
From time to time a special visitor comes to the school and your class might be called on to ask them a question. How often is that question very ordinary, may be a bit embarrassing, and sometimes it may not really excite the visitor?
I have used these worksheets to prepare my students to come up with some more interesting questions to ask the visitor to the class or the school.
My students sometimes also need to visit a local politician or business person as part of a class project, and I use these worksheets to again prepare them for the visit.
I find these type of interpersonal communication skills so important for later life and that’s why my store is full of activities around public speaking, using humor and interviewing techniques.
I hope you find this pack useful to start the topic of interviewing.
The Indigenous Way - An Australian Aboriginal Case Study and Activities
This engaging pack is an Integrated Case Study with 50 pages of student activities comparing a traditional indigenous lifestyle with the student’s own lifestyle.
It reviews aspects of self and society that were studied in the early years of learning. The children explore the impact of environment and experience on human behaviour.
The activities contrasts the child’s own lifestyle with that of the modern indigenous family in a remote area of Australia.
The information comes from first hand experience by the author, and includes a variety of images and drawings done within the remote community.
Topics of work, play, living, environment, medicine, language are all covered in this comprehensive introduction to the indigenous way.
I also use a scrapbook of the photos I have from my time in this community. The scrapbook shows daily activities within the community and it is a great resource to use with ‘The Indigenous Way - An Australian Aboriginal Case Study and Activities’
Google Earth **TASK CARDS**
46 Task Cards with 46 activities for students to explore Google Earth.
Activities include:
- measuring distance with ruler function
- calculating area
- using longitude and latitude
- mastering Google Earth tools and applications
- understanding continents, countries
- exploring Google Sky, Moon and Mars
- zooming in to significant landmarks
- investigative work on the ground
- and much more.
Comprehensive Answer Key included.
Print out cards on to firm board - easy two-cut template to create four cards per page.
(Some samples shown)
Bundle
Google Earth Bumper Volume **VALUE**
100 plus pages of self-directing activities for the Middle School students.
Google Earth Worksheets
More than 50 pages of Blackline Masters for upper primary/lower secondary students.
All worksheet activities are completed with the fabulous Google Earth application which is free to download on to your PC or Mac from http://earth.google.com/. Activities require minimum teacher direction and provide maximum learning for the student.
• Constellation conundrum
• Landmarks
• Cruise around the world
• Help!! Endangered species
• The Galapagos Islands
• Continents
• Google Moon
• The Earth's Grid System
• Make the World a Better Place
• Mission to Mars
• Majestic Mountains
• My Google Earth Autobiography
• Mysterious Locations
• National Parks
• Ocean Explorer
• Ocean Investigations
• The Olympics
• The ABCs of Google Earth
• Bonjour, Mon Ami
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Layers Reference and Activity Booklet
Google Earth has over 50 layers of information and all are explained in this booklet, along with student activities designed to allow the student to explore each of the layers and track down the type of fascinating information that can be found on each layer.
Layers are also given a value rating so that teachers can go directly to the most valuable layer with the most educational information.
The booklet includes definitions and activities around the following Google Earth layers:
• Borders and Labels
• Photos
• 3D Buildings
• Ocean
• Weather
• Gallery
• Global Awareness
• and more
Key points of interest are highlighted and quirky little tips are included.
This is a true reference book for any student or teacher who works with Google Earth.
_______________________________________________________How to Zoom and Fly
A slide show that instructs users on how to use these basic functions of Zooming and Flying around Google Earth.
Download this Powerpoint slide set to show your students how to use and practice the zooming and flying functions. Easy to follow - students could review them at their own pace.
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Longitude and Latitude Worksheets
Lesson Plan with worksheets for the Secondary classroom that teaches the principles of Longitude and Latitude using the popular Google Earth.
The worksheets are simple and self-guiding. There is an answer sheet at the end of the booklet.
The lesson takes about 3 weeks to complete and there are additional worksheets that the early finishers can work on to further extend their knowledge. Objectives included.
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More Google Earth Worksheets
32 pages of printable worksheets for the Upper Primary student. Clear instructions, clear print and totally self-guiding
Use Google Earth to complete these self-directed worksheets. Easy to use and very educational.
A wide range of topics covered, including:
- Religions of the world
- Capital cities
- Deserts
- Trip planning and more
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Google Earth Task Cards
46 Task Cards with 46 activities for students to explore Google Earth.
Activities include:
- measuring distance with ruler function
- calculating area
- using longitude and latitude
- mastering Google Earth tools and applications
- understanding continents, countries
- exploring Google Sky, Moon and Mars
- zooming in to significant landmarks
- investigative work on the ground
- and much more.
Comprehensive Answer Key included.
Print out cards on to firm board - easy two-cut template to create four cards per page.
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See more here:
Middle School Resources
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Learn more about the author at
Malcom Brown
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100% Money Back guarantee - if there is anything at all about this pack that disappoints or was not as expected, please get back to me and your investment will be completely refunded - no issue at all.
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What US City Skyline is That?
Who doesn’t like the magic of city skylines? I do, and my class loves them and these worksheets on city skylines worked great.
The task here is to inspect the city skyline on each worksheet PLUS review the other clue. Then identify the name of the city.
The other clue may be figures about the city, the city’s logo or flag, a map of the city’s area, or a logo of the sporting club that is based in that city.
The task is challenging and fun, and normally requires the student to be creative in how they investigate the answer.
Do I use Google Maps?
Do I use Wikipedia?
Do I try to find the answer by identifying a building on the skyline?
The worksheets are a great library filler and you can always pull one out for that spare moment.
20 maps in all, with an Answer Key at the end. Note that the cities are all US cities.
What State Is This?
Printable maps with a simple clue that students use to determine what US State is outlined on the sheet. Best used with Google Earth.
The clue might be a longitude or latitude, a key city, or a geographical feature.
The task is simple, but the activity is challenging. And some maps involve a bit of problem solving by the student.
Students can also use the shape of the State to help in working out the name of the country.
The worksheets have an answer key at the end. There are 14 maps in all.
Pranks, Hoaxes & Scams
Great fun pack that investigates the types of Pranks, Hoaxes and Scams that are carried out in a variety of circumstances - on the web, in the classroom, in the news and so on.
Students identify the differences and get an understanding that this is not a new thing - it all started with Jonathon Swift (Gulliver Travels).
These pen and paper worksheets explore this type of humor and discusses the impact it might have on the victim. I really enjoy teaching about humor in the classroom and this is another of my packs that my classes have been working on.
I also use the topic to cover off some ‘bullying’ issues and make sure that all students understand that a prank can often have a negative effect on someone else - and so needs to be avoided.
The pack is also great for introducing the topic of email scams and how they can impact people who are not wary.
28 pages including a comprehensive Answer Key
I’d be really disappointed if anyone is not happy with these packs, so if that’s you, please get back to me and your money will be very happily refunded. I’d really like some feedback too, so all comments most welcome.