"Cater Pillars" and "Butter Flies:" Language, Science, Math, and Art Plus Any Other Subjects That Can Be Added to This Fun Unit to Start the School Year Introducing Specific Skills, Collaborating with Peers, Investigating and Researching Online, and Including Family in Creating an Artifact for Display Goal: Students will learn how to investigate a topic that involves multiple subject areas and gain understanding about the topic and how the various subjects covered relate to each other. Objectives: 1. Students will learn how to research, investigate a topic using available resources individually, in pairs, and in groups. 2. Students will use skills in various subject areas to problem-solve, explain, calculate, and present materials to ask or answer questions or verify information. 3. Students will observe caterpillars and record changes as they go through metamorphosis. 4. Students will learn how to treat animals ethically during scientific observation and follow rules regarding the ethical treatment of animals involved in scientific experimentation. 5. Students will learn how to record and interpret scientific data. 6. Students will learn how to test scientific data and ask scientific questions about results and possibly create hypotheses for future study. 7. Students will learn how to create presentations of scientific study using technology, if possible. introduce this unit by having students read the following article on their tablets, laptops, or smart phones or in pairs or groups on school computers or smartboards. Note: if there's no available technology, create a power point presentation covering all of the points in the article and include the illustrations.

Goal: To create interest in/understanding of geography through exploration and mapping Objective: 1. Students will work in pairs to locate pokemon go figures on or within walking distance of school in search of hidden treasure ("gold coins"), following longitudinal/latitudinal clues using compasses to help locate each "gold coin." (for prek-second year students, use alphabetical mathematical problems, riddles, or simple code.) Note: more than one coin tin be placed at each stop according to the "value" of each pokemon character. multiple coins should be placed in individual plastic bags - enough for each pair. perhaps any not claimed tin be awarded to pairs that a. finish first; b. collect the most coins; c. collect the most Pokemon; d. have the highest scores, etc.) 2. Students will retrace their steps and take note (draw, videotape, vocally record, write, etc.) information individually, and as a class create a "thought map" of the area explored as a collaborative enquiry discussion of following: a. area covered from point a (school ) to point b b. (farthest parameter) c. number of steps, feet, yards, fractions of mile, miles, etc. covered 3. Students will also identify visual markers: a. street signs b. other markers (alleys, parks, houses, etc.) 4. Students will measure area after consensus of how it is to be measured, then create map scale - how many feet, yards, miles - and map equivalent: one inch = one mile. 5. Students will individually create treasure map games on Scratch or as Board Match , etc.

Inspired by Pokémon Go's use of maps, this curriculum gets students coming back to school this fall outside observing nature. The curriculum activities can be used at all grade levels and for all abilities. It includes school activities, as well as flipped classroom activities at home. Goal To teach observation, investigation, and presentation skills using integrated curricula to become more aware of natural phenomena in neighborhood and school environments and how to use science, math, geography, and oral/written descriptive language to study, record, and share environmental information and understanding. Objectives: 1. Students will observe natural phenomena (birds, trees, and in SchoolZone and MyZone). 2. Students will record information collected and synthesize through scientific thinking based on observation, research, inquiry, and presentation. 3. Students will work in pairs/groups to record, assess, and synthesize data, using research and observations made during investigations of their natural environments.

Goal: Start the new school year establishing a relationship with each students' parents. Send a short text or email introducing your students' family to the teacher and permission to send or drop by with a short list of things students can do to get ready to start the school year, each of which relates to the nine activities planned for the first week of school. Objectives: 1. Students and parental figuers will get acquainted with teacher, expectations for students and PF's participation in class activities. 2. Students and PF's will learn things about each other and establish a rapport. 3. Students will be asked to complete specific simple tasks and to be sure to bring very specific items to them the first day of school. 4. Students and parents will be introduced to and experience flipped classroom activities right from the start of school, using fun activities for children and adults. 5. Students will engage in several mysterious activities that will have them anticipating the first day eagerly. 6. Parents will be provided with contact information and told they will be contacted by text or email regarding their children's progress and/or any issues that may arise. 7. Students will also have an opportunity to communicate with teacher before the first day of school.

As part of the U.S. government's commitment to Let Girls Learn, First Lady Michelle Obama and the Peace Corps have formed a powerful collaboration to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world. Educating girls is essential to healthy and thriving communities but, globally, 62 million girls are not in school, and barriers to adolescent girls completing school are particularly significant. In some countries, fewer than 10% of teenage girls complete secondary school. This program will address that challenge by empowering local leaders to put lasting solutions in place. Peace Corps Volunteers who live and work at the grassroots level will serve as catalysts of community-led change, and every American can get involved and make a difference. https://letgirlslearn.peacecorps.gov/ FOR GIRLS' SCHOOLS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR GIRLS Let Girls Learn STEM: Elementary Science States of Matter: This science lesson is for young students and older students with special needs. Ice, Water, and Steam Goal: Students will learn about the states of matter through observation and engagement. Objective: Students will physically interact with matter at three different states - solid, liquid, and gas - by identifying snow or ice as a solid, water from melted snow or ice as a liquid, and steam from melted snow or ice as a gas. Outcomes: 1. Student provide information to create a concept map on a white board or other display area showing the three states of matter, using the students’ pictures and/or photographs, and images from the video. 2. Students work collaboratively in small groups or pairs using their collective pictures/photos showing the states of matter to create a “states of matter” timeline. 3. Students make their own picture or video books referring to the concept map and their group discussion timeline.

Students in eighth grade are facing the end of middle or junior high school and in the not-so-distant future the start of high school. Between then and now they have a great deal of academics to learn, state tests to pass, and the pressures of being adolescents. So why not start the year celebrating their final year in middle or junior high school in classic Hollywood fashion? This first week of 8th grade ELA unit does just that! Show your students just how special they are while assessing basic language and writing skills. Roll out the red carpet, notify the paparazzi, and let your students have a great time watching movie trailers, writing reviews, looking back at summer, and getting the star treatment; while introducing collaborative learning and project-based activities. Start the school year with high expectations and watch your students soar.

Goal: To increase physical activity in schools Objective: Students will participate in activities supervised by school staff whilst following all instructions given, observing safety rules set by school and written into the curriculum, and reflecting good sportsmanship. Read each fairy tale (or a synopsis) from a picture book for grades PreK-K-1. Give synopsis for each one to higher grades to remind them of details of each story. Note: challenge students in grades 1-12 to come up with other physical activities based on other fairy tales, using clever names; mother goose poems; super heroes, film villains, etc. individually or in groups. There will be a competition for the best idea and prizes for individual classrooms. Each activity should be recorded using graphs in ppt. or tables in google docs, etc. Help students create their own individual charts online (if possible) or offline (if school does not have the technology). Instruct students to learn how to record their scores and assist each student that needs more guidance individually and/or pair them with a student that's proficient. The five fitness games (5 points each possible)

BULLIES (Better Use of Language Labeling Individuals to Enrich Socialization) is a unit to be used across grade levels that assists students in examining language used and social interactions experienced during bullying incidents. Labels are given to individuals involved in bullying scenarios and real-life incidents. These labels include 'bullies,' 'bullying victims,' 'witnesses to bullying,' 'teachers,' and 'parents.' However, instead of just labeling those involved actively or inactively during bullying incidents, this unit will help students identify which label applies in various scenarios and explore how the social behavior of each individual in specific scenarios can be changed to prevent bullying. There is also an easy to facilitate assessment teachers can use to determine which of the labels fits each student after participation in the unit's activities. NOTE: the assessment may also be used as a pre- and post- test of each student's possible role in a past, present, or future bullying incident. Although the main purpose of the assessment is to determine if students meet the goal and objectives of the unit, the three-question multiple choice assessment could be used in a number of ways; including: assessing students after a bullying incident to determine the states of mind of students involved in a bullying incident; and/or to assess school staff and/or parents' attitudes regarding bullying.

This CCSS-based 8th grade lesson, which can be done in two lessons plus flipped classroom practice, helps to reinforce and remediate instruction in punctuation and capitalization with fun technology-based group and pair activities.

As part of the U.S. government's commitment to Let Girls Learn, First Lady Michelle Obama and the Peace Corps have formed a powerful collaboration to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world. Educating girls is essential to healthy and thriving communities but, globally, 62 million girls are not in school, and barriers to adolescent girls completing school are particularly significant. In some countries, fewer than 10% of teenage girls complete secondary school. This programme will address that challenge by empowering local leaders to put lasting solutions in place. Peace Corps Volunteers who live and work at the grassroots level will serve as catalysts of community-led change, and every American can get involved and make a difference. https://letgirlslearn.peacecorps.gov/ FOR SCHOOLS FOR GIRLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR GIRLS Goal: Students will learn how to develop an hypothesis and create an engineering investigation to solve a hypothetical problem. Objectives: 1. Students working in one of two groups will follow the steps in engineering design/experimentation to create an hypothesis regarding the use of limestone vs. concrete to create blocks to be used in building miniature pyramids. 2. After learning how to mix limestone or concrete (depending on group), students working with either limestone or concrete will follow the steps in engineering design. 3. Students will build miniature pyramids using either limestone or concrete. 4. Students will test their pyramids' ability to withstand strong winds, sandstorms, and torrential rains using simulation. 5. Students will determine whether concrete or limestone were most likely used to build the Egyptian pyramids by using both to create mini-blocks and using them to create pyramids. 6. Students will record results using charts and anecdotal records. 7. Students will complete engineering a solution by working as a class by designing and building a prototype pyramid that can withstand salt water and aquatic conditions for the future scenario.

STEAMLASS/Super Moon Study The study of this year's second and third super moons can start 11/16 or later and end 12/14. In it students will learn about the closest super moon since 1948. STEAMLASS (STEM plus Art, Language Art, and social studies) by reading information about super moons and answering open-ended questions, participating in activities such as creating a Super Moon Anticipation Calendar to mark off the days to the last super moon and locating places where super moons were photographed using U.S. and world maps. Students will also have a flipped classroom assignment that will require them to create their own simple language using various types of graphics that they display on their own Rosetta Stone and bring to school for other students to try to decipher. Goal: Working together in pairs, groups, and individually, students will learn about Super Moons investigating STEAMLASS concepts. Objective: Students will use mathematical, science, engineering, language arts, history, technology, and observation/photography to study and engage in activities to learn what super moons are, their history, and why they appear in the sky. This unit is for Upper Elementary and Middle School students, but can be adapted for lower and higher grades.

This unit for children in grades 5-7 helps students understand how important it is to support other children whose safety is at risk. Goal: To help students become empathic and able to express empathy by supporting students who are being bullied or feel unsafe by developing strategies to create safe school climates. Objective: Students will increase and/or develop empathy toward peers who are bullied and/or feel unsafe at school through discussion to assess their understanding, awareness, and empathy; interactive role-playing activities; reading and using critical thinking skills to debate whether or not the "safety pin" campaigns are effective in making people that are harassed feel more supported or just another trend that will soon pass; and creating products and activities that go beyond wearing a safety pin that potentially will change the school climate by forming a support network that helps students who are victims of bullies feel safe and empowered. All Graphics Are From Google Images

A.C.T.S. (Assessing Content in Theatrical Scenes) for Zombie Apocalypse Brainiac Smorgasbord Goal Students use theatre to identify scientific concepts Objectives: 1. Students divide into groups of five to read-through and perform scene as readers' theatre. 2. Students complete assessment following their performances, then check answers with script. 3. Students will research science to find the one premise mentioned in the script that is not valid. 4. Student group that identifies the invalid premise first will learn lines and perform the scene as a roving drama group performing in other classes/schools. 5. Student group with the highest scores on the assessment given to each group will understudy the actors while the remaining groups will also go to other classes with to set up the set and props. 6. Students in other classes will complete assessment individually or in groups. 7. Students in other classes will rate performance and scene using a survey. SCRIPT PROPS LIST Pizza box Plastic flower pots Bag of Sand Tealight containers (used) Cheesecloth or thin white or brige scarf Generator Small plastic bottle with yellow water Simulated trap

We Often Review Key Operations Using Technology We Often Review Key Operations Using Technology Instead of collecting students cell phones (and other technology), use those cell phones to get kids excited about math.

This interactive activity demonstrates the Electoral College to students from primary grades to middle school students, as well as students with special needs. Students create their own election with or without teacher assistance based on their questions regarding our most recent election in which one candidate won the popular vote and the other one won the election by winning the most electoral votes. The goal of this activity is to help students understand how this happened and why, as well as who created this system and when. An activity involving three rounds of voting to help students understand what happens when the votes in states with smaller populations are given the same weight as states with larger populations in the Electoral College, giving all states equal powers to choose the President. This activity can be individualized to address questions asked during inquiry. Or the activities can be used to create inquiry following each cycle of voting, or all of the questions can be asked at the end of all three voting cycles. Links to two videos explaining how the Electoral College works that can be used to help explain the process to middle students or gifted students in lower grades are also included. Hopefully, these activities will help students understand the confusion after our recent election about who won and why, as well as the importance of voting to have their voices heard.

This hands-on activity allows students at all grade levels and abilities to explore concepts of buoyancy by attempting to submerge a small object in a water bottle. Discovery should be supported by guided inquiry and open-ended questions to scaffold understanding and learning. Once the students are done exploring and sharing their discoveries, reflecting on what they learned and asking questions about what they did not learn, a video showing how the experiment works will be shown and students will get an opportunity to view it. There is also a detailed explanation of this experiment and a diagram illustrating how to conduct it for further study of the scientific concepts involved. Additional video links showing how to build a submarine in Minecraft and similar videos are also included for older and/or more advanced/tech savvy students. Technology needed include a whiteboard, students cell phones for taking videos and sharing them using the KlipMix app, as well as Skype if collaborating with another class. Performance assessments are embedded in the activities in the form of reviews and using inquiry and open-ended questions to assess understanding.

Ditch the Worksheets! Hands-on Learning: Math Facts "How I Taught Eight Boys With Severe Behavioral Problems Math Facts in Six Weeks Without Textbooks, Worksheets, Paper, and Pencils One Hot Summer" Instead of using worksheets, find practical ways for children to use math . Counting things, measuring things, building things, interacting with technology.

In honor of African-American History Month, Gettysburg University in Pennsylvania is sponsoring a production of flow theater's iconic choreopoem, "Our Young Black Men Are Dying and Nobody Seems to Care," written by my late brother in 1983. First performed at the Castillo Theatre in New York''s Theatre District in 1990, this series of vignettes addressing the violent deaths of black youth has been staged across the nation in colleges and universities, as well as other venues. I am offering this series of five units based on the themes presented in OYBMADANSTC free of charge to high school and college/university teachers. These materials are also suitable for advanced middle school students. The subjects addressed include history, civics, English and composition, and social problems. One of the units includes research projects specifically for students interested in service careers. These materials will be offered free of charge through March 2016. (c) 2016, Geneva J. Chapman. All rights reserved.

This is a brief overview of a 30-hour behavior course for state certification in the field of developmental disabilities. This course was created in 1992, and has been taught to hundreds of staff working in private, state, and county facilities in Ohio. This author also helped to create an online version of a behavior support course for a private agency. This lesson for teachers dealing with behavioral issues in their classroom provides a short tutorial of basic principles of behavior change, as well as a simple way to analyze most behaviors.