The Declaration of Independence was really a big "break-up" letter written by Thomas Jefferson and the colonists to the King of Great Britain. This historical document was written to convince the world of the King's abuses and let everyone know that the colonies no longer want to be in a relationship with Great Britain. After studying the Declaration of Independence, students will use this assignment as a reinforcement to understand just what Jefferson wrote in this historical document. By texting back and forth, it's a fun way to understand the "big idea" behind the Declaration of Independence.

This is an economics reinforcement activity on costs, benefits and opportunity cost. Students will evaluate the costs and benefits in given scenarios in order to make the best decision. Students will also be able to recognize the opportunity cost (the opportunity that was given up) in the decision being made. Opportunity cost is a great way to help students understand decision making. Each of us are making decisions and choices all the time. Every time we say yes to something, we are saying no to something else. This is the concept of opportunity cost. Example: - It’s Monday night and you have 3 options. 1. Study for your big social studies test tomorrow (you are almost failing this class). 2. Play the new video game with all your friends. 3. Watch the primetime sporting event featuring your favorite team. Students will list the costs and benefits of each scenario, the decision made and the opportunity cost or value given up because of the decision. Students will also create their own scenarios listing out all costs, benefits and opportunity costs.

CRACK THE CODE is a fun way to experience what archaeologists or linguists go through as they attempt to decipher and decode unknown languages of the past. Like a cryptogram, have students use the letter frequency chart and the common tendencies of the English language, to crack the code and decipher this very important message! I like to use this for my history class to help students understand the difficulties that historians face in discovering an unknown language. You could also use it as a brain break or a fun filler for any class. Regardless of the use, it’s a fun challenge for students to do individually or as a group competition. Enjoy, and thanks for checking out the resources at Mister Harms! Have an awesome day! What’s Included: - A coded message from an unknown language - A letter frequency chart to help guide students for letter substitution - An answer key

Everyone loves riddles, logic puzzles, and critical thinking. Expand your students’ brain power with this set of Brain Teasers to use as brain breaks! What’s Included: • 30 different Brain Teasers in 2 great formats! (worksheet / pptx) • 3 worksheets of 10 Brain Teasers each (to use as handouts) • 1 stunning powerpoint of 30 Brain Teasers (to use as whole group) • Answers to all 30 Brain Teasers are included • There are 20 medium difficulty teasers and 10 even more difficult teasers. These Brain Teasers are great to use as class fillers in that final 5 minutes, a bellringer at the beginning of class, use them as a center activity, or maybe as a fun day. You may even want to include one Brain Teaser at the end of each chapter test as an extra credit bonus question (my students love this). Make it an ongoing competition by projecting the PowerPoint and having groups race to complete a few Brain Teasers every Friday. Whatever the format, you and your students will love these Brain Teasers! You can also get Brain Teasers: Volume 2. Enjoy teasing your brain and thank you so much for your ratings and feedback!