Teacher’s Brain

Search Results for: 100th%20day

Three Solar Eclipse 2024 Activities to Ignite Kids’ Curiosity

Teacher's Pay Teachers

The 2024 solar eclipse is a great event that promises wonder and awe for people of all ages. For kids, it’s an incredible opportunity not only to witness the magic of the universe, but also to engage in hands-on activities that deepen their understanding of this rare phenomenon. Here are three solar eclipse activities that will spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love for astronomy.

THREE ACTIVITIES

  1. Create a Pinhole Projector: One of the safest ways to observe a solar eclipse is by creating a pinhole projector. This simple yet effective device allows kids to safely view the eclipse without directly looking at the sun. All you need is a piece of cardboard, aluminum foil, tape, and a pin or needle.

Instructions:

  • First, take the cardboard and cut out a small square or rectangle, about the size of a smartphone screen.
  • Next, cover one side of the cardboard with aluminum foil and secure it tightly with tape.
  • Then, using a pin or needle, poke a small hole in the center of the foil.
  • With the sun at your back, hold the cardboard with the pinhole facing the sun, and position another piece of white paper or cardboard a few feet away from it.
  • Finally, watch as the image of the sun is projected onto the second piece of cardboard, showing the progression of the eclipse as the moon passes in front of the sun.

2. Eclipse Model: Building a model of the Earth, moon, and sun provides a hands-on way for kids to visualize the mechanics of a solar eclipse. This activity not only reinforces concepts of motion, but also fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students can see how the moon moves in front of the sun to block light to Earth. My students LOVED this activity during the last solar eclipse unit!

Materials:

  • Cardstock to print a sun, the Earth, and the moon
  • 2 Brass Brads to Make Moveable Parts
  • Glue
  • Two Long Strips

3. Crafts and Writing Engage kids in reflective writing about their solar eclipse experience with this fun activity! Provide them with a worksheet titled “Solar Eclipse – Explain a solar eclipse.” along with colored pencils or crayons. Encourage them to describe what they observed during the eclipse, including its phases and any thoughts or feelings they had while witnessing this celestial event.

These 2024 “SUN” glasses are fun for a solar celebration. Kids can wear them while writing, work on fine motor skills, or use them just for fun!

BONUS

Use this FREE Download to have students create the moon on a stick to show how the moon blocks the sunlight from the earth. I think this is a great way to show students how an eclipse works.

5 Helpful Tips for Making Writing Activities Fun

education, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Writing

Looking for writing activities for kids that are actually fun? You’re in the right place.

It’s no surprise that writing is an essential skill for any student. It is something they will use for the rest of their lives. Making writing fun for our early elementary students is key to fostering a love for language and expression.

writing activities

How do you make writing fun for kids? 

Here are 5 writing ideas to get you started. 

  1. Creative Prompts: Use imaginative prompts to spark their creativity. For example, “Imagine you’re a superhero. What powers do you have? Write about a day in your superhero life.”
  2. Incorporate Visuals: Use pictures, drawings, or objects to inspire writing. Show a picture and ask them to describe what they see or create a story around it.
  3. Interactive Activities: Turn writing into a game or interactive activity. For instance, play “Story Dice” where students roll dice with pictures on them and incorporate those images into their story.
  4. Collaborative Writing: Pair students up for collaborative writing projects. This not only makes writing more enjoyable but also teaches teamwork and cooperation.
  5. Personal Connection: Encourage students to write about their own experiences, interests, and feelings. Personal writing connects them to their work and makes it more meaningful.

By focusing on these five strategies, we can create a fun and engaging writing environment that inspires our young learners to explore their creativity and express themselves through writing.

If you’re looking for done-for-you writing activities that you can do with your students, check out these ideas! 

Opinion Writing with Cookies

A deliciously fun way to get your students excited about opinion writing! 

Comic Book Writing Templates

A creative way to get students excited about creative writing! 

Writing Poetry Activity

Teach your students to write poems for beginners with this engaging resource! 

If you’re looking for more writing activities for kids, check out my post here! 

3 Spring Activities Your Students Will Love

Craft Ideas, education, Teaching Tips


Spring has sprung! Spring break is approaching for many teachers and students and that brings tons of excitement. If you’re looking for some spring activities or even Easter activities for kids that you can do to hold your student’s attention and keep them engaged in learning this time of year, you’re in the right place.

spring activities for kids

Here are some engaging and fun bunny activities that are perfect for the spring season! 

Bunny Hop Relay Race

Teams gather for an exciting relay race! Equipped with bunny ears, students can hop to the turnaround point and back, tagging the next teammate. Your students will love this game! 

Bunny Craft Station

Get your students to explore their creativity with crafts! They can make bunny masks, puppets, or greeting cards for their parents or a friend! 

Bunny Storytime and Egg Hunt

After enjoying bunny-themed stories, take your students out to hunt for hidden eggs outdoors. This is a great way to encourage teamwork as they search and share their discoveries. If you’re looking for Easter activities, this is a great option! 

Want some done-for-you spring hands-on activities? Check out these ideas from the shop! 

Bunny Craft Printable Headband

Looking for a couple of engaging ways to celebrate spring with your students? Try these Bunny Rabbit Mask & Headband crafts. There are two writing papers included too. (intermediate lined and primary)

  • 1 Bunny Mask
  • 1 Bunny Headband
  • 2 Spring Bunny Writing Papers

How to Catch the Easter Bunny Writing | Build a Trap Activity

Are you looking for a great way to do a spring writing lesson with students?  I have you covered with these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts to design their own Easter Bunny trap digitally (or in-person).  Then, they will write a narrative, persuasive, or opinion paper about how they plan to catch the bunny.

Bunny Craft Printables | Easter Hat | Writing

Are you looking for some engaging bunny crafts and writing ideas to do with your class this spring? Try these printables to easily create different bunny crafts! They make great centers and bulletin boards too!

  • 5 Crafts with Photos
  • 4 Spring Writing Papers (Primary and Intermediate Lined
  • Make a Headband, Bunny Candy Bag, Writing Craftivity, or letter Art

What are your favorite spring activities or bunny activities to do with your students? Let me know in the comments! 

Want more Easter activities? Check out my post here!