Sally Ride, Women in STEM, and Tips for Creating a Successful Biography Unit

“I did not come to NASA to make history.” Sally Ride She may not have come to make history, but she certainly did. May 26 is Sally Ride Day, celebrated on the anniversary of her birth in 1951. Most of us recognize Sally Ride as the first American woman to go to space. Her first … read more »

Thinking Like Da Vinci

Although it has been five hundred and seventy years since his birth, Leonardo da Vinci’s impact on the world continues. He is probably best known for his painting, the Mona Lisa; however, his genius carried across many different disciplines, making him known as a true “Renaissance Man.” In addition to art, Da Vinci is also known … read more »

Celebrate National Engineers Week with Design Thinking!

National Engineers Week is February 20–26, 2022! What better time to engage in engineering and design thinking activities in your classroom?! Engineering and design thinking can open up a whole new world of innovation and creativity for students.  National Engineers Week offers many opportunities to introduce your students to the world of engineering. Introduce them … read more »

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Each year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes International Holocaust Remembrance Day on or about January 27. It serves as a reminder of the Holocaust, a tribute to the victims of the atrocities, and a time for UNESCO to reaffirm its commitment to countering antisemitism and other forms of racial intolerance. … read more »

Powerful Collaboration: Library and Art

In honor of Georgia O’Keeffe’s birthday, let’s talk about the many ways school librarians and art teachers can collaborate. Librarian and teacher collaboration is a must for school librarians! Collaboration provides teachers, librarians, and students with new opportunities, resources, and ideas. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Start small! Collaborate by helping the art teacher … read more »

Curation in the Classroom

Curation in the classroom is not something new to educators; we curate content all the time for lessons, project resources, future ideas, and more. However, curation is also a valuable tool for students! It is a skill they can use in their classes, personal life, and future careers. Getting started with content curation in the … read more »

10 Dictionaries That Enhance and Engage Students in Learning

Noah Webster is broadly considered to be the father of the American dictionary. In his honor, October 12 commemorates National Dictionary Day, his birthdate. This date marks learning and encourages readers to improve vocabulary. Most classrooms now rely on digital dictionaries to look up word meanings. Digital dictionaries are easy to use and provide information … read more »

Classic Children’s Literature and Classroom Reading Lists

Modernizing traditional reading lists for diverse learners is an issue that many educators are currently debating. This post is not intended to rehash the “choice versus canon” debate but to give you resources to inform your decision-making process in this area. Classics in the classroom have been a staple for many years. Rethinking reading lists … read more »

Native Knowledge 360° Education Initiative

On June 2, 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. Although this act provided Native Americans with many rights of citizenship, individual state laws determined voting rights. Until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting, and it wasn’t until the passage of the Civil … read more »