Classroom Puzzle Center While we see the effects of screen time on students, it is increasingly common to start looking for tactile learning opportunities that don’t need a device and can be completed cooperatively. Schwenksville first-grade teacher Melody Fennell is looking to build various student skills through hands-on learning in solving puzzles. These puzzles will…
Classroom Plants & Wellness UPDATE: Summer Plant Camp 2025 While the teachers are away, some of the classroom plants will play at Plant Camp, of course! These leafy learners have left their windowsills behind and are off on the ultimate summer retreat, whether at home or at Plant Camp. Teachers and staff who received a…
Sensory Bins Sensory learning opportunities are valuable throughout the educational experience, but perhaps even more so at the kindergarten level. This is a critical point in development, as tactile opportunities help students develop sensory and fine motor skills and incorporate those skills into other learning environments. Through sensory bins, kindergarten students at Schwenksville Elementary can…
ChompSaw As changes are coming to how science is taught throughout Pennsylvania with the integration of new learning standards, hands-on opportunities will be at the forefront of instructional strategies. Planning, building, creating, and collaborating through hands-on opportunities will be key to the learning process. One common way to get students building is the utilization of…
KidWind Challenge Through experiences at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit’s STEELS Expo, a host of different science opportunities were presented to teachers to implement in their classrooms. One such opportunity offers national and state-level competitions for students focused on designing effective wind turbines. This challenge asks students to engineer turbine blades to generate electricity and…
Chimes for a Responsive Classroom Time, safety, and best practices have educators rethinking ways of getting students organized and on track. Whether transitioning to new learning activities, reviewing directions, or pausing to reflect on work, trying to bring students back to attention can be challenging and a time-waster. Getting students’ attention effectively doesn’t need to…
Math Game Bundle How can teachers build math facts in a fun and supportive environment? Katie Conaron, Gifted Support Teacher at Schwenksville Elementary School, plans to use “family night” style games to help students build their math skills engagingly and positively. Learning math facts through these games allows her students to not feel isolated or…