Answering the questions in the back of the book is rarely a fun endeavor for the students, but today that wasn't the case in class! Just adding a little twist really made it exciting for the kids. Let me explain.
You see, we are just starting our unit on Circulation and Respiration and the students really did need to read the science text and answer the questions about their reading (as that information is what they will be tested on when taking our major TEST) So, after a discussion about how the circulatory system is the transportation system for our body, I gave the students a foldable that I had pre-printed the questions from the end of the article on. Instantly, their interest was peaked (what is it about foldables that makes things so much better???!!) For 20 minutes, they were to silently read the article and find the answer to the questions, recording them on the foldable.
Then, I asked them to work for about 10 minutes as a group. I wanted them to compare answers and help each other to dig into the text and find the information they needed. The students were so cute during this! We have been working on citing evidence, well, all year...but specifically during our Bridge to Terabithia exploration, and they were doing it here in the science lesson too. Apparently, people have been listening to me ;)
Now is when it got fun. I gave the groups a pack of sticky notes. I then asked them to record the one best answer for each question on a sticky note. Then, one representative from each group walked up to the walls, where I had placed "posters" of the questions, and placed the sticky note onto it. This was GREAT because those kids that normally are super antsy when doing textbook work got to get up and move around!
Finally, I took each of the posters down, and we reviewed all of the sticky notes. This served several purposes but the most beneficial one was that the kids heard the answer to the question 6 times! I then wrote the "best" down in my foldable.
All in all, it was a fun way to do something that is normally...well, not so fun. I have included the foldable and posters that I created JUST IN CASE you are also teaching about Circulation :) You can get them by
clicking here.
Anything fun to share that you did today?
Foldables are fun!
ReplyDeleteWhile I do not teach sciencey stuff.... the concept of the questions ON the foldable, the questions for sticky notes.... OH MY! My wheels are turning! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI know! Who would have thought huh? Took me this long to make this mundane task a bit more fun ;) And there are so many more applications for it. If you do something with it, please come back and let me know. I would love to hear your twist on it.
DeleteNo question about it...if it's in a foldable or they can get up and move around the room, they are suddenly more interested! Looks like a great activity, Stephanie :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Fun in Room 4B
This would work well with any subject! And would make answering those questions a lot more fun. :-) Thanks for sharing! We are working on answering text dependent questions in our reading anthology. If you go to edmodo.com, there is a basal alignment project to join, and they have great text dependent questions for most anthologies. I have been using them with my 4th graders since December, and they are already getting much better about "justifying" their answers! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow can I find the project to join? I'm on edmodo, but still not sure how to really use it. Sounds great though!
DeleteIf you look for the basal alignment project on edmodo, you will need to "join" it. So I think on the left hand side there is a link to "groups" and it says "join or create" and you will want to join the basal alignment project. Then, you can search for your anthology series and see the links. I clicked through the other series sets as well because you may read other stories in class that are included. I know it's grades 3-5 for sure, nothing lower. Maybe higher grades but as I am elementary, I only looked for the elementary grades.
DeleteForgot to say-click on "folders" to access the anthology series titles, once you are in the group. :) hope that helps!
DeleteUse this code to get to the basal alignment project on edmodo: F4Q6NM
DeleteAwesome idea, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration! I'm gonna have to "borrow" your idea and tweak it for social studies, but I definitely think I can make it work. Have you worked with lapbooks - new area of interest for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to keep them engaged!
ReplyDeleteAnd we have been working on using evidence to support our thinking all year, too, and just recently they started using the lingo in math!!! I was THRILLED!! It took half the year, but I think it's finally sinking in! (or maybe I pounded it in!!) :O)
Amanda
Collaboration Cuties
What a great way to use the textbook and make fun for the kids! I just emailed this to the high school instructional coach because we have been talking about ways that teachers can use their books more effectively. LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteJana
Thinking Out Loud
Such a cute idea! What a great way to get the kids interested in answering text book questions and working together. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete:) Kaitlyn
Smiles and Sunshine
LOVE that you put them in groups and then they had to choose the best answer in the group to put on the sticky - evaluating their answers - PERFECT higher order thinking!!! And of course, you know I love the foldable. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh my...this is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHow do you print your foldable? I love the idea but need some instruction...thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt should work if you click on the words "clicking here" above.
DeleteI LOVE this idea too, but have no idea how to make a foldable that I could type the questions in. Is there an easy way to do this??
ReplyDeleteI made mine on PowerPoint. I simply created a grid (using the table tool) and made it 4 columns wide by 6 rows down. Then, I adjusted the two far columns so that they were slightly smaller than the middle ones. I was then able to type on them, print it out, and it folded correctly.
DeleteThis is a great idea! I love your blog!
ReplyDelete~Sue
Science for Kids Blog
Great way to get kids talking and moving while using the textbook! Love it!
ReplyDeleteBuzzing with Ms. B
I love this! How did you make the question sheets with the cute frame/border? I would love to edit these to fit my curriculum (English Language Arts).
ReplyDeleteI just saw your blog on pinterest and thought you had some great activity ideas! I am a teacher too and just started this website/blog for teachers and their students to use to integrate learning about world cultures into the curriculum! Maybe you could use it in your classroom!
ReplyDeletehttp://compassclassconnect.blogspot.com/
thanks!
Definitely plan on trying this with CCSS!!! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea!!! Definitely gonna find a use for it this year! :)
ReplyDeleteI love how it's just the simple things that help keep the interest in kids. Foldables, group work, sticky notes, up and moving, repeated answers...oh so simple but oh so effective! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! My kids detest answering questions from the book and don't put in any effort, so I am interested to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteSounds cool! Thank you for the idea.
ReplyDelete