My adventures with first and second-grade engineers has been just a fun one! They are eager to build anything and cannot wait to get busy. The best, absolute best, idea for keeping them engaged is to present them with a short (very short) video or book to set the stage for our STEM task. They love ... READ the POST
Big Smelly Bear and First Grade STEM
Want to hear some first graders giggle? Just say these words, "Smelly Bear..." I promise they will roll on the floor. I have no clue why, but those words are giggle inducing. I discovered this one day when I read the cutest little book to them and we followed that with a STEM Challenge! Trust me ... READ the POST
A Fascinating Book Inspires Tower Building
Need a sure-fire way to grab the attention of your students? The lines of a recent book we read just snagged us! "First come rumbling flatbed trucks, bundles of steel on their backs, like a gleaming endless river surging through the concrete canyons of Manhattan." Wasn't that just delicious! The ... READ the POST
The Enormous Crocodile and a Slippery Slide
"I like to eat nice juicy children," says the Enormous Crocodile. Nothing like that line to get some kids to raise their eyebrows, or laugh. Mostly they laugh. It's one of those moments in a read aloud book where the kids are hanging onto your words and soaking them up like little sponges-- until ... READ the POST
