Interview A friend / interview a classmate activity for 3rd 4th and 5th grade

Interview a Friend / Classmate Activity and Questions

Whether you are looking for a fun back to school activity, a team building activity, a speaking and listening activity, or a way for your students to get to know each other better, interviewing a classmate / friend is a great option!  3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will love it.Why Interviewing a Friend Makes a Great Activity for 3rd, 4th, …

Ideas and activities (including bulletin boards) to help you celebrate kindness in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom

8 Ideas For Celebrating and Rewarding Kindness in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Drawing attention to and celebrating your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for being kind is one of the best ways to encourage more kindness!  There are so many different and fun ways to do this in your upper elementary classroom. Kindness breeds more kindness, so coming up with a plan to celebrate and reward kindness will only help you …

7 End of Year Countdown Ideas - balloon pop and more for 3rd, 4th, and 4th grade students

End of School Year Countdown Ideas – Balloon Pop and More

End of school year countdowns can be a fun way for both teachers and students to celebrate the school year.  (Although, if you’re anything like me, you probably started counting down the days until summer as soon as Spring Break was over!) Some 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers want to go all out, while others have had such a …

Build a Positive 3rd, 4th, or 5th Grade Classroom Community with These 33 Questions for Morning Meetings or Discussion

33 Discussion Questions to Help Create a Positive Classroom Environment

As teachers, you already know the value of building a positive classroom environment – but that’s easier said than done. One of the easiest ways to promote a safe setting in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom is to help students connect with each other.  When students realize how much they have in common with each other, they are …

A collection of ideas from Pinterest for state testing in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade - to motivate and excite students

13 State Test Prep Ideas from Pinterest

Preparing your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for state testing can sometimes feel boring, contrived, and frustrating.  Teachers, however, are experts at turning boring things into engaging activities.  Below are some of my favorite ideas from Pinterest to help you prepare and motivate your students for their state test. Or, check out these other activities and ideas to help …

standardized testing prep advice from real 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers

The Best Test Prep Tips – From Real Upper Elementary Teachers

In this era of high stakes testing, preparing upper elementary students for state testing has become a necessity.  Gone are the days where preparing students for a test simply meant meant teaching the content well. For better or worse (and most teachers would probably agree it’s for worse),  test prep now includes everything from teaching test strategies, making sure kids …

Keep 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students motivated and learning after testing is over as the end of the year approaches

Fun Activities To Keep Students Learning After Testing Is Over

After state testing is over, it can be difficult to keep 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students engaged.  As the weather starts getting nicer, students begin to get spring fever. They know the end of the school year is fast approaching, and student motivation can dwindle. The time after testing, however, is a great time to try some …

Use this All About Me Bag Activity with a free printable as a fun way to get to know students the first days of school

All About Me Bag Activity Ideas and Instructions

One of the main priorities for those first days of schools is to get to know your students, and for your students to get to know each other.  Letting your upper elementary students create and share an “All About Me Bag” is a cheap, low prep way to do this.What is an “All About Me Bag?”An “All About Me Bag” …