5 Methods for Adding Movement to Your Social Studies Lessons
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is how to add more movement to social studies class. If you find that teaching social...
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Blog
Michelle McDonald
- Jan 4
- 5 min
5 Ways to Build Mental Strength as a First Year Teacher
Are you a first-year teacher drowning in work, feeling like you are being pulled in multiple directions, and struggling to find that...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 27, 2022
- 3 min
Free 2023 Goal Setting Journal for First Year Teachers
As we start a new year, this is a great time to consider goal setting. Even if you are reading this and it’s the middle of June, there’s...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 13, 2022
- 3 min
Helpful Tips for Facilitating an Effective Classroom Discussion
Small group discussions are a great concept, but they can quickly get out of hand if we simply release our students without guidance....
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 29, 2022
- 4 min
Free Easy and Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Students and Parents
Let’s talk about holiday gift-giving. First, there is absolutely no requirement to give your students a holiday gift before winter break....
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 15, 2022
- 4 min
3 Ways to Be Proactive Before Your Teacher Sick Days Run Out
I was recently listening to a teacher share how they ran out of sick days in October. Knowing that any future days off would mean taking...
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 1, 2022
- 2 min
Resources for Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month in the Classroom
November is National Native American Heritage Month. This designation was passed by Congress and President George H.W. Bush in 1990. This...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 18, 2022
- 2 min
Free Virtual Field Trip to Ancient Egypt for Your World History Class
If you are looking for an interactive way to teach Ancient History, virtual field trips are a great way to bring learning to life! A...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 4, 2022
- 4 min
5 Teacher Tips for Keeping Your Personal Life Organized & Efficient
As a teacher, we quickly realize that the work is never done. This means that we have to be intentional with our time because it's super...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 27, 2022
- 1 min
Engage Your Students with Virtual Field Trips to the 5 U.S. Regions
Do you teach the U.S. Regions or the 50 states? If you're looking for a low-prep and well-rounded activity, I've created a set of virtual...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 13, 2022
- 3 min
Best Practice and Helpful Resources for Teaching the Holocaust in Middle School
Teaching the Holocaust in middle school is a powerful way to learn about the past in order to inform our future. If you plan to cover...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 6, 2022
- 2 min
Observing Constitution Day 2022 in Your Classroom with a Collaborative Poster
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a civic holiday that is observed annually on September 17 in the United States. This day was set...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 16, 2022
- 4 min
Shopping for Teacher Outfits on a Tight Budget: Shopping with Sustainability in Mind
When I landed my first teaching job, most of my clothing involved jeans, oversized sweatshirts, and tennis shoes that I wore around the...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 9, 2022
- 2 min
Introducing the 5 Themes of Geography at the Beginning of the Year
One of the foundational concepts of a high-quality social studies education is an understanding of geography. When students can make...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 27, 2022
- 3 min
Boost Excitement for Social Studies During the First Week of School with this Activity
If you are looking for a back-to-school activity for your social studies class that is not cheesy or boring, I've got you covered. Set...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 12, 2022
- 2 min
Teacher Communication Workshop: Gain Confidence & The Respect You Deserve
Do you struggle to communicate your needs to your admin, or spend hours trying to draft an email? This was me during my first year of...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 8, 2022
- 2 min
3 Easy to Print and Assemble Collaborative Posters for Back to School
Are you tired of the same back-to-school ice-breakers and activities? Or maybe you're looking for meaningful classroom decor that is...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 9, 2022
- 2 min
Fostering an Inclusive Classroom: 10 Educator Resources for Pride Month
History is multifaceted. It is an exploration of the past while building an understanding of people, cultures, and the connections to our...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 7, 2022
- 3 min
4 Book Recommendations for Teachers to Read During Summer Break 2022
This post contains affiliate links to make it easier for you to find the books shared in this post. I love reading, and I love sharing...
Michelle McDonald
- May 10, 2022
- 2 min
Do your students find pirates fascinating? Check out this Pirate Ship Virtual Field Trip
If your students love learning about pirates, then they are sure to love a virtual field trip all about pirate ships! Take a virtual tour...
Michelle McDonald
- May 5, 2022
- 2 min
Resources for Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a great opportunity to uplift the contributions and rich history of...
Michelle McDonald
- May 2, 2022
- 2 min
Make a Smooth Landing with 4 End of Year Virtual Field Trips
With a school year that experienced some turbulence, you can still make a smooth landing and keep your students engaged and learning...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 26, 2022
- 3 min
Take a Virtual Field Trip to Pompeii to Better Understand Ancient Rome
Are you teaching Ancient Rome? Maybe you have students fascinated with Pompeii after reading a book about the destruction of Pompeii. We...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 19, 2022
- 1 min
A Helpful Best Practices Checklist for Social Studies Classroom Materials
Are you hanging onto some of those outdated resources that were left behind by the previous teacher? You know the ones. It’s spring...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 10, 2022
- 3 min
Upper Elementary Digital Friendly Activities for Earth Day 2022
Earth Day is fast approaching, and we all know spring is a busy time for teachers. Between state testing, culminating projects, and...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 31, 2022
- 3 min
Free Lesson for Celebrating Arab American Heritage Month in the Classroom this April
As someone of Lebanese descent, Arab American Heritage Month is especially meaningful as we uplift and celebrate the contributions of...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 16, 2022
- 2 min
Take Your Students on a Free Virtual Field Trip to the Golden Gate Bridge
Take your students on a virtual field trip to California to tour the Golden Gate Bridge! Using a combination of Google Earthâ„¢ 360-degree...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 8, 2022
- 2 min
8 Helpful Primary Source Websites for Teaching World History
Looking to move beyond the outdated social studies textbook? Using primary sources in your World History class provides so many...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 1, 2022
- 2 min
6 Helpful Strategies for Discussing Current Events in the Classroom
When scary things are happening in the world around us, sometimes we may want to just get into the classroom and teach like nothing has...
Michelle McDonald
- Feb 22, 2022
- 4 min
Spark Curiosity and Interest in Your Social Studies Lesson Plans
Do you hear the grumble and complaints that social studies is so boring? It's most likely that your students haven't yet experienced...
Michelle McDonald
- Jan 18, 2022
- 2 min
Teach the California Gold Rush From Multiple Perspectives in 4th Grade
The California Gold Rush is viewed by some historians as a positive period in U.S. history with an economic boom that gave rise to the...
Michelle McDonald
- Jan 4, 2022
- 2 min
3 Virtual Field Trips to Take Your Students on this Winter Season
Looking for engaging and meaningful winter-themed social studies activities? Take your students on virtual field trips around the world!...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 28, 2021
- 3 min
New Years Resolutions No Prep Activities to Get Ready for 2022
When my students return from winter break, I like to take class time to reflect and set New Years Resolutions. The start of a new year is...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 14, 2021
- 4 min
7 Communities Around the World: A Virtual Field Trip Activity for Blended Learning
Communities have formed since the earliest of times. Communities are a group of people with a shared identity and they are formed as a...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 3, 2021
- 2 min
Take Your Students on a Journey to the North Pole this Winter
If you are looking for an enrichment activity to keep your students engaged and learning leading up to winter break, this virtual field...
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 9, 2021
- 3 min
5 Helpful Tips to Overcoming Teacher Overwhelm
How will I make it to the end of the year? This was a question I often asked myself when I felt completely overwhelmed, inadequate, and...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 18, 2021
- 3 min
Engaging and Easy to Use Virtual Field Trips for Older Adults
Technology today provides a way to bring geographic locations and spectacular sites right to us. We can travel virtually from almost...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 5, 2021
- 2 min
What Stuck? Exit Ticket Idea for Your Social Studies Class
Exit tickets are a purposeful and reflective way to end class. If you teach bell-to-bell, add in this quick and easy informal assessment...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 14, 2021
- 2 min
5 Fun Social Studies Teacher Back to School Items
If you are a social studies teacher, bring this core subject to the forefront with some fun back-to-school items. 1. Social Studies...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 8, 2021
- 3 min
5 Tips for Fostering a Collaborative and Safe Social Studies Class
One of the most important steps we can take at the beginning of the year is time to build a positive classroom environment where all...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 17, 2021
- 2 min
4 Must-Have Back to School Supplies for Every Classroom
Preparing for the school year can be daunting, especially if you are just beginning your teaching journey, or if you are switching grade...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 10, 2021
- 3 min
World History and Geography Virtual Field Trips for the Entire School Year
If you are looking for a way to spark curiosity, infuse technology, and integrate critical thinking skills into your World History class...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 20, 2021
- 3 min
Helpful Questions First Year Teachers Should Ask at the End of an Interview
The interview process to land a teaching position can be daunting and stressful for both new and seasoned educators. As a new teacher, it...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 6, 2021
- 2 min
8 Helpful Primary Source Websites for Teaching American History
If you want to move away from an outdated textbook or are in the process of piecing together lessons from the lack of a social studies...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 12, 2021
- 3 min
My Top Summer Reading Recs for Social Studies Teachers and Educators
In the summer, I usually have more time to sit down and dive into books that have been added to my ever-growing book list. When I was...
Michelle McDonald
- May 20, 2021
- 2 min
5 Helpful Resources for Discussing the Israeli-Gaza Conflict in the Classroom
Teachers share that there is some level of uncertainty discussing sensitive topics, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is no doubt an...
Michelle McDonald
- May 6, 2021
- 3 min
5 Engaging Virtual Field Trips for the End of the School Year
School field trips and overnighters might have been cancelled this year, but with the amazing advances in technology, taking your...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 30, 2021
- 3 min
4 Virtual Field Trips for Teaching the Revolutionary War
If you are a 5th grade teacher covering the American Revolutionary War, virtual field trips are a great activity to bring history to life...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 23, 2021
- 2 min
Tour NASA Space Centers Up Close With an Engaging Virtual Field Trip
Enhance your Earth and Space Science Unit with this engaging virtual field trip! Take a tour of three NASA space centers! This...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 16, 2021
- 3 min
Engage Your Students with a Virtual Field Trip Along the Oregon Trail
Remember the days of playing the classic Oregon Trail simulation game? With advances in technology, we can take our students on a virtual...
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