November is in full swing and that means the holidays are almost here! There is so much to do this time of year. What with the holiday parties to plan, school break coming up, and end of the semester to-do lists, it actually may be a little difficult to find time to plan lessons.
The great thing is, there is an abundance of amazing resources out there at your disposal, resources that can add that extra touch of holiday fun to your lessons. November is full of possibilities in that regard. There are so many things you can do to add the holidays in your lessons.
Here are some November activities to get you started!
- Shake things up! You know about the traditional holidays, but did you know that every day in November is actually a holiday? It’s true! November 1st is Vinegar Day, the 2nd is Look For Circle Day. How fun would it be to add these silly holidays into your classroom activities?
I created a resource that takes care of all of your STEM prep for the month of November using these holidays.
- Learn about Thanksgiving. This topic is a great social studies unit but did you know you can easily use it for STEM lessons? There are tons of creative ways to incorporate it and get your students engaged.
Do some Thanksgiving themed STEM challenges with this Thanksgiving STEM activities resource. Students plan, design, and engineer drums, corn mazes, rain sticks, canoes, and totem poles.
- Get parents and family members involved. Studies show the more engaged family members are in the students learning, the more likely the student is to succeed.
These take home Thanksgiving STEM activities are the perfect way to get the whole family involved. Students will create a Native American or a Pilgrim using a clothespin or a totem pole using a paper towel roll. This challenge will get your students thinking critically and creatively!
4. Connect your November activities with good books. If you know me, you know I love connecting my lessons with books (more info on that here). It is so beneficial for students in so many ways.
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet is one of my favorite books to tie in with my Thanksgiving activities. This Balloons Over Broadway STEM activities resource is the perfect addition to your classroom. Students plan, design, and engineer a Thanksgiving Day Float or a puppet. Then students will have a school parade.
I know this time of year can get a little crazy. But don’t let that steal the fun out of the holidays for you! With these resources, you can take back a lot of the time you spend prepping and lesson planning while still getting your students engaged in your fun, festive lessons.
What are your favorite activities to do in the classroom in the month of Novmeber? Let me know in the comments!
