Election Books For Kids

Every four years, the people of the United States of America choose a president to lead the country.  The election time can be a great source of confusion or interest for students.  Here are some great election books for kids that can be used to teach students all about the election process rather than focusing on particular candidates.

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Many of your students may not be aware that women did not always have the right to vote.  Marching With Aunt Susan is a great book for teaching about women's suffrage.

It's also a great book to use as a starting point for  a debate, should things be divided by gender (such as colors: pink or blue, or activities)? Students can research if men and women have equal rights today.  What about in different countries?

It makes a great mentor text for teaching about writing dialogue and how to use quotation marks and create new paragraphs when different characters are speaking.

ABC ... What An Informed Voter You'll Be! gives a great overview of American government.  It introduces students to the structures of government, the Constitution, the Electoral College, influential leaders in U.S. history, and individual freedoms afforded to all people.

My students always love the Who Is and What Is series of books.  One of their newer books in the series (just released in June 2020) is perfect for teaching kids about the election. What Is a Presidential Election? gives information about all the things that it takes to run for and win one of the most powerful jobs on Earth - the president of the United States.  

The book answers questions kids may have such as:

Who can run for president?

What's the difference between Democrats and Republicans?

What is the Electoral College?

There are also activities throughout the book that prompt readers to think about the issues they care most about and consider what makes a good president. This could lead to a great persuasive writing piece: What Makes a Great President? This doesn't have to tie into either candidate, but could be a general topic focusing on the traits that make a good leader.

The Night Before Election Day is a perfect read for younger students. It tells the story of a little girl and her experiences on election day, from learning about it at school, to going with her parents to vote.

The Next President is an informative look at the past lives of prior Presidents, and an inspiring look at who might be out future President.  They could be sitting in your classroom today!  

The book says that when George Washington became the first US President, there were 10 other future presidents already alive in America.  That means that right now, there may be 10 future presidents going to school, learning how to read and write, making laws in Congress, or ???

What are some of your favorite Election Books for Kids?  I would love to hear about them in the comments below!

And before you go, head on over to enter one of our giveaways!

Halloween Color By Number Math Facts Practice

If you're looking to add some spooky fun to your math lessons, Halloween math color sheets are a fantastic option. These themed worksheets blend the thrill of Halloween with essential math practice, making learning both exciting and educational. From counting and basic operations to more advanced math concepts, 

Halloween math color sheets offer a creative and engaging way to reinforce skills while students color in eerie ghosts, pumpkins, and other festive images. These activities are perfect for keeping kids entertained and focused during the Halloween season, whether in the classroom or at home.

One of the things about Halloween in the classroom is that it can get crazy with all of the sugar and fun.  One way that I like to celebrate Halloween in my classroom with a little academic purpose is by giving my students fun, no-prep Halloween math worksheets like these color by number worksheets where they can practice skills such as addition and multiplication, while coloring fun Halloween themed coloring pictures!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

I currently have the following versions of these items:

 addition and multiplication  math facts versions 

addition with regrouping

subtraction with regrouping

subitizing or counting version.

If you have a request for additional skills, leave a comment below!

Each math facts set comes with (8) Halloween themed color by number pages and answer keys.

Unlock the magic of Halloween math with these multiplication color-by-number Halloween worksheets, promoting both learning and creativity.

Get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with these engaging and educational Halloween multiplication color-by-number activities.

Whether you're a teacher planning a classroom activity or a parent looking for educational Halloween fun at home, our math color-by-number resources are sure to delight you.

And... I would be absolutely remiss if I did not share my favorite crayons ever! They color so vibrantly and no more broken crayons!

These Halloween color by code pages are also available (with just about every other holiday) in my money saving color by number bundles.

 Color By Number Multiplication Facts Holidays Growing Bundle

 Color By Number Addition Facts Holidays Growing Bundle 

Pull out the crayons or markers and help make Halloween in the classroom a bit calmer and more productive with these Halloween printables!

Other Holiday Color By Number Sets Available

Thanksgiving Color By Number
Christmas Color By Number

New Year's Color By Number
100th Day of School Color By Number

Martin Luther King Jr. Color By Number
Groundhog's Day Color By Number  

Valentine's Day

Total Physical Response Strategy for Vocabulary Words

I have had the great opportunity of being able to work with several ELL teachers who have pushed in my class to co-teach. One technique I have used with English Language Learners for learning vocabulary words is Total Physical Response.  The best part?  It works for ALL students!

What is Total Physical Response?

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a strategy or method of teaching language or vocabulary concepts to students using physical movement to react to verbal input.

Why Use Total Physical Response?

Total Physical Response mimics the way students learn their first language as infants, so, it is non-threatening.  It lowers students inhibitions and stress levels.  Having all students participate makes the English Language Learners not feel singled out.

How can teachers use Total Physical Response Strategies in the Classroom?

Step 1: Prepare. 

Select the vocabulary words that you are going to choose. I often pull words in a text we are going to read that I know students might struggle with.  This could include subject specific words such as area in math or words that are not commonly used such as accurate.

Gather any equipment, props, or pictures (often referred to as realia) that you will need to illustrate the meaning of the words you have chosen. 

The pictures above are from my word wall that I describe in this post.

Step 2: Teacher Modeling. 

Say the new vocabulary word out loud for the students. I like to have the word written or typed out on a card that will later go on our word wall. This allows the students to make a connection between the written and oral word.

As you say the word, use gestures, facial expressions, body movements, or props to define the word as you say it.

Step 3: Student Modeling. 

Have student volunteers mimic the same movements you made as you say the vocabulary word out loud. 

Step 4: Student Participation. 

Have all students mimic the movements as they say the vocabulary word out loud.  I like to use the Whole Brain Teaching method of Teach Okay for this.

You can see a video of my students learning some geometric vocabulary below:

Step 5: Repetition and Practice.

This is probably the most important step, so don't forget to use the words often! Review and practice words with students multiple times to ensure learning.  Recycle the words into future lessons so that students have repeated practice and multiple exposures to the new word.  

I often give my students bonus team points when they find the word in their reading or use it in their writing.  They LOVE finding them, and it encourages the use of their new vocabulary words.

More Total Physical Response Strategy Resources:

Here is another great video of  the Total Physical Response Strategy in action. I love the idea of having students create their own motions!

An Introduction to Total Physical Response (and four activities to try)

Have you used Total Physical Response in your classroom?  I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Other Vocabulary Resources:

Character Trait Vocabulary Lesson

Word Walls for Upper Elementary

And before you go, head on over to enter one of our giveaways!

 

Books to Teach About 9/11

Most teachers will never forget where we were or how we felt on September 11, 2001, but for our students, it is an historical event that happened before they were even born! Here are some ideas of books to read to your students to teach them about 9/11.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

14 Cows for America

This picture book tells the true story of a gift given to the United States by a tribe of Maasai Warriors after the September 11 attacks.  

Warrior, Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah, returns home to his Kenyan Village from New York City in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. One of the children asks him if he has any stories.  Kimeli proceeds to tell him the story of the attack on the Twin Towers.

An elder asks, "What can we do for these poor people?"

Kimeli says that he wants to gift his only cow (a highly prized possession in his tribe) and asks for the elder's blessing.  They give their blessing along with 13 more cows.

When an American ambassador comes to the village to receive the gift, the Maasai present the cows with the words "because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort." 

America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell

Written by Don Brown, this books tells what happened during the attacks in chronological order in a straight forward and sensitive way. The illustrations and details in the narrative help students to understand both the emotions and significance of the events that happened on September 11th.  

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey

The John J. Harvey which launched in 1931, was the largest, fastest, shiniest boat of it's time.  It served the City of New York as a fire boat capable of pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water in a minute!  In 1994 the ship was retired, but was saved from the scrap yard by a dedicated group of volunteers.  The volunteers turned the fire boat into a museum and education center.

But, on September 11, 2001, the boat was put back into service to battle the flames caused by the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers.

This book tells the story of this remarkable boat.

I like this book because it reminds me of the Fred Rogers quote about helpers.

The Man in the Red Bandanna

H

This is another great example of looking towards the heroes and helpers! This book tells the story of Welles Remy Crowther, an equity trader and volunteer firefighter who worked in the World Trade Center on that fateful day of the attacks. With no thought of himself, he saved numerous people from the upper floors of the World Trade Center South Tower.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

This book gives a glimpse into how magnificent the Twin Towers were before the tragedy struck.  It tells the story of a French aerialist, Philipe Petit, who in 1974, threw a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent almost an hour doing acrobatic tricks a quarter mile away from the ground! 

If you have students who would like to read more about 9/11, my students have loved the following two chapter books as well!

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001

My students always love the I Survived series, and this one was no different. This book tells the story of Lucas, whose father is a fire fighter.  Lucas isn't supposed to be in Manhattan on 9/11, but he was.  This book tells the story of what he sees and experiences during the event.

What Were the Twin Towers?

This is another book from a series, in particular the What Was series. It tells the story of the Twin Towers - how they came to be the tallest buildings in the world, and how they were destroyed.

Do you have any other suggestions for books to teach students about September 11th?  I'd love to hear in the comments below!

And before you go, head on over to enter one of our giveaways!