Rebus Puzzles

What’s In My Brain: Primary Sources

Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?

What’s In My Brain: Ramp vs Bike

Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?

What’s In My Brain: Grass vs Mold

Two columns. One is an example, one isn’t. Can you figure out the hidden rule before the big reveal?

Introducing Order and Chaos

Introduce Order by exploring “written” vs “unwritten” rules.

Power Can Be Fast, Slow, Loud, or Quiet

Power may seem loud and fast, but it can also be slow and quiet.

What’s In My Brain: Inventions vs Discovery

We’re looking at inventions vs discoveries.

What’s In My Brain: Paperclip vs Straw

We’re looking at magnetic vs. non-magnetic materials.

What’s In My Brain: Lion vs Bear

We’re looking at carnivores vs omnivores.

Holiday Shuffle – Day vs Date

Wouldn’t some holidays be better on a certain day of the week? Should Thanksgiving have a set date?

What’s In My Brain: Guinea Pig vs Potbelly

What do guinea pigs, shooting stars, and seahorses have in common? They’re all misnomers!

What’s In My Brain: Spain vs Germany

One column is an example. The other isn’t. Can your students figure out the hidden rule before the reveal?

What’s In My Brain: Austin vs Los Angeles

We’re looking at capital cities.

What’s In My Brain: Italy vs Normandy

We’re looking at countries vs states (and other smaller regions).

What’s In My Brain: Coral vs Water Lilies

Let’s look at saltwater vs freshwater organisms.

What’s In My Brain: Tree vs Tree

Let’s look at deciduous vs coniferous trees.

Order, Chaos, and the Holiday Season

Let’s write a holiday song about order and chaos!

What’s In My Brain: Ball vs Book

Let’s look at Kinetic vs Potential Energy!

What’s In My Brain: Crocodile vs Tree Frog

Is it a reptile or an amphibian?

What’s In My Brain: Narwhal vs Penguin

We’re looking at the arctic vs the antarctic.

Van Gogh Self-Portrait Tournament

Who will win the tournament of Van Gogh self-portraits!?

Compare and Create New Year’s Traditions

Hey! Our New Year traditions have a lot in common.

New Uses For An Aluminum Can

So, what CAN a CAN be used for other than storing liquids?

Categorize and Re-Categorize Countries

Put these countries into groups. Then do it again. Then… do it one more time. How does re-re-grouping the same places reveal new patterns and give new insights?

Categorize and Re-Categorize Animals

Put these animals into groups. Then do it again. Then… do it one more time. How does re-re-grouping the same creatures reveal new patterns and give new insights?

What’s In My Brain!? Japan vs Jamaica

Is it an island or an archipelago?

Famous Structures

The Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House — group them, pick the best from each group, then design your own.

What’s In My Brain!? Gold vs Wood

Some of these examples are conductors and some are insulators!

What’s In My Brain!? Walnut vs Clouds

Let’s look at living vs non-living things.

Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Conflict? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Concept Attainment: Hornet vs Tiger

Can your class spot the vertebrates vs invertebrates?

Introducing Universal Theme of Change

Everything changes. But how does it change? Students brainstorm dozens of examples and boil them down to one big idea.

Introducing Universal Theme of Systems

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Systems? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Introducing Universal Theme of Power

So what could you do with a Universal Theme of Power? Well, here’s an introduction that will get your students’ brains sweating.

Notice, Wonder: Swirls

A mysterious image. Reveal it slowly. Let your students wonder!

Sets of Idioms Related to Food

Five sets of five idioms, all related to food.

Create A Civilization: Design A Flag

What makes for a good flag? What makes a bad flag?

What’s In My Brain: Owl vs Eagle

Some of these animals are nocturnal and some are diurnal.

Concept Attainment: Art

Can your students tell the difference between cubism and abstract art?

Order Can Be Natural or Constructed

When is order natural and when is it designed by people?

Generalization: Systems Are Made up of Other Systems

A clock is a system. So is a rainforest. So is your school. Once you see systems inside systems, you can’t unsee it.

What’s In My Brain: May vs May

The word “may” can be used for possibility or permission. It’s a modal auxiliary verb!

Plurals: An Inductive Spelling Lesson

Plural nouns in English are deliciously fascinating. Yet most plural lessons are so dull! In this experience, students are given a pile of plurals and then inductively create groups and pull out rules and patterns.

How Renewable Is That Resource?

Which resource is more renewable? And which is easier to find?

What’s In My Brain: Painting vs Painting

Two columns of sentences. Something is different about them. Can you figure out the rule?

What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah

Can students spot similes vs metaphors?

What’s In My Brain – Independent vs Dependent

These clauses are sorted into two groups. What’s the rule? No definitions given — just examples.

Simple or Compound Sentences – What’s In My Brain?

Can your students spot simple sentences vs compound sentences?

Complex or Compound – What’s In My Brain

Can your class spot the complex sentences vs compound sentences?

Sets of Idioms

Why do we say ‘break a leg’? Five themed sets of idioms your students will actually remember.

What’s In My Brain – The Park vs The Museum

We’re looking at the past progressive tense and the simple past tense.

Synonym Graphs

So, which is happiest: happy, joyful, or ecstatic? Which is most temporary?

Creating A Classroom Motto

Starting with specific examples of fantastic classroom behavior, your class will end up with one sentence summing up their expectations. It’s a classroom motto!