“This was the best money I have ever spent on a teaching tool.” ~ a teacher in Wisconsin

KAS ELA Standard: L.1.5.a

Sort words into categories to classify relationships and to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.

Introducing Order and Chaos
Introducing Order and Chaos
Introduce Order by exploring “written” vs “unwritten” rules.
Power Can Be Fast, Slow, Loud, or Quiet
Power Can Be Fast, Slow, Loud, or Quiet
Power may seem loud and fast, but it can also be slow and quiet.
Words Within Words: LATKES
Words Within Words: LATKES
How many words can you find within LATKES?
Parts of Speech Party – Care
Parts of Speech Party – Care
How many different ways can we use the word “care”? Let’s find out in this Parts of Speech Party!
Words Within Words: STUFFING
Words Within Words: STUFFING
How many words are hiding inside STUFFING? More than you think.
Word Pyramids
Word Pyramids
Start with a one letter word, add another letter, then add another. How tall can you make the pyramid?
Categorize and Re-Categorize Countries
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
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?
Introducing Universal Theme of Conflict
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.
Introducing Universal Theme of Change
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
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
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.
Sets of Idioms Related to Body Parts
Sets of Idioms Related to Body Parts
Five sets of five idioms, all related to body parts!
Antonym Paths
Antonym Paths
Does the antonym of an antonym bring us back to the same meaning?
Order Can Be Natural or Constructed
Order Can Be Natural or Constructed
When is order natural and when is it designed by people?
Plurals: An Inductive Spelling Lesson
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.
What’s In My Brain: Painting vs Painting
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
What’s In My Brain: Cute Baby vs Fast Cheetah
Can students spot similes vs metaphors?
What’s In My Brain – Independent vs Dependent
What’s In My Brain – Independent vs Dependent
These clauses are sorted into two groups. What’s the rule? No definitions given — just examples.
Sets of Idioms
Sets of Idioms
Why do we say ‘break a leg’? Five themed sets of idioms your students will actually remember.
Synonym Graphs
Synonym Graphs
So, which is happiest: happy, joyful, or ecstatic? Which is most temporary?
Creating A Classroom Motto
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!