Students

When it comes to musicals, middle schoolers have a lot of choices to make! With so many great productions out there, what’s the best option for your child? Here are five of the most popular musicals for middle schoolers.

1. “The Lion King”
   This classic Disney musical is great for middle schoolers because it features a catchy melody and a memorable story. The characters are also well-drawn and easy to love.

2. “The Little Mermaid”
   This enchanting story follows a Mermaid who must find her way back to her family after spending a year stranded on an island. The story is a great way to introduce Mermaids and their underwater kingdom to middle schoolers.

3. “The Pirates of Caribbean”
   This movie is a great choice for middle schoolers because it offers a lot of action and adventure. The story follows a group of pirates who must find new adventures to keep them afloat.

4. “The Rocky Horror Show”
   This classic rock opera is a great choice for middle schoolers because it features a lot of humor and popcorn-style action. The story follows a group of friends fighting against an evil organization.

5. “The Muppets”
   This popular children’s show is good for middle schoolers because it is full of humor and catchy tunes. The story follows a group of animals who must find their way through a dangerous world.

Are you looking for ways to build social skills? If so, you are in luck! Many activities can be done to build these skills. Here are a few examples:

1. Practice Yoga and Meditation as a Class Lesson
   Practicing yoga and meditation can help students to develop their emotional awareness through breathing and mindfulness while enhancing their body confidence and mental calm. Meditation is also a wonderful way to foster a growth mindset. It encourages students to stay in the present moment and take on challenges one step at a time.

Age Group: Elementary, Middle School

More Information: Super Healthy Kids

2. All About Me Writing Exercise
   This self-awareness development activity challenges students to create a list about themselves, with a different strength, talent, or quality for each letter of the alphabet.

Age Group: Elementary

More Information: Brainwaves Instruction

3. Take a Mindful Moment
   Mindfulness is the capacity to pay attention to the present moment and one’s thoughts and emotions with acceptance and non-judgment. Thus, it’s an essential skill for students to cultivate learning emotional self-regulation.

Age Group: Elementary, Middle School, High school

More Information: Class Dojo

4. Practice Goal Setting with SMART Goals
   Setting SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely) goals is a wonderful way to empower students to reach their personal and academic potential.

Age Group: Elementary, Middle School, High School

More Information: Creative Educator

5. Try a Fine Motor SEL Lesson
   This fine motor emotion activity teaches students the helpful RULER acronym for cultivating emotional intelligence: Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating.

Age Group: Preschool, Elementary

More Information: Forward With Fun

Goal-setting activities for high school students are critical in helping them achieve their goals. There are various ways to set goals, and it is important to find the right approach for each student.

1. Digital Vision Board
   An effective vision board can be a great start to get students thinking about their future paths. What are their dreams for the short and long term? It is a great starting point and a fun activity to get them thinking!

More Information: Lindsay Ann Learning

2. Bucket List Goals
   A cool Senior year activity that is simple but helps promote students reaching various goals and being involved in extracurricular activities is a bucket list. Students can modify the list of activities to create the perfect list that meets their personal satisfaction. Maybe some students want to be involved more in social activities or others in clubs – either way, a bucket list gets students reaching short terms goals!

More Information: By Sophie Lee

3. College Week Goal Setting
   This college week activity is like a spirit week to prepare students for college applications. Each day they work towards a different goal – filling out applications, writing essays, interview prep, etc. The week can really be whatever your students need it to be. It is also great if you have a large population of first-time college students who need extra support.

More Information: Mundelein High School

4. Setting SMART Goals
   This doodle sheet is a great tool to create a mini-goal for your class. The students will write achievable goals using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals rules when writing them. The goals are individualized academic goals, so each student’s work will be unique.

More Information: Math Giraffe

5. Short-Term Goal Worksheet
   This short-term goal worksheet is a great activity for middle school students entering high school. Students will look at specific goal areas and determine what personal goals related to it that they need to work on, as well as who will support them and the action steps that need to be taken to attain each.

More Information: B Schwartz

Middle school students are quickly becoming experts in many aspects of their lives. But, unfortunately, they are also becoming experts in their education, which can be daunting if you don’t have the necessary study skills. Fortunately, there are a few essential study skills you can use to help make progress in your education.

1. Read extensively.
   One of the most important skills you can develop as a middle school student is reading extensively. This will help you learn how to read and understand books, which is essential for developing intelligence and critical thinking skills.

2. Take coursework seriously.
   When taking coursework seriously, you will also start developing critical thinking skills. This will help you problem-solve and learn how to think critically.

3. Get a good night’s sleep.
   It can be difficult to focus when you are tired, so getting a good night’s sleep is important. This will help you better focus on your education and be more productive when studying.

4. Set Attainable Goals
   By setting attainable goals, you can be assured that each study session will be successful. Identify key vocabulary words that are important and memorize them first.

5. Minimize Distractions
   If you are easily distracted, studying in a clean, quiet spot will make your study time more effective. The library or a quiet spot outside are good options if you can’t study at home. A cell phone can also be a big distraction, so leave your phone somewhere where you can’t be tempted to quickly look at it.

6. Good Note-Taking Skills
   It’s impossible to write down every word your teacher says, but you must write down all the important points. Study notes should be of such a nature that you can look at them and immediately know what’s going on.

7. Daily Review
   When your notes are efficient and contain the main parts of each topic, a daily review of your notes will ensure that you understand what you learned that day, and it will also reinforce your learning.

Music is an important part of middle school. It can help students focus, promote teamwork, and more. There are many ways to enjoy music in middle school, and finding the right activity for each student is important. Here are some ideas for music activities for middle school students:

1. Singing: With enough practice, any student can sing adequately. Singing can be used to connect with classmates, learn new songs, or have fun.
2. Playing musical instruments: As one of the most important skills a student can develop, playing an instrument can help them develop their musical skills and ears. There are many different instruments to choose from, and learning how to play them can be a fun and rewarding experience.
3. Drumming: Drumming can help students focus, learn new techniques, or have fun. It can also be a great way to help students connect with each other.
4. Choir is a great way to have fun and learn new songs. In addition, it can be used to entertain students or teach them important life skills.
5. Music is Art
   Taking time to create art in the music classroom may hold more benefits for children than we’re aware of. For example, having students create their own music charts around the classroom will get them to practice the shapes of different notes and make the classroom more inviting overall.
6. Music Dice
   Bring some dice games into your music education! As a middle school music teacher, finding fascinating aspects of music can often be challenging. Thankfully, these music dice will be a great way to practice 3-8 notes.

Creative writing is the process of creating a piece of writing that is original, creative, and well-written. Many creative writing activities can be done in middle school. Some of the most popular creative writing activities are writing a story, essay, and poem.

Many students find creativity exercises to be a fun way to get their minds working. Some students enjoy writing about their personal experiences, others enjoy writing about the world around them, and others enjoy writing about their favorite books. Whatever the activity, it is important to find a way to get the student’s creative juices flowing.

One way to get the student’s creative juices flowing is to have them write a story. Writing a story can be a fun way to explore a topic and provide the students with a way to express their ideas creatively. It is also a great way to link their creative efforts and make a story that is both interesting and memorable.

Another popular creative writing activity is writing an essay. An essay can be a way to explore a topic and share your thoughts with others. It can also be a way to show your school or group of friends your work. Finally, the essay can help you show your talent as a writer and get feedback from those who matter the most.

Finally, many students enjoy writing a poem. A poem enables you to express your ideas and show your creativity. It is also a way to show your favorite books and movies. In addition, the poem can be a way to show your love for a particular subject and express your support for a particular cause.

Whatever the creative writing activity, it is important to find a way to get the student’s creative juices flowing. Creativity is an important skill that students can use to their advantage in school and life.

Are you looking for ways for your young learners to get active and push themselves beyond their comfort zone? Here are a few ideas for some adventure-inspired map activities that could be fun for them!

1. Draw a map of your hometown and make it an adventure destination. Then, have the students travel around their hometown, taking in all the sights and sounds.
2. Create a map of a world far away. This could be a fun project for students to venture into new countries or even different planets.
3. Take a picture of a map and make it an adventure photo shoot. This could be a fun way to show off their map-making skills and have a happy moment with friends.
4. Make a map of a specific destination and then take a journey to reach it. This could be a great project for kids who love adventures but don’t have the time or resources to go on them themselves.
5. Print out a map and challenge your friends to make the best route possible. This could be a great fun way to have a competitive battle while exploring your map.

As middle school students prepare to enter high school, they may look for ways to enjoy reading. Some great ways to enjoy reading are through group readings, individual readings, or even reading aloud. So whether you are looking to start or continue a reading habit, here are some great middle school activities to get you started.

1. Pre-reading Activities
   Pre-reading activities such as pictures, videos, and discussions prepare the students for the text. You can use these to get the student excited about the reading. I’ve implemented discussions before readings in my advanced classes and found them very helpful for the students.

More Information: Elf Magazine

2. Teach Reading Strategies
   Suppose we focus on reading in the classroom. In that case, we must teach middle school reading strategies such as inferring, visualizing and connecting.

Huddle Teach has some great posters you can use for classroom decor.

More Information: Teachers Pay Teachers

3. Figurative Language
   Don’t underestimate the value of teaching figurative language about reading. The students need to be able to grasp these terms to grasp the true concepts of the reading.

This teacher uses Pixar Films in her classroom in conjunction with a worksheet for the students.

4. Book Trailers
   A book trailer is a video that gives a “preview” of a book. The students can work in small groups to create trailers similar to this one.

5. Mock Trials
   A mock trial is one of my favorite activities for students. After a reading, split the class into two sides; one side is the defendant, and the other is the prosecutor. Each side must prove the case assigned by using textual evidence. My students would get dressed up for the trial and truly loved it!

When it comes to handling stress, kids are just like everyone else. They need time to calm down and step back like everyone else. However, they need something to help them feel better when they’re struggling. So here are 5 practical, emotional resilience activities for kids:

1. Draw and paint.
   Drawing and painting can help create a sense of peace and calm in a child’s life. They can also use the medium to express their thoughts and feelings.

2. Sing a song.
   Songs can help children feel connected to the world around them. They can also use music to release stress and emotions.

3. Listen to music.
   Listening to music can help children release negative energy and feel happier. It can also help them focus and stay calm under pressure.

4. Take a bath.
   Baths can help children relax and calm down. They can also use the water to cleanse and detoxify.

5. Take a walk.
   Walking can help children release energy and promote calm, and learn about themselves and their surroundings.

If you’re looking for a fun way to learn about the sport of fishing, then a good book to choose is one that’s specially tailored to children. Fishing books for kids offer a unique and engaging experience that can help them develop their hunting and fishing skills. In addition, you can get started on your fishing journey with a few simple tips.

Here are a few of our favorites that may interest you:

1. Let’s Go Fishing
   Let’s Go Fishing shares fishing adventures that your young one will love. In addition, this story is filled with gorgeous illustrations that will catch your eye.

2. My Awesome Guide to Freshwater Fishing
   With this fact-filled, illustrated book of freshwater fishing history, any child that loves fishing will immediately fall in love. In addition, the obvious emphasis on freshwater catch will boost your child’s knowledge about different fishing techniques.

3. The Three Little Bass and the Big Bad Gar
   Playing a spin on an all-time favorite – The Three Little Pigs – your kids will love connecting with fishing scenes, specifically about bass.

4. Edison’s Tackle Box
   Edison’s tackle box is a story for every young fishing lover. The fishing scenes throughout this story are realistic and will most definitely keep your child engaged!

5. My First Fish
   My First Fish is the perfect story for fishing companions. This story follows a young boy who learns about fishing equipment, fishing terms, and much more! This is an admirable intro to fishing and fishing techniques.

6. Andre Goes Fishing
   Andre Goes Fishing is a story that your child can easily relate to. Still, it will also take them on a few different fishing expeditions. Help your child relive fishing memories and become excited about the different fishing bites.

7. Grandpa’s Lessons on Fishing and Life
   Children sometimes need to learn valuable lessons to make a fishing trip successful. Grandpa’s Lessons on Fishing and Life does just that by giving valuable lessons in a fun and engaging way!