Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

Why do we have Easter eggs at Easter? You might have asked yourself that question before. After all, the Easter story, as told in the Bible, doesn’t involve any eggs. So what is the meaning behind Easter eggs?

The tradition of making and giving decorated eggs didn’t begin with Easter. The practice of decorating eggs dates back nearly 60,000 years to the predynastic Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians would decorate ostrich eggs in gold and silver to honor their loved ones, who were buried with these intricate gifts.

As a long-standing symbol of life and death, the egg has popped up regularly throughout history by most civilizations. Now, nearly 2000 years later, Easter and the Easter egg have become a prominent part of our yearly festivities. You can find out more about why we have Easter eggs at Easter below.

Why do we have Easter eggs at Easter?

The story of Easter starts with the last supper; this was a meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before he was betrayed by Judas and executed. The Last Supper is a Jewish event known as Passover. Passover meals usually included a white egg.

It’s thought that the Christian custom of the Easter egg came from this Passover egg, which in the early days of Easter was dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ that was spilled that Passover, and often adorned with a golden cross that was a depiction of the crucifix that Jesus died on.

Chocolate eggs

Using chocolate to make Easter eggs was a turning point in Easter egg history, and it all started in 1725 in the Court of King Louis XIV (14) in Versailles. The widow Giambone poured molten chocolate into empty chicken egg shells, and the first chocolate Easter egg was born.

During ancient times many people would give up dairy foods for Lent; by the end of Lent, there were so many eggs left over, and the Easter season has always been about eating loads of eggs. Eventually, made out of chocolate, they were given as gifts. It was thought that the practice of exchanging sugary treats was because many people had started to give up sugar for Lent instead of dairy – but the egg remained.

Nowadays, many people give chocolate eggs to their friends and family to celebrate Easter.

In many European countries, such as Germany, Sweden, and Poland, the practice of coloring chicken eggs and using them as decorations around the home at Easter persists. Below you’ll find a list of fun ways to decorate real eggs at home.

The meaning behind Easter eggs

Eggs are an ancient symbol of new life and have also been associated with fertility and death. Throughout history, eggs have been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. Although Easter is a religious festival, some traditions come from pagan customs.

The meaning behind Easter eggs is significant in terms of Christianity. First, because Easter is a holiday celebrating Jesus’ resurrection, Easter eggs are thought to represent Jesus emerging from the tomb and his resurrection.

Eggs were prized at Easter because hens never laid many eggs during winter before industrial farming. Because the production of eggs depends on light and there is a lack of sunlight in winter, there would be a lack of eggs during the colder months. However, hens began to lay eggs again when the sun came back out in spring, meaning eggs became associated with spring and, in turn, Easter.

Eggs were so valued that they became part of the payment for people’s salaries, including servants, people who worked at churches, and pastors.

Decorating tips and techniques for your eggs

You might want to decorate your eggs to celebrate Easter. You can use decorated eggs in your home to add some seasonal spirit. It can also be a great activity to do with children. Just be careful if you are using boiling water or beeswax.

Onion dye

Wrap raw onion skins around an egg and boil. The onion skins will break down and leave leaf-like markings across the surface of the shell. Adding dye to the water will color both the egg and the markings. This practice had gone on for so long that we’re not sure when or where it started!

Polish Pisanki Eggs

Using melted beeswax, you can draw a design across the egg by dipping the end of a pin into the wax and tracing it across the surface of the shell.

The beeswax will dry almost immediately onto the eggshell. However, ensure that your egg has cooled to room temperature before beginning your design. Once you’re happy with how it looks, then you can dip your egg into colored water; once it’s dried again, carefully remove the wax, and your design will have been stained on the shell.

This practice dates to pre-Christian times and has been found all over eastern Europe. Unfortunately, only shell fragments have remained, as they are fragile, but they have been unearthed at archaeological dig sites of the Piast era, a Polish dynasty from 960-1370.

Easter is also filled with great egg games!

Now you know why we have Easter eggs at Easter! But where do other eggy traditions come from?

The classic egg hunt is thought to have dated back to the early 1500s when Martin Luther, a German theologist, and priest, hid eggs around his home for women and children to find. The practice spread across Europe, and by the 1700s, the legend of the Easter bunny hiding eggs for children to find was born.

The bunny has also been associated with Easter because they appear in the spring. Other animals that tend to be associated with Easter are lambs and baby chicks. In Australia, there isn’t an Easter bunny – they have an Easter bilby, a cute mouse-like creature with big ears like a rabbit.

We’ve all run afoul (pun intended) of an egg-and-spoon race! This traditional race involves running from start to finish with an egg balanced on a spoon; if it drops and breaks, you lose. The race was first to run in England in 1894, and they were also a part of Queen Victoria’s 1897 diamond jubilee. Nowadays, people might use a ping pong ball instead of a real egg.

The word ‘antelope’ refers to many four-legged mammals living in Africa, Europe, and Asia. An antelope group is a miscellaneous group of even-toed mammals that are not bovines, sheep, or goats.

There are 91 species of Antelope, and the vast majority of these live in Africa. The word ‘antelope’ is an example of something called wastebasket taxon, which means that it is a word that classifies animals that do not fit into any other similar group. Antelopes are defined by being identical to, but not the same as, sheep, cattle, or goats.

It means a lot of diversity among different species of antelopes. They live in various habitats, from mountainous regions and swamplands to grasslands and savannahs. No antelope species are native to Australasia, Antarctica, North America, or South America.

Antelopes are popular for hunting, so several species have been imported to the Americas for use as a game. Most of these are kept in reserves, but some wild antelope in warmer areas of America have escaped and thrived, particularly in Texas.

What is the Antelope Habitat?

Antelopes have a wide range of habitats depending on the species. These include plains, grasslands, woodlands, deserts, savannahs, and swamps. Each variety of antelope has adaptations that make it suitable to its habitat and protect against the predators that live there.

Antelope adaptations depend on their habitat, including their horns, legs, and hooves. For example, antelopes in flat areas have flat hooves, while antelopes in rocky or mountainous areas have hooves adapted for climbing.

Are Antelopes the same as Deer?

Antelope are not the same as Deer. Deer can be found in many places worldwide and can live in colder climates, whereas Antelopes are native to Africa and Eurasia and generally live in warmer temperatures. Antelope antlers are pointed, While Deer antlers branch out. Also, Antelope antlers grow continuously throughout their lives, While Deer antlers are shed every year and regrow afterward.

What do Antelopes Eat?

Antelopes are grazing animals that eat grass, leaves, shrubs, and other small plants. Some antelope can stand on their back legs and reach up into trees for food, While others live in grasslands where there is plenty of food on the ground for them to eat. As they are herbivores, Antelopes have specially adapted teeth for chewing plants.

How do Antelope protect themselves?

Antelopes have many predators, such as lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, crocodiles, and even pythons. Antelopes have adapted to run extremely fast to escape predators and can also use their long horns for defense. Many Antelopes will gather in herds for protection, and they can alert each other to danger.

Some species of antelope, such as the Springbok, can bounce on their springy legs to indicate that they are frightened, alerting others to danger and causing them to flee. Other antelope species, such as the Wildebeest, can protect themselves from predators by kicking with their strong back legs.

Antelope Facts

• The horns of an antelope can be straight, short, spiraled, curved, or pointed, depending on the species
• Some species of antelope have four horns instead of two; these are called Four-horned Antelopes
• The largest species of Antelope is the Eland, which can grow to be 6 feet tall
• The smallest species of Antelope is the Royal Antelope, which is just 12 inches tall
• The Impala, a species of Antelope, is the second-fastest mammal after the cheetah
• Antelopes have a highly developed sense of hearing to detect predators
• Antelopes in Africa will sometimes follow Zebras around to find good grass to eat
• Some Antelopes, like Wildebeest, migrate in groups of thousands
• Antelopes make many sounds, such as a moo sound like a cow or a bark like a small dog
• All Antelopes have two toes because they are even-toed mammals
• Antelopes follow the rains to find fresh grass to eat
• All gazelles are antelopes, but not all antelopes are gazelles

1. Rabbits

Arguably the cutest of the low-maintenance pets, rabbits are the best animal to welcome into your family if you’re looking for an adorable pet to care for. With various breeds to pick from, including the long-haired Lion Head rabbit and the short-haired Dutch rabbit, you can select your favorite long-eared friend to welcome into your life.

To care for your rabbit, you need to provide ample space for a buffet and a secure outdoor environment for your pet to hop around in (remember, rabbits can jump to about 1 meter high, so make sure the fence you pick is tall!). Rabbits are fun, active pets who enjoy hopping and running in a large space and enrichment to stay busy. While rabbits need feeding twice a day and cleaning out weekly, if you’re looking for an affectionate pet for yourself or your family, you’ll adore the love and joy a rabbit brings.

2. Fish

Amusing to look at, fish has been a family favorite for centuries. There are even records of people keeping fish from the Ancient Egyptian period. So, what about these underwater creatures that we love so much?

Fish are claimed to be a great reliever of stress and anxiety, and their underwater presence has a lovely calming effect on those watching them. Keeping fish is perfect if you have a small home or no outdoor space. Suitable for any indoor environment, fish must be looked after in the correct tank, water conditions, and lighting to be happy. A perfect choice of pet for those who don’t have much free time in their lives.

3. Hamsters

If you’re searching for a small companion to keep in your life, then a hamster might be perfect for you. Hamsters enjoy an independent life, meaning they do not require much attention daily. However, to care for your hamster, you must scoop out their dirty bedding daily and clean their cage around once a week. Alongside their daily feeding, hamsters are one of the most easy-to-care-for pets you can buy.

4. Guinea Pigs

If you’re not looking for the responsibility of a cat or a dog but want a friendly, soft companion that interacts with you, then a guinea pig is your ideal answer. Easy to care for, these pets require a safe play space, daily feeding, and cleaning. Unlike hamsters, their sister species, guinea pigs can live long lives of around five to seven years, meaning that you’ll be adopting a new family member that will keep you company for a long time.

Did you know that guinea pigs jump when they’re happy? Just like rabbits, these soft animals enjoy petting and attention and show their happiness and appreciation for affection by jumping wildly.

5. Turtles

Turtles are one of the most rapidly diminishing vertebrates on the planet. However, you can help protect this precious species by adopting your turtle to keep as a pet. While turtles need more attention than fish, this aquatic reptile is still considered an easy-to-care-for pet, needing feeding only four to five times a week and cleaning every two to three weeks. Turtles do, however, require particular conditions to be happy, such as a large tank and enough light and warmth.

Fun in nature, turtles can live for decades and are renowned for their playfulness and personalities. So if you’re searching for a unique pet to care for, a turtle could be perfect.

Long division is a written method of dividing a large number, usually by another large (at least 2-digit) number.

How to Do Long Division with decimals and whole numbers (Steps and Explanation)

In most division calculations, the following equation is completed.

Dividend ÷ Divisor = Quotient

To complete this calculation with multiple digits, a long division is necessary. Find out how to do long division with decimals and whole numbers in 9 steps below. The full method is as follows:

• Put the numbers into the correct equation. Write the dividend on the right, hanging under a division symbol, and put the divisor on the left. In the example below, 591 is the dividend, and 12 is the divisor.

 

• Divide the first digit of the dividend by the divisor. If the divisor is larger than the first digit of the dividend, you will end up with a decimal less than 1. You can use a 0 in this case as a placeholder. In our example, 12 is larger than 5, so we can write a 0.

 

• Next, look at the first two digits of the dividend and try to divide them by the divisor. If this is not enough, you can keep expanding the number of digits until you get a larger number. In this case, you need to determine how many 12s there are in 59. The answer is 4 – write this answer in the appropriate place above the division symbol, ensuring columns are correctly filled out. So 4 needs to go above the 9. You then need to write the product of 4 and 12 (48) under 59 and subtract, giving 11.

 

• Then, you need to bring down the next digit from the dividend. In this case, it’s 1 that needs to be brought down – write it next to 11 to make 111.

 

• Next, work out how many 12s there are in 111. The answer is 9, so you write it above the 1. Then, write the product of 9 and 12 (108) under 111 and subtract it, which gives 3.

 

• Extend 591 into decimals to continue the long division if needed. The 0 in the tenth place is then brought down and written next to 3 to make 30.

 

• Work out how many 12s there are in 30 and write the answer above the 0 in the tenth place. Then, write the product of 2 and 12 (24) under 30 and subtract it, giving 6. The 0 is then brought down and written next to 6.

 

• Finally, find out how many 12s there are in 60. The answer to this is 5, which is written above the 0 in the hundredth place. Write the product of 5 and 12 (60) under 60 and subtract it, giving zero.

 

• Round your answer up or downwards if required.

We hope this long division step-by-step guide has made it easy for children to understand how to do long division, and the steps are easy to follow. Also, look at the suggested resources at the bottom of the page, which are here to help your pupils master long division.

Long Division Examples

You’ve seen a step-by-step guide to the long division process, but things often don’t start to click in maths until we see them in practice. So, let’s go through a few examples of long division.

Why not try testing these out on your students to consolidate their understanding of long division? These word questions are great because they require kids to find the sum before they solve it.

Example 1

Laura is in charge of setting up the hall for assembly. She has 150 chairs and puts them into equal rows of 16. How many chairs are in each row?

Let’s put our number into the equation.

150 ÷ 16 = Quotient

We must go through the steps detailed above to get the correct answer.

Answer: 9.375

We can’t have 0.375 of a chair, so we round the answer down.

Answer: 9 chairs

Example 2

Matthew is going on holiday with his family. They board a large plane containing 360 seats divided into rows. Each row has eight seats. How many rows of seats are there on the plane?

Let’s put our number into the equation.

360 ÷ 8 = Quotient

We must go through the steps detailed above to get the correct answer.

Answer: 45 rows

A brief history of fairytales and folktales: The ultimate narrative shapeshifters

So, who wrote Jack and the Beanstalk? Well, it depends on whether you’re asking who created Jack and the Beanstalk or who was the first to write it down. The answer is a little more complicated than you would think! Folktales like Jack and the Beanstalk are integral to our storytelling culture, passed down through generations, evolving across seas and land via word of mouth. Fairytales are tricky to attribute to anyone because most were created before the days when most people could write. But, Fairytales, or folktales, were an essential part of entertainment because, if you think about it, it was before the days of books or television; they were a wonderful way to delight, entertain, ‘instruct,’ and pass the time.

Fairytales, or folktales, were ‘shapeshifters.’ Depending on who told it and where the story would be a little different. There are multiple versions of all our favorite tales, and Jack and the Beanstalk is no different! Fairytales generally define any short story that traveled orally. Although they would have the same basic prop devices and characters, the meaning and plot would change according to the times; hence why it’s tricky to trace specifically who wrote Jack and the Beanstalk. Nevertheless, fairytales are like a (magic!) mirror for the times they were spoken in, and they can tell us a lot about the ways of life and beliefs people had in the times they were said in.

Who first created Jack and the Beanstalk?

So, who created Jack and the Beanstalk specifically? Some folklorists now believe that they have traced the tale back by more than 5000 years, making it one of the oldest fairytales we know of! Although it was maybe not the version we know today, there was a boy, a ‘monster’ of sorts, and an ascent ‘upward’ into the sky. It’s thought it was part of a collection of stories called ‘The Boy Who Stole the Ogre’s Treasure.

If we were to say who created Jack and the Beanstalk truly, the real answer would be a diverse and broad range of our ancestors. Fairytales were told While at work – While out in the fields, spinning or weaving, or in nurseries – and at one point became so popular that there were designated ‘story-telling’ salons, which sounds like a lot of fun! The fact that they’re still around in various disguises, still retold and performed and sung about today with delight and relish is a testament to how enduring fairytale’s powerful influence. Did anyone hear of Disney, by any chance?

Who wrote Jack and the Beanstalk first, then?

Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean (1734)

It’s thought the first written version of Jack and the Beanstalk was titled, ‘Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean.’ Published in 1734 in London by a certain J. Roberts, it was included in an anthology called ‘Round about our Coal Fire, or; Christmas Entertainment.’ The story itself is an exuberant and fierce version of Jack and the Beanstalk (that is to say, pretty strange!), and the man who wrote it – Dick Merryman (thought to be a pseudonym) – claims it was told to him by his ‘old nurse.’ This would make sense considering that many fairytales of the time would have been exposed to children by their carers, often nannies or wet nurses. However, it seems apparent that this version of the story wasn’t written for children, and the character of ‘Jack’ was a lot more ambiguous than in later versions. The giant was named ‘Gogmagog,’ a legendary giant in Welsh and English mythology.

‘The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk’ by Benjamin Tabart (1807)

Then, in 1807, Benjamin Tabert included it in his ‘Collection of Popular Stories from the Nursery.’ This version was heavily ‘moralized’ – with Jack being a sympathetic character who was entirely justified in his treatment of the giant; this was when folktales started to become popular to be said to children with some element of ‘instruction’ in them (teaching children how to behave, and the nature of right or wrong).

In this version of the story, Jack avenges his father. The moral implications of the story were more straightforward, with a concise narrative of ‘good’ triumphing over the ‘evil’ of the giant.

‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ by Felix Summerly (1845)

The next notable publication was ‘The Home Treasury‘ in 1845. Written by Henry Cole, under the pen name of ‘Felix Summerly’ (which we think sounds like a clever writer cat!), this version was accompanied by beautiful illustrations made from woodcuts of famous pictures; this made it more popular than its previous incarnations.

‘Jack and the Beanstalk by Joseph Jacobs (1890)

And lastly, the most reprinted version today was Joseph Jacob’s version, first published in 1890. Besides having a most magnificent mustache, Jacobs was a folklorist who was intent on writing down the stories his nannies told him when he was a child. Believed to be the closest to the oral tradition, Jacob’s version lacks the obvious moralizing of Tabart’s tale but generally synthesizes elements of those that had come before.

Before the more recent renditions of fairytales, with clear moral undertones, folktales were fascinating as they revealed the complexities and quirks of human nature, illuminating that the world is not black and white, and everything is sometimes not all as it seems; this can promote interesting wee conversations with kiddos getting to grips with the concept of justice, right and wrong, and the power of kindness vs. cruelty. We can look closely at the subtext through the plot and characters. What is not explicitly stated in the story? And how do we know? Why did Jack take the beans in the first place, you think? Was he taking a calculated risk? Was he hungry? Or was he being plain silly?

“FEEEE, FIE, FOE, FUM! I smell the blood of an Englishman!“

So where did this monstrous rhyme come from, we wonder? Usually accompanied by the giant’s heavy ‘footsteps,’ it’s synonymous with Jack and the Beanstalk and recalled with terror and delight by younger listeners. But, again, it’s unclear who made the rhyme as it’s most definitely older than the written story itself and was a common rhyme in England in the Middle Ages. It’s scattered through various plays and poems in different disguises, all with a slight twist on the alliterative first syllables. A version of it was even in Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear‘ in 1606.

It’s thought that the enduring popularity of some fairytales relies on the repetitive nature of the rhymes and idioms contained within. For example, in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, we all remember, “MY! What big ears you have! Myyy, What big eyes you have!” Repetition is a crucial aspect of learning for children, as it aids memory and language acquisition; this is why we have so many popular nursery rhymes and songs that we teach our little ones from an early age. They’re fun and a fantastic way to introduce them to new vocabulary, rhythm, rhyme, and speech patterns.

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairytales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them fairytales.”

It’s not for nothing that a very famous and delightfully scruffy scientist once said: “If you want your children to be intelligent, read theme fairytales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairytales”.

One of the fascinating parts of fairytales is reading children’s different versions and seeing how language affects their interpretation and where their sympathies lie. Do they think Jack is a foolish boy? Do they sympathize with the giant having to put up with an intruder? What about the giant’s poor wife, who only wanted to feed a ‘hungry’ Jack? Fairytales are powerful conduits to explore with children the character’s motivations and underlying subtexts that may not be apparent without further digging and discussion.

The final answer?

So, who wrote Jack and the Beanstalk? Final answer? Collectively, Jack and the Beanstalk has been carved and sculpted from many different imaginations and circumstances, with varying intentions and underlying messages. Fairytales are like ‘cultural mirrors,’ shaping and being shaped by the people and traditions that carved them. But, if you want to ask, who wrote Jack and the Beanstalk as it’s known today? Joseph Jacob’s rendition may be your closest bet to the tale we know and love.

The future tense is a verb tense that describes actions that will take place in the future – this can be both the near future and the faraway future!

For example, take a look at these sentences:

I will play football

I am going to the birthday party

Even though there are no adverbs or descriptive words to indicate when these actions will happen, we can see that it will be some time in the future.

What are the four types of future tense?

There are four vital future tense types: the simple future tense, the future progressive tense, the future perfect tense, and the future perfect progressive. In this next bit, we’ll go over each of them in detail and provide some examples of how they might be used:

1) Simple future tense

It’s used to talk about things that haven’t happened yet and will occur at some point in the future.

It generally relies on the word ‘will’ to indicate that something will happen in the future. For example:

I will go to the park tomorrow.

My dad will regret buying that shirt.

Katie will start university in September.

Simple future tense can also be expressed using the phrase ‘going to,’ as exemplified below:

I am going to learn to ski.

Oliver is going to get his degree.

Mum is going to see that movie tomorrow.

And with the addition of the word ‘not,’ we can turn the simple future tense into the simple future negative. Here are some examples of this:

I am not going to learn to ski.

Mum will not see that movie.

I will not finish my homework.

2) Future perfect tense

The future perfect tense uses the phrase will have to indicate that a task will be finished before another one begins. Sentences in the future perfect tense are linked with temporal adjectives, like ‘by’ and ‘before.’ They connect the two tense phrases. Here are some examples of this:

I will have baked this cake by this evening.

I will have hung my washing by the time you arrive.

3) Future Perfect Continuous (Progressive)

It describes events that will have been taking place over a long time without being finished.

4) Future Continuous (Progressive)

The future continuous tense describes things that will continue to take place over time. Here are a few examples of this form of the future tense in action:

‘I will be eating breakfast in the dining room.’

‘I will be traveling

Other ways to form the future tense:

Besides the four main forms of the future tense, there are also a few other ways that we can talk about things happening in the future:

Present Continuous for the Future

Although technically a present tense, the present continuous tense is often used to discuss future arrangements; this means an arrangement or plan you have made to take place in the future. These can be arrangements between two people or between one person and a group. For example:

I’m meeting Katie tomorrow. (An arrangement between two people)

I am spending Christmas with my mother-in-law this year. (An arrangement with a group of people)

It’s not always necessary to be specific about whom the arrangements are with:

We are staying at home this summer.

I’m looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon.

The present continuous tense is often used to describe something which the speaker is about to start doing:

I’m going to bed now.

I’m leaving to pick up Jane.

Usually, time expressions are used with the present continuous tense to discuss future arrangements.

We’re off to Tenerife this summer.

What are you doing for Christmas?

Present Simple for the Future

We can also use the present simple tense to talk about the future. It’s used to indicate when a particular event is happening in the future; this might be on a timetable or in someone’s diary:

The plane leaves at 10 pm.

I start my new job next week.

The present simple for the future has the same general structure as any use of present simple, but it includes a future adverb denoting time: “at 10 pm” or “next week.”

Likely To

The future tense denoting likely to is used to refer to events that are probably going to happen in the future. For example, you might say:

I’m probably going to skip the party.

Children with wealthy parents are more likely to get a good education.

It is used to identify events and plans that aren’t certain but are more likely to happen than not.

Self-assessment is a way of helping children to evaluate and assess their learning. It’s similar to peer assessment, but pupils give feedback to a peer instead of themselves. The best part about teaching kids how to self-assess their work is that they have to think about what they have done well and what they could do better next time.

What are the benefits of self-assessment?

Using self-assessment as an additional form of assessment for learning is a great way to promote reflection and responsibility for learning. In addition, getting it right and self-assessment can help young people to develop into independent learners.

So what are the benefits of self-assessment for learners? Here are six advantages of using self-assessment in your classroom:

• Check Understanding: There’s a difference between acquiring knowledge and truly understanding something. Getting pupils to assess their response to something gives an insight into their comprehension. In other words, it can show you what they know instead of what they think they know. You can then use these gaps to help pupils to make better progress.
• Promote Independence: Help your young learners to become more by getting them to identify how they could improve a response to something. No matter what level, subject, or topic, encourage pupils to identify improvements While recognizing what they’ve done well.
• Consolidate Learning: Get pupils to evaluate a previous response to something in the light of new information; this can help remove misconceptions and demonstrate new learning.
• Develop Evaluative Skills: Encourage pupils to decide what makes something good or bad. Let them determine the success criteria for a particular piece of work; this is a higher-order thinking skill that will help them make evaluative judgments.
• Increase Engagement: By giving pupils ownership of their learning, you’re allowing them to become more engaged with their learning process.
• Deeper Understanding: By actively engaging with what’s good or bad about a particular response, pupils will have to think much deeper about the criteria used to assess them for that task. Doing so can help them understand how to progress in a specific area.

What are the disadvantages of self-assessment in education?

When implementing self-assessment tasks in the classroom, look out for learners who are overly lenient or overly harsh on themselves. Those overly indulgent may not understand the marking criteria, which means they might not understand what’s being asked of them. It can have broader implications for their learning, so it’s essential to catch this and rectify it. For example, you could discuss what they’re being asked to do and adjust your teaching delivery to help them better understand.

Perhaps a more prominent disadvantage of self-assessment in education is children being overly harsh on themselves. It can similarly stem from a misunderstanding of the task and what they’re being asked to do, but it can also affect a child’s confidence and self-belief. It often comes from low self-esteem, which can hurt their future studies.

Don’t let these disadvantages of self-assessment in education dissuade you from implementing it in your classroom! On the contrary, self-assessment tasks are brilliant opportunities for you to identify children who have misunderstood the task or are struggling with low self-esteem. Once you’ve identified them, you can begin addressing the issues. In this way, these ‘disadvantages’ become more reasons to bring self-assessment to your classroom.

Still, wondering how self-assessment can be effective?

Here are ten examples of how self-assessment can make a real difference in progress in learning:

1. It helps pupils to reflect and self-correct.
2. It enables immediate feedback so that pupils can start improving straight away.
3. Self-assessment allows pupils to develop higher-order evaluative skills.
4. Pupils have to remember honestly, so it also builds integrity.
5. Self-assessment in itself provides another learning opportunity.
6. As pupils need to know the success criteria well, it offers potentially deeper learning.
7. It can help pupils keep track of their progress.
8. Formative self-assessment takes attention away from levels and grades.
9. It promotes autonomous learning.
10. For teachers, self-assessment can reduce marking time!

A square is a shape with four equal sides and four equal right angles. It’s a type of quadrilateral, a polygon with four edges and four vertices. A square is a regular quadrilateral whose sides and angles are equal. A square has four angles of 90°, just like a rectangle. It’s essential to remember that this is the only similarity rectangles and squares share, as the former has two long vertices and two shorter ones.

What are the properties of a square?

As mentioned, various properties define a square and help it stand out from other 2D shapes. One such property is each square’s four sides being of equal length. There do exist different shapes with this trait, but thankfully, there are more unique traits that help separate squares from everything else:

• Due to having four equal sides, all four right angles of a square are exactly 90°. Therefore, if a shape doesn’t have four 90° right angles, it can’t be square.
• The opposite side of a square is parallel. Parallel means that these sides are the same distance apart and never meet.
• The diagonals of a square bisect each other at right angles.

How to measure the area of a square

Unlike other shapes, measuring the area of a square is relatively easy; this is due to it being a symmetrical shape with four equal sides and right angles. So all you have to find out to measure the area of a square is the length of one side. Then all you have to do is multiply that number by itself, and hey presto, you’ll have your area.

Let’s work through an example to showcase this formula.

Example: Find the area of a square with a 5m side.

As we’ve mentioned already, all we need is the length of one side to find the area of a square. The equation we use is Area = Side​​². In this case, that means we do this:

Area = 5 x 5

Area = 25

And there we have it; now you know how to find the area of a square!

 

 

10 Children’s Books That Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

 

First Laugh – Welcome Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood

Ages 2-5

A delightful picture book that aims to introduce your preschoolers to Navajo traditions, this short story is centered around a family’s quest to get the newest little member of the family to laugh for the first time. In Navajo tradition, whoever can spark the first giggle from a baby has the great honor of hosting a laughing ceremony.

Moving from the family’s home in the city to the grandparents’ home in the country, your young readers can explore Navajo culture, Native American names for family members, and the ceremonies in Navajo communities. Will it be nima (mom), nadi (sister), or cheii (grandpa) to make a baby laugh for the first time?

Wild Berries by Julie Flett

Ages 2-5

Julie Flett has written an astonishing book that touches on her Cree ancestry. Wonderfully illustrated with a striking color palette, your preschoolers are sure to be enthralled by the pictures, the text, and, more essentially, the message behind the story.

Clarence and his grandmother go blueberry picking in the wood and meet Fox, Spider, and Ant along the way. After they have a full bucket of fruit and Clarence has eaten his fair share of fat, sour blueberries, the young boy decides to leave some berries for the birds. By exploring the relationship between the Cree tribe and nature, your children can consider their relationship with the environment.

Sprinkled with Cree words throughout the text, your young learners can enjoy listening to the sounds of a Native American dialect. At the same time, you can use the accompanying glossary for direct translations.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

Ages 2-5

Putting Native American food at the heart of this lovely tale, Maillard aims to show off the diversity within Native American culture in a way that emergent readers can understand.

Describing fry bread and its qualities in rhyming verse, the story centers around a large family gathering. The characters joyfully make the fry bread and come together to share the Native American comfort food.

The author uses the fry bread to link to the importance of the nation, identity, and art for Native American cultures. He also includes his recipe for fry bread but clarifies that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all list of ingredients for this meal. Instead, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of variations, in the same way that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of intricate traditions that different Native American families and communities share.

Children’s Books For Native American Heritage Month: Elementary

Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes A Congresswoman by Sharice Davids and Nancy Mays

Ages 5-9

Many Native American kids don’t feel like they have many role models to look up to as they grow up. Sharice Edwards felt the same. So by writing her autobiographical picture book, she aims to be that role model.

As a young girl, Sharice loved making noise, talking, being the center of attention, and having her voice heard. Coupled with this tenacity, she was super proud of her Ho-Chunk Nation heritage and didn’t want it to be a barrier to her ambitions.

This picture book shows her journey to become the first Native American congresswoman and the first LGBTQ person to represent Kansas in Congress.

This children’s book is an inspirational story that is an awesome way to celebrate the glass ceilings that Native American individuals are smashing.

The Apple Tree by Sandy Tharp-Thee

Ages 5-9

This beautiful story tells the tale of a young Cherokee boy who plants an apple seed. The apple tree that grows is worried because it cannot produce fruit. The tree is full of doubt, and it’s the young boy’s job to convince it that patience is a virtue and that the seasons will eventually work their magic!

The introduction page to this tale details some history of the Cherokee language and explains the Cherokee vocabulary used within the story. Then, read the story aloud with your children and practice saying some Cherokee words together.

With some cute illustrations, your learners can gain a deeper understanding of how the Cherokee tribe feels a spiritual connection to nature; this is a great read to help your kids gain exposure to an indigenous dialect and celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

How The Stars Fell Into The Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Oughton

Ages 7-12

Read your children this Navajo legend to bring a little awe and wonder into your classroom. Filled with stunning illustrations, this compelling folktale tells how First Woman tried to make patterns in the night sky with the stars to communicate the law of the land to her community. However, Coyote, a mischievous and foolhardy creature, decides to meddle with her star patterns, causing disorder.

Will First Woman be able to organize the stars in the sky to create laws for her tribe?

Perfect to read aloud and enthrall your younger learners; this Navajo tale explores the themes of patience, kindness, and trust while focusing on a traditional Native American creation legend.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

Ages 7-12

To dig deeper into Native American history and the impact different tribes have had on modern American society, Hiawatha and the Peacemaker is the ideal book to use as a class text.

The Iroquois tribe is proud of its impact on democracy as we know it today. In the 1400s, five Iroquois nations were at war. Hiawatha, a strong yet humble Mohawk, had a spiritual guide called the Peacemaker. He translated a message of unity from his Peacemaker guide and relayed this to the fighting Iroquois nations. The message helped to bring together the Iroquois and develop an advanced way of governing themselves.

This ability to govern without further skirmishes and in a fair and just way inspired the authors of the American Constitution. Look no further than this book during Native American Heritage Month to learn how the indigenous people of America have contributed to the nation.

Mary And The Trail Of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story by Andrea L. Rogers

Ages 9-13

A more gripping read for older elementary students, this short novel details the trauma many Native Americans endured in the 1800s.

In 1838, American soldiers in Georgia forced a Cherokee family from their home. The story is told through the eyes of the family’s daughter – twelve-year-old Mary. She is proud of her heritage, adores her home, and is a sweet, likable girl. Your kids will empathize with her, and she’ll keep them hooked on the story.

Your class will explore the themes of violence, internment, and racism through this historical fiction text. In addition, real-life support material is shown, and a glossary is included to help students get to grips with more complex issues.

While the story might be heart-wrenching, some useful teaching points are within it. They’ll be rooting for Mary and her family while learning about what happened to thousands of Native American families who were stripped of their livelihoods and forced to march across the country to their “new homes.” You couldn’t find a more appropriate book to encourage your kids to ask some difficult questions.

And let’s not forget the joy of nonfiction when celebrating Native American Heritage Month.

D Is For Drum by Michael and Debbie Shoulders

Ideal for kids of any age, this A to Z is a whistle-stop tour of Native American culture and paints a vivid picture of how hundreds of nations and tribes lived years ago.

Your students will enjoy learning about rain dances, why horses were called sacred dogs, the art of weaving, and the Yup’ik masks worn by the Inuit tribes. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Your students will have facts about Native American culture coming from their ears after reading this book!

With an emphasis on the traditional Native American heritage of hundreds of tribes from across the United States, your visual learners will be mesmerized by the colorful accompanying illustrations and be able to picture what life was like for the indigenous people of the United States.

A Kid’s Guide To Native American History: More Than 50 Activities by Yvonne Wakim Dennis

This book breaks away from the cultural stereotypes of Native American identity. Instead, the crafts, art projects, and recipes explored are authentic and respectful to Native American communities.

You might fancy using this book in class to rustle up a succotash, a traditional dish from seventeenth-century Native American culture. Or, perhaps you want to construct a pair of snowshoes in the same way as indigenous people in the Midwest centuries ago? Or maybe, creating a Delaware story bag is the perfect way to link your Native American Heritage Month celebrations with your ELA lessons?

How to multiply fractions by other fractions

Working out how to times fractions might be daunting, especially when multiplying fractions with whole numbers, but we’re here to help. All you need to do is multiply the numerators and the denominators. You could even treat them as two different multiplication problems involving whole numbers if it makes the process easier. But first, let’s take a look at an example of how to multiply fractions together:

• Let’s follow the steps of the poster above. So we need to work out 2/4 × 3/6.
• Multiply the numerators first. That’s as simple as working out 2×3=6.
• Next, we can focus on the denominators. Again, we can treat this as a multiplication problem involving whole numbers, so we work out that 4×6=24.
• Now we can reconstruct our fraction to give us our answer of 6/24.

The last step in multiplying fractions is getting them into their simplest form. In this instance, 6 and 24 have a common factor of 6, so we can divide the whole thing by 6. Our final simplified answer is 1/4.

Now that we’ve covered how to multiply fractions for the first time let’s look at another example. Soon, your class will all know how to times fractions.

• This time, we will work out the answer to 3/5 × 3/9.
• Let’s start by multiplying our numerators. That’s as simple as working out that 3×3=9.
• Next, we take a look at the denominators. For this, we need to work out that 5×9=45.
• By putting the fraction back together, we’ve reached 9/45.
• These numbers are divisible by 9, so we can go down to our final answer of 1/5.

How else can I help children with fraction multiplication?

Helping learners get to grips with how to multiply fractions can be challenging, especially considering that every child learns differently. Here at Twinkl, we’ve produced a variety of resources that will ensure that everyone can master fraction multiplication. They’ve all been curated by our team of experienced teachers and follow national curriculum standards. As a result, you can rest assured that children learn and apply only relevant skills and knowledge.

Cubic centimeters are the common volume units that measure the space occupied by a liquid, a solid, or space inside a container. It corresponds to the small cube’s amount of space that measures 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm.

A cubic centimeter is a very small measurement unit, even smaller than a teaspoon! Objects with a volume of 1 cubic centimeter include a pea, a chocolate chip, and the eraser on the end of a pencil.

There are other units that volume can be measured in, which include cubic millimeters (mm³) and cubic meters (m³). A liter is equivalent to 1000 cm³, and 1 milliliter equals 1 cm³.

How to Work out Volume with Cubic Centimetres

If a container were filled with water with a length of 20 cm, a height of 5 cm, and a depth of 4 cm, you would need to multiply all three numbers to work out the volume of water.

20 cm x 5 cm x 4 cm = 400 cm³.

It means that the amount of space the container takes is 400 cm³.