Everyone is a Teacher

Learning Box: Inside and Out

When exploring inside the Learning Box it is easy to see how these very basic Flash games for PreK+ children and parents are also wonderful outside-the-box learning activities.

Consider this warning, there is something quietly transfixing in the simplicity of these exercises that draws adults as well as children to the keyboard.

• Math: Adding to 10
• Math: Addition & Subraction in Base 10
• Math: Fractions
• Safety: Call 911
• Science: Investigating Air
• Literacy: Complete Thoughts

Links for Children

Learning Games Ages 1 - 5
Learning Games Ages 6+
http://www.kidspsych.org
http://www.iknowthat.com
http://www.prongo.com/ All Ages
http://www.coolmath-games.com/ Math
http://gamefinder.disney.go.com/ Disney Puzzles, Mazes and more

Jigsaw Puzzles
http://www.thekidzpage.com/onlinejigsawpuzzles/index.html
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/index.htm

More Games
http://www.gamequarium.com/
http://www.orisinal.com

Neuroscience for Kids
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Typing and Navigating a Keyboard
http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/games/game_super_hyper_spider_typer.html

Move into Learning

I just discovered Kimbo Educational products and all I can say is "Wow!"

I'm talking great music that challenges a child's (and adult's) ability to remain still and sends the brain cells dancing. If you'd like to learn about body-brain movement and discover fabulous activities (with an emphasis on active) for use at home or school...check out these literacy, math, bilingual, special needs and of course, dance, musical and movement resources.

The Perfect Gift

20 Reasons Books are the Best Gifts!
by Ruth Smith, Director UBAH

20. Books don’t need to be assembled.
19. Books don’t need batteries.
18. Books never come in the wrong color or size.
17. Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
16. Books won't need replacement parts.
15. Books are easier to gift wrap than footballs.
14. Books don’t bite, scratch, or kick.
13. Books don’t need watering or fertilizing.
12. Books don’t irritate your allergies.
11. Books don’t go out of style.
10. Books look good with any decor.
9.  Books don’t get aphids or attract ants.
8.  Books aren't noisy and won't annoy family, friends, and neighbors.
7.  Books don’t shrink, stretch, or fade.
6.  Books don’t need extension cords.
5.  Bookswon’t scratch the coffee table.
4.  Books don’t cause cavities or get stale.
3.  Books take you places without even leaving home.
2.  Books are gifts which can be opened again and again.
1.  Books, no matter how much you use them, are never empty.

Order before December 15th and receive before Christmas!

Usborne Books

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Parents! Teachers!

• Give the gift of learning.
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Thank you for considering Usborne Books from Professional Learning Board to meet your child and student learning needs.

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Exclusive to Professional Learning Board

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• Staff Development courses only $25
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  Get yours at www.nextgenerationclassroom.com/k12

Discover additional online learning and technology tools and resources.

Math on the Go

In this busy world, we spend a lot of time moving from place to place in our cars, on buses and trains, and on foot. Use your traveling time as an opportunity to learn about math. Look around as you travel from place to place, and help your child find numbers on buildings, buses, taxis, and houses that they can add and subtract while on the road. Not only will your child be learning and practicing math skills, but the time you spend traveling will go by more quickly as well.

Grades K–3

• Number Search

Grades 2–5

• License Plate Special

Grades K–5

• License Plate Riddles

Number Search
This activity provides children with lots of opportunities to practice number recognition, as well as counting and writing skills.

You'll need:
Paper, pencil, and ruler

1. Create a chart that lists the numbers from 1 to 50.
2. Write down each number as family members locate that number on a car, a sign, a building, or other objects in your community.
3. Write down words that have numbers in them, such as "one-stop shopping," "two-day service," "buy one, get one free," or "open seven days a week."

License Plate Special
This license plate activity encourages reading, recognizing numbers, noticing symbols, writing, counting, and graphing.

You'll need:
License plates, paper, pencil, and ruler

1. Copy down a license plate number as you are traveling in your car, walking around the neighborhood, or sitting on a park bench watching cars go by. Read the license plate as a number (excluding the letters). For example, if the license were 663M218, the number would be six hundred and sixty-three thousand, two hundred and eighteen.
2. Find other license plates and read their numbers. Is the number less than, greater than, or equal to yours?
3. Estimate the difference between your number and another license plate. Is it 10, 100, 1,000, or 10,000?
4. Record the names of the states of many different license plates as you see them. From which state do you see the most? Which has the fewest? Prepare a chart or graph to show your findings.

License Plate Riddles
This game helps children to develop their knowledge of numbers and to think algebraically.

You'll need:
License plates, paper, and pencil

While traveling in a car, or on a bus, everyone watches for license plates, focusing on one in particular for 5 minutes.

• The object is to use the digits on the license plate to make the largest 3-digit number possible. When a player chooses a license plate during the 5-minute watching period, they call out the 3-digit number they have made from the license plate. The person with the largest number wins the round. Try the next round so the winner is the person with the smallest 3-digit number.
• Another option is to let each letter on a license plate be worth the value of its position in the alphabet. For example, A=1, M=13, Z=26. Each person chooses a license plate and adds the value of the letters. The person with the lowest or the highest value wins the round.

For younger children, this activity can be simplified by having them find the largest single digit, or double digit, or even add all the numbers on the license plate, or just recognize digits.

Source: Adapted by Leapfrog from Helping Your Child Learn Math (revised edition, 1999), U.S. Department of Education.

Free Learning Games

Visit FunBrain for educational games.