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Flat and Fabulous

Core Connections

Flat and Fabulous

www.boardman.k12.oh.us/.../stanley/flatstan1.jpg

By:  Sara Krimple, McCracken County Schools

Is it possible that a little, flat, paper doll could change the whole dynamic inside of a classroom full of spirited youth? Many classrooms across the country are finding out about just how fabulous this paper boy, named Flat Stanley can be. All too often, teachers get stuck in their same routines and get used to teaching inside their own four walls. However, just by incorporating the book Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown into class curriculum, a whole plethora of options and possibilities are instantly made available. If a classroom teacher is open to new and innovative ways to teach curriculum and willing to take learning outside of the classroom, then the Flat Stanley project is a definite to do.

The book Flat Stanley is about a little boy that is accidentally flattened when a bulletin board falls on him. Stanley is "as flat as a pancake" but otherwise okay. As the story unfolds, Stanley discovers some real advantages to being flat. He can slide under doors, go down into sidewalk grates and even fold himself up small enough to fit into an envelope and be mailed to another state! Unfortunately, classroom teachers are not able to take twenty something field trips in a year's time, so why not have students make some paper dolls and mail them out as a way of learning some new material or reviewing previous content? 

 

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Real Life Probability…

Core Connections

Real Life Probability…

Carey, Chris. dice62.jpg. 1-Apr. Pics4Learning

By:  Melissa A. Lutz, Hopkins County Schools

Think back to when you were in school and had to learn about all of that content that you knew you would never use in real life. How much you weigh on the moon, the value of "pi" along with a host of other topics. Many of those subjects you still do not use to this VERY DAY - right?

The students of today (as we were "back when") are more concerned with the latest fad, checking their email or My Space accounts and playing on the Wii than to worry about what will make their lives easier in the future. Granted, learning how to balance a checking account will CERTAINLY make their lives easier, more enriched and make them a happier person (working in the black always makes for a better day...). However, if as teachers, we do not find a way to relate this content knowledge to their ever so busy lives, then they will tune us out like a bad song on their IPod.  

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