Shannon Gunter

Nov 17, 2014 Did you know the artist who painted Mona Lisa was also an impressive scientist? This is part 2 of a 3 part hands-on unit study on Leonardo da Vinci: The Artist, Scientist, & Inventor. This lesson will cover his work as a scientist. Build a working hydrometer and hygrometer, begin a…

November 17, 2014Creating a full size model of Sputnik I using a basketball, aluminum foil, metal skewers, and a recording device (to make continuous beeping noises) This is part 7 in an 8 part unit study on Russia. Make a full-size model of Sputnik 1, learn gymnastics moves and host a miniature Olympics gymnastics…

November 17, 2014Image credit: http://pictures79.bloguez.com/pictures79/page29/?googleimage What says summer more than a big bowl of delicious homemade ice cream? What better way to enjoy it than with your friends and family? Almost everyone has an ice cream maker collecting dust in their pantry. Pull it out, dust it off, and BRIBE your friends to do…

November 15, 2014Performing a miniature production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” This is part 5 in an 8 part unit study on Russia. Perform a miniature production of The Nutcracker, learn the basic positions in ballet, watch videos of and read about famous Russian dancers including Anna Pavlova, Nijinsky, and Baryshnikov, and more while learning…

Nov 10, 2014 Edible Turkey Decorations Easy Enough for Children to Make Every Thanksgiving my children and I make edible turkeys to decorate our Thanksgiving table in order to keep the little hands busy while the adults work on the last minute details of the meal. I always try to choose recipes that children…

Nov 6, 2014 Westward Expansion & Pioneers End of Unit Presentations & Field Trip Ideas The end of the unit activity and presentations for our 4 part hands-on unit on Westward Expansion and Pioneers was a “Pioneer Wagon Roundup.” Children dressed as various famous frontiersmen or pioneers and presented on their assigned person. They…

Nov 4, 2014 William Penn Image Credit: http://www.johnnygoodtimes.com/ This is part 4 of a 4 part hands-on unit study on Early American Settlers. Cook a batch of Dutch applesauce, match up the Thirteen Colonies, and make costumes to prepare for the Thanksgiving Presentation. My lessons are geared toward 2nd-3rd grade level children and their…

Oct 8, 2014 This is the culminating project we did after a 6 part hands-on unit on Earth Science. We made edible volcanoes, performed earth science demonstrations, displayed paintings of the earth’s layers and volcanoes, sang songs about the earth science, and more! The presentations were done immediately following the lesson on Erosion. Also…

Oct 8, 2014 This is the culminating activity we did after a 5 part hands-on unit on Animals and Zoology. We held an animal-themed dinner. (Recipes are included.) The children each presented on an assigned phylum, class, or order of animals. In addition, they sang some of the animal classification songs we’ve been learning…

Oct 4, 2014 Need some help with your American History lessons? Take a peek at my lesson plans and ideas. My first year teaching I was dying to see other teachers’ plan books, but most of them were either blank or didn’t seem suitable for our students (“high-risk” with poor reading skills). After teaching…