Education Resources Blog

VariQuest Blog

The VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite Blog contains resources on classroom ideas, lesson plans, industry news, events, and offers throughout education.

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VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | classroom management | Teacher Hacks

Easy DIY Classroom Schedule Lanyard

By: Katelyn Ederer
October 3rd, 2024

Never Forget Your Classroom Schedule Again! With the busy day-to-day life of a teacher, it can be easy to lose track of what time it is or what class you have coming up next. Along with this, the never-ending changes within a school to meet state requirements and attempts to find the best school system for kiddos to reach full potential can end up feeling like there are always new schedules to follow and no straightforward way to keep it all together. After viewing a post on TikTok (@mrslarsenslittles) which showed the effectiveness of shrinking down your daily schedule and attaching it to a lanyard, we decided this would be a perfect way to use our VariQuest® Motiva® 400 Specialty Printing System and could allow for a simple teacher hack to be made!

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Perfecta | Student Engagement | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | Featured Topics: Student Engagement | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | visual learning | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta® Q36

14 Benefits of Using a Poster Maker for Educators

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
August 19th, 2024

In today's dynamic educational landscape, educators continually seek innovative tools to enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes. Among these tools, poster makers have emerged as a versatile and powerful asset in the classroom. At VariQuest®, we understand the pivotal role visual and kinesthetic learning tools play in education, and our range of solutions is designed to support educators in this mission. In this blog, we explore the myriad of benefits of using a poster maker for educators.

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How to Write a Grant eBook

How to Write a Grant eBook

This helpful guide includes an explanation of the grant process, including a checklist (with samples!), and useful links and resources to find funding!

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VariQuest Tools: Cutout Maker 1800

The Best Die Cut Machine for Schools

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
June 25th, 2024

In the ever-evolving education landscape, innovation is key to engaging students and facilitating effective learning experiences. That's why VariQuest presents the Cutout Maker 1800 Digital Die-Cut Machine, a cutting-edge (literally!) tool designed specifically for schools. With its intuitive design and versatile functionality, the Cutout Maker 1800 revolutionizes classroom creativity while delivering time and cost savings for educators.

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Perfecta | VariQuest Product Updates | English Language Learners (ELL) | Engage Every Learner Content | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta® Q36

VariQuest® Launches New Educational Poster Design & Print System: the Perfecta® Q36

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
May 20th, 2024

The latest addition to the VariQuest suite of solutions provides endless options for creating on-the-spot school-wide communication, recognition, and student engagement materials. (Brooklyn Park, MN) May 20th, 2024 - Varitronics, creator of the VariQuest® suite of solutions and leading provider of visual and kinesthetic learning tools for the education market, is pleased to introduce a brand new poster design system to its robust line of educational offerings designed to enhance the learning environment, for every learner, in every kind of school setting – the Perfecta® Q36.

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teacher appreciation

Top Teacher Discounts for Teacher Appreciation Week!

By: Carman Le
May 6th, 2024

Teacher Appreciation Week 2024 is May 6th-10th and while we at VariQuest appreciate teachers every day, many stores and restaurants give special recognition and discounts to our nation's educators next week, and some all year-long! I've compiled a list of some of my favorites - just be sure to check to see if your location is participating, and always have your valid school I.D. handy:

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Student Engagement | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Classroom Celebrations/Holidays | Academic Subject: Interdisciplinary | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities

[Lesson Plan] Arbor Day Activities for Grades 4-6

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
April 16th, 2024

Trees are good for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and among many other environmentally-beneficial qualities, they are important to many cultures in bringing people together. On the last Friday in April each year, the United States celebrates Arbor Day - with the planting, nurturing, and honoring of trees! First celebrated in Nebraska in 1872 where 1 million trees were planted, the holiday spread across the country to schools, across the globe to other countries, and became a Federally recognized holiday in 1970. In this lesson plan, designed for students in grades 4-6 but fully customizable for the needs of your classroom, students will work through creative activities and writing exercises learning about the history and cultural significance of Arbor Day and trees. Created in partnership with Cathy Henry, educator and founder of The Curriculum Corner and Free Word Work, students will explore reading passages, research trees, and create presentations around their understanding of the Arbor Day holiday.

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Student Engagement | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Academic Subject: Interdisciplinary | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | social-emotional learning

[Lesson Plan] SEL Photo Activities for Grades 5-7

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
April 4th, 2024

At a time when our world and nation are struggling with division and conflicting ideology - empathy and compassion are important concepts to teach our future generations, so they can make the world a better place than how we leave it. Emotional intelligence, or understanding your own emotions and the emotions of those around you, is an important skill to develop and refine. The middle school years, where students are rapidly developing their sense of self, are obviously an important time to provide tools and exercises to work on this skill. In these social-emotional learning activities, designed for students in grades 5-7 and customizable for the needs of your classroom, students will view photo examples and answer discussion questions to recognize emotions in others. Created in partnership with Cathy Henry, educator and founder of The Curriculum Corner and Free Word Work, these activities will explore empathy, emotional regulation strategies, problem-assessment, and more.

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Student Engagement | Grade Level: Secondary (7-12) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Classroom Celebrations/Holidays | Academic Subject: Interdisciplinary | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Academic Subject: Mathematics

[Lesson Plan] Pi Day Activities for Upper-Elementary and Middle School Students

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
March 11th, 2024

Circumference, diameter, radius, apple, cherry, rhubarb?! "Pi Day" is celebrated annually on March 14th (Get it - 3.14?!) and we're here to help you celebrate! According to piday.org, the concept of celebrating Pi Day on March 14th was started by physicist Larry Shaw at San Francisco’s Exploratorium science museum in 1988, earning him the title "The Prince of Pi!" Every year there since, a circular parade features each person participating holding one digit in the number pi. In 2009, Congress passed Resolution 224, which designated March 14th as Pi Day hoping to cultivate a higher level of enthusiasm for math and science among American students. In this lesson plan, designed for students in upper-elementary and middle school grades and customizable for the needs of your classroom, students will work through activities coupled with printables to explore the concept of Pi. Created in partnership with Cathy Henry, educator and founder of The Curriculum Corner and Free Word Work, you'll explore common terms and discussion questions related to circles and spheres (and if-you-so-choose, tasty bakery treats!)

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Special Education | English Language Learners (ELL) | Student Engagement | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Featured Topics: Differentiated Instruction | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | Academic Subject: Special Education | VariQuest Tools: Cold Laminator 2510 | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | VariQuest Resource Center | visual learning | classroom management | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO | Engage Every Learner Content

Teaching Visual Learners in Special Education

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
February 22nd, 2024

According to Neil Fleming's popular "VARK" model of learning types/styles, there are 4 main learning styles - including visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Other models list additional types including social, logical, solitary, musical, and combinations of any of these. Visual learners comprehend concepts best when there are visual aids to complement learning. Examples of this could include graphs, symbols, depictions, or otherwise. It's why we decorate our classrooms with vibrant anchor charts, conceptual reminders, and graphic examples! And because neurodivergent students typically learn better with visuals rather than relying on verbal, special education classrooms can benefit greatly from supplemental learning materials that complement teaching a wide range of concepts.

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Student Engagement | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Academic Subject: Interdisciplinary | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Academic Subject: Mathematics | social-emotional learning | classroom management

[Lesson Plan] Menu Math for Grades 3-6

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
February 1st, 2024

Real-world-application learning is where learning takes real flight! We're so proud when our students master a concept, but even more proud when they can apply it to their everyday lives. In this lesson plan, designed for students in grades 3-6 and created in partnership with Cathy Henry, educator and founder of The Curriculum Corner and Free Word Work, students will study, plan, and create their own restaurant menus based on their own family foods and cultural traditions - plus create and solve multi-step math problems in "running" their restaurant. They will use creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills - making this a very useful interdisciplinary activity!

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