With all of our advances in the science field and access to more research tools than ever before, we have come to learn more about our human activities' negative impact on the earth. So how can we teach our students to preserve and protect it for future generations? Ecosystems is a science unit that will spark a child’s interest in our earth and the ever-present need to make it better for all living creatures. Complete with a "write-the-room"-style assessment and “All About” posters to create and share with others, students will participate in discussions on ways the class can work together to have a positive impact on the earth. As we at VariQuest put a spotlight on kinesthetic and project-based learning, this unit provides hands-on activities and games that will make the discovery of ecosystems more meaningful.

As adults, we imagine relaxing activities in the context of going to take a walk surrounded by quiet and nature, or soaking in a bubble bath with soft music and candles. We seek calm in a place of our own, free from distractions and unwanted noise. For many students, school is a safe and familiar place where there are established routines and food is a guarantee. And unfortunately, we know there are students whose homes are sometimes not any of those things. So while we as educators make every effort to mentor and support our students in a safe environment in every way possible, we must also consider how to create personal spaces for when the world becomes too overwhelming. On top of all of this, we're in the midst of a global pandemic. Enter the Calming Corner.

by Cathy Henry, Guest Blogger

At VariQuest, we offer a number of different resources and tools to help you improve the ability of students to learn in the classroom. The interactive learning tools for kids and teachers we offer are exceptional for enhancing the classroom experience and improving comprehension and overall knowledge for students in various subjects. One of the tools teachers can use to help students gain important knowledge in the classroom is the cold lamination machine.

There's no going around it, over it, or under it - so we gotta go through it. There's a lot going on in the world right now. And as much as we feel it, we know that our students feel it even more - as they learn to understand and process feelings and events they haven't felt or experienced before. There are lots of strategies students (and adults) of all ages can employ to take "brain breaks" to refocus and practice mindfulness to fully experience their present moments. Here are a few of them:

It's the word everyone is tired of hearing: unprecedented. And yet, it seems to be the only word that can accurately describe the challenges educators have faced thus far this year. No one could have predicted that distance learning would become full time, graduation celebrations would be cancelled, and the only face-to-face interaction you were allowed with your students was via a drive-through car parade. It has been a strange, strange time. But our world will keep turning, and we will welcome students back into school buildings soon. With changing CDC Guidelines and plenty of measures being recommended to keep our communities safe, you'll need ways to create pieces on-demand - and we're here to help.

At VariQuest, we serve the needs of teachers and students in the pursuit of effective learning through the supply of easy-to-use visual teaching aids. After taking a look at the various academic tools we offer to help you enhance your classroom experience, you may find a number of solutions to help teachers teach better and students learn with greater success. The various types of teaching aids teachers and students can benefit from to achieve excellent results include presentation templates, visual posters, and more. The digital die cutting machine we offer can help achieve these goals.

It's hard to describe this school year without using the words unprecedented, unexpected, chaotic, and strange. There just aren't the right words for the emotions you and your students are feeling about losing their "previously normal" routines. As this school year begins to wind down, there are some things you can still do to celebrate their achievements and remind them that the role models surrounding them with love and support are there for them, even in times of social distancing.

At a time when a majority of our social interaction is being done online, we have to be more aware than ever before of the things we're posting, sharing, hosting and baring. So imagine our students, who were born into a world where the internet was already accessible on a mobile phone. They're Tik-Tok-ing, Instagramming, and Snapchatting all day long to stay in connection with their friends during this time of social distancing. And as one of their biggest role models outside the family, what kinds of things are you talking with them about, as it relates to posting content on the internet?

Sensory paths are often used in school building hallways or classrooms to help students release energy, enhance focus, learn, and of course - HAVE FUN in the process. In this time of virtual and distance learning, we thought - what a great idea to give the project to students to create their own "math path" - combining STEAM methodology with kinesthetic learning! Knowing that not all students have access to sidewalk chalk and pavement, this activity can be recreated by cutting out paper shapes for the floor, placing tape on the carpet, or playing "architect" and designing their sensory path with just pens/crayons/markers and paper.