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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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Student Engagement | Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Grade Level: Secondary (7-12) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | social-emotional learning | classroom management

[Lesson Plan] Building Community With Kindness

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
August 16th, 2023

In the 1960s, The Beach Boys scored a hit with the song, Be True to Your School about being proud of the school you go to and defending it to others. Are you proud of the school you represent? School pride might come from belonging to a group, or defending your choice to go there, but pride can run deep within the culture. When you build a culture of kindness, you're building a community of pride stemming from everyone feeling safe, involved, and supported. With this in mind, we partnered with Cathy Henry, educator and founder of The Curriculum Corner and Free Word Work, to create this Building Community With Kindness Lesson Plan for K-8 teachers. It is designed to help students and staff work together to build classrooms of individuals that strive to help others and spread kindness throughout their schools and communities.

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Perfecta | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Cutout Maker 1800 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600 | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO | Engage Every Learner Content

[Download] Engage Every Learner® Content Fall 2023 Expansion Pack

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
August 10th, 2023

We're deep into the back-to-school season, which means you're making your plans for the year - and as we do every spring and fall, we're bringing you a brand new expansion pack for your VariQuest® Design Center Software packed with new material to start this school year off right!

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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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Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | classroom management | Engage Every Learner Content

[Printable] My Logins and References Notebook Inserts

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
July 19th, 2023

In this midst of the back-to-school shopping season, teachers, parents, and students alike are purchasing tools they will need to be successful in the coming school year. And using notebooks, folders, and pencil boxes, students will be filling the insides with useful knowledge and creative expressions which will lead them onto paths of success for later in life! So as you fill your teacher toolboxes for the upcoming school year, we've put together some extra inserts that will help everyone - My Logins and References Page Inserts for student notebooks or folders - in both English and Spanish. We know you're busy, so these are designed to be plug-and-play!

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Perfecta | Student Engagement | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Secondary (7-12) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Industry News and Trends | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | Featured Topics: Student Engagement | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO | Engage Every Learner Content

Writing Prompts for Students: Using ChatGPT

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
June 22nd, 2023

You can't escape reading about Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements and how they are changing the world every day. From self-driving cars to robotics to digital assistants and language processing tools, technology is quickly infiltrating every aspect of our lives that our minds used to control themselves. How long can you go without utilizing the technology to ease tasks in your day? "Hey Google, ______" And this means that our children and students are using the technology, too - and are probably better at it! Growing up with the instant gratification of using a search engine to find an answer and asking Alexa to play any song in the world, it's no wonder they're using the tools in their immediate toolbox to "learn" and get things in the quickest and easiest ways. BUT...what does that mean in terms of cultivating critical thinking in the classroom?

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | free posters | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO | Engage Every Learner Content

[Download] Writing With Caution Classroom Poster and Activities

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
June 15th, 2023

THERE (not their, or they're) is no way around it - homophones are tricky...and the English language is full of them!

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | social-emotional learning | free posters | classroom management

[Printable] Don't Keep it Bottled Up Compliment Cards

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
May 17th, 2023

What does a compliment cost? Nothing! When you give someone a compliment, not only are you making them feel better, you get a little happiness boost from the good deed as well. Teaching our students about spreading kindness is an invaluable life lesson, and this activity is an easy, fun way to do it!

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Student Engagement | VariQuest Tools: Cutout Maker 1800 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | visual learning | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO

Benefits of Visualization Tools in Learning

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
April 18th, 2023

Through the use of various digital tools that promote the process of visual learning, teachers are changing the way knowledge is conveyed to students. This type of learning makes the delivery of knowledge a truly fun and engaging experience for the learner. At VariQuest, we offer visual machine learning tools that are able to change the way your educational and learning environment operates.

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Special Education | Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | prek | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | social-emotional learning | free posters | classroom management | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO

[Printables] When I Feel Upset I Can...

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
April 4th, 2023

When big feelings take over, it's tough to take a step back before exerting an emotional response to a perceived issue. As students learn and grow in their social-emotional development, the best help we can provide as educators is giving them the tools and tips necessary to work through these big feelings in a productive way. As adults, we have all heard the "count to 10" or "sleep on it" suggestions to prevent reacting irrationally when we're angry, but there are lots of coping mechanisms that are great calming techniques. And because many students are visual learners, and repetition is key for retention, we've got some visuals for you!

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Career & Technology Education (CTE) | VariQuest Super Schools | Academic Subject: Career & Technical Education | Project-based Learning | Secondary Transition Program

Adult Transition Program (ATP) Builds Life Skills

By: VariQuest Visual & Kinesthetic Learning Tools
March 30th, 2023

As educators, we know one of the more challenging times in a secondary-aged student's life can be preparing for adulthood after high school. This can be especially true for students with disabilities. To say that leaving a support system which feels safe and familiar is overwhelming and scary is an understatement. Fortunately, there are services available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that disabled students and their parents can continue to rely on to help with a smooth transition into postsecondary education or training, employment, and independent living. The Adult Transition Program (ATP) at Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn, IL serves a mission to do just that, and with the help of the VariQuest® Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite, their students with disabilities are learning valuable real-world skills, while building confidence, courage and spirit!

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Lessons/Activities/Templates | Special Education | Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | prek | VariQuest Tools: Motiva 400 | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400STP | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 3600STP | social-emotional learning | free posters | classroom management | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400PRO

[Printable] What Can I Control? Coloring Activity

By: VariQuest Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite
March 15th, 2023

Regulating emotions is tough - for all of us. And understanding (and accepting) what's in and out of our control is a powerful tool to help. In our students, learning to control feelings is an important lesson that will guide them through decision-making, personal relationships, and cause-and-effect consequences - both now and throughout their lives. And because we at VariQuest want to continue to help you fill your teacher toolbox with valuable learning - and in this case, social-emotional learning - supports, we've designed this fun coloring activity as a picture diagram of recognizing things both in and out of an individual's control - to help with this learning process!

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