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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Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

End of Year Reading Celebration! Idea & Resources for Primary Classrooms

By: Margo Ensz
May 5th, 2014

This end of year idea is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta 2400 or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software v4.0! Lesson: End of Year Reading Celebration Level: Primary Classrooms Objective: Students will celebrate their reading successes for the current school year. Materials: Dr. Seuss Poster Reading awards for each student in the classroom. Snacks and drinks (if desired) Preparation: Print and display the Dr. Seuss poster in your classroom. Prepare individual student reading awards based on observations of student reading behaviors from Reader’s Workshop. We have included some ideas below. Click on each image to download the PDF Celebration Idea: During one of the final Reader’s Workshop times of the school year have the students gather in an area of the classroom to present awards for reading. Serve snacks and drinks (if desired). Take a moment to discuss each student’s successes in reading and present the student with his/her award. Reading Award Ideas: Most improved reader Always uses independent reading time wisely Stays on topic when talking about reading Pays attention during mini-lessons Chooses just right books The teacher might also think about reading skills that are a strength for each child. Here are some skills to consider: Comprehension Fluency Sight words Writing about reading The teacher might also consider what types of books a child reads and understands well (an expert, so to speak): Fiction Nonfiction Animal books History books Mysteries Popular series Did you like this lesson? Leave a comment and let us know what topics you would like us to cover in future posts and we will work on delivering free resources to help you prepare for your lessons!

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Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Secondary (7-12) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

End of Year Reading Celebration! Ideas & Resources for Intermediate & 7-12 Classrooms

By: Margo Ensz
May 5th, 2014

This end of year idea is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta 2400 or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software v4.0! Lesson: End of Year Reading Celebration Ideas & Resources

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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!

Blog Feature

Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Grade Level: Secondary (7-12) | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

End of Year Photo Booth! K-12 Classrooms

By: Margo Ensz
May 2nd, 2014

This end-of-year idea is part of our partnership with educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core-aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta® Poster Design Systems - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software! Lesson: End-of-Year Celebration/Photo Booth Idea & Resources Level: K-12 Classrooms Objective: Students will celebrate the end of a successful school year by taking pictures with teachers and classmates. Materials: “Ready for ___ Grade” sign appropriate for grade level taught “School’s Out for the Summer” sign “Photo Booth” sign Photo Props – hats, scarves, sunglasses, headbands, etc. Smartphone or digital camera

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Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Common Core | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Staying on Topic (Intermediate) - Lesson Plan + Templates

By: Margo Ensz
May 1st, 2014

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta 2400 or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Mini-Lesson: Staying on Topic Level: Intermediate Objectives/CCSS Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. Visuals & Materials: Interactive Anchor Chart – Staying on Topic (Iditarod) Peer Check: Focus on Topic conferencing form

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Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Academic Subject: Mathematics | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Math Problem Solving Strategies (Primary) - Lesson Plan & Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 30th, 2014

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta Poster Design System - and be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction to Problem Solving Strategies (Two-Day Lesson) Level: Primary Objectives & CCSS Alignment: Students will increase independence in using various strategies to solve different types of word problems. *Note: CCSS has problem solving strategies spread throughout the domains for math. This lesson focuses on giving them a review of each of the various strategies. It is suggested that teachers follow up this review with a more in-depth lesson in each of the strategies as they fit naturally into the curriculum or as there is student need. Materials & Visuals: Anchor Chart – Problem Solving Strategies My Math Notes for Problem Solving Click on each image to download the PDF and print to a poster! Preparation: Think through a sample problem for each of the strategies listed on the anchor chart. These will be shown to the students as examples. Prepare “Problem Solving” anchor chart for mini-lesson. Copy the “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” page for each child in the classroom. You may choose to three-hole-punch this page for use in a Math Notes binder/folder to be kept by students and referred to throughout the year. Mini-Lesson: Ask students what a “strategy” is. Accept several answers and then lead the class to the conclusion that a strategy is a plan to reach a goal. In math a strategy would be a plan to reach a final answer. Display the anchor chart titled “Problem Solving Strategies” for the students. Tell them that these are some ways that they can use to solve all kinds of different math problems. Pass out “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” to each student and explain that this page is a place for them to write down some notes that will help them to remember what each strategy is and how to use it. They will keep this in their math binder/folder and can pull it out as a reminder when needed. *Note: The boxes of this resource have been left blank so that the teacher can decide the level of support needed to fill it out. Students may need to draw or write exactly what the teacher shares for each strategy or they may be allowed to draw or write whatever they feel will help them to remember the strategy. Briefly explain a few of the eight strategies and guide students as to how you would like for them to take their notes (copying the teacher notes or creating their own depending on grade or skill level). Introduce however many strategies that time allows for in this first lesson, and then complete the note-taking for the final strategies the following day. Have students place their Math Notes into an organized binder or folder that will be kept and used throughout the year. Did you like this lesson? Leave a comment and let us know what topics you would like us to cover in future posts and we will work on delivering free resources to help you prepare for your lessons!

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Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Academic Subject: STEM | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Academic Subject: Science | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Introduce Primary Students to the Scientific Method - Lesson Plan + Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 24th, 2014

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction the Scientific Method

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Academic Subject: English Language Arts | Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Common Core | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Character Traits (Intermediate) - ELA Lesson Plan + Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 24th, 2014

We are excited to have a partnership with two super-creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta Poster Design System - and be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software!

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Blog Feature

Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Academic Subject: STEM | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Common Core | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Academic Subject: Mathematics | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Math Problem Solving Strategies (Intermediate) - Lesson Plan & Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 21st, 2014

We are excited to announce our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction to Problem Solving Strategies (Two-Day Lesson)

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Blog Feature

Grade Level: Primary (PK-2) | Academic Subject: English Language Arts | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Common Core | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

Staying on Topic (Primary) - Mini-Lesson Plan & Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 16th, 2014

We are excited to announce our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Series Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Mini-Lesson: Staying on Topic Level: Primary Objectives/CCSS Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension. *Note: This lesson addresses the part of the standards highlighted in teal only. Teachers will need to address other parts of the standards in future mini-lessons. Visuals: Interactive Anchor Chart – Staying on Topic (Chameleon) Peer Check: Focus on Topic conferencing form

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Grade Level: Intermediate (3-6) | Academic Subject: STEM | VariQuest Tools: Design Center Software | VariQuest Tools: Perfecta 2400 | VariQuest Tools: Poster Maker 3600 | Featured Topics: Common Core | Academic Subject: Science | Featured Topics: Lessons and Activities | Featured Topics: Templates for FREE download

The Scientific Method (Intermediate) - Lesson Plan & Templates

By: Margo Ensz
April 14th, 2014

We are excited to announce our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta® Series Poster Design System or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software! Lesson: Review of the Scientific Method Level: Intermediate

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