How to Catch an Elf Book Companion and STEM Task for trapping an elf

This book companion for 'How to Catch an Elf' contains so many ideas to help you catch an elf.

There are steps to follow to create your own elf trap to catch that pesky elf. 

Explore the many tasks that compliment the text and make your students think about what they will design. 

Click here to see our pack in our store

This is a 'How to catch an Elf' book companion pack with a design brief to make a trap to catch an elf. There are writing prompts and Literacy Center Tasks to keep your students working hard around Christmas time.

Word Wall

• There are two versions for printing.

• These posters are an excellent way to brainstorm words together for reading and writing.

• Display in a prominent place in your room and watch your writers go!

Visual Representation

• This section includes a page for each trap in the text.

• Students can draw what they think about each trap.

• As you read aloud stop before you show the illustrations from the book.

• Record a summary for each change.

• Then predict a new trap design.

Print and Go

This sections includes
• Word splashes for each the Elf, Santa and the children

• Plus, Minus and Interesting facts

• Alphabet Key

• I see, I think, I wonder

• Record three facts

• 3/2/1 – Facts, options, questions

• Text to text, self and world

• Compare and contrast

• Design a book cover

Book Review

• The Book Review templates allow for illustrations and a text response.

• The first page is great for setting up beginning, middle and ending so that the second page is easier to complete.

Writing About the Reading

• Is-has-can tasks

• Writing letters- convince to keep the Elf safe

• Main Idea and sub points

• Author tools – what does the author do to keep us reading and interested?

• Interview questions

• Dialogue between characters

• Make an advertisement for the feast

• Write a different ending

• Write an innovation on the text

• Draw and label a story map

• Make a list of important facts from the text

• List the complications and resolutions

• Write a sequel

• Recount

• Summary

Design a new Elf Trap

• Discuss three good traps

• Draw one great trap

• Design the trap

• Make the trap

• Get feedback and make modifications

Enjoy the book and designing your own way to catch an elf.

Solar Eclipse in the USA skies

Solar Eclipse – A PowerPoint for Kids

14 pages

Click here to see this on TpT

This powerpoint was made to share with your grade. It outlines the essential information that they should know. It is a perfect springboard to start discussions and then do more research together. 

Slide headings are - 

Safety First

What is a solar eclipse?

Why are eclipses not always total?

Three types of eclipses

What do eclipses they look like?

What is the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse?

How many are there a year?

What happens during a total eclipse?

Facts about solar eclipses

What else might we see?

Can we tell when the next eclipse is? 

Create a Lemonade Stand

Our project based learning was lots of fun last week.

We planned and made scaled models of Lemonade Stands. We also created a Business Plan for our ventures. 

Lots of laughter about profit and loss, how much does one recipe make and how much to sell one glass for?

Here are the plans I made...

 Lemonade Stand - Make a Model and create a Financial Plan

31 pages

Click Link here 

The task is to design a Lemonade Stand model to scale and produce a business plan to sell lemonade to customers.

I use these steps for Project Based Learning in my teaching and learning space.

1. Setting the stage for the learning that is about to happen and make a link back to a real life scenario

2. The teacher negotiates the criteria for evaluating the projects

3. Students become project designers

4. Students discuss information needed for their designs

5. Students accumulate the materials necessary for the project

6. Students create their projects

7. Students prepare to present their projects

8. Students present their projects

9. Students reflect on the process and evaluate the projects based on the agreed criteria

Students can work individually, in pairs or in groups.

They work through a task to design an outcome using their creative abilities.

The task is usually interdisciplinary and can involve Numeracy, Literacy, Science, Design and Technology.

The teacher’s role is to guide, check in and help to uncover content to be covered.