Earth Day Activities: 7 fun ways to raise awareness
The new normal. This is a phrase we’ve all adopted over the past year when our way of life changed dramatically and seemingly overnight. But what is the new normal,…
12 things teachers and parents should say to each other more often
Kid President paved the way for highlighting things we should all say more often. His YouTube video on this subject has well over 17 million views, and it’s a great…
7 creative ways to track your classroom’s reading goals
Tracking and celebrating classroom reading goals can go a long way in getting kids excited about reading. Acknowledging student accomplishments really boosts their confidence, and it also helps them take…
Why live lessons are great for teachers and students
All of education is full force into virtual learning, right? Whether it’s by choice or by necessity, teachers and students at every level have been figuring out the best and…
How to encourage art education in your classroom with everything you do
If you’re reading this article, chances are, you already know and believe in the importance of an arts education. The research is powerful. Studies and articles have shown time and…
Effective middle school SEL activities for your classroom and school
SEL is such an important topic in schools these days, but all too often, the focus seems to be on elementary. It’s fairly easy to find articles and resources aimed…
How to have a better work-life balance when it seems like there’s more work than ever
The work-life balance for teachers has become even trickier in the past year. With so much at-home and virtual learning, many educators are finding themselves putting in long hours at…
7 excellent Black History Month lessons and classroom resources
February is Black History Month, and this gives teachers an opportunity to celebrate great leaders and share important moments in history through Black History Month lessons. From science and art…
Real self-care ideas for teachers and educators
We talked to educators around the country to see how they’re tackling self care. Here’s a summary of some of their best ideas …
Why learning kits save teachers time and keep students on track
Teachers already spend an incredible amount of time on prep and planning for their classrooms, and with everything going on now, this number is higher than ever. Reports show 82%…
5 live-streaming solutions for a better virtual learning experience
Chances are, when you decided to become a teacher “live streaming” wasn’t something you envisioned as part of your job description. As we all know, COVID-19 has changed the course…
Teachers change the world—every day
Teachers have a tough job these days. Your strength and determination is inspiring, and we appreciate you more than ever.
Winter science projects your students will love
Hands-on experiments and outdoors science shouldn’t be limited to just the warm-weather months. These colder months are a great time for winter science projects. From studying the weather to STEM…
“I have a dream” — 5 ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of negativity dragging us down right now. As an educator you have a tough job, and your students are looking to you for guidance.…
Handmade gifts students can make in the classroom
Teaching students about the value of making your own handmade gifts is a powerful lesson that can stay with them for years. There’s something unique about saying you created something…
6 awesome and messy hands-on art projects that can double as classroom lessons
Making a mess can be a good thing, especially when it comes to being creative. Kids are naturally drawn to art projects and things they can dig into and get…
6 creative kitchen lesson plans students will love
Food and cooking naturally bring people together. It’s fun to share and compare your favorite food and dishes with others. So how do you take popular topics like cooking, baking,…
5 heart-warming lessons to teach students how to practice kindness
It’s always a good time of year to encourage students to practice kindness. By combining this important social-emotional lesson with other school subjects, you’ll help develop kind, self-aware, and helpful…
12 hacks any educator can use to be more efficient and gain back a little time each week
Time isn’t exactly an easy gift for educators to find or receive these days. Even if you want to be more efficient, it always feels like there’s one more email…
Make math fun with engaging activities and games
Math doesn’t always have the best reputation among students as being fun. Yet, research has shown time and time again that games and play-based math activities are effective ways for…
7 outdoor classroom ideas for hands-on learning
It’s always a great time to head outside for learning. As long as you plan ahead and dress for the weather, there are plenty of outdoor classroom ideas to explore…
Celebrate Earth Day!
Earth Day is a time to learn, a time to take action, and a time to pay homage in ways both big and small to this spectacular place we all…
Teachers use 3D printers to create more comfortable masks for local healthcare workers
Because we could all use a little good news, we wanted to share this awesome story about teacher Jessica Woolmington and her amazing colleagues at F.K. White Middle School in…
Keep creating (no matter what)
If you’re looking for creative inspiration for remote learning, we’ve pulled together a collection of ideas, resources, and helpful tips to help you get started.
Keep calm and keep learning
Okay, let’s just admit it, as parents and teachers alike, we’re all just a little uneasy about distance learning during this on-going pandemic. Lately we find ourselves with more questions…
Foundational learning starts with coding & robotics
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “robot?” For many of us of a certain age, we might think of Rosie the Robot, the…
Welcome to Class Acts with Kris!
Real educators. Real leaders. Real talk. In today’s ever-changing educational environments being a teacher has become something much bigger than teaching alone. Your primary goal is to educate students and…
3D Printing: The future of learning is here now
In today’s ever-changing educational environments, 3D printing is becoming highly useful in STEM/STEAM curriculums. Yet, if you find yourself wondering—how could this ever work in my classroom? You’re not alone.…
Let’s put the “A” in STEAM!
All teachers hear and see these days is STEM STEM STEM, and how to incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into every day subjects. This is a good thing, for…
Custom Kits made to your specifications
Have you ever known exactly what kinds of activities and experiences you want to integrate in your classrooms but can’t figure out how to make the time you need to…
World Science Day
World Science Day for Peace and Development, or World Science Day is tomorrow, November 10. This day highlights the important role of science in society, and the need to engage…
Concussions
You’re playing football and you keep getting tackled, bouncing your head on the ground. Nothing is broken, but your brain has been rattled. Those hits have led to a traumatic…
Financial Literacy
It used to be that a workingman’s wages were sufficient enough to be able to save. The housing market was cheap, people paid more attention to their debt, and the…
Flexible Seating is the Way To Go!
Flexible seating is becoming more and more relevant in classrooms across the country, as teachers try to provide increased engagement in classrooms. There is a lot to consider in adapting…
In the Market for a Microscope?
Thinking of buying a microscope? Microscopes fall into two basic categories: a compound, or high power microscope; and a stereo, or low power microscope. If you are interested in looking…
Get Your Students Into a Growth Mindset
Have you ever wondered why some students embrace learning while others shut down when they suffer a setback? Scientists wondered as well, and through years of study determined that it…
Teenage Alcoholism
Think about this… You’re had too many drinks at the party. You get into your car to drive home. Your vision is blurred, you can’t see inside the shadows made…
Teaching Kids to Code
We live in a digital age in which everyone has a computer. It is a part of our daily lives. Every student should have access to computers, smartphones, or tablets,…
Unusual Art Forms
An art form is not only the specific shape or quality an artistic expression takes, but also the way the creation affects others. Art teachers are familiar with these new…
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
These days, one in five children in the United States is obese. September’s National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month provides a chance for all of us to learn more about this…
Have You Thought About Adding a Class Newsletter?
How many times have your students gone home from school, reporting that they did nothing that day? “Nothing” or “not much” is often the response to a parent’s questions about…
STEAM Part 3 — Funding
Funding a new initiative like a STEAM curriculum can be intimidating. Whether you decide to combine certain subjects like art and technology, or your school board is ready to undertake…
Great Arts and Crafts Lesson Plans!
“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~ Pablo Picasso As the school year starts, teachers are always looking for new…
STEAM Part 2 — Prepare for the Undertaking
STEAM education is making its way across the country. The alliance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math are preparing students of all ages for future jobs, education, and discoveries.…
Yoga in the Classroom
Today’s children are more anxious and stressed at school than ever before due to more rigid testing requirements and higher academic and social expectations. The prevalence of behavior and emotional…
STEM/STEAM Part 1 — What Is It?
There has been a lot of talk about STEM and STEAM curriculums lately. Some schools already have already jumped on the STEAM bandwagon; others are trying to prepare for its…
Getting Teachers Ready To Go Back To School
Summer flies by faster than hummingbird wings, and before you know it’s time to get ready to go back to school. It is one thing to get students back on…
August is American Artist Appreciation Month
When people think of famous visual artists, the first to come to mind are often the European classics: Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet. Unless the exception is someone the viewer is really…
20 Fun Science Facts
The world of science is a fascinating place. It is the inspiration for hope and amazement, the precursor of science fiction, and the last chance for body repair. So thanks…
DNA Tests for Weight Loss
There are very few people who do not want to lose weight. Overeating, eating the wrong things, and lack of exercise all contribute to being overweight. Overall, 70.7 percent of…
Math Anxiety Is Real
Math anxiety can be a big problem in all grades. It’s not just a dislike for the subject – it’s a real problem that blocks the brain’s working memory and…
Full STEAM Ahead!
There is a growing wave of educational instruction riding over the country. STEAM is a curriculum that focuses on educating students in five basic skills: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and…
Makerspace 5 — The Testimony
Makerspace is a collaborative work space inside a school, library or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring, and sharing that uses high tech to no tech tools. It has…
10 Interesting PE Facts
Everyone these days is into physical education. And well they should be. If we can’t be marathon runners or professional athletes, a walk or two around the block will do…
Makerspace 4 — Where Do You Get Ideas?
So you’ve done it! You’ve secured a space for after-school makerspace. You’ve gotten donations and a grant. Now what do you teach? Teachers have their own idea of creativity; of…
Positive Teacher-Student Relationships Are Important
There used to be a time when there was a strong line drawn between teacher and student. The teacher taught, the student learned. And if there were any problems, miscommunications,…
Makerspace 3 — How to Get What You Need
You have gotten the approval for a makerspace. You have talked to other teachers and are working out curriculums with their classes, and have a basic idea of what you…
What Is Flipped Learning?
Flipped Learning is an approach that allows teachers to implement a methodology, or various methodologies, in their classrooms. The principal goals of flipping are: To make the classroom an active…
Makerspace Part 2 — Propose and Start
You have thought out how you are going to teach students in their makerspace, and how you are going to connect their projects with your curriculum. Now it’s time to…
Tessle Your Tesselations!
Sunday, June 17th is Tessellation Day! This day was started up for all pattern-lovers by a group of math fans and a children’s book author. Emily Grosvenor, author of the…
Makerspace Part 1 — Mental Prep
Thinking about turning classroom space into Makerspace? Last October we touched on the generalities of Makerspace. A makerspace is a collaborative workspace inside a school, library, or separate public/private facility…
Seven Ways to Keep Germs Away
We all can remember the million times our parents said “wash your hands before dinner.” We’d nod and run into the bathroom and wash up. For some of us that…
A Quick History of Art – Part 4
The beauty and wonder of art is how it affects our everyday life. We may not understand what we are looking at, yet it still evokes a response from our…
Water from Air
Most of us do not realize that there is a shortage of fresh drinking water in many countries. It is a scarce natural resource that is under threat from humanity’s…
A Quick History of Art — Part 3
Art has ridden on a crest of innovation and dynamics. Part 2 dealt with the emergence of art as a classical, embroidered movement. Now, from the building of the pyramids…
A Quick History of Art – Part 2
Art has been in the hearts and souls of mankind for a very long time. Part 1 blog dealt with the dawn of art. The timeline started simple and spread…
We Salute Teachers!
Teacher Appreciation Week is a week-long celebration held the first week of May that recognizes teachers and the contributions they make to education and society. Teacher Appreciation Week this year…
A Quick History of Art – Part 1
As long as there has been someone leaving a lasting creative mark on something else, there has been art. Expressing man’s mind and heart on objects shows that art has…
Websites That Give You New Perspective on Math
Teaching Math should be fun and interesting, but sometimes the concepts and introduction of new material can be hard for students to understand. Help is on the way! Here are five…
May Day is Just Around the Corner!
The first day of May is probably just an ordinary day for you and your family. But for centuries, many cultures celebrated May Day as the first day of summer,…
Special Olympics
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to 5.7 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries. The…
Three Ways to Celebrate Astronomy Day
“The purpose of life is the investigation of the Sun, the Moon, and the heavens.” ~ Anaxagoras, Philosopher April 21, 2018 is Astronomy Day! Astronomy Day focuses on sharing…
Five Things To Do at the Math NCTM Conference
Come join us for the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Annual Meeting and Exposition April 25-28, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Join thousands of your mathematics education peers at…
Food Trends + Super Foods = Fun Eating!
According to QSR Magazine, consumers are implementing trends in their own lifestyles and want to see them reflected on restaurant menus. In response, chefs are creating more items in-house and…
Is Forensic Science for You?
Most of what we know about Forensic Science is in the form of the CSI TV show: they come in, sprinkle powder for fingerprints, do a DNA swab, and boom!…
Keep Skills Sharp with Smart Starts
A brand new tool has been created to encourage students to keep ahead in reading, writing, and math, both during school and summer breaks. Nasco’s Smart Start Kits reviews what…
Nasco Supports National Autism Awareness Month
Please join Nasco Education in support of National Autism Awareness Month during April. We are proud to join educators everywhere in promoting autism awareness, autism acceptance, and to draw attention…
The Fast Food Blues
We all eat fast foods now and then – we all stop for a quick burger or a soda on our way to and from all the places we visit.…
Give Your Students a (Sensory) Break
With all the running around adults do, it is often said that adults need a “sensory break” now and then. Well, children need sensory breaks now and then, too. Just…
Get Your School Garden Going
School gardens are a growing phenomenon across the country. From tiny plots to larger sections of school grounds, gardening provides educators a way to enhance education through practical, hands-on, reality-based…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
To most in America, Saint Patrick’s Day celebrates the Irish and their traditions by parades, music, shamrocks, and green beer. But are we celebrating true traditions or a fluffy version?…
Ten Pieces of Pi
Pi Day is a Math Holiday held on March 14th or 3-14 in tribute to the common 3.14 approximation for pi. The pi constant represents the ratio between the circumferences of a circle…
Animal Assisted Therapy for Seniors
There is a growing movement in senior housing centers and retirement homes to increase animal/patient interactions for health and wellness benefits. This means not only bringing in live pets to…
The Story of MyPlate
Once upon a time there was a little round plate that was divided into four colorful sections with a little round circle on its upper right shoulder. This little plate…
12 Tips on Picking a Preschool
Prechool is a very big step for a small child. It’s a new world full of strange adults and lots of other kids. It may seem like a lot of…
March is Youth Art Month!
March is Youth Art Month! Youth Art Month is a celebration of the visual arts, linking more than 800,000 K-12 students and over 200 art educators all across America to the…
Warm Ups and Cool Downs
Whether it’s kids or adults, none of us ever seem to have enough time to stretch and warm up before we work out or play sports. We’re in good shape,…
I Want to Be a Scientist
I Want To Be a Scientist. This is a phrase thrown around by children all the way up to high school or college. But what does becoming a scientist entail?…
Cool Math Facts
The science of Math may be one of the more demanding subjects to learn, but it is also a world full of strange facts and discoveries. Here are some cool…
The Future of Farming
When you wonder about the future of farming, do you picture wall-to-wall fields of grain spreading across the land to the horizon? If so, think again. The challenge of how…
St. Valentine’s Day Is Near!
We all know how Americans celebrate St. Valentine’s Day: flowers (usually roses), candy, valentines in the form of cards or store-bought messages of friendship, and stuffed animals (mostly teddy bears).…
The Need For Home Economics Classes
When you think of Home Economics, you probably think of sewing appliques and baking cupcakes. These classes originally acted as a bridge during the 20th century for women to enter into…
Get Your Thoughts Out With Journaling
Journaling is one of the easiest tools parents and teachers have at their disposal to encourage the development of writing skills. A journal can be used to recount daily activities,…
Do You Know Your Art?
Art comes in many styles and forms. According to the Encyclopedia of Art, quite a few styles and forms. How many of these do you know? Animation Art Derived from…
Infants and Toddlers Love Reading Too!
In today’s society it’s more important than ever to prepare young children to read. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children introduced to reading early on tend to read…
The Science of Optical Illusions
Theres an artcle going around the intrnet that pointz outthat wrds don’t have two be speled correctly n order too be understd. With txting and instant messagng, much ov the…
Learn About Special Education
What is the world of Special Education? How has it changed? Nasco asked Special Education Category Manager Wendy Lucht several pertinent questions about the evolution of Special Education and the challenges…
Three Reasons to Get Kids Moving
There is no doubt that with the dawning of technology it is tempting to spend more time in front of the computer than outside playing. Most students have gym class…
Have You Considered Turning Your Computer Lab into a STEM Lab?
There has been a growing movement throughout schools to turn their old-fashioned computer labs or seldom-used shop rooms into STEM labs. While the decision is an individual one from school-to-school,…
Don’t Let Math Be Confusing!
Math can be a confusing subject. Even those who love numbers may get hung up on technicalities. Nasco has the perfect solution for when your students get stuck – Free…