Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Grammar Activities for Learning Parts of Speech

Finding grammar activities that are fun and engaging is important. Why? Because I have friends (grown adults, mind you) who still crab about the time they had to learn the parts of speech and then diagram sentences. I mean these are people who are decades out of school, yet they continue to remember those experiences negatively. And, kind of like I used to say after geometry class, they wail, "Why … [Read more...]

Kindergarten Math Games

Setting up kindergarten math games doesn't have to be a chore. There's enough on our teacher to-do lists. So adding fussy tasks to an already long list just isn't necessary. To keep things simple, I started making these one-page math games years ago for our first graders. They're so simple to prepare and once the kids understand the directions, they want to play them over and over … [Read more...]

Female Inventors Who Changed Our Lives

Three cheers for female inventors! Although they haven't always received the recognition they deserve, female inventors have had a significant impact on our lives. Many of their inventions are still part of our world today. I mean, come on. Can we hear it for Ruth Wakefield and the deliciousness she brought to our lives with the chocolate chip cookie? Thank you Ruth. From Josephine … [Read more...]

Teaching Basic Economics in First Grade

When I first learned I would be teaching basic economics to a room full of six-year-olds, I raised an eyebrow. These seemed like concepts only college kids studied before they embarked on careers in finance and marketing. "My kids are first graders," I said. "They're still arguing over who gets to use the swings during recess today." Turns out, they weren't really arguing. They were actually … [Read more...]

The Life Cycle of an Apple

It's still apple season where I live and we've been making all the things... caramel apples, apple butter, and SLOW COOKER APPLESAUCE. These recipes are not terribly hard to make, but they sure are good. And the kids love them! I think it's important for children to know where their food comes from and how it's grown. This little book about the life cycle of an apple is one way to help them … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Applesauce Recipe for Kids

Apple season is here and we're ready for all the apple love... apple turnovers, apple butter, and of course applesauce! Slow cooker applesauce is incredibly easy to make with kids, even in a classroom. And the smell that fills the air while it's simmering and doing its thing just adds to the anticipation of eating it. "When will it be done?" can be heard on repeat all morning long. To make … [Read more...]