Summer Series Classroom Transformations Bonus: 5 Books to Inspire

Just popping onto the blog today to share some of my favorite books for classroom transformations. If you are looking for more inspiration, check these out. 

The Wild Card by Hope and Wade King

So much inspiration. I will always think back fondly to seeing Hope King at work in her classroom in the middle of a Toy Story classroom transformation. LOVED it then. LOVE it now. This book gives lots of ideas for bringing that magic to your own classroom. 

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess

In his book, Dave shares a lot of innovative ideas for engaging your class. 

    Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire by Rafe Esquith

Another book filled with innovative ideas for the classroom. 

The End of Molasses Classes by Ron Clark

Ron Clark is one of my biggest heroes in teaching when it comes to classroom engagement. He has so many ideas that can be immediately put into practice. He sparked something with his magical school, The Ron Clark Academy.

Crash Course by Kim Bearden

Kim Bearden, the cofounder of the Ron Clark Academy, is another gem among teachers. Her innovative ideas and transformations bring engagement to every classroom. I have tried, and LOVE her ideas. Some have become a staple in my classroom. 

Summer Series Classroom Transformations: Part 5 Transformation Day - Escape the Circus

It's hard to pick a favorite classroom transformation, but my Escape to the Circus one HAS to be up there. Today we are going to walk through what a day in the life looks like when doing a classroom transformation. This classroom transformation focused on multiplication skills and was an engaging way for my students to practice their times tables skills at the end of the unit before the multiplication final test. 

There was quite a bit of prep work done ahead of time because I created this transformation and all of the activities from scratch. I did not have ready-made materials. I had most of the decor already, because years ago I created a year-long circus theme for my classroom. I sewed the circus bunting and the circus tent for that year-long theme, but I have used them again and again for different room transformations. I did purchase a background to top it all off and clipped it over my whiteboards. 

My class is a multi-grade classroom with 3 grades. I created this transformation to be fully differentiated with three different levels of play, so students worked on the standards for their grade levels, but all did the same activities...only the level of play was more or less challenging. 

 A Day in the Life of a Classroom Transformation

It was the day of our classroom transformation, a multiplication circus escape room, and I was so excited for my students to come through the door. I put some circus music on to set the tone. The classroom was decorated in red and white stripes, and the big top was all ready. 

The students were immediately excited when the door opened and they realized today we were going to the circus. Once everyone found their seats and we were ready to begin, I set up the transformation by starting like a real circus with "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls..." and continuing to set up their imaginary trip through multiplication challenges to  escape to the circus. 

I passed out their circus brochures. These would hold the answers to each multiplication challenge. I explained to them that they would be completing puzzles or challenges, solving for a mystery word, and showing me before they could go on to the next challenge. There would be four challenges and students would work with a partner to complete each one. When all four challenges were complete, they would escape to the circus.

I gave each pair of students an envelope with challenge one inside. It was a puzzle that students would need to complete to find out the first secret word or phrase. Students needed to match the equations to the products to build their puzzle.

This was the most challenging of the activities. It definitely took the longest, but every single pair of students finished it. After students completed challenge one and got it checked by me, the ringmaster, I gave each student a ticket. They were collecting one ticket for each challenge they solved and a bonus ticket if they were the first team to complete all four challenges. The tickets would be used later to play carnival-style games. 

After a pair of students completed challenge one, they received the second challenge. In this challenge, students had to examine multiplication equations that were already solved to determine if the answers were true or false. Then they looked at a set of ducks that had numbers and letters on them. The numbers matched the equation problem numbers. Once they decided which of the equations were true, they took those numbered ducks and lined them up to reveal the next code. Writing it down, they came to me (the ringmaster) to check it and receive a ticket and their next challenge. 

Then it was time for challenge three. For challenge three, students received their envelope with directions. In this challenge, students had circus train cars that had equations on them. Once they solved the multiplication equation, they put the train cars in order from least to greatest products, and that revealed the code. Once again, students checked their secret word/phrase and received a ticket and challenge four when they were correct. 

 

  Last, students opened their envelopes for challenge 4, students were suppose to play a game of memory match with their partner. Once all the cards were matched, they needed to put the cards in order (by the number on each card) and place the match below. The cards below would spelled out the final clue word or phrase. Students checked this final challenge and received their last game ticket. The first pair of students received a bonus ticket. 

As a side note to this challenge, we started running low on time, and when that happened, I had my students work on this challenge without playing memory match. Instead they simply solved and matched the cards to reveal the code.

 

As students began to finish their challenges, they could use their tickets to play carnival-style games that were set up around the classroom. Students were so excited. I had five different games that students could choose from:

Ring Toss: I had a ring toss game that was marked with different points. Students had to throw the rings, add their score and they won if they reached a certain number of points. 

Basketball: I borrowed a small classroom basketball hoop set that could hook onto my whiteboard. Students threw shots and if they made a certain number of baskets, they won.

Bowling: Students could go bowling and had to knock down a certain number of pins to win.

Nerf Gun Shooting: Students had to use a Nerf gun to shoot a target. If they hit the target, they won. 

Ping Pong Ball Toss: Students had ping pong balls that they tossed into cups. If they landed a certain amount, they won the game. 

I had a table set up with snacks and prizes. As students played the games, they could visit the table for a prize if they won. 

Ring Toss

Bowling

Prizes - purchased at Dollar Tree

When we completed all the challenges and games, our transformation ended. It was a huge success with lots of smiles, hard work, and celebrations. Each student received a circus peanut to try (most had never tried them). I will definitely be repeating this one again in the upcoming year.

Here are some other views of the decor. 

If you are interested in trying this transformation out in your own classroom, I will link it here. Remember, you can do simple, medium, or challenging decor...the choice is up to you, there is no wrong or right way to decorate, but students will enjoy learning under the big top, however you choose to do it. Click on the picture below for more details.

Summer Series Classroom Transformations: Part 1: What are They

Summer Series Classroom Transformations: Part 2: Inspiration
Summer Series Classroom Transformations: Part 3: Linking the Standards

Summer Series Classroom Transformations: Part 4: Set Up

Summer Series Classroom Transformations Part 4: Set Up

Set up for classroom transformations can be as simple or elaborate as you want. A few little changes can pack a punch as far as engagement goes. You can get help from others, or set up on your own. I usually do set up for transformations on my own, but at times my own kids will help me, or even my husband. My dad sometimes helps me behind the scenes with taking my idea and constructing it. Here's a look at some simple, medium and higher level set-ups.

Easy Level Transformations

For a simple set up, this would involve minimal decoration and set up time could be done easily within just a few minutes the morning before or right after school the previous night. Here are a couple of examples of simple set ups and what it took to pull these off. 

Classroom Transformation Set up for Fraction Bakery

For my fraction bakery, the set up is simple. First I set up tables and laid out plastic table cloths. You can get these at Walmart for around one dollar. Next, I set out some disposable pans with activities inside. I put chef hats and aprons on each chair...these are something that I purchased a few years ago and keep to use from year-to-year. I put a little sign out that says Fraction Bakery to build excitement with my students. 

As far as decorating the space, that was it. I did also bring actual baking supplies and ingredients for this from home, but they are not laid out on the tables. During the day of this transformation, students are involved in fraction activities to create recipes using equivalent fractions and then they will make the recipes. Usually we do pizza.

Classroom Transformation Set up for Story Camp

For the Story Camp transformation (inspired by Kim Bearden of The Ron Clark Academy), I turn the classroom into a campsite. I have a lot of camping gear from our family trips and from an old classroom theme, so really the only think I purchase is a treat to share. I will explain that in a minute. 

I set a tent up in the background. Then I have these little log cushions that I place in a circle for student seating. I add a lantern, camp sign that says Welcome to our Campfire where everyone is welcome. I have one actual tree stump stool or camp chair that I sit in front of the tent. This is where whomever is sharing will sit. I place a felt campfire, that I made, in the middle of the circle and add some stuffed animals. This set up usually takes about 15-30 minutes. During story camp, students take turns sharing their original stories around the campfire. For a fun twist, I usually have s'mores pops at the end as a celebration. I make these with lollipop sticks stuck into giant marshmallows that are dipped 1/2 way in chocolate and rolled in graham cracker crumbs. 

  

 Another example of a glamping option...also, all things I already have.

Medium Level Classroom Transformation

A medium level takes a little more prep time, especially behind the scene to get ready for set-up day, but are still not that extreme.

Classroom Transformation set up for Mining

For this transformation we were learning about rocks, and I wanted the students to feel that they were underground in a mine. I created rocks from kraft paper and placed them around the door and in the windows. I made some dynamite sticks from pool noodles and electrical tape. I created a train track that was leading into my classroom. 

I purchased some geodes and brought in rock samples for the students to view. I scattered rocks and other rock memorabilia around the classroom. We covered the windows to create a dark (underground) feel. I set out hard hats with headlamps for each student. 

We had lots of different stations that we set up inside the "cave" and I had another teacher working with me to teach the stations and help students rotate. We joined her class with mine for this transformation. We examined the smallest rocks (dirt), made sedimentary rock, looked at rocks under a microscope, tested rocks for their properties, and looked at famous rocks like Mount Rushmore and Stonehenge.  

It was fun putting this together with another teacher and joining forces for the day. 

Challenging Level Classroom Transformation:

Classroom Transformation for Wild Kratts

The simple and medium classroom transformations, while still just as powerful, take much less time. It's easy to use things you have or even borrow supplies for the day from a friend or student families. 

Now, let's look at a bigger and more complex transformation. This one took several hours. I had my family helping me, so that made set up a bit faster. I needed to craft some of the items before set up day.

Crafted Items: 

A tree: I made and painted a large tree from cardboard. 

Grass: I used butcher paper to cut out grass shapes. I glued two layers together with wire in between so I could bend the grass to make it more realistic.

Fireflies: I created fireflies with empty water bottles. I drew and colored fireflies large enough to cover the bottles. On the day of the transformation, I stuck glowsticks inside to give it that bioluminescence piece. 

Letters: I printed and cut out letters to create the Wild kratts Logo and then printed a banner that said Creature Powers

Power Discs: I made little discs for the animals we were going to study.

Paw Prints: I made paw prints in different colors for each group.

Shirts: I created Wild Kratt shirts like Chris and Martin Kratt wear. I took black t-shirts, cut off the sleeves to create a vest and shortened the bottom. I added felt embellishments to make them look more like the vests on the TV show.

 

On the actual day of set up, we hung background paper to create a sky and added mountains to give a nice nature feel. I used tree stumps and the grass and laid out a spider that I purchased and added a real turtle shell that I had collected.

I wanted to make a cave since we would be studying bats. I took a tent and we wrinkled up some kraft paper (I purchased at Dollar Tree) and we covered the tent to make it into a cave. I hung some bats up inside. 

I used clear fishing line to hang the fireflies. Right before we started our class, I inserted yellow glowsticks inside each one. We hung the tree with fishing lines as well and added an owl and opossum to it.

On the board, I hung the letters to spell Wild Kratts and the banner that said Creature Powers.

For each table, we covered them with a different color of table cloth (to match the paw prints on the shirts) and taped a large paw print to the supply bin. 

I hung any activities we needed up on the walls as well and we were all ready to begin. 

The next day (Monday) was the transformation. Students were involved in activities to learn about different creatures in North America. We learned about echolocation with bats and about bioluminescence with invisible ink and fireflies. We did lots of other animal activities as well. We had an amazing time.

While this transformation was definitely a lot more work, it is something I enjoy doing. Teaching, for me, is not just a job, it is also my hobby. 

Classroom transformations are definitely not a one-size-fits-all activity. You have wiggle room to tailor them to your comfort and time availability. I would say, if you have never done one of these, start small and work your way up as you gain more ideas and confidence. 

Be sure to check out the rest of my summer series posts by clicking on these links and learning more about Classroom Transformations. 

Summer Series: Classroom Transformations: What are They

Summer Series: Classroom Transformations Part 2: Inspiration

Summer Series: Classroom Transformations: Part 3: Linking the Standards

Summer Series Classroom Transformations Part 3: Linking the Standards

Now we all know that we cannot generally create room transformations just for the fun of it. Yes, the fun is part of the charm and thrill of a good transformation, but it definitely has to have a point. The point to all of this is, going deep with the standards. Students will work hard for you when they are fully engaged…THAT is the point! Teach those tricky standards with a little extra one, two punch…a game, and video, or….A CLASSROOM TRANSFORMATION. Students will be more excited and may not even realize they are learning. Many students do not think of learning as fun, so to them anytime it is fun, it is not learning. The truth is it actually is learning and with this kind of hype, you can take them deeper and push them harder than ever before, because of their mindset. They WANT to learn.

Let’s take a few minutes to walk through three different room transformations and how we insert the learning amongst all that fun.

1.    Titanic Room Transformation

I know that students are fascinated with the history of the Titanic disaster, so I chose to do a unit on this theme with a small transformation at the end. Let’s look at how the curriculum was brought into this theme.

Reading: First and foremost, I decided that our lead-in would be reading groups. I chose books for each of my reading groups as we started our learning. It was important to me that all of my students were involved in this historical event through books, from the lowest reading group to the highest, and everywhere in between.

 

With the books, we practiced different reading strategies and we had discussions about the events. This is the easy part and you can certainly add in just about any strategy for comprehension including determining importance, making connections, visualizing, and comparing and contrasting.

2.     To connect a writing piece, I had the students write simple subject predicate poems. These are easy for a wide span of ages and student could use them to retell the story of what happened. Here's a look at two of my student examples.

1

Titanic leaving

People cheering

Pool splashing

1st Class relaxing

2nd Class playing

3rd class immigrating

Lookout seeing

Passengers snoring

Iceberg hitting

Travelers rushing

Lifeboats going

Unsinkable sinking

2

People swimming

Dining room stunning

Guards guarding

Maids cleaning

Boat bumped

Iceberg hits

People wondering

Swimming stops

People shake

Compartments fill

Water spills

Kids scream

Babies wail

Lifeboats fill

Lifeboats lower

Titanic snaps

Titanic sinks

Lives lost

People crying

Titanic passes

Titanic gone

3.     For science, we were able to incorporate a few activities. One thing we did was a STEM project where students became boat builders. They had to work together in groups to create boats that could carry heavy loads. Then we tested them out.

We also created an iceberg by filling a water balloon with water and freezing it. Once it was frozen, we removed the balloon, leaving a balloon shape of ice. We dropped it into a container of water and observed how most of the ice was below the surface, while only a little bit was sticking out at the top. I used this to connect students to the hidden danger of icebergs and how most of the ice is lurking below the surface where you cannot see it. It was definitely eye opening.

4.       Students were given a project to make a visual representation of one part of the Titanic story through a diorama. They wrote a short paper about the event that was depicted and why they chose that part of the story. Each student then presented their project in front of the class. And we left them in the school hallway, for a few days, so the other students could enjoy them as well.

5    On the final days of our learning, I hosted two mini transformation/simulations of the afternoon teas. We first experienced a third-class tea, which was, of course, very basic. Then we  had a first-class tea another day. It was fancy and elaborate and students were able to see the discrepancy between the classes.

 

6.       Glow Day

 

Usually when I have glow day I go with a multiplication theme. I use it as a way to introduce multiplication to my students (or if this is a new skill for them, I would wait until after we do that unit in our math curriculum) and we do a whole bunch of center activity games to foster a love of learning.

 

I like to start my students off with a multiplication fact sheet (sometimes multiple fact sheets). But it makes it more fun because they get to use a highlighter and it automatically lights up with a nice glow.

 

Afterwards, I set out a game called Multiplication Slam on the desks. This is a speed activity that gets students trying to solve facts (of all one set) quickly. Students get one minute to place all the answers on an equation card. Then we rotate desk spots and try again and again so each student gets to do all the fact cards from 1-12.

 

For the center activities, any game really can work, but adding a little bit of glow is a bonus. I usually give each group about 15 minutes at each station. Here are some ideas of things I have tried in the past.

 

Set up a game of Jenga. I have the extra-large size set, but any size could work. I used neon label stickers on the ends of each piece to create a glowing spot. Then I printed out multiplication task cards on sheets of different colors to match the stickers. Sometimes I use white paper with a colored neon dot in the corner to go with each sticker color. Students mix the stack and turn it upside down. They take turn solving problems and find a piece in the Jenga game to try to remove and place on top. Play continues around until someone knocks over the Jenga tower.

 

Another fun way to practice is to get some glow sticks and tape to create a game of tic-tac-toe on the floor. Use two sticks to create an “X” and use the connectors for the glowsticks to make an “O”. At this station, students should divide into two teams. Add some multiplication cards. Teams will draw a card, solve, and play one of their X’s or O’s.

 

I purchased a neon colored connect four game a while back and I like to bring it out on glow day. All you need to add are a couple of dice (use 12-sided for a more challenging game). The students will divide into two teams and take turns rolling the dice, multiplying the numbers, and then adding a game token into the Connect Four game.

 

I put out other multiplication games as well such as a mystery game called Find Five. Really, any game can work, and you can create easy glowing games with neon paper cards or glow sticks.

 

I usually divide my students up into small groups to play these games. Since I have a smaller class, I usually have about 4 groups. This means I need to come up with at least four game rotations.

 

Sometimes I will do some reading activities as well. It is fun to find articles on bioluminescence for students to read about. We use little tap lights to illuminate the text and they annotate with highlighters, or they could use sticky notes.

 

7.       Toy Story

Several years ago, I happened to be at the Ron Clark Academy on a day when Hope King was doing her STEAM Mania Toy Story transformation, so many of these ideas came from her.

 

One activity that was for math was a “claw Machine”. Students could grab the aliens and solve the math problems. This could work with any math skill you are learning, but it could work for other subjects as well.

 

We also did an unlock the toys escape room. Students were working to figure out different clues and unlock boxes. In the end they won a prize. Escape rooms are great because they are also usually standards based.

 

Another activity we have done before is a STEM challenge where students create a parachute for one of those green army guys. They want to create a parachute to help slow down their falling army guy. We drop the guys from a tall place like the top of a slide or climbing structure.

 

Any STEM activity that involves toys or army could work.

 

As you can see, it is not hard to find ways to bring your transformation to life with the standards. It just takes a little creativity.

In the next segment, we will be talking all about setting up this transformations. 

Classroom Transformations Part 2: Inspiration

Classroom Transformations Part 1: What are They