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

Summer Series Classroom Transformations Part 2: Inspiration

In this second edition of my summer series on Classroom Transformations, we will be looking at Inspiration...where to find it, and how I come up with ideas. One of the biggest things people think about when doing classroom transformations is where you find inspiration to do the creative work it takes to dream up classroom transformations. I’m going to share five places I find inspiration.

Classroom Transformations from Student Inspiration

To me, this is the most important form of inspiration and the one that makes the biggest difference. Remember, you are doing all of this for the students…to engage them, so let them dictate your next theme. At the beginning of the year, get to know a bit about your students. Send home an all about my child sheet and let the parents tell you about their child. This should  definitely be something that includes favorites and interests. I also like to give each child their own interest inventory on the first day or week of school. Let them tell you, in their own words, what they are into and what they like. And finally, have students interview each other as a part of the first week of school. Then have them share information about each other in front of the class. While they do this, be sure you are listening and taking notes. Once you have done this things, you will have a list of different things your students LOVE…things like their favorite:

Sports

T.V. Shows

Hobbies

Games

Places

Animals

Etc.

If you notice some of your students love soccer, you may plan a soccer transformation. If they love the game Candy Land, create from that. If dinosaurs are their jam…You know what to do.

Classroom Transformations from Teacher Inspiration

Follow other teachers. Check Instagram and Pinterest. There are some great ideas out there and they are just a click away. Some of my favorite teachers for classroom transformation inspiration are:

Hope King

Tanya from @giftedteacher305

Joanne Miller from @headoverheelsforteaching

You know how teachers can be…we borrow ideas from each other all the time. Don’t be afraid to do it. Your students will think you are the best.

Classroom Transformations from Book Inspiration

Books can be a powerful source of inspiration as well. Are you doing a novel study? Why not celebrate the end with a room transformation? This could even be just a picture book that you base your transformation on. The sky is really the limit here. Here’s a look at two of my book inspiration transformations:

Charlotte’s Web

As we finished up Charlotte’s Web, I wanted to set up the review in a fun way. I did this transformation around Halloween time, so I could find spiders décor and other items at the store. I purchased a fake web and spider and suspended it from the ceiling. I used pipe cleaner to write the words: Some Class in the web. Underneath, I pulled in a table and covered it with a red and white checked tablecloth. This was where I set up the book as well as the escape room pieces and some other décor. This was super easy and used mostly things I already had. The biggest expense was that I went to Dunkin’ Donuts and bought some of their spider donuts. When we finished the escape room, we enjoyed spider donuts as a treat.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

My students absolutely LOVED this book. We dug deep into the spiritual themes behind it as well (I teach in a Christian school). This was one of those books were the students gave a spontaneous round of applause when it was over. They LOVED the book as much as I did. As a final activity to celebrate the book, I turned the room into a little piece of Narnia. When students came up to the classroom, I had taped a sheet of butcher paper that I decorated like the outside of the wardrobe. When students walked in, they had to go through a “closet of coats” that were hanging in the doorway. Then they made it into Narnia. There were snowy Christmas trees at the entrance as well as a light pole with a streetlight on it. On one side of the classroom was a table that I decorated with butcher paper to make it look like an altar. I put a huge stuffed lion on the altar (this was a lion my husband still has from when he was a kid). In the front of the classroom, I displayed a copy of the book on a tall table draped with a white lace tablecloth. I put a crown on the table to represent the white witch and there was a fancy pedestal tray with Turkish delight. I also made marmalade rolls. Both of these were foods mentioned in the book. I purchased a winter scene backdrop that I hung at the front of my room. We did an escape room to review the content of the book. Afterwards, we watched the movie in sections to really examine and compare/contrast with the book. It was amazing! My principal heard about what we were doing and came through to tour Narnia because that is also one of her favorite books.

 

Classroom Transformations from T.V./Video Game Inspiration

What are kids watching? What video games are they playing? These are always a good place to go to. I have done several transformations based on these sources of inspiration.

Angry Bird

I will admit that I first saw something similar at the Get Your Teach on Conference. The room for my breakout sessions was decorated in an Angry Bird Theme. I also knew that kids love that movie and game, so it was a perfect idea to turn into a transformation. This one was simple and low budget, but took a little time. I collected different boxes of varying sizes. Once I had my boxes, I covered them with kraft paper and used a Sharpie to make them look like wooden crates. Next I placed tags with different numbers on them. These were to be point values for the game we would be playing. I drew and colored some simple Angry bird characters on poster board and cut them out. I also drew and cut out the name Angry Birds to look like the logo. You could use a projector to do all of this if that intimidates you.  Simply project the images and trace them onto poster board. I set up a wall of boxes with the words Angry Birds taped them to my whiteboard. Then I scattered the Angry Bird characters around on the boxes.

This transformation was going to help my students practice some math skills, so I created some colorful cutouts for practicing area and perimeter. I made these from poster board. I made a recording booklet for this, so students could record their answers and  keep score. Lastly, I added pompoms and a sling shot (I already had both).

Students solved a problem, showed me, and if they were correct, used the slingshot to shoot a pompom at the boxes. Whichever box they hit displayed a point value. They would write that in their booklet and then solve the next problem. After solving all the problems, they added their points up and could see what their score was. Total engagement, you all! It was amazing.

The inspiration from Get Your Teach On

Mario

A game, movie, and more inspiration from GYTO…this was one I just had to do. The big splurge I made here was Mario hats. I purchased them on Temu, so it wasn’t too bad, and I will be able to use them time and time again.

I purchased concrete forms and my dad helped me cut them in different sizes and add a ribbing to the top so I could paint them to look like the pipes in Mario. I got a blue background and some large wall stickers that were Mario themed. My dad also made me a flagpole and I printed a Mario flag that students could lower when they completed the challenges. I have not done this every time, but I highly suggest it...I like to hang a question box (yellow paper  covered box that students can punch and break into, just like in the game. I only made one, so the group that got to that challenge first was able to punch the box.    

Classroom Transformations from Store & Restaurant Inspiration

Just take a stroll through stores like Hobby Lobby, and you are sure to find all the inspiration you need. This summer while strolling through,  I found inspiration in a discount display. It was a whole bunch of picnic stuff. Think red and white checked items, ants, and watermelon. I immediately took notice and a picture. A few days later, I went back to get some of the items. This is going to be a great picnic themed transformation that I will be working on creating.

                    Why not host a Starbooks Café theme in your classroom? I like to do this little                            spin off every year on the first cold day. Ask Starbucks to sponsor you                                      by donating cups and treat bags. I turn my classroom into a coffee shop feel and serve hot chocolate and cookies. 

                       To add in the standards for this one, you could do a book tasting, silent reading, or I enjoy doing it as part of a reading marathon. For the reading marathon, students are using a book of their choice, but it should be a new one they have not started. Each student gets a large art paper and we fold it in half long-ways (hotdog style). Then we fold it in thirds  the other day (hamburger style). When we open it, there are six blocks. We outline the blocks and then we are ready. 

                      I set a timer for 10 minutes and students are required to stay busy the entire time. In the first block (top, left) students will create a cover for their book. They must include a picture as well as a Title. They can simply redraw the front of their book, or they could do a new cover design, but should keep the title the same. We alternate our ten minute segments between ten minutes of reading, then a ten minute response activity on one of the blocks. We do activities such drawing & writing a description of one of the characters of their choosing, making connections, writing a summary, drawing and telling about the setting, listing character traits of one of the characters and backing them up with text evidence, creating a scene that was visualized from one of the events, etc. You can choose any reading skill and have the students respond in one of the blocks. I do not allow the students to say, "I'm done." because there's always more details, sketching, or coloring they can add. They can even go back and add more to another block they previously did. We alternate between reading blocks and activity blocks to help the student not get overwhelmed since things are always changing. I saw this idea somewhere years ago and have used it nearly every year since. 

                       As students do their reading marathon, they are able to have a nice warm hot chocolate and some cookies as if they are working at a little coffee shop. 

Inspiration is literally all around you. Just keep your eyes open and remember you can find inspiration in your students' interests, what other teachers are doing, books, tv & games, and stores. Inspiration is everywhere.

                      Be sure to stay tuned for part 3 where we will be talking about how to link the standards into your transformation.