Category: Teacher’s Pay Teachers

Raise your hand if you love Harry Potter! Don’t we all? There’s just something so magical about The Boy Who Lived and his incredible story. It’s been captivating kids since the late nineties! 

I am all about incorporating student interests in order to get them more engaged in what they’re learning, and Harry Potter, naturally, is one interest that never fails to capture their attention. If you’re looking for Harry Potter theme day activities, you’re in the right place! 

Theme days in elementary are great for getting students more engaged in what’s going on in the classroom. 

Here are three enchanted ways to have a wizard theme day in your classroom (plus a bonus activity!)

1. Magical Decor and Costumes: Transform your classroom into a mystical realm by adding enchanting decorations. Hang colorful banners with stars and moons (or house colors!), and create a magical atmosphere with twinkling lights. 

Encourage students to dress up as wizards, witches, or fantastical creatures to fully immerse themselves in the theme. Provide props such as wizard hats, capes, and wands for those who may not have their own costumes. This will spark their imagination and set the stage for a day of wizardry and wonder.

2. Spellbinding Lessons: Incorporate the wizard theme into your lessons for an engaging and educational experience. Introduce a “Potion Making” activity where students explore mixtures and chemical reactions using harmless ingredients. 

You can also teach “Wizard Math” by turning math problems into magical quests and challenges. Additionally, have students create their own spellbooks where they write creative stories or practice spelling and vocabulary. 

3. Magical Games and Activities: Organize a variety of wizard-inspired games and activities to keep the excitement alive throughout the day. Set up a “Wand Dueling” tournament where students use foam or paper wands to cast spells on each other, promoting friendly competition and physical activity. 

Create a scavenger hunt with riddles and clues that lead students to find hidden magical artifacts around the school. You can even host a “Magical Creatures Parade” where students showcase their homemade creatures and share interesting facts about them. 

If you’re looking for the perfect resource to end out your magical wizard theme day, I have you covered! This virtual field trip to a Wizard School is just what you need! 

Virtual Field trips are a great way to engage students in learning.  Use these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students use movable parts, learn about Fiction and non-fiction, the life cycle of a frog, what to bring on a trip and so much more!

This also makes for a great book companion!

What is in this download?

28 Google Slides with Titles, Edit Text Boxes, Directions, Movable Parts 

GREAT for Virtual or In-Person Teaching

• KWL Chart
• Packing A Suitcase for the Trip
• 1 Minute Take OFF Flight Video
• 13-minute Wizard School Field Trip Video (Review Fiction and Non-Fiction Definitions, Learn about the Frog Life Cycle and take a Wizard School Adventure)
• Sequencing Events, 3 Writing Prompts, Counting Objects (under 10), Labeling Parts, Frog Life Cycle Song, and Comprehension Questions
• One extra slide for you to add anything you would like to the lesson. (videos or an assignment)
• Home Connection Optional Assignment for students to write a fiction letter, potion recipe, or story. 
• Black and white ink-saving Writing Pages and Home Connection Page for in-person teaching.

Check it out here! 

For more theme day ideas, check out my post here! 

What are your favorite theme days to do with your students? Let me know in the comments! 

Want a teaching tool that can transport your students beyond the classroom walls and ignite their curiosity like never before? You definitely need to consider virtual field trips! These digital adventures are an incredible way to engage young minds, spark their imagination, and create unforgettable learning experiences.

Picture this: Instead of merely reading about the Great Wall of China in a textbook, your students can virtually explore its magnificence, walk along its ancient pathways, and marvel at its historical significance. With virtual field trips, the world becomes their classroom, and the possibilities are endless.

So, why should you consider incorporating virtual field trips into your elementary curriculum? 

1. Ignite Curiosity: Virtual field trips provide an immersive and interactive learning experience that captivates students’ attention. Whether they are visiting a rainforest, a museum, or even outer space, the sights, sounds, and information they encounter will naturally spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.
2. Make Learning Memorable: As teachers, we all strive to create lasting memories and meaningful connections in our students’ minds. These types of activities in the classroom offer unique opportunities for children to witness historical events, explore diverse cultures, and witness scientific phenomena firsthand. These experiences leave a lasting impression and enhance their knowledge retention.
3. Foster Imagination: Virtual field trips inspire the imagination and encourage creative thinking. As students virtually travel to new places, they can visualize themselves in different settings and imagine the possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings. This imaginative spark can fuel their desire to explore, question, and learn more.
4. Accessible for All: These digital trips break down barriers to learning. They are accessible to students of all abilities and can accommodate diverse learning styles. With just a computer and an internet connection, students can embark on incredible adventures, regardless of physical limitations or geographical constraints.
5. Reinforcing Classroom Concepts: These activities provide a tangible connection to the topics being studied in class. They serve as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications. 

Virtual field trips don’t have to replace traditional field trips entirely. But they are a powerful supplement that can enrich and expand your teaching toolkit. 

Ready to get started with? Here are some resources that make it easy, fun, and memorable for you and your students! 

Virtual Field Trip to the Beach

Virtual Camping Field Trip

Virtual Zoo Trip

Earth Day Field Trip 

Wizard School Virtual Trip

Can’t choose just one? Check out the bundle! 

If you want to learn more about these types of trips, check out my post here for a comparison of digital vs. in person field trips so that you can choose the right one for you!

As we near the end of another school year, we have a new group of seniors getting ready to begin a new chapter of their lives. That being said, I have been thinking about how we can create memory books with our students. Memory books are a great way to help them capture and treasure their high school memories. If you’re looking for senior memory book ideas, you’re in the right place! 

I know what you’re thinking: Why memory books? Well, let me tell you why they’re such a great choice for our seniors:

1. Reflection and Celebration: Memory books give our students a chance to reflect on their high school years and celebrate their achievements and personal growth. It’s a beautiful way for them to acknowledge the challenges they’ve overcome and the successes they’ve experienced.
2. Keepsake for the Future: Graduation is a significant milestone, and having a memory book will allow our seniors to look back on their high school journey years down the road. It becomes a cherished keepsake that brings back memories of friends, teachers, and unforgettable moments.
3. Self-Expression and Creativity: Memory books encourage our students to express their individuality and creativity through designs, handwritten notes, and personal anecdotes. It’s a chance for them to showcase their unique personalities and leave their mark on the pages of their high school legacy.

Creating memory books will not only help our seniors celebrate their accomplishments but also provide them with a lasting keepsake they can treasure for years to come. So, let’s get creative and make their high school memories truly unforgettable!

If you’re looking for some perfect memory books or senior memory book template that is simple and digital so students can create them easily and keep them with them forever, I have you covered with my Digital Yearbook For Seniors resource! 

Students who are participating in the digital option will have easy-to-identify text boxes to edit with directions. They can insert images, text, and even videos if they want to save their memories digitally. They can add school colors, and senior pictures, write their feelings about the end of the year, anything they may have missed from being out of school, and so much more! Students can print them out as a keepsake or just keep them digitally.

What is included?

• 33 Google Slides (with text boxes and directions and 4 slides at the end to PERSONALIZE and EDIT for future YEARS) to push out easily to students to edit on their own. 4 pages are decorative but blank to easily personalize with editing. Each slide has directions on the right side and edit boxes to add text.
• 38 PDF (same images, but easy-to-print file)
• 4 Pages PDF, with directions, terms, and credits

Topics Included on the pages:

• Favorites
• Accomplishments
• Hobbies
• Friends
• Things They Miss
• Next Year’s Goals
• Next Year’s PLANS
• Vacation Wish List
• I am Grateful
• Quarantine Writing Pages
• Top 3 Senior Moments
• If I Could Change the World
• One Word from friends and family to Describe YOU 
• All About Me
• Homecoming
• Prom ( Pages have directions on the side. If they missed prom, they can write about how the plans were changed or delete the page.)
• I Feel Special
• Graduation (add pictures of how they celebrated this important moment)
• Autograph Page (digitally get Autographs from friends)

I love this resource because using Google Slides makes it so easy for students to create, no digging around for printed photos or keepsakes, everything can be added digitally. It also makes the perfect senior memory book project for the end of the year! 

Want to learn more about creating memory books in any grade? Check out my post here! 

Will you be making a memory book with seniors this year? Share your ideas in the comments!