Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
Renzulli Learning is here to help get you started with the new school year! By getting to know your student’s interests, learning styles, and expression styles early in the year, you can assign personalized activities to engage them in their schoolwork and keep them engaged all year long. Critical Thinking is a valuable skill that is sometimes lost throughout summer vacation!
This week we are highlighting our favorite Critical Thinking Resources to help your students get their brains back into the swing of things. We have thousands of Critical Thinking Activities in our database across all subject areas. Your students are sure to find something to engage and inspire them!
Check out a few of our favorite activities below!
To locate these activities within Renzulli Learning you can SEARCH Enrichment Activities and type in the title of the activity you would like to locate. For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
K-2
Anansi Does the Impossible Even and Odd Math
Mathematics
We all love the tales of Anansi the Spider. Visit this site to do some math with him. Work on your even and odd math skills with Anansi!
Color the Larger Shape
Mathematics
A larger shape covers more area. Can you tell which shape is larger? Check out this worksheet to test your measurement skills.
Here's Where I Live!
Geography
You live in a house. That house is on a street, in a neighborhood, in a city. Print these pages and learn some words about place! Fill in the blanks, and draw pictures, to show where you live
3-5
Design a Habitat
Science
This totally fun simulation allows you to create up to five different habitats with a selection of customizable, cartoonish animals and plants that belong in the habitats. In addition, you can enter the "lost dimension" where they can craft their own animals from the parts of different animals!
Destination: Mars
Science
The good news is that you have been chosen as one of the astronauts for a mission to Mars. The bad news is that you can only pack 10 items to take with you. Work with a group of classmates, and learn more about scarcity, wants, and economic decision making.
Electricity: No Way!
Writing
How well do you understand electricity? In this simulation activity, you're an editor. It's up to you to decide whether two stories about energy and electricity are accurate and deserve to be published. You may wish to play the game at the Renzulli resource "Electricity: Monster Music" before trying this activity.
6-9
Beta Decay
Science
Science
Beta decay is the process in which an electron is emitted from an atom. This type of radioactive decay happens when an isotope is unstable. Learn how charges change with this beta decay discussion!
Don't Forget
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
You get to school and realize you forgot your lunch at home. You take a test and you can't remember half the answers. You see the new kid who just joined your class, and you can't remember his name. Some days, it seems like your brain is taking a holiday--you can't remember anything! Here are some activities to test your memory -- and some things you can try to help you remember things better.
Alien Taxonomy
Science
Science
You are an alien taxonomist! You must give these aliens a scientific name, according to their Kingdom, Phylum, Genus, and Species. Show the structure of the Kingdom by creating a chart. Click the link to start classifying the aliens on Bizarro-World!
10-12
Animals and Culture
Science
Science
Is culture unique to human beings, or can animals also acquire, share, and preserve new skills and knowledge? Scientists have long recognized learned behaviors in animals, but recent years have brought increasing discussion of evidence for social learning and local variations among such diverse animals as whales, monkeys, and birds.
Bird Beaks and Feet
Science
Science
You can learn many things about a bird from its beak and feet. You can tell about its habitat and environment, along with what it hunts. Visit this site to learn about a bird, its beak, and feet! Try classifying each bird by looking at these features.
IBM Research -- Ponder This
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
You are invited to challenge your mind against some of IBM's best researchers! Do you want to take a crack at solving some interesting word problems? Check out these monthly brain bogglers to test your math skills. Can you beat the minds at IBM?
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team