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Whether tending to a loved one, taking in a conference, or simply taking a well-deserved personal day, every teacher has occasion not to be in the classroom. And every teacher has the responsibility to provide a sure-fire, successful plan for the substitute who will bravely step into his or her shoes. This Teacher Appreciation Week, in recognition of all that you do, Education World provides five lessons to leave behind for your class and your substitute to enjoy! Included: Five lessons that span the grades, require few materials, and make learning fun!

Teacher Appreciation Day is right around the corner! This special day is a chance for everyone, including Education World, to express thanks for everything that teachers do for students every day. As a present to teachers, this week we provide five lessons designed to make the substitute's day, and a teacher's planning, a little easier. (Or maybe you just want to keep these fun lessons to yourself!)

In these resources, you will find activities that teach art, mathematics, language arts, history, and more. With minimum advance preparation, these activities are set for your substitute or you to use on a moment's notice!

FIVE LESSONS TO FILL UNPLANNED MOMENTS

This week Education World provides five lessons to leave for a substitute and students. Click on each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Approximate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)

Wacky Word Play
This lesson combines students' love of word games and drawing to promote critical thinking. (Grades 3-12)

Review Game
With minimum preparation, this fun review game can be adapted to any subject and used at any time! (Grades K-12)

You Be the Editor
Student-editors work in teams to find all the errors "planted" in a piece of text. (Grades K-12)

A Unique Drawing Experience
Students discover how, with only one set of directions, everyone creates a unique piece of abstract art. (Grades Pre-K-12)

Every Picture Tells a Story
This lesson has students examine unusual pictures, describe their impressions, and create stories around the images. (Grades K-12)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• MysteryNet's Kids Mysteries: Magic Tricks
  Here you will find several unique tricks that can be performed with a few common materials. Be aware that the tricks featured may change, and be sure to print those you may want to use again.
• Spells
  These activities include a scientific explanation of the forces that make them work!
• Funology.com: Abracadabra!
  Probably the most extensive collection of children's magic tricks on the Internet, this site includes optical illusions, card tricks, number tricks, object tricks, and more!

Article by Cara Bafile
Education World®
Copyright © 2004 Education World

Originally published 05/03/2002
Links last updated 09/03/2004