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Peggy Reimers

With a passion for technology and a creative hands-on approach, Peggy shares 26 years of elementary teaching and educational technology experience through her interactive professional development for educators. She earned her M.S. in Educational Technology from Lesley University and her B.S. in Elementary Education from Montana State University Billings.

Try these fourteen, fast bellringers with your students.
Classroom Activities

“Fast Fourteen” Bellringers

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

If you’re searching for a quick and flexible option to keep things focused (but still fun!), these “Fast Fourteen” bellringers might be just the thing.

I created these activities as a ready-to-go resource for teachers looking for something simple, quick, and meaningful to keep students engaged during those final weeks of school. They’re perfect for bellringers, early finishers, brain breaks, or class warm-up, and best of all, they come in three levels of challenge to suit your students’ needs.

Media

What is Fast Fourteen?

Each activity page presents students with 14 fun prompts, asking them to list three words per category. Think:
“Things that roll”
 “Foods that are sweet”
 “Things that spin”

It’s fast, creative, and gets your brain moving without feeling like busywork.

There are three differentiated levels included:

  • Brain Breeze (Easy) – Light and easy-peasy
  • Brain Boost (Medium) – A step up in challenge
  • Turbo-Charged (Hard) – For your deep thinkers or learners that need a challenge

Use them however it fits:

  • As individual or group work
  • For a quick warm-up or cool-down
  • In sub plans or last-minute lesson gaps
  • Even as a class competition (timer optional!)

Grab the Resources

Let’s Mix it Up – Extension Ideas

 1. Use as a Conversation Starter
Have students circle a favorite category after they finish and share it with a partner. You’ll get a quick snapshot of their interests — and a lot of great conversations!

2. Flip It into Student-Led Fun
 Let students create their own “14 Quick Picks” set! They’ll love challenging their classmates—and it builds higher-order thinking skills in the process.

3. Add a Timer for a Speed Round
 Set a three or four minute timer to make it a fast-paced challenge. You’ll be amazed at how focused students get with just a little pressure.

4. Tie It to Content
 Have students come up with words related to a current unit. (e.g., 14 Quick Picks: Life Science Edition with categories like “Things that grow” or “Living things with wings.”)

5. Use for a Friendly Competition
 Divide the class into teams. Each team fills out the same set, and you award points for unique answers, most creative, or most complete. Instant engagement!

If you are looking for more activities, check these out:

This, Not That Bellringers

What’s Going On in This Picture?

Whether you need a burst of brainpower to start the day or a calm-close activity to keep learning moving, I hope you can use Fast Fourteen in your classroom. So feel free to grab a set, pick your level, and let your students think in threes—you might be surprised by what rolls, spins, or sweetens up your classroom energy.

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English Language Arts Reading (ELAR)Uncategorized

Frayer Model + Emoji Kitchen = Vocabulary Magic!

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

As a TCEA blog writer and former elementary teacher, I’m always on the lookout for creative and effective ways to spark learning in the classroom. Today, I’m excited to share a fresh twist on the Frayer Model: using Emoji Kitchen. By merging the playful creativity of emoji mashups with the structured, concept-building power of the Frayer Model, educators can offer students a fun, visual, and engaging way to deepen their vocabulary understanding. 

This approach not only makes learning new words more enjoyable but also reinforces comprehension through both context and creativity. If you haven’t seen my original post on using Emoji Kitchen in the ELA classroom, be sure to check it out.

Emoji Kitchen

Emoji Kitchen is a playful feature that allows users to create custom emojis by combining different emoji elements. This creative process encourages users to think outside the box and express their ideas in a visually appealing manner. By utilizing Emoji Kitchen, learners can associate emotions and concepts with words, making vocabulary learning more relatable and memorable.

The Frayer Model

The Frayer Model is a graphic organizer used to help students understand vocabulary words in depth. It typically includes four sections:

  • Definition: A clear and concise explanation of the word.
  • Characteristics: Key attributes or features of the word.
  • Examples: Sentences or scenarios that illustrate the word in context.
  • Non-examples: Instances that clarify what the word does not mean.

This structured approach encourages critical thinking and helps students build a comprehensive understanding of vocabulary. For more detailed information, please read my colleague, Dr. Bruce Ellis’ blog on The Frayer Model: Transforming Vocabulary Learning in All Grade Levels.  Need a template? You can make a copy here: Frayer Model Template.

Merging Emoji Kitchen with the Frayer Model

By integrating Emoji Kitchen with the Frayer Model, educators can create a dynamic vocabulary learning experience. Here’s how to implement this combination:

  • Choose a Vocabulary Word: Select a word that students need to learn.
  • Fill Out the Frayer Model: Students then complete the four sections of the Frayer Model for the vocabulary word.
  • Create an Emoji: Using Emoji Kitchen, students can design a custom emoji that represents the chosen word. This visual representation reinforces their understanding, as well as encouraging creativity and personal connection to the vocabulary.
  • Share and Discuss: Students can present their emojis and Frayer Models to the class, fostering discussion and collaborative learning.

Benefits of This Approach

  • Engagement: The creative aspect of Emoji Kitchen captures students’ interest and motivates them to participate actively in vocabulary learning.
  • Visual Learning: Associating words with images helps reinforce memory and understanding.
  • Critical Thinking: The Frayer Model encourages deeper analysis of words, promoting critical thinking skills.
  • Collaboration: Sharing creations fosters a sense of community and collaboration among students.

Adding a Little More Flair

Want to take it up a notch? Have your students find a quote that connects to their word—then go wild with even more emojis!

Combining Emoji Kitchen with the Frayer Model is a fun and creative way to make vocabulary learning more meaningful (and way more engaging IMHO). It’s the perfect mix of imagination and structure—helping students not just remember new words, but really understand and use them. This simple but powerful combo adds a little spark to your lessons and helps set students up for success in both the classroom and beyond. Give it a try and I hope you see vocabulary magic in action!

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Futuristic high-tech laboratory with neon blue and green lighting, sleek metallic surfaces, and robotic arms. A city skyline is visible through the glass walls. A bold title at the top reads "Escape from Laboratory ZYXW – A Classroom Robotics Challenge."
Robotics

Unlock STEM Learning with the “Escape from Laboratory ZYXW” Robotics Challenge

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Imagine a room buzzing with excitement as educators tackle a series of puzzles and hands-on engineering tasks. This was the scene at my TCEA 2025 Convention & Exposition learning lab. The Escape from Laboratory ZYXW robotics challenge, where teams worked tirelessly to program LEGO SPIKE Prime robots.

For three action-packed hours, participants raced against the clock, solving eight unique challenges. The atmosphere was electric as they collaborated and problem-solved their way through each obstacle. In a thrilling finish, with just six minutes to spare, the teams successfully “escaped” from Laboratory ZYXW.

This experience showcased the power of teamwork, creativity, and robotics skills in action.

The Awarding of the Escape Medallions at TCEA 2025 Convention & Exposition

Introducing the “Escape from Laboratory ZYXW” Robotics Challenge

I am so excited to release the “Escape from Laboratory ZYXW” robotics challenge materials to teachers and robot enthusiasts. This robotics escape room experience is perfect for:

  • Robotics clubs
  • Technology classes
  • Afterschool programs
  • Summer camps

It’s designed to engage students in grades 3-12, promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and hands-on STEM skills.

The Premise

Imagine a secret lab where humans suddenly gain consciousness. They realize they’re captives and must escape before being “ctrl + alt + deleted.” Can they work together to build tools and break free from the complex systems holding them in?

Challenge Structure

  • 8 total challenges
  • 6 challenges tackled simultaneously by different teams
  • 2 final challenges solved as a whole group

Teams use either LEGO SPIKE Prime or VEX IQ kits to complete the missions.

Eight Exciting Robotics Challenges

Screenshot from the Main Planning Document
  1. Critical Capsule Extraction
    • Tagline: “Navigate, Extract, Secure: Q-Bits Are Your Key!”
    • Task: Design a robot to travel on a pool noodle and touch a container to retrieve crucial Q-Bits.
    • Equipment: Pool noodle (1 or 2), Q-Bits: glass vase gems (something similar) , container, blue tape
  2. Oxygen Release
    • Tagline: “Breathe Free to Break Free!”
    • Task: Create a robot with an extension mechanism to knock Wiffle balls off PVC pipes, releasing vital oxygen.
    • Equipment: 5 PVC couplers, 5 wiffle balls, poster board mat
  3. Operation Highwire
    • Tagline: “Ride the line, deliver the future: Every Q-Bit counts!”
    • Task: Build a robot capable of moving along a cable to transport and drop Q-Bits into a specific container.
    • Equipment: 6 feet nylon rope, structure to tie rope off, poster board for wall, Q-Bit Container (Q-bits will be provided by Challenge #1)
  4. Threaded Fate
    • Tagline: “Match or be crushed!”
    • Task: Construct a drill-like robot to unscrew and transfer nuts between bolts on a board.
    • Equipment: 4 bolts and nuts secured on a board, socket with LEGO motor axle (.stl file provided)
  5. Cylindrical Cipher Retrieval (CCR)
    • Tagline: “Cylindrical Secrets: Grab and Go!”
    • Task: Design a robot with a grabbing mechanism to retrieve a cylinder containing crucial information.
    •  Equipment: Cylinder container/holder, cipher poem,  poster board
  6. Power Core Stabilization
    • Tagline: “Balance the core or face a meltdown!”
    • Task: Create a robot that can spin a top using gears for a specific duration to stabilize the power core.
    •  Equipment: Poster board, a top made out of the LEGO SPIKE Prime wheel
  7. Quantum Cipher Convergence
    • Tagline: “Unite minds, unlock destiny!”
    • Task: Program SPIKE Prime Hubs to display the correct sequence of symbols from the Six Symbol Cipher.
    • Equipment: 6 SPIKE Prime Hubs (1 for each team member or group)
  8. Chromatic Code Sequence
    • Tagline: “Align the spectrum, secure freedom!”
    • Task: Decode and display a precise color sequence on SPIKE Prime Hubs to activate the final escape protocol. (This might have to be changed if using the VEX IQ system.)
    • Equipment: 6 SPIKE Prime Hubs (1 for each team member or group)

Get Access to Lab ZYXW Materials

Challenge 2: Oxygen Release

Email preimers@tcea.org for access to the full set of Lab ZYXW robotics challenge documents, including:

  • Main planning document
  • Slide decks
  • Hint cards with build and programming examples
  • Photos and videos
  • Engineering Design Process Journal
  • 3D printable files for custom parts

Give Credit Where Credit is Due!

The creation of “Escape from Laboratory ZYXW” was inspired by several key influences. James Floyd Kelly’s “The Mayan Adventure” served as a foundational inspiration, demonstrating how storytelling and robotics challenges could be seamlessly integrated.

A big shout-out to Jacob Luevano, LEGO Education Certified Teacher Trainer, whose TCEA 2024 robotics session sparked a circuit board of inspiration in my CPU. His workshop idea was the catalyst that set this whole adventure in motion.

And oh, the adventures I’ve had with my robotics compadre, Kathy Holberg! During our time teaching together at Bastrop ISD, we embarked on countless adventures in guiding fifth and sixth grade students through the maze of coding to powering up teachers with new skill. We’ve been on a non-stop journey of robotic discovery, which goes all the way back – all the way to the days of the LEGO RCX!

Are You Up for the Challenge?

“Escape from Laboratory ZYXW” is your key to unlocking a world of excitement and learning! As a robotics educator, I’ve seen firsthand how robotics challenges electrify students’ minds and supercharge their problem-solving skills.

Picture this: teams racing against the clock, minds whirring faster than robot motors, collaborating to crack codes and engineer solutions. It’s more than a lesson – it’s an adventure that will have them talking (and thinking) long after the bell rings.

So, are you ready to revolutionize your robotics teaching? Grab these materials, fire up LEGO SPIKE Prime or VEX IQ, and watch your students transform into innovative problem-solvers. Let’s code the future and engineer some serious fun!

Go bot or go home!

Peggy

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Spring Digital Breakout
Digital Breakout

A Spring Digital Breakout

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

You can’t celebrate spring without a little mystery and problem-solving! This seasonal spring digital breakout is perfect for keeping students engaged while giving their brains a fun workout. With just one main image and a single block of text, it’s simple to run—but still packed with critical thinking.

It’s a great fit for upper elementary or middle school students, and perfect for spring fever days when focus is fading fast.

Need the answers? Make sure your teaching credentials are included and email preimers@tcea.org to request the key!

Access Spring Breakout

More Free Digital Breakouts

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A vibrant educational graphic with a green background, featuring the title "Spring Into Learning Activities" in bold white text, surrounded by colorful springs and activity titles inside comic-style burst shapes.
Classroom ActivitiesContent CreationDigital BreakoutSeasonal ActivitiesUncategorized

Five Fresh and Fun Spring Activities for the Classroom: Engage Your Students This Season

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Spring has sprung, and it’s time to bring some blooming brilliant fun into your classroom! As the Northern Hemisphere awakens from its winter slumber, here are FIVE spring-themed activities to brighten up your learning spaces with the vibrant energy of the season.

Which One Does Not Belong?

The Spring What Does Not Belong? Canva presentation is a ready-to-go activity for your use, and you can modify the template to suit your needs. Each slide has four options, and the participant decides which doesn’t belong. There isn’t just one correct answer for most, and it’s interesting to hear what object students pick and why. Have your students give their reason, and cheers to lively discussions!

Presentation
Template

Connections Game with Flippity

Second on the list is my favorite tool in Flippity.net is the Group Game maker, so I have to use it every time I get a chance. Below you can try out two spring-themed “NYT-esque Connections” games. If you need more detail about how to use Connections in the classroom – check it out here. I also have a blog that gives you plenty of details about this new Flippity tool. 

Spring #1
Spring #2

A Seasonal Spring Digital Breakout

You can’t celebrate Springtime without a breakout! This breakout is an easier one with just one main image and one block of text.  Please make sure you have your teaching credentials in your email in case you want to request the answers at preimers@tcea.org.

Spring Breakout

Can You Spring the Right Answer?

I am currently on a roll with a brand new type of game where you have to figure out a phrase with a certain commonality.  For “Can You Spring the Right Answer?,” each clue provides a hint related to a phrase including the word “spring or springs.” If you want an activity for a faculty meeting or professional development session, this is more geared for adults.

Presentation
Template

Bonus

Additionally, the activity “It’s All About the Green” was originally designed for St. Patrick’s Day, but its focus on the color green makes it perfectly adaptable for spring-themed activities as well.

Presentation
Template

Vanishing Vowels: Spring Edition

Finally, Vanishing Vowels: Spring Edition is hot off the press. The winter version had 3,300 views, so I thought a spring edition would be a good follow-up. Vanishing Vowels focuses on words related to a particular season. In this activity, 18 words are presented without any vowels. Students need to figure out what the word is! Each slide with missing vowels is immediately followed by the complete word and an image representation of the word. Two ways to use this spring-themed activity:

  • Use it as an individual or group exercise where students work together to decipher the words based on consonants. Furthermore, this encourages teamwork, builds class community, and also incorporates word recognition into the mix.
  • Use it as a creative spelling activity where students add the appropriate vowels back in to spell the winter words. This activity enhances students’ word recognition skills and offers an opportunity to reinforce spelling proficiency in a fun and interactive manner. 

Additionally, if you have other suggestions teachers, please drop a comment in the chat.

Presentation
Template

To sum up, I hope one of the spring-themed activities I designed will bounce into your teacher toolbox. These five activities are designed for ease of use and ready-to-go for the classroom. As we all welcome the season of renewal, let’s “spring into action” and make this spring one to remember! Wishing you a blooming great spring for the remainder of the school year! I have just sprung all the springs on you, I can! =0)

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Canva Whiteboard
Canva

Canva Whiteboard Sticky Note Sorting

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Calling all Canva Educator Users! I bet you are ALREADY using Canva to create presentations because the elements are JUST so unbeatable. The close second thing on my “I LOVE CANVA” list is the thousands of educational templates available that you can modify with a click of a mouse. The third thing on my list is the Canva Whiteboard feature. For a basic rundown of this collaborative space, please check out my colleague Miguel Guhlin’s blog.

Canva Whiteboard Basics

A Canva Whiteboard is a collaborative space that offers infinite room to brainstorm, plan projects, or create interactive and visually appealing educational content . It includes the following features: 

  • Real-time cursors
  • Timers
  • Sticky notes
  • Images
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Stickers

The BIG NEWS!

Sorting by Topic

You can sort the sticky notes on a Canva Whiteboard and you have several options:

  • By color: Organizes sticky notes based on their color
  • By name: Arranges sticky notes alphabetically by their title or content
  • By topic: Groups sticky notes according to their subject or theme
  • By reactions: Sorts sticky notes based on the reactions or feedback they have received

These options help you keep your whiteboard organized and make it easier to find specific notes.

The Steps

  1. Click and drag to select the sticky notes you want to sort.
  2. From the toolbar, select Sort.
  3. Choose from the sorting options:
    1. By color 
    2. By name 
    3. By topic 
    4. By reactions

Canva Whiteboard’s Summary Form

And if that wasn’t enough, you can also create a summary from the sticky notes.

The summary will give you  a brief, concise overview of all thes sticky notes posted on the whiteboard. Thanks to Janet Corder for this feature shared in the TCEA Lunch and Learn Smackdown in December of 2024.

The Steps

  1. Click and drag to select the sticky notes you want to sort
  2. From the toolbar, select Resize
  3. Under Magic Switch, choose Transform into Doc
  4. Click on the ellipsis and select Executive Summary
  5. Click the purple button, Transform into Doc
  6. Click the purple button, Open Doc

Try it out today!

Incorporating Canva Whiteboards into your educational toolkit can help you collaborate and brainstorm with your students or colleagues. And if  you need to organize those sticky notes in the creative process or in the  learning – Canva has you covered.

Featured image courtesy of Grafikonteam, digital content creator for Canva

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Educational games to celebrate Texas in your classroom.
Announcements/Important DatesClassroom ActivitiesSeasonal Activities

Educational Games to Celebrate Texas

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Yeehaw, y’all! Saddle up and get ready to lasso some Texas-sized knowledge about the Lone Star State! With Texas Independence Day riding into town in March, it’s the perfect time to celebrate and learn more about what makes Texas so legendary. It’s not just another day on the calendar—it’s a full-blown rodeo of freedom, grit, and good ol’ Texas spirit! Yes, I know this introductory paragraph was over the top, but we are talking TEXAS here!

So, whether you’re celebrating Texas Independence Day on March 2 or diving into the Lone Star State’s rich past, these engaging games and activities are a great way to bring some Texas-sized learning to your classroom all year long.

Texas Trivia

First on the list of resources is the Canva presentation Texas Trivia. The presentation has 20 questions with four answers and the next slide provides the answers. The questions I would say are pretty basic – nothing crazy!

Access the Resource
Edit the Template

Which One Doesn’t Belong: Texas Edition

This is another ready-to-go activity for your Texas Independence Day fun, and you can even modify the template to suit your needs. Each of the 17 slides has four options, and the participant decides which option doesn’t belong. There isn’t just one correct answer for most! It’s interesting to hear what object students pick and why. Have your students give their reason, and cheers to lively discussions!

Access the Resource
Edit the Template

Y’all Know Your Texas Town Nicknames?

Texas, known as the Lone Star State, has a rich history of nicknames for both the state itself and its various cities. The Canva presentation consists of 19 large, middle, and small populated cities. Each city has a small number in the bottom left corner indicating how many nicknames it has. The following slide gives the answers in the red. 

Access the Resource
Edit the Template

NYT Connections Game: Texas Edition

Have you checked out the newest tool from Flippity?  It is the Group Game maker, so of course, I have to use it every time I get a chance. Below you can try out two Texas themed “NYT-esque Connections” games. The first one is easy and the TX Connections 2 is a bit more challenging. If you need more detail about how to use Connections in the classroom – check it out here. I also have a blog that gives you plenty of details about this new Flippity tool. 

Texas Connections 1
Texas Connections 2

Digital Breakouts: Texas Edition

You can’t celebrate Texas Independence Day without a breakout, and I’ve got just the thing to put some Lone Star digital breakout spirit in your classroom. Saddle up for two rootin’ tootin’ digital breakouts that’ll have your students more excited than a jackrabbit in a carrot patch. For the greenhorns, we’ve got an easier Texas-themed challenge, while the real cowboys can wrangle with the Lone Star State edition in Peggy Reimers’ 50 States Digital Breakout collection. If you get stuck faster than a tumbleweed in a fence, just shoot Peggy an email at preimers@tcea.org for the answers. So grab your virtual lasso and get ready to corral some knowledge, Texas-style!

 If you need more information on digital breakouts, please check out my Digital Breakouts 101 blog. 

Texas Greenhorns
Texas Wranglers

Well, buckaroos, there you have it! A whole corral full of Texas-sized activities to celebrate the Lone Star State. Whether you’re wranglin’ up some trivia, nicknamin’ towns, or playin’ connection games, you’re sure to have a rootin’ tootin’ good time learnin’ about Texas. So grab your ten-gallon hat, rustle up some students, and let’s make this Texas-sized celebration bigger than a prairie sky! Yeehaw!

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Holiday and Winter Classroom IdeasSeasonal Activities

Five Magical Digital Snowflake Makers for Engaging STEM Lessons

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Brrr! It’s finally winter time in Texas and I can finally think about cold stuff! If you are ready to warm up your classroom with some frosty fun, check out these enchanting digital snowflake makers that make for super engaging STEM lessons. Your students will be creating unique, crystalline masterpieces faster than you can say “Let it snow!”

Snowflake Maker #1

Paper Snowflake Maker

RectangleWorld’s snowflake activity is called Paper Snowflake Maker, which is interesting since you create it digitally. This maker has you drawing a polygon by clicking on the board to create vertices. You need to close the polygon by clicking on the first vertex. After closing the polygon, you can edit it by dragging the dots or starting another polygon. The magic occurs after hitting the green “make snowflake!” button. There are six background colors to choose from, and you can save the image to your computer. Bonus – there are no ads on the snowflake maker page.

Snowflake Maker #2

Snowflake Generator  

Transum.org is an educational website dedicated to making mathematics engaging and enjoyable for both teachers and learners. The site offers a wide array of free resources including mathematical activities, puzzles, and visual aids.

Their snowflake generator consists of moving green dots on a triangle. You also have the ability to change the snowflake color, line color, and the thickness of the line. In addition, they have five challenges where you move one green dot to replicate the displayed snowflake – which is quite challenging. You can also copy your creation and share your snowflake on their website. You can easily share this link in Google Classroom. The website is pretty amazing, and if you are looking for Math activities, certainly check out this free website.

Snowflake Maker #3

Snowflake Maker – Free Online Paper Snowflake Generator

Playback.fm’s paper snowflake maker has you cutting a path by clicking and dragging your mouse as the line continues. You double-click to release the line and then click the “generate” button to see your snowflake. Lastly, you can easily download or print your snowflake. Below the generator are directions to make a paper snowflake which come with step-by-step instructions and photographs.

Be aware this website has many advertisements.

Snowflake Maker #4

Make-a-Flake

The trick to the ICT Games Make-a-Flake is to click on the directions paragraph which will disappear and leave you with a white cone shape. You then have six gray points to manipulate, but you just need to click on the edge of the cone and another gray dot will appear. It is a bit tricky at first. After getting your points just right, click on “unfold” and your design is revealed. You can make your snowflake full screen and start a new flake which ends your options on this snowflake creator.

Snowflake Maker #5

Planet Ice Snowflakes

Canadian Museum of Nature’s Virtual Snowflake Maker is very different from the above selections. The designer has two styles to choose from, and then using your mouse you draw a line which is automatically copied in 12 lines of symmetry. You can then pick up your mouse and keep drawing lines and for a unique twist, try clicking on the black dots. When you are done with your masterpiece, click the “finish” button in the lower right corner for a very cool display of your snowflake. The directions can also be viewed in French, and you have the ability to restart, download, or share your snowflake.

There you have it, a mini avalanche of digital snowflake makers that are sure to turn your classroom into a winter wonderland of learning. Whether you’re teaching geometry, symmetry, or just want to add a cool factor to your already engaging STEM lessons, these tools will have your students flaking out in the best way possible. So, bundle up your creativity and let the flurry of digital artistry begin!

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Classroom ActivitiesSeasonal ActivitiesValentine's Day

Three Brand-New Valentine’s Day Activities to Sweeten Your Lesson Plans

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Last year I released six Valentine’s Day activities for the Heart Day, and this year I received a request for even more – so what can I say, here at TCEA we aim to please. Below you will find three more activities that I hope will level up your Valentine’s Day in the classroom and faculty meetings.

What Does Not Belong?

The Valentine’s Day What Does Not Belong? Canva presentation is a ready-to-go activity for your use, and you can modify the template to suit your needs. Each slide has four options, and the participant decides which doesn’t belong. There isn’t just one correct answer for most, and it’s interesting to hear what object students pick and why. Have your students give their reason, and props to lively discussions!

Template
Access the resource

V-Day Trivia

This Canva inspired trivia deck was designed by creator, @speechzella. She designed a presentation containing trivia questions for speech therapy. I made a few minor changes to her original presentation which has twelve pretty easy trivia questions. And after each question, the answer follows. 

Template
Access the resource

It’s All About the Red

I am currently on a roll with a brand new type of game where you have to correctly complete a phrase with a certain commonality.  For “It’s All About the Red,” each clue provides a hint related to a word or phrase including the word “red.” If you are having a get together for family or friends, or if you want an activity for a faculty meeting, this is more geared for adults. 

Template
Access the resource

Don’t forget to explore last year’s activities plus the digital breakout for even more Valentine’s Day excitement. With these activities in your toolkit, you’re all set to create memorable and fun Valentine’s Day experiences for your students. Happy teaching, and happy Valentine’s Day!

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Holiday and Winter Classroom IdeasNew Year

Three Activities for the Chinese New Year

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

It’s time to welcome the Chinese New Year! The Year of the Snake is set to begin on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, marking the start of the most important traditional holiday in China. Also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, this celebration is a time for honoring deities and ancestors, family reunions, feasts, and various customs meant to bring good luck for the coming year. To help your students learn about the rich traditions and symbolism of this ancient festival, I’ve prepared a trio of activities for the Chinese New Year:

Happy Chinese New Year Digital Breakout

Are you ready to embark on a cultural journey and unlock the mysteries of the Chinese New Year? The Year of the Snake digital breakout awaits your puzzle-solving skills! This breakout adventure will test your problem-solving skills, teamwork, and knowledge about Chinese traditions.

Important Information

  • Unravel clues and hidden messages carefully concealed within the site’s content about Chinese New Year customs and symbolism to solve the breakout.
  • Put your critical thinking and collaboration skills to work as you unlock five digital puzzles: 4 Word Lock, 6 Number Lock, 4 Direction Lock, 6 Direction Lock, and a Number Symbol Lock. 
  • Special Note on the Number Symbol Lock. This is my own creation of a lock! Look for an object you see a whole bunch of on the page. Symbols could be like a star, a cloud, or perhaps a shape. Keep count of how many symbols you spot, and this is the number you will use in the lock answer (e.g., 23STAR or 18CIRCLE.
  • Submit your answers through a user-friendly Google Form: Each solved puzzle brings you closer to the ultimate goal— a breakout.
  • Teachers, remember if you need answers, email preimers@tcea.org
  • If you are new to breakouts, I highly recommend my FAQ Digital Breakout post.
Access the Breakout

Lucky Words

Get ready to test your linguistic luck with “Lucky Words,” an engaging Canva presentation that will challenge your knowledge of fortune-filled phrases! This clever game serves up 18 tantalizing clues, each featuring a word, idiom, or phrase containing “luck” or “lucky.” But don’t worry if Lady Luck isn’t on your side – every brain-teasing definition is followed by its answer, giving you a chance to learn as you play. 

“Will you be able to guess them all before the reveal, or will you need a stroke of good fortune? So, cross your fingers, rub your rabbit’s foot, and see if you can luck out with this activity.

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Happy Lunar New Year Trivia

Get ready to test your knowledge of Chinese New Year traditions with this bold Canva presentation! Featuring 14 trivia questions, this game covers various aspects of the Spring Festival. Each question is immediately followed by its answer, allowing players to learn as they go. Teachers can easily customize the template to suit their students’ needs, making it a perfect addition to your Chinese New Year classroom activities. Whether you’re new to Chinese culture or well-versed in its traditions, this trivia game offers both fun and learning as you welcome the Year of the Snake!

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BONUS: Good Luck Charms Around the World

As we celebrate the Chinese New Year, a time steeped in traditions believed to bring good fortune, it’s fascinating to explore how different cultures around the world seek luck through various charms and symbols. Check out my informational presentation on global good luck charms. Just as the Chinese have their lucky red envelopes and auspicious decorations, other cultures have their own unique talismans and rituals, each with its own rich history and significance.

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By incorporating these activities into your classroom, you’re not just teaching about a holiday; you’re opening doors to cultural awareness and global citizenship. As the Year of the Snake approaches, may your classroom be filled with the spirit of discovery, the joy of learning, and the excitement of new beginnings.

祝你好运 (zhù nǐ hǎo yùn) – May good fortune flow your way!

Peggy

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