Below is a list of topical FCS Related Podcasts for your summer listening pleasure! I will admit that I have not listened to all of these, but I’ve been accumulating the list for over a year and most of the suggested podcasts came recommended through educational sources. If you discover any that should not be on this list, please let me know. Additionally, if you have suggestions of podcasts that should be included, please let me know and I will update the list.
This fun, interactive activity comes to you from Tonya Tabb, a FACS teacher at the sister school in my district! The unique thing about this “Chopped: Recipe Version” is that no food or cooking are required! This is a great activity to use when you have a few days at the end of a semester or right before a break to keep your students engaged!
Biscotti was on my list of foods to try for quite some time! It took a friend giving me a birthday gift of biscotti in a variety of flavors to prompt me to actually learn to make it, which then prompted me to create this “How to Make Biscotti” interactive for both virtual and in class students! It also makes a great holiday treat to serve or gift to friends and family!
Do you remember pretend play when you were young? As a child, it was one of my favorite activities to engage in with my sisters, usually in the form of “house, office, school or “dress-up”! Regardless of whether you call it dramatic play, pretend play or fantasy play, it still plays a valuable role in the lives of children especially in day care centers!
Grief and Loss can be a difficult and sensitive topic to talk about let alone teach. So a big THANK YOU goes out to Darci Friberg of Missouri for sharing her Grief & Loss lesson! This came about during the pandemic when Darci was struggling to describe what she was feeling which was grief. The lesson is not only therapeutic, but devotes time talking about a topic many avoid.
As you may be aware, many of our students do not feel comfortable communicating face to face with adults, even if they are familiar with them. They openly admit they are scared, uncomfortable and would rather text than talk! Because of this, I created the Face to Face Conversation Challenge to help them practice their skills and hopefully feel more at ease when conversing with others, both familiar and unfamiliar! Admittedly, students were not enthusiastic about this assignment because it forced them to face their fear and step out of their comfort zone. Afterwards, my heart was full as students actually thanked me for giving them this assignment! They shared how it helped them grow and they realized that this is a practical life skill they are going to need throughout their personal and professional life!
After participating in two “Creating Digital Interactive Notebook” webinar sessions with Lindsey Harlan, I felt brave enough to attempt my first digital interactive notebook! The DINB: Cheese Unit covers a variety of information around cheese and also includes a couple of tasty labs (according to my students)! If you have the opportunity to participate in any of Lindsey’s sessions, I highly recommend it!
I don’t know about you, but I love teaching about topics that have two sides and sometimes a bit of controversy to them. Having read several articles about organic vs non-organic foods, I created this Organic vs Non-Organic Foods Dilemma where students had to research both sides of the argument and form a response that supported their position.
Let me introduce you to a fairly new app that is part of the Google Suite called Jamboards! This is a free interactive whiteboard that students can create projects with or your can create activities or games for students to complete individually or as a class. The possibilities are endless. The Temper Tantrum Jamboard is just one of many examples of how I used this app while teaching in both in-person and hybrid/remote settings. I hope this inspires you to get the app and give it a try!
Do you teach a Housing or Interior Design class? Are in need of an end of the year project? If you answered “yes,” you must check out this impressive 3-D “Housing Final” project created and shared by Katelyn Propper of Indiana. Now, more than ever, students need a break from their screens and this hands-on housing project delivers that and more!
