Category: Life Skills Resources

Plant Based Proteins Part I: Beans & Legumes

by K.Graybill • March 1, 2019 • 1 Comment

I am a big fan of Michael Pollan’s work! I especially like what he has to say about food in his documentary “In Defense of Food”. Even if I don’t have time to show my students the documentary in its entirety, I do like to focus on certain parts of it. One in particular are his 7 words that he uses to sum up healthy eating: “Eat foods–Not Too Much–Mostly Plants”. It’s a great way to introduce students to different plant based foods! Read on to learn more about how those 7 words equate to a lesson about beans and legumes.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: An Interactive Lesson

by K.Graybill • February 1, 2019 • 0 Comments

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of those theories that is so versatile that it can be taught in a variety of ways and in a variety of classes. I know personally I’ve taught it in my child development course revolving around an infants needs and in housing lessons regarding how homes meet our needs. I also teach this concept in my Individual & Family Studies course when talking about what drives our behaviors, goals and even our decisions. The interactive lesson that ensues is the one I use in that class. It was set up to also include some reading and writing strategies and techniques because, in our school, we all have to help reinforce these concepts so that our school scores improve. However, I did also include some “hands-on” activity with play-doh as well as some technology because…it’s always fun to mix those two mediums together! Have fun and see if your students enjoy learning about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs!

Insurance Lessons for Middle & High School Teachers

by K.Graybill • January 11, 2019 • 4 Comments

This lesson plan, shared by Taylor Covington of The Zebra, introduces students to a broad overview of insurance. The concept of this website is to make understanding insurance as ‘black and white’ as possible, hence the name ‘zebra’. At the end of the lesson, students will be familiar with basic insurance terms and concepts. This curriculum will provide supplemental information for a unit on Personal Finance. The lesson can be covered in two 50-minute class periods, and hopefully, is as easy for the teacher to follow as it is for the kids to learn!

#ShowMeYourOvernightOats

by K.Graybill • October 26, 2018 • 2 Comments

Oats are a staple most cooks cannot live without! How many other whole grains pack as much healthful variety into their product? The thing I love about oats is the fact that they can be customized in so many recipes from breakfast foods, baked goods, healthy snacks, and even used in place of bread crumbs when making things such as salmon patties or meatloaf! I wanted my students to see, taste and appreciate the goodness that oats have to offer so when I saw a YouTube ad by Quaker Oats promoting an oats contest, I knew how I wanted to incorporate this information into my grain unit. However, if you don’t teach a unit specifically about grains, no worries as this can easily be incorporated into a breakfast or healthy snack unit!

Styles for Handling Conflict: Lesson & Activities

by K.Graybill • October 5, 2018 • 2 Comments

Conflicts exist everywhere: at home, at school and at work! No exemptions! However, just as the problems vary so do the ways ways that people may deal with them. Check out the interactive lesson below on how you can teach your students all about the various styles for handling conflict in both their personal and professional lives.

Teaching Employability Skills with “The Pursuit of Happyness” Movie

by K.Graybill • September 21, 2018 • 3 Comments

When I first started teaching about employability skills, my lesson was pretty dull, a real snoozer! Over the last few years, I’ve reworked the lesson to make it more interesting and engaging for my students. One of my all time favorite movies, The Pursuit of Happyness, is also incorporated into this lesson because it contains a ton of examples of employability skills in actiont! Check out the lesson below if you need to spice up your employability skills materials!

Groceries to Your Door: Compare & Contrast–Convenience Worth the Cost?

by K.Graybill • July 20, 2018 • 0 Comments

Have you ever made the statement “I wish I didn’t have to go to the grocery store! I wish my groceries could be delivered right to my door!” According to the media, online grocery deliveries are expanding and on the rise. This was a recent feature in our local Sunday paper and it caught my attention! I thought it a great way to have students investigate, research and analyze how cost effective the convenience of these services actually are. So, check out the activities below and if you have any suggestions, please share in the comment section below!

Coping Skills Toolbox

by K.Graybill • June 22, 2018 • 1 Comment

If you teach about crisis or mental illness, then this culminating activity shared by Michelle Overman, a FACS teacher from Greenville Central High School, Indiana, is one for your “tool belt”. Below you will find a variety of activities that Michelle uses when teaching this topic to her Human Development class with some additional ones that I’ve added.

Collards & Sense: A Food Dollars Curriculum for High School Students

by K.Graybill • May 18, 2018 • 1 Comment

Kayla Pins, a Family &Consumer Science teacher from Iowa, who was featured HERE, has been busy creating Collards & Sense: A free curriculum for high school students that helps students make wise choices with their food dollars. She has graciously given me permission to share this amazing 10 day curriculum that is full of meaningful, engaging and enriching lessons and activities! It is designed to be taught by any teacher and in any class, Family and Consumer Sciences certified or not, and kitchen setup or not. Activities are hands-on but require very little prep or purchasing for the teacher.

Stress & Coloring: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

by K.Graybill • May 4, 2018 • 3 Comments

Students love to doodle! Children love to color! Adult coloring books are everywhere! The theory behind this phenomenon is that it is a way to relax and decompress, in addition to being a creative outlet. So, is this really a good way to deal with stress or just a trendy way to promote a product? This lesson focuses on stress, and has students investigating this theory by researching and application before deciding whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea!

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