Every year, no matter what grade I teach, I get my students to do a Self-Portrait in the first week of school. This gives me the opportunity to lay art expectations and rules down early in the year and they also make a great display for the Parent Teacher nights that...
With the end of the year drawing near I know how time poor we as teachers become. Reports to wrap up, curriculum to complete, swimming lessons to coordinate, end of year parties and concerts to prepare, next year planning to begin, children to keep alive… The list...
I used to loooove celebrating Christmas in my classroom!! And even though I am not in the classroom anymore I am always on the hunt for great Christmas activities to complete with my daughter at home. What I always found difficult when looking, was finding Christmas...
Assigning roles in science groups can be a helpful way of managing student participation in science investigations. Notice I say managing participation! Not managing behaviour... Obviously there will inevitably be issues that require teacher support to overcome when...
Reading, writing and analysing timelines is a requirement of the Australian Curriculum but it should not have to be a chore for you or your students! Here are seven simple, yet effective, ways to get your students involved in practising timeline reading and writing...
Hello! Firsty, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to find out more about me and how Ridgy Didge came to be. Initially I started this business as a means of keeping myself busy while living in Central Queensland. My husband was working at one of...
I think I have confessed before my obsession with planning. I LOVE it!! I compare the success of fitting the Australian Curriculum into one year to fitting every last dish into the dishwasher... there is great satisfaction in completing the puzzle - anyone else out...
Looking for some simple Father's day craft ideas for your classroom this year? Well have I got some simple ideas for you! 1. Meet Dad's Chip Clip: A simple template that you can find here. Simply print, colour, cut and glue onto the back of a peg. Give to dad on...
Stuck for ideas on how to commemorate this year's ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day? Why not try this simple art idea in your classroom. It takes very little time to set up and looks extremely effective when displayed in your classroom. What you will need: Pool Noodle (cut...
Connecting different areas of the curriculum with art can be tricky. Particularly geography! Here is a quick and easy art idea that you can use to support the Australian Geography Curriculum in your classroom. It is particularly great for grades 3-4. Printables for...
National Reconciliation Week is a great opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. There are some great details about the purpose of this week, as well as ways of participating, on the National Reconciliation Week...
Hi. My name is Melissa Bagnall. I am a trained primary school teacher but currently playing stay-at-home mum to an almost-three-year-old. If you are anything like me, teaching visual arts properly in your classroom can seem like a daunting task. I am not a trained...
So as well as Lapbooks, I LOVE using Factballs in the classroom as well. Why? Factballs are easy to assemble and are a unique way to display research content in your classroom. This content could be recorded in your students’ books, never to be seen or looked at...
I LOVE using Lapbooks in my classroom! Why? Because not only do they showcase student learning in a neat and organised package (pleasing my OCD tendencies ;p) but they are engaging for students also. I love how my students take ownership of their Lapbook. They take...