Room Transformations Bring Learning to Life
3rd Grade Literature and Language Arts
Sometimes it’s necessary to shake things up in the classroom to help your students stay engaged and show them that you’re invested in their learning. One way we’ve done this in 3rd Grade is through room transformations.
A room transformation takes a concept in the curriculum and brings it to life by completely changing/re-decorating the classroom space.
Here are two examples of room transformations CMDS 3rd Graders have participated in this year, both in Language Arts and Math.
What is your “Book Challenge Touchdown?”
CMDS Language Arts and Literature teachers gave 3rd-6th Grade students a reprieve from book reports in favor of the Book Challenge. Students are encouraged to set their own personal goal of how many books they can read within the school year on their reading level. This was a decision made in partnership with the student, parents and teachers weighing in on the goal. The goal was encouraged to be both attainable, but challenging.
On the day that their goal decision was due, students came to school to see their classroom transformed into a mock football stadium. Suddenly their reading goal became their “reading touchdown” for the school year! Team penants hung from the ceiling, football table cloths were on each desk, and college theme songs played in the background. All third grade teachers wore team T-shirts to represent their homeroom! Team cheers were created to pump up the crowd! Third graders used a football field lay out to track and plan for how many books would need to be read for each month of school in order to meet their goal by year’s end. The sports-related festivities were even carried over to the math classroom where they solved football-themed problems.
These students were so excited about their goal and the sense of accomplishment they would receive by achieving it! Transforming the classroom into the pep rally of all pep rallies lent itself to more events held throughout the year. Opportunities to have book talks – where students could share suggestions for other students to read and participating in the Book Madness tournament for 3-6 grades – were also key components toward helping these students master their goal!
Place Value Crimes
In Math, students were FBI agents and tasked with solving place value crimes. Students brought flashlights and used those to find the place value clues placed around the room.
Transforming the room took a skill that wouldn't be as engaging and turned it into a more meaningful learning experience. Also, the anticipation of the room changing made them even more excited to do the activity.
This was a minimal transformation that included clues scattered around the room, a flashlight, a case file, a badge and turning off the lights. Something so simple literally brought light into their learning.
A Valentine’s Day-themed transformation for a 3rd Grade Book Talk
Book Challenge Kick-Off Party in 3rd Grade
