You guys have inspired me! The most requested freebie item was one that I didn't yet have. So I made it. Internet high five! Today I'm sharing middle school transition lessons. You can also see what I wrote for our state association's newsletter here.
Because I've never shared what I do for middle school here, I thought it would be helpful to outline my plan. I typically teach three lessons per quarter. In this lesson plan pack, I include 4 lessons because one of m_y lessons requires a class set of locks and I know that's not feasible for everyone.
Lesson 1:
You can see what I do forLesson 1 here. I introduce commonly used lingo of middle school and let the kids write on "graffiti walls" about their thoughts about middle school. I then type all their thoughts into tagxedo and makecool art for the 5th grade hall.
Lesson 2:
Middle school website scavenger hunt. I have worked in a school system that paid for middle school visit field trips and one where they do not. I found this lesson valuable for both groups. Researching the middle school's website allows the kids to have a tool to answer future questions. They really love it! In the scavenger hunt, they look for team names, mascots, clubs, principal names, counselor names, and other details about the school.
Lesson 3:
Lock practice! I show a youtube video and help the kids practice opening their locks. I was lucky enough to have a class set of locks purchased by my school. You could also have 2 students share a lock. The PTA is usually pretty supportive of this type of purchase because it directly impacts their children! I am including my combination lock page as a freebie here.
Because I've never shared what I do for middle school here, I thought it would be helpful to outline my plan. I typically teach three lessons per quarter. In this lesson plan pack, I include 4 lessons because one of m_y lessons requires a class set of locks and I know that's not feasible for everyone.
Lesson 1:
You can see what I do forLesson 1 here. I introduce commonly used lingo of middle school and let the kids write on "graffiti walls" about their thoughts about middle school. I then type all their thoughts into tagxedo and makecool art for the 5th grade hall.
Lesson 2:
Middle school website scavenger hunt. I have worked in a school system that paid for middle school visit field trips and one where they do not. I found this lesson valuable for both groups. Researching the middle school's website allows the kids to have a tool to answer future questions. They really love it! In the scavenger hunt, they look for team names, mascots, clubs, principal names, counselor names, and other details about the school.
Lesson 3:
Lock practice! I show a youtube video and help the kids practice opening their locks. I was lucky enough to have a class set of locks purchased by my school. You could also have 2 students share a lock. The PTA is usually pretty supportive of this type of purchase because it directly impacts their children! I am including my combination lock page as a freebie here.
At the end of our lunch, I ask the kids to circle an answer to the question: "How do you feel about middle school?" They can choose: Great, Still Worried but OK, or I Need More Help. To help those who still need more help, I create a small group about middle school. Out of the 30 students who have come for lunch, usually only a handful need the group intervention. This is a great tiered way to support all students in transitioning to middle school.
What do you do to support your kiddos transitioning out of school? Don't forget the wholelesson pack is a flash freebie from 12-4pm EST TODAY! If you download the freebie, please leave feedback on TPT. Thanks!
Edit: This item is no longer free, you can purchase the lessons in my store. The lock practice template is below (may not be visible on mobile).
What do you do to support your kiddos transitioning out of school? Don't forget the wholelesson pack is a flash freebie from 12-4pm EST TODAY! If you download the freebie, please leave feedback on TPT. Thanks!
Edit: This item is no longer free, you can purchase the lessons in my store. The lock practice template is below (may not be visible on mobile).
Following the last lesson, I give students a post-test that asks questions about how they are feeling about middle school. At the bottom, they can circle that they want to talk to me more. Out of my 120 Fifth graders, I usually have about 30 students who want to talk to me more. I invite these students in groups of 5-6 to lunch. At lunch we look through middle school resources, practice locks, and answer more questions. One of my favorite resources is Middle School: The Real Deal. Click on the image for the listing on amazon (affiliate link).
