“Take a course in good water and air,” wrote John Muir. “And in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own.”
In this one quotation we find both of our April Social Media themes here at Inspiration. Muir’s words are so vivid and well-chosen. With the Common Core State Standards placing a huge emphasis on writing, how can we help teachers instruct today’s youth about paragraphs and prose? After all, Anchor Standard 4 of the CCSS states that students must ”produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.”
Thankfully, many of Inspiration’s tools are designed to bring out the storyteller in even the most reluctant of students. From activities that tackle small elements like writing directions to templates for full-fledged papers, we can’t wait to share our resources with you! Take a look at our Inspiration 9 “Country or State Project” Template:
Designed to first capture student ideas and then transfer them into an outline, this resource provides a solid foundation for clear, concise writing that students can be proud of.
The other part of this month’s work involves highlighting ways we can study and protect the environment. Here in Oregon we get plenty of April showers that produce many wonderful shades of green–it’s a great reminder that we all have a part to play in preserving our natural world. Keep an eye out for some great Earth Day resources on Monday, April 22nd, and don’t forget the great templates we have for teaching environmental science! Like “Photosynthesis,” for example:
From the great outdoors to the writer’s inner monologue, we’re excited about April! Come join us as we explore both the written word and the natural world.
(And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for all the April templates, news and inspirational quotes you need this month!)
Signing off from Inspiration HQ,
Stephanie H
