🌿 How to Teach Ecosystems in a Way That Actually Sticks (Grades 3–5)

 

Teaching ecosystems to grades 3–5? Discover engaging, standards-aligned activities that make concepts like food chains and food webs stick. Plus, grab a free printable Ecosystem Sort to reinforce learning!

Teaching life science concepts like producers, consumers, decomposers, and energy transfer can be tricky—especially when students are just beginning to understand how living things interact. Over the years, I’ve found a few simple, low-prep ways to make ecosystems click with students—and I’m sharing them below, along with a ready-to-use resource to make your planning easier.

---

Looking for a quick way to assess your students' understanding of producers, consumers, and decomposers?
👉 Grab my free Ecosystem Sort to use as an exit ticket or center activity! Download it here.

7 Simple Teacher Self-Care Ideas That Make a Big Difference

 As teachers, we give so much of ourselves every day—emotionally, mentally, and physically. But here’s the truth: we can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’ve been feeling run down, stretched thin, or just in need of a reset, this post is for you.

Teacher self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming, or elaborate. Sometimes the smallest habits make the biggest difference. Here are 7 simple ways to take care of YOU—and some Amazon favorites that can make those moments even better.

✨This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through one of these links. I only recommend products I think will be helpful for fellow teachers.

---

1. Start Your Day with a Mindful Moment

Before the morning chaos begins, take just 5–10 minutes for yourself. Ground your body and mind with a few deep breaths or a short guided meditation. It’s a simple way to shift from “wake up” to “teacher mode” with more clarity and calm.

🍃 Try This:

Mindfulness Cards for Breathing, Meditation, and Anxiety
A visual and tactile set of cards to choose from each day. You can do short meditation or slow, intentional breathing—perfect for setting a peaceful tone in the morning.

Boost Student Writing with Transition Word Lists and Posters for Writers' Workshop (+ FREE Sample!)

Are your students struggling to create smooth, coherent writing? Transition words are essential for guiding readers through ideas, but can be challenging for young writings to master. Our comprehensive Transition Word List resource will help students master transitions in writing and transform their writing from choppy to polished! 

This resource offers six detailed transition word lists, enlarged display posters, and practical resources for your Writer’s Workshop. Whether you’re focusing on journals, interactive notebooks, or editing and revising, these tools are designed to simplify the writing process and enhance student confidence.

Mastering transition words is essential for creating cohesive writing! The Essential Elements of Style is a classic guide that can help both teachers and students refine their skills.