Shaped

A community-driven blog supporting educators, building lifelong learners, and shaping the future of education.* 

 

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Easter Classroom Activities hero

9 Fun Easter Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Hop to it! Try these hands-on Easter activities for elementary and middle school students. Your class will have fun while sharpening reading, writing, and STEM skills.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1926950 Shaped 2024 Blog Post Spring Science Experiments and Activities Hero

8 Fun Spring Science Experiments and Activities

Check out these 8 fun spring science experiments and activities that help students learn more about animals, nature, and the environment.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Hero Chinese Dragon

10 Chinese New Year Classroom Activities: Throw a Lunar New Year Party

Explore 10 Chinese New Year classroom activities. Celebrate the Lunar New Year in your elementary or middle school class with a focus on cultural awareness, symbolism, and more.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Valentine Activities

10 Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities

Looking for Valentine’s Day ideas for school? Explore 10 Valentine’s Day classroom activities, from heart collages to books, that students are sure to enjoy.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Enlightenment lesson plan

Teaching World History: Enlightenment and American Revolution Lesson Plans

Download these Enlightenment and American Revolution lesson plans to teach your students about how the latter was influenced by an era defined by human reason and science.

Shaped Staff

WF1289060 Shaped 2020 Revamp Grade 6 8 ELA

Free English Language Arts and Reading Activities for Middle School

Try free English language arts activities for Grades 6-8 focusing on haikus, metaphors, figurative language, and more curriculum-rich topics.

Shaped Staff

WF1594006 Guess My Number Game Hero 1

Magic and Mathematics: A Guess My Number Math Game

In this hands-on “Guess My Number Math Game” activity for students in kindergarten and up, students can thrill and awe their peers with a mathematical magic trick.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Holiday classroom activities christmas hanukkah kwanzaa

14 Winter Holiday Activities for School

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with 14 holiday classroom activities, games, and crafts for elementary and middle school students.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1870928 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Winter Science Experiments Hero 2

8 Fun Winter Science Experiments and Activities

Brr, it’s cold outside! Use these fun winter science experiments and activities to teach students about the science behind common winter themes.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Fun Christmas Activities School

9 Fun Christmas Activities for School

Try our fun Christmas classroom activities for school. 'Tis the season to be jolly—while boosting math, reading, and writing skills, of course!

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Thanksgiving Activities Elementary Hero

10 Fun Thanksgiving Activities for Elementary Students

No hand-traced turkeys here! Celebrate the holiday while boosting critical math, reading, and writing skills with these fun Thanksgiving activities for elementary students.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1860574 Hero

8 Free Veterans Day Activities for Elementary Students

Find free Veterans Day activities and lesson plans for elementary students to honor and celebrate those who have served.

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

WF1773850 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Halloween Writing Prompts Hero

30 Fun Halloween Writing Prompts & Ideas

Have some spooky fun with your students while exercising their critical thinking skills using these Halloween writing prompts and journal ideas.

Carey Blankenship-Kramer
Shaped Staff

WF1833970 Shaped 2023 Blog Post National Instructional Coaches Day Cards Hero

Celebrate 2025 National Instructional Coaches Appreciation Day

Celebrate 2025 National Instructional Coaches Appreciation Day on Oct 6th. Discover the vital role instructional coaches play in education!

Nikki La Londe
Director of Services Content Development, HMH

Meghan Toshner

Inquiry Based Learning in Science Hero

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning in Science?

What is inquiry-based learning in science, and why is it important? Read more about the effectiveness of this teaching and learning approach.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1833890 Shaped 2023 Blog Post Grandparents Day Activities for School Hero

2025 Grandparents’ Day Activities in Schools

Celebrate 2025 Grandparents' Day with classroom activities to honor your grandparent figures in the different ways.

Autumn Davis
Content Marketing Intern, HMH

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Seven strategies for reading success thumb

7 ELL Strategies for Reading Success

Try these 7 ELL strategies for reading success. Help your ELL students to engage with reading and foster a desire to connect with texts.

Rebecca Salinas
Learning Architect, HMH

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

911 Tribute in Light hero

11 Essential 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Looking for ways to help your students understand the September 11 terror attacks and their impact? Use these 9/11 activities and lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor