• Home
  • Meet The Teacher
  • Blog
  • Disclosure
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

A Smiling Teacher

A Teaching Blog by Amber Masters

  • Freebies
  • Math
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Classroom

Fostering Curiosity with Mystery Doug

July 25, 2018 by Amber Masters

I don’t know about you, but Science is one of those subjects that I’ve always struggled to squeeze in. I cover all of the standards, but I knew there was so much more I could be doing. Last year, I took a step in the right direction and started using Mystery Doug in my classroom. It’s a FREE resource of science mysteries for students and teachers.  You  can sign up here!

This is in not a sponsored post, I just absolutely LOVE this resource for classrooms. Even better, it will always be FREE!  Every week we watched a video from Mystery Doug, and my students were so engaged! In fact, it became the part of our week that students were always reminding me about. The videos are 4-6 minutes long, which is the perfect amount of time for elementary aged students. You can easily squeeze a 4-6 minute video in for morning meeting, transition time, at the end of the day, or even during a snack time.  Doug, a former elementary school teacher encourages students to be curious while answering questions they’ve submitted! Each question is submitted by real students! The videos are kid friendly and engage students by asking questions, giving pause time for discussion, AND using real life visuals.

At the end of the video, Doug picks three questions from his question jar and your class gets to vote for the one they want to learn about. One of the best features of this program, is that your students can submit questions they’re curious about! Of course, it’s not guaranteed that the question will be selected BUT it’s such a valuable tool for you to see what your students are interested in learning about! I was blown away with the questions that my students came up with last year, but didn’t have a great way of collecting that information.

This year, I am creating a Science Wonders Chart to hang in my classroom.

This will be a resource that students can use when they’re curious about something or have a question. Students will write their thoughts or question on a sticky note, and place it on the chart.

I’ll share their questions with the class and if it’s something we want to learn more about, we’ll submit it to Doug!

I know this will be a great tool and encourage my students to work on their “questioning” and writing skills.

 

I really hope you’ll check out Mystery Doug! I know it will be a great addition to every elementary classroom!

3 Shares

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« Superhero Birthday
Number Path Freebie »

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe the the Newsletter

Popular Posts

  • 100th Day of School Celebrations
    100th Day of School Celebrations
  • Birthday Shenanigans Teacher Style!
    Birthday Shenanigans Teacher Style!
  • Home
    Home
  • Number Path Freebie
    Number Path Freebie
  • Get Your Students Ready for the NWEA MAP Test
    Get Your Students Ready for the NWEA MAP Test
  • Setting Up Your Classroom Writing Station
    Setting Up Your Classroom Writing Station

Best Selling Resources

Find Me on Pinterest

Follow @asmilingteacher

Students return to learning tomorrow and while we Students return to learning tomorrow and while we will have some time during our Class Meetings to share about Winter Break, I wanted to make sure students had the opportunity to share more. I put this optional slide after our class meeting as a continuation for students who didn’t share, or students that want to tell more. I love using @flipgrid because it allows students to make connections and respond back to their classmates like they would if they were in the classroom! #kindergarten
BEST DAY of 2021 so far! Proud to be a Buckeye!! 🏈 Go Bucks! 

#ohiostatefootball #ohiostatebuckeyes #buckeyenation #ohiostatealumni #buckeyeforlife
String light patterns! Easy for in class or remote String light patterns! Easy for in class or remote learning! 
✅ draw the string lights 
✅ make the patterns 
✅ keep kids engaged
We’re still “Gingerbread-ing” over here! We We’re still “Gingerbread-ing” over here! We spend a solid two weeks reading different versions of the stories and integrating it into everything! This word problem came from one of my old teammates, and is perfect for this time of year! Students love coming up with different ideas of who could be chasing her! You could change it up with a higher number or have students write the number sentence to match.
At the start of the school year I was concerned ab At the start of the school year I was concerned about being able to build relationships with my students, and their ability to build friendships online. Those first few months are so crucial in building classroom community, and I wasn’t sure we’d be able to do that on a screen. 

Well, here we are in December. It’s pretty amazing what my students have created in the past 5 months. They truly have made the best of this situation (and they’re 5 & 6 ). I am so proud of them, and they are truly the ones that keep me going during this challenging year. 

I’m curious, what has surprised you about online learning this year? Or teaching in general?
Here’s a fun, low prep way to get your students Here’s a fun, low prep way to get your students excited about writing! I sent home a gingerbread journal since my students are remote,  but you could just use blank paper. Students will draw and write about where the gingerbread man is. For example, they might draw a picture and write “The gingerbread is behind my teacher” or “The gingerbread is under the trash can.” In the past, I hid him around the classroom and we did the same type of writing. This year, I’ll share the picture in our daily google slides instead.
I’ve been sharing a lot of online learning tips I’ve been sharing a lot of online learning tips in my stories this week because I know so many of you have recently transitioned to online learning . Check my stories to learn how to make your own digital choice board, and my highlights for other helpful online learning tips!  And hang in there friends! You’ve got this! 💗
🙋🏼‍♀️Still over here changing out my b 🙋🏼‍♀️Still over here changing out my bookshelf for no reason other than it makes me think of a simpler, happier time when my classroom was full of kids! #dreaming

Copyright © 2021 Disclosure // Design by Laugh Eat Learn // Theme by Restored 316