We at Platypus Media want to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the first in a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites!
Share My Lesson
For more than 100 years, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has united and supported educators in their efforts to educate and care for American schoolchildren. While you likely know about AFT, you may not be familiar with one of their most valuable resources: Share My Lesson. Share My Lesson is the premier digital platform where educators can collaborate and share standards-aligned learning resources such as lesson plans, classroom strategies and professional development webinars—at no cost.
Children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning early in life. And, just as with language and literacy, STEM education should start early in order to maximize its benefits and effectiveness.
Share My Lesson is a destination for educators who dedicate their time and professional expertise to provide the best education for students everywhere. Share My Lesson members contribute content, share ideas, get educated on the topics that matter, online, 24/7. On Share My Lesson parents and educators can search more than 420,000 FREE lesson plans and activities, including curated collections!
Here is what people are saying about Share My Lesson:
"[Uploading lessons] is a great, cathartic and productive process, and it has helped me see where I used to be as a teacher and where I am now." ~ Teacher
"I would love my son's teacher to use this--that's how good it is!" ~ Parent
Platypus Media is pleased to be a a Partner of Share My Lesson, and offer resources through their site, including:
Baby Bat Cups: Grades 3-7
Mother Mexican free-tailed bats leave their babies (pups) in a cave with three million others at night while the mothers hunt. When they return to the cave at dawn, they're faced with the task of identifying their own baby in the pitch black, cold, and crowded nursery. How does mom find her pup? By their unique combination of smell and sound! This activity helps students understand how much the senses we use are the ones necessary for survival in our particular environments. This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers. This title is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools on the First Book Marketplace.
Adaptable Necks: Grades 1-4
All mammals (with two exceptions) have backbones with 7 neck vertebrae. However, necks serve different functions in giraffes vs. humans, mice vs. whales, etc. This book explores how 14 different mammal babies navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults, and comes with a free downloadable Teacher’s Guide filled with activities just like this one. This activity explores the similarities and differences in the structure and function of different mammals' vertebrae and helps students understand how organisms' bodies are adapted to their particular environments and lifestyles. This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers. The title is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools on the First Book Marketplace.