Shaped

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

Featured Posts

Wayne Westland SD teachers in a classroom

A Fresh Approach to Intervention Is Boosting Achievement in a Michigan School District

Hear from educators about a new approach to intervention that’s raising student achievement in the Wayne-Westland Community School District, outside Detroit.

Melissa Hawkins Teachers in America podcast

Podcast: Partnering with Families to Build Early Literacy Skills with Melissa Hawkins

Kindergarten teacher Melissa Hawkins joins us from Hawai'i to discuss student engagement, literacy instruction, and connecting with families.

Latest Posts

Summer learning activities for elementary and middle school students

As the school year ends, keep kids engaged with these fun summer school activities for elementary and middle school students.

Richard Blankman
Shaped Executive Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Presidents Day Lesson Plans And Activities

Use these 9 Presidents' Day lesson plans and activities for middle and high school classrooms to foster engaged and informed citizens.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

Hero Chinese Dragon

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

Fun Black History Month Activities For Kids 2

Download these fun Black History Month activities for elementary and middle school students to teach your class about African American history.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

Martin Luther King, Jr. project ideas and activities for the classroom

Explore 7 Martin Luther King Jr. project ideas and activities to honor MLK and his contributions to the civil rights movement.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Fun Christmas Activities 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

WF1860574 Hero

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

Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor

National hispanic heritage month 2021 hero

Use these National Hispanic Heritage Month activities and lesson ideas to honor Hispanic American contributions and influences in our society.

Daniel Poremba
Senior Tier II Specialist, HMH

Constitution day activities 3 85cab6aa25ee358f8b9ee45ba7a4bd78

Here are Constitution Day activities to engage your students in learning about the historic document that defines how our government works.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning in Social Studies

What is inquiry-based learning in social studies? Learn more about inquiry-based learning and its benefits for students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Juneteenth national freedom day hero image

Celebrate Juneteenth in the classroom. Explore Juneteenth activities and lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Earth day activities for elementary students hero

Honor our home planet with these 9 Earth Day activities and games for elementary students.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

WF1692531 Shaped 2023 Blog Post C3 Framework for Social Studies Hero

The C3 framework is designed to make work in social studies more meaningful and connected to daily life.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

Women's History Month Books for Students HERO

Use these 13 Women’s History Month books for elementary students and activities to teach about women’s contributions to history.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

Wf926908 World Kindness Hero Image

Use these SEL World Kindness Day activities and ideas for the International Day for Tolerance to ensure that every day includes a little (or a lot of!) kindness in your school.

Christine Condon
Shaped Editor-in-Chief

How to teach indigenous peoples day

Three experts discuss the recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day and its coverage in schools, including resources, teaching tips, and more.

Fall activities and lesson plans for elementary students hero

Try these fall activities for elementary students in your classroom that put a twist on common fall themes.

Shaped Staff

Formative Assessment for Social Studies

Choose the formative assessments for social studies that work best for your classroom to improve student learning.

Alicia Ivory
Shaped Editor

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.