CREATEstations have been a great way to integrate our stations with the curriculum in elementary school. Each letter in the acronym stands for a different activity. Students rotate through their activities once a week when they visit the library.
Here is what CREATE stands for:
C- Computer Choice Board R- Robots E - Engineering A- Art T - Thinking Lab E - Explore and Research
You can check out the CREATE station structure and explanation HERE from one of my previous blog posts. Each station is color coded and students rotate through each activity once a week.
In fact, in previous blog articles, I have focused on one letter of the CREATE acronym and explained that letter and the corresponding activity for each individual grade level K-5.
In the next series of posts, I will change things up and focus on the grade level and break down the stations and activities that can be done for each letter in the CREATE acronym for that grade.
Let's get started with 5th grade and our first fun thematic unit!
READ-ALOUD OPTIONS:
I sometimes find it difficult to discover that perfect read-aloud for 5th graders. I like to read short impactful stories that will keep their attention as well as keep them actively engaged. I have had a lot of success with the Capstone series, YOU CHOOSE. There are several Can You Survive? books and they are all interactive history adventure books. I read one of the story threads and have students choose which path they want to take throughout the book with a class vote. We read until the storyline is finished; we either survive or (insert ominous music) we don't. Afterward, the books fly off the shelves! Students will read these books multiple times making sure they explore each and every storyline adventure.
I also rely on another series that most people are familiar with: Laura Tarshis' I Survived series. These are incredible read-alouds because they are short, impactful, and engaging.
After a great 10-15 minute read-aloud, it is time for the CREATE stations to begin! It all starts with the computer station. If you are wondering how I put students in the different stations, here is my explanation as well as google slide templates you can use: Create Stations...the Mechanics.
COMPUTER STATION:
A computer station is a great option because students can work independently on various coding activities, reading activities, and digital escape rooms.
Sphero robots are a great option for a survival theme unit. As an introduction to the Sphero robot, students can use these task cards. Once students become well versed in the mechanics of the sphero, they can start more challenging "survival tasks". I love when students create a maze and direct Sphero to the finish line. This can be done with an app on the Ipad; students can either use block coding or simply use the drive feature to navigate the Sphero around the sharp turns and corners.
ENGINEERING:
Those of us who grew up watching MacGyver in the 80s can really appreciate the engineering station. Who didn't love watching MacGyver find the most basic tools to create a device that helped him get out of his latest stressful life-or-death situation? Even though this station doesn't require students to use duct tape and paperclips to create life-saving machines, the circuits give us the same feeling of putting together items that provide, light, sound, and other life-saving functions.
In 5th grade, we use Little Bits, and we love Mrs. J's in the Library Little Bits task cards. We print the cards in color and laminate them for students to use repeatedly. Here is a great article and tutorial to get your students started on the Little Bits station.
We also use Snap Circuits in 4th and 5th grade. These circuits are very sturdy, and there are hundreds of challenges for students to complete. They will almost never run out of projects during this station no matter how many times they visit! Students love to put together the light police station, the water alarm, the space war siren, the alarm circuit and so many more projects that can help them survive!
ART:
Quivervision remains my absolute favorite activity to do during our art station. It is so incredibly interactive, and it always provides students with that wow factor.
A great Quivervision activity for students to complete is the volcano coloring page. This page goes along perfectly with the survival theme and Lauren Tarshis' novel, I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, 79 AD.
Most students love sharks and any type of fiction or nonfiction book that relates to sharks, the ocean, and shark attacks. The SHARK Quivervision sheet coloring sheet is a perfect supplement to the book I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916.
No matter what you and your students read, I know you can find a sheet that will supplement your reading themes.
Looking to use Quivervision as an art library station? Here is a tutorial on how you can get started: watch the video. There is also a great slideshow to get you started that you can access here.
THINKING LAB:
There are several choices for our Thinking Lab stations. The first that comes to mind is the game, Chocolate Fix (can you survive the Chocolate Touch?). Other options would be Hoppers (for those of us who remember the Frogger video game) and of course, an all-time favorite, Rush Hour!
To get more information on each of the games, just click the picture, and it will direct you to the ThinkFun website! These are great strategy games with several challenges, so your learners will not run out of games to play.
EXPLORE:
For the explore station, I have a couple different activities. Sometimes we go to the databases and complete short research lessons and other times we take our legos and create storyboards. Our survival unit is perfect for our lego storyboards. Students create characters, setting, and plot. After they create their story, they narrate it and share it with their station group. This fulfills several of our AASL standards all while the student is engaged.
Looking for a 5th-grade survival theme unit with stations? Hopefully, this will help. Here is an overview chart with standards that you can incorporate into your lesson plans.
I have created a 5th-grade CREATE chart that is available in a couple of different formats:
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