Old School but Not Outdated: No Screen Time Resources

I’m not anti-technology in the classroom but I do believe that great learning can happen with no technology. There are some old-school teaching methods that still work well because great teaching methods are timeless. Whether you are striving for less screen time or want to get back to some basic paper resources, here is what my TpT store can offer.

US State Capitals

I learned my state capitals with a map and flash cards. MANY times in fourth grade our class played a round-robin style game as we competed to know the most state capitals. My friends and I would often spend our breaks or indoor recess quizzing each other on state capitals. Once we mastered the US capitals we moved on to capitals of South America.

These flash cards have specific printing instructions to help you print on both sides of the paper making it a true flash cards. I suggest using cardstock. The thickness blocks the words on the opposite side.

Story Sequencing

You get an editable Powerpoint file that allows you to type in your own story elements. Print it, cut the pieces, then your student is ready for a tech-free lesson. This will work for any story you are working on but there is absolutely no reason why you couldn’t use this in your social studies lessons or science lessons or even math lessons. Using manipulatives works in all grade levels.

Subtraction Dominoes

This is a fun way to practice subtraction. I created this for my son during the initial phase of the pandemic and he really enjoyed it. The lessons are different every time, they are easy to complete, and your student(s) still has an opportunity to practice their math skills.

Chronology or Centuries

Here are two opportunities to work on math AND history skills at the same time. Students will learn to put dates in order (chronology). Yes, this sounds so simple that teachers skip this history skill with little learners. Dates only get harder when they are introduced to centuries and other measurements of time. To help students understand concepts such as earlier than/later than and different centuries, there is a story building lesson included. Students will label major events in their lives. They were born in x year. Their parents were born in x year. Their grandparents were born in x year. They got their first pet in x year.

Future dates are also included.

Once students are introduced to centuries, too many become confused. Begin early with the most recent centuries. Learning centuries early help students understand the concept of time (a difficult higher-level concept that is overlooked) and prepares them for future history lessons. Plus, this is another way to practice basic math skills.