I show teachers how to make kids feel like they're traveling the world. I've been teaching for 18 years and have spoken at educator conferences in multiple countries. My 30+ travel lessons are made for early childhood students and cover places aroudnd the globe π
π I sent my students to the Moon without me
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Hi Reader, Every great adventure needs a twist, and this one had a big one. For our final classroom adventure of the year, I wanted to send my kindergartners on the most epic mission of their lives, a journey around the moon and back. The catch? I wasn't going with them. I divided our classroom in half. One side was Earth, where I remained for the day. The other side was a fully operational space shuttle, and my students were the crew. But not just any crew for some... Throughout the year, certain students had earned special recognition for their exemplary behavior and character. This mission was their moment to shine. We had a Mission Commander, a Pilot Commander, a Flight Director, and a Communications Commander. Each role came with real responsibility, and they took every bit of it seriously. The class watched the Artemis II launch together, and just like that, their mission to the moon had officially begun. Click here to watch their blastoff! For the rest of the day, I remained on Earth while my students traveled through outer space. The only way they could reach me was by speaking through a speaker, just like real astronauts communicating with mission control. They had everything they needed already on board, because I was not able to deliver them anything once they blasted off.. Throughout the day, they learned what life is really like aboard the International Space Station. We took it one step further by pretending our entire school was the ISS, which meant students could leave our classroom for music, lunch, and recess without ever breaking the magic of the mission. They were astronauts everywhere they went that day. Then came a moment none of them expected. I had secretly reached out to their parents weeks before and asked them to record a short video message for their child. One by one, those videos played, with moms, dads, and families congratulating their kindergartner on a successful year and a successful journey to the moon. The students were so surprised! π They got a taste of what it's like in space with some freeze dried ice cream. Surprisingly, everyone loved it! At the end of the day, the crew gathered to watch the Artemis II splashdown into the ocean, and I had the honor of congratulating each of them on a mission accomplished. It was the perfect final chapter to a year spent traveling the world together. A Note From Me to You This community of teachers means more to me than I can adequately express. Every week, you show up for your students with creativity, patience, and heart, and getting to share this little corner of the teaching world with you has been one of my favorite parts of this year. I will be checking in throughout the summer, sending updates and a little inspiration from various places around the world. π« Thank you for being here. Thank you for doing what you do. And thank you for believing, like I do, that children deserve a childhood full of moments worth remembering. With so much gratitude, Trisha |
βTrisha DePasquale
I show teachers how to make kids feel like they're traveling the world. I've been teaching for 18 years and have spoken at educator conferences in multiple countries. My 30+ travel lessons are made for early childhood students and cover places aroudnd the globe π
Hi Reader, This week I shared something I've been working on for a while. I took my Passport Adventures: Machu Picchu lesson and gave it a major glow-up, with tons of new content and several brand new videos added in. It now comes with 61 pages, 19 videos, 4 drawing/writing pages, a teacher guide, bulletin board, and student packing lists. This is the moment I knew exactly what I wanted to bring back to classrooms with this lesson. It's the biggest and most detailed lesson I own. I loved...
Hi Reader, One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching students become genuinely excited about learning. Sometimes, the best way to create that excitement is to simply let them have a say in what they learn. Last week, I set up a little Travel Agency right in my classroom! I even had magazines and travel pamphlets that a travel agent friend gave me, which made our agency feel a little more official. I created a page with 12 pictures of destinations around the world that I typically teach...
Hi Reader, There is something so exciting about a fresh classroom, a new group of students, and all of the possibilities that come with the first few weeks of school. But before the year gets too busy, I want to encourage you to do one simple thing that can make a BIG difference in your relationship with parents. Make sure the first thing parents hear from you is something positive about their child. It can be so easy for our first communication with a family to happen when there is a problem...