4 projects for President's Day (and beyond): no more boring reports.

Elementary teacher Trina Gunzel loves brainstorming creative ways for her students to share what they've learned. Here are a few of her favorite ideas, plus ways to use them right now.

INSTEAD OF PAPER TIME LINES, TRY:

Walking, Talking Time Lines

THE BASIC IDEA: Give small groups a different time range in the era you're studying (say 1920-1925 for a study on immigration). Have each group member select a shorter amount of time within the range (1924, for example) and research the key events that took place (the Immigration Act). Invite students to write their dates in large, read-me numbers on pieces of paper, then illustrate the facts they have learned surrounding the date. Have group members line up in chronological order to share their tidbits with the class. Combine the groups to make a time line that's longer (and more exciting) than the one in your textbook.

USE IT RIGHT NOW: Give each group a famous President for President's Day, and have each member research a different period from the President's life (such as Washington's cherry tree days).

INSTEAD OF UNIT FLASH CARDS, TRY:

The A-Z Word Bank

THE BASIC IDEA: Invite students to brainstorm 26 nifty vocabulary words from your unit, from A to Z. Model the format by writing your topic on the board. Call on volunteers to contribute a related zinger beginning with any remaining letter. Then challenge kids to think like Webster and devise their own lists.

USE IT RIGHT NOW: Put on your mittens, it's about to get cold in here. Write the word snow and ask kids to think of bone-chilling words, such as glistening or toboggan. Use your "snow bank" as inspiration for frosty winter poems.

INSTEAD OF PARAGRAPH SUMMARIES, TRY:

True or False? Quizzes

THE BASIC IDEA: Invite kids to stump women, men, and children, one and all by presenting two cool facts they've learned and one small falsehood. It's a great way to practice a crucial comprehension skill: distinguishing fact from fiction. Have students write and illustrate their three events, then read them aloud to the class. The class then guesses which event is a whopper. This format also works well for author's chair. Kids love coming up with a funny fib about themselves. Two bellybuttons, anyone?

USE IT RIGHT NOW: Ask kids to research the history of Groundhog Day (February 2nd), and come up with two truths and one lie about that legendary rodent, Punxsutawney Phil. (Did you know, for instance, that he has a wife, Phyllis?)

INSTEAD OF DIORAMAS, TRY:

Paper Plate Reports

THE BASIC IDEA: Who knew? A folded paper plate is a fun way to show off new smarts. To make, have students fold a plate in half, then half again. Then, have them open it to see the four sections. Next, ask kids to cut along one fold until they get to the center point. From the cut edge, they continue to fold counter-clockwise, making triangular folds until they make eight sections. Invite students to write the title of their report on the outside, then add factual information to each section, opening the folds to share one section at a time in clockwise order. Encourage kids to include illustrations upon final "publication" of their plates.

USE IT RIGHT NOW: Give plates a Chinese New Year theme: Study the holiday (great sites are at www.scholastic.com/instructor, "January/February Links"), then have kids write what they've learned. In red, of course--it's good luck!