Junior High

Classroom Activities

Winter 2020

We are Grateful!

Let us celebrate American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month this November with a book written by a member of the Cherokee Nation (one of the largest tribal nations in the USA).

"We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga," written by Traci Sorell, is a story about how the Cherokee Nation practice gratitude all year round!

This activity is broken down into 3 parts: Read, Create, & Share

Step 1 - Read

  1. Watch the video to listen to the reading of "We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga" by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac

  2. Think about each of the 4 seasons, have you ever stopped to think about what you are grateful for during each season?

Step 2 - Create

Let's create some seasons of gratitude art!

Using the 4 pre-cut seasonal shapes, create some art using words, pictures or both to represent things you are grateful for during the seasons of fall, winter, spring & summer!

Step 3 - Share

Add your Seasons of Gratitude art to our digital mural!

  1. Log in to your Seesaw Art Classroom from Clever.

  2. Snap a photo of your 4 season art entries & save!

  3. Mrs. Vallejo will create a digital JH Gratitude mural to celebrate everything we are grateful for year round!

Fall 2020

Names are Important!

As we return back to school this fall, it is important that each of us take the time to get to know our fellow classroom community members. This activity will help us learn the importance of asking how to pronounce one another's unique name. To celebrate our uniqueness, we'll create some name art to get to know one another. 😁

This activity is broken down into 3 parts: Read, Create, Show & Share


Step 1 - Read

  1. Watch the video to listen to the reading of "Teach Us Your Name" by Huda Essa

  2. Think about how you would teach someone the preferred way to say your name. (What does it rhyme with? Can you break your name up into smaller words?)

  3. Practice teaching someone else how to say your name. Why is learning to pronounce someone else's name important?

Name Art Overview

Step 2 - Create

Next, let's create some art using your name!

Need some inspiration? Check out the slideshow to learn about some artists who create art with letters and words.

Step 3 - Show & Share

Now it's time to share your artwork! Find someone you'd like to share your artwork with and answer the following questions:

  • Describe your artwork? What would you call this project?

  • How did you create your artwork? What materials/colors did you use?

  • Who or what inspired your artwork? What does your artwork show others?

  • What was the goal of this artwork? What do you want others to learn about you from your project?

  • Did you learn anything new when creating this artwork?