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Hi everyone! We can’t wait for you to get started with myPeekaville – Peekapak’s new game world that supports the lessons found on www.peekapak.com. We’ve created this guide to go over how to use some of myPeekaville’s features so that you can teach your students how to navigate Peekapak’s new world.

Avatars

To customize their avatars, students can click on the picture of their avatar in the dashboard at the top-left corner of the screen. They can click on the part of the avatar that they want to customize and select from the different options on the right side of the screen. Students can use berries to acquire more clothing options and hairstyles from the style shop in-game. Berries are collected by completing activities, and checking-in.

Storybooks

Students can read Peekapak stories in myPeekaville by visiting the Peekaville Library or click on the ‘Book’ icon on the left. Like on Peekapak.com, reading levels 0, 1 and 2 include storybook narration. Students can re-read stories as many times as they want and also user their login information to access from home and read with parents.

Mood Check-Ins

The mood check-in will pop up every time students log into myPeekaville. Students can choose their current mood and can click on the question marks below any emotion to learn more about that feeling. They can also click on the “Journal” tab which shows their most recent check-ins for the current week. Students can report their mood at any time by clicking on the ‘face’ icon below their avatar. When you return to Peekapak.com, you’ll be able to find reports on your students’ activity through the game.

Navigation

The main screen of myPeekaville is the map. The map is split up into five areas of town. By clicking the map with the mouse cursor, the map will zoom in to show more detail around where you’ve clicked. To zoom out, click anywhere on the ground. Around the map, there are various buildings and characters for students to interact with. While zoomed in, moving your mouse over the buildings and characters will highlight items that you can interact with. Clicking on buildings will take students inside where they will find mini-games, the clothing store, and more! They may take a moment to load, so it is important to remind students to be patient.

Finding Unit Mini-Games (Buildings)

To help teacher’s pace the unit learning games, teachers can unlock units as they progress through the curriculum. This can be done by click on ‘unlock myPeekaville unit’ under any of the Peekapak.com units or under the ‘Students + Parents’ tab. Note: Currently units on myPeekaville need to be opened in the order of our scope and sequence.

Once you’ve unlocked the unit’s games, students can play those by click on the buildings those house the games. For a cheat sheet on where each unit’s games are, click here.

Backpack

The Backpack is the most important tool when exploring myPeekaville. Students can access the backpack by clicking on the backpack icon near the top left of the screen, below their avatar’s portrait. The Backpack screen will provide students with the steps needed to complete each quest, allow students to visit their room, and the homes of any of the Peekapak Pals they have unlocked to learn more about each character.

myPeekaville Reports

To review how your students are progressing on myPeekaville or review their ‘mood’ check-ins, you can click on the ‘Reports’ tab on peekapak.com and then click on ‘myPeekaville Progress’ or ‘Moodboard’:

When reviewing Moodboard data, you can click on any of your students to get a more detailed view of that student:

We hope you found this to be a helpful introduction to myPeekaville’s features and we can’t wait for you to begin exploring with your students. If you have any questions as you are getting started with myPeekaville, please contact us at hello@peekapak.com. You can also find our myPeekaville Quickstart Guide here available to download.

Getting Started with Peekapak

October 26, 2018
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Getting Started with Peekapak

Hi everyone! We are excited for you to teach important social-emotional skills with Peekapak. This article is your guide to getting started with Peekapak and get the most out of all our social-emotional learning books, lessons, parent activities and learning games!

In addition to this guide, you can watch one of these videos that walks you though step-by-step on getting started too:

Using Units

To use any of our units, simply select the topic from the main library page to take you to the unit’s overview. Under the unit overview, you can learn more about the unit, see the key vocabulary, read over the learning objectives, review the standards covered in the unit, and download the unit resources.

Using the books

You can open the story for a unit by clicking on “Read Story” as shown below.

There are three different ways to flip pages. You can use the arrows on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the page, you can grab and “flip” the pages like you would with a physical book, or you can use your left or right arrow keys to navigate.

To change reading levels or languages, navigate your cursor to the top-right corner of the screen. Click on the reading level drop-down menu shown below. From this menu, you can select the language and reading level you wish. You can switch between levels at any time from this menu.

PRO USERS: Narration

To turn on narration, from the cover page click on the arrow at the bottom of the book. Click the play button to hear the narration for that page. Click the circular refresh icon to replay the narration for that page. Toggle the “Auto Turn” to have the book automatically flip through pages along with the narration. Click the “pin” to keep the narration panel open at all times. The narration is available for all English storybook levels.

(Don’t have a PRO account and want to learn more? Contact Us)

Using Lessons

On the unit overview screen, you can see a brief description for each of the unit’s lessons, after scrolling down to the Lessons section.

By clicking on the “Class” button you will be able to see the full lesson plan. From the full lesson plan page, you can switch between the class activity, home activity, and myPeekaville activity. These pages will show you the lesson overview with instructions, allow you to download the specific resources for the lesson, and let you review the standards covered by the lesson.

The “Guiding Students” section offers a more detailed step-by-step breakdown of the lesson and prompts to provoke thought from students. We’ve included an “Accommodations & Modifications” section. This section is available on all classroom and myPeekaville activities. Here, you can see tips and tricks for increasing or decreasing a lesson’s difficulty and adapting the lesson for ELL students (students whose native language is not English).

At-Home Lessons

To access the Home Activities, select the “Home” button next to any lesson on the unit overview page. You will see the update for parents and instructions for the lesson’s at-home component. You can print off the activity and give it to students to bring home. As well, you can email the activity directly to parents by scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking “Send to Parents” if you’ve added your students’ parent emails. (Home activities are available in both English and Spanish.)

Reporting

In order to view reports on student activity and English Language Arts curriculum completion, click on the “Reports” tab, or select it from the account drop-down menu. You will first notice a chart displaying your class’ total berries earned by playing myPeekaville, and the number of students who have completed the mood check-in during the current week. Berries are the in-game currency used to purchase new clothing items for students’ avatars.

Here you’ll also find a quick view of how much parent engagement you currently have. This is measured through how many parents have been connected via email, and have opted-in to receive classroom updates. CLASSROOM PRO USERS: This will also include information on how many parents have given consent for students to access and play myPeekaville.

CLASSROOM PRO USERS:

As a Classroom PRO user, you and your students have access to myPeekaville, our personalize learning games to help reinforce the concepts learned in the curriculum. To access myPeekaville as a teacher, you can access it using your Peekapak login/password at www.myPeekaville.com.

To set up students on myPeekaville, you can either use Clever or Google Classroom to roster your students (under Classroom Settings), work with the Peekapak team to set up your students (available for school and district customers) or add students yourself (under Students + Parents).

Beyond this short article on getting started with Peekapak, you can learn how to use myPeekaville by reviewing this article: https://https://54.147.212.60/how-to-use-mypeekaville/

Mood Board

If you are a Classroom PRO user you’ll find the “Class Mood board” (under the reports tab) which provides you with a visual heat-map of your students’ check-in for the current week. It is important to encourage your students to check-in daily while playing myPeekaville to get the most value out of the mood board.

We hope that you and your students enjoy Peekapak and myPeekaville. If you have any other questions about this guide to getting started with Peekapak, please don’t hesitate to click on the support tab on our website, or email us at hello@peekapak.com.

Peekapak’s Feelings Check-in Tool

November 13, 2020
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Through Peekapak’s Feelings Check-in Tool, teachers are provided with a Mood Board of student sentiment data allowing them to gain insight into their students’ well-being. Such a tool is powerful, especially during these times when students are likely to experience many new changes and unprecedented challenges. In order to provide guidance to our teachers, we have created a “how-to” on implementing, responding to, and supporting this data. Please note, this tool is available for our Classroom PRO and PRO trial users only.

Implementing the Feelings Check-in Tool

First, explain to your students that when they log-in to myPeekaville, they will be prompted to check-in with how they are feeling. The first time a student uses myPeekaville, they will be asked to name how you are feeling and there will be a 10-second countdown. Instruct students to use this time to take deep breaths, close their eyes, and think about how their mind and body feel. Some strategies that you can follow to do this are:

Reassuring students. “We feel a lot of different feelings throughout the day. You could be excited to go to school, nervous for reading class, angry that you didn’t get picked for the science experiment, calm during math class and so much more! That is all okay! It’s important to name our feelings to help us get back to calm.”
Modeling for students how to name their feelings by also closing your eyes and taking a deep breath.
Encouraging students to try this together. “Close your eyes and I am going to count to ten. I want you to take 5 slow breaths during that time and think about how you are feeling. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … think of a word in your head that describes how you feel.”

On the screen, there will be different feelings that students can choose from. We advise you to go through each feeling with students so they understand it, and emphasize that it is important to take their time and answer honestly. Every time a student logs-in to myPeekaville, they will complete a Feelings Check-in, which will generate the data provided on your mood dashboard.

Responding to and Supporting the Feelings Check-in Data

You can use the Mood Board to see trends with student feelings in your classroom and for individual students. You can find this dashboard under “Reports” and “Moodboard” under your teacher settings.

These trends will help you gauge your class’ wellbeing and also provide an opportunity for you to guide your students through different calming strategies that tie in directly with our self-regulation unit.

Self-regulation is a skill that helps students manage their behaviors and express emotions in constructive ways. This happens when students are aware of their feelings, able to articulate them (e.g., “I am feeling sad because…”), and can make decisions about how to respond to stimulation. Most importantly, naming our feelings is crucial to self-regulation as it is the first step in helping students reach a calm state that is optimal for learning (Shanker, S. (2012). Calm, alert and happy. Retrieved August 19, 2015.).

On their own, students can explore some of these calming strategies through:

myPeekaville games related to the self-regulation unit;
Through our lessons, you can guide them through these strategies (“Take a Deep Breath”, “Feelings Dance”, “Is this a calm body?”) and;
The context of the story “The Peekapak Pals and the Classroom Chaos”.

Some other strategies that you can try to help bring your students back to calm are:

Guiding angry students through a breathing exercise “take a few deep breaths to pause and reflect”
If a student likes to write, suggest them to reflect on their feelings and write about them in a journal
Ask your student to close their eyes and visualize a happy or relaxing place. Have them name the sensory details related to this place, like what they see, what they hear, what they can touch, and what they smell in this place.
Do a little shake! Having your students jump in place 10 times, jog in place, roar (if appropriate), or just wiggle can help release any excess energy and release feel-good endorphins.
Help your students change their negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Brainstorm together encouraging and empowering statements they can use as positive self-talk (this is also explored in our optimism unit!).
Be a role model for your students. Your students will mimic how you cope with stress and so the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, use that as an opportunity to demonstrate positive self-talk.

More Resources

If you would like to learn more about social-emotional learning, self-regulation, and how to support students through their learning journeys, check out these short, but helpful videos:

Thank you for reading our article! We hope you have found our “how-to” guide and Feelings Check-in Tool helpful in supporting your student’s development of their self-regulation skills. If you have any questions or want to contribute your own tip or tool, feel free to share it with us at hello@peekapak.com and we’ll add it to our list!

Social Emotional Learning & COVID-19

Coronavirus, Ideas, Review, SEL, Tips

Free At-Home Learning for Elementary Students

March 15, 2020
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With the recent turn of events and the resulting school closures, we’ve been so impressed with the number of education technology organizations offering their resources. To help districts, schools, educators, and families, we’ve put together a list of recommended free at-home learning.

Free At-Home Learning For Elementary Students

Free Math Resources

Prodigy: Prodigy is a free, Pokemon-style math game that has been proven to improve student scores and confidence! It is aligned to the Ontario and other State curriculum for grades 1-6, and features content from each of the five major strands. You can sign up at prodigygame.com
DreamBox Learning: DreamBox Learning Math’s instructional design that allows for exploration, builds conceptual understanding, establishes fluency, confidence, and the creative application of mathematics. If you sign up before April 30th, you can access a free three-month trial: dreambox.com/at-home
Khan Academy: Khan Academy has one of the best sites for free at-home learning for math with self-pacing content for students.

Free Reading & Writing Resources

Dreamscape: Dreamscape’s free literacy game can support students reading, practice ELA skills, and help teachers track progress. Sign up for a free account: https://squigglepark.com/dreamscape
Newsela: Engage students with thousands of texts on topics they care about most, with standards-aligned lesson supports built for ELA instruction. Prepare for distance learning with free access to Newsela’s entire product suite: www.newsela.com
Scholastic: For when school is disrupted, Scholastic has curated a free digital learning hub designed to support virtual learning plans: Scholastic Learn At Home allows open access to daily learning journeys divided into four grade spans—Pre-K–K, Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5, and Grades 6–9+. Learn more at: https://www.scholastic.com/learnathome

Free Science Resources

Mystery Science: Mystery Science has pulled its most popular science video lessons and is offering them for anyone to use for free. No account or login is needed. Copy and paste the links into your documents and use them however they might be helpful! They’ve also curated a starter set of science lessons that you can use remotely or share with parents. To learn more: https://mysteryscience.com/school-closure-planning
Discovery Education: Discovery Education Experience is an online K-12 service combining curated curriculum resources with on-demand teaching strategies. Its standards-aligned content is assignable and meets the varying needs of diverse student populations in a safe and secure environment. Request access here (schools and districts): https://www.discoveryeducation.com/coronavirus-response/

Free Coding Resources

Tynker: Helps empower kids to learn to code with self-paced, on-demand courses. To learn more for school or district access, click here: https://mailchi.mp/tynker/in-support-of-schools-facing-health-related-closure

Free Social Emotional Learning Resources

Peekapak: Peekapak is a social-emotional learning platform that helps elementary students learn skills like self-regulation and empathy through digital stories, research-based lessons, and personalized learning games that align with required reading and writing-based curriculum. To sign up to access Peekapak’s entire platform of resources, click here: https://www.peekapak.com/schoolclosures

Peekapak has also created specific Coronavirus lesson plans and family activities about the pandemic. Lessons help children understand their feelings during this time, practice gratitude to our frontline workers and create their own speical space at home. Learn more here: https://https://54.147.212.60/coronavirus-lesson-plans/

Free Health Resources & More

Brainpop: BrainPop covers a number of subjects but we love that they have a new module specifically on the Coronavirus. Consider using BrainPOP’s animated movies, assessment resources, and creative tools for distance learning, support for projects and homework and keeping students on track with their studies. Click here to sign up for (school) access: https://go.brainpop.com/accessrequest

Additional Helpful Resources for Educators and Families:

A couple of other helpful guides we’ve found online to help educators and families with free at-home learning:

Amazing Educational Resources: This is an extensive list of free at-home learning resources available during the outbreak: https://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/?fbclid=IwAR11Ii1xxsoc1WzM9o16HsOy-Ba7jHjwgT_8qiFXMF9cAe1bW5sb_I5m4eY

Mr. Malone’s At-home Learning: A suggested schedule and list of resources and guidance for families supporting at-home learning experiences. It’s recommended for Upper Elementary and Middle Grades. We love the morning mindfulness and journaling activity to help students reflect on how they are feeling throughout this experience. Check it out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uADwvWgA2BosAFlgJHs_qzEeANskgmCcVOgOT9DUPJc/edit?fbclid=IwAR30xN-ufdTXgWbj9fN-FdSsR98xB-dUNXaH4BS9c4eEuk6XjBTzSHnDGlE

Khan Academy Student Schedules: In addition to offering amazing free resources, Khan Academy has put together schedules that are meant to be templates for you to adopt, copy or modify to better suit the needs of your children, classroom or district. Access the file here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub

Online Instruction Ideas by Steve Sherman, Livingmaths.com: This document is for educators and goes step by step through tools, methods, and resources to help educators with online instruction. Learn more here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B_2jw_eVtSRgrTTJy_ZVn_D2ZqDOVNfee26aPusXiu0/edit

Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Introduction to Peekaville’s Peekaflu

March 20, 2020
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Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Peekapak is here to support all of our teachers, families, and students as we head into new territory, with our new Coronavirus Lesson Plans.

We have created specific Coronavirus Lesson Plans about the pandemic in order to directly support our schools, students, and families. We will be releasing lessons over the next few weeks to help children understand their feelings during this time. We encourage you to share it with families and have healthy, productive conversations. If new to Peekapak, your school or district can request access here.

Background

Peekaville is a small town nestled within lovely forests where humans and animals live and play in harmony. Peekaville oozes warmth and creativity. Peekaville is home to Leo the Hedgehog, Cody, Menka and the rest of the Peekapak Pals. To see and learn more about Peekaville, either sign in to your student account at www.mypeekaville.com or play as a guest at www.mypeekaville.com/tryout. Schools can request free access during school closures here.

Unit Introduction: The Peekaflu

Lots of people are getting sick in Peekaville with the Peekaflu. Lots of activities are being canceled (Berryball tournament) and stores and schools are closed. Cody is feeling angry and a little scared. Why can’t he go play with his friends or go get ice cream like he always does? It’s no fun at all!

Coronavirus Lesson Plans: ‘Peekaflu Unit’

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (below)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What Do We Need
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

Lesson 1A: Letter from Cody

(Note: There are different levels of this letter and also translations in Spanish, see below for more info)

Hi friends! It’s Cody here.

Things have been changing in Peekaville and I’m not sure how I feel. Mayor Peekapak made an announcement that said lots of people are getting the Peekaflu. Mr. Bison told us that it’s like the normal flu, but older people can get really sick from it. I hope Kenji’s grandma is okay.

Yesterday, school was canceled and all the stores shut down! Normally days off from school, like snow days, are lots of fun, but now I can’t play with my friends because everyone is staying inside their homes. It’s not fair! Even Mr. Baker’s shop is closed! My tummy is rumbling for a marshmallow banana muffin.

Don’t tell anyone, but I’m also feeling a little scared. What if it gets worse? What if I get sick? What if my family gets sick?

Has this ever happened to you? How did you feel? What did you do?

Stay healthy!

Your pal,

Cody

Activity 1B: To share with families:

(see below for translation in Spanish)

Parents/guardians, read the below letter from Cody with your child(ren).
Ask the following questions:
- How is Cody feeling about the Peekaflu?
- After your children answer – go one step deeper…
  - Why is Cody feeling frustrated?
  - Why is Cody feeling scared?
  - How are you feeling? Are you feeling more than one emotion?
- Who or what are you worried about?
- What can you do to cheer up?
- How are you staying healthy?
Help your child write a letter or draw an illustrated response to Cody about how they feel and what they can do.
Have your child send their letter back to their teacher and/or take a photo and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Actividad para compartir con las familias:

Padres de familia/tutores, lean la carta de Cody con su(s) hijo(s).
Haga las siguientes preguntas:
- ¿Cómo se siente Cody con respecto a la Peeka-gripe? Después de que su(s) hijo(s) respondan, profundice la discusión al preguntar:
  - ¿Porqué Cody se siente frustrado?
  - ¿Porqué Cody se siente asustado?
  - ¿Cómo te sientes? ¿Porqué te sientes de esa manera? ¿Sientes más de una emoción?
- ¿Sobre qué o quién estás preocupado?
- ¿Qué podemos hacer para ayudar a alegrarte?
- ¿Qué estás haciendo para mantenerte saludable? ¿Cuáles son algunas formas de mantenerte saludable?
Ayúdele a su hijo a escribir una carta o a dibujar una respuesta para Cody. Aliente a su(s) hijo(s) a describir cómo se sienten y qué es lo que pueden hacer en momentos como este.
Usted y su(s) hijo(s) pueden enviar su respuesta a su profesor y/o pueden tomar una fotografía y publicarla a través de Twitter (no olviden etiquetar @Peekapak). ¡Cody podría ver la fotografía y responder!

Examples of responses from the Peekapak Pals

Download and review Cody’s Letter

To access Cody’s letter (in English or Spanish), please download from this folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing
In the folder, we have created a version for Pre-K to 1st grade, 2nd to 3rd grade and 4th to 5th grade students

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What do we need?
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

Districts, schools, educators and families impacted by health-related closures can access Peekapak’s entire platform for free. To sign up, visit this link: https://www.peekapak.com/schoolclosures

This will allow schools to provide lessons, at-home activities and interactive learning games for all affected families with children between Pre-K to 5th grade. Our resources promote literacy skills while helping families remain calm and practice social-emotional learning skills like self-regulation, empathy, and perseverance.

If you represent a school or district faced with school closures, please complete the below form. You will hear back shortly from our team with the next steps. Please note, if you are a parent, you can still sign up as well.

More Remote Learning Resources:

With the recent turn of events and the resulting school closures, we’ve been so impressed with the number of education technology organizations offering their resources. In addition to our Coronavirus lesson plans, to help districts, schools, educators, and families, we’ve put together a list of recommended free at-home learning. See our list of recommendations here.

Join our #TreeOfGratitude Challenge!

October 20, 2020
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We’re excited to announce it is time to join our #TreeofGratitude Challenge for the month of November. The challenge is easy to get involved with, open to ALL (New users, Basic and Pro) and has many exciting prizes, including a Grand Prize of two $100 Visa gift cards!

The #TreeofGratitude Challenge

Our challenge invites classrooms to share their ideas of gratitude with the Peekapak Pals. Expressing gratitude, especially during unprecedented times like these, can help students be more optimistic and cope with unexpected challenges.

There are 3 activities for the #TreeofGratitude challenge. You can do 1 or all 3 activities and each activity completed will give you entries for the Grand Prize of two $100 Visa Gift Cards! For each entry make sure to tag us @Peekapak and include the #TreeofGratitude on your entries!

The #TreeofGratitude is a yearly tradition in the world of Peekaville, where all the characters of Peekapak live. Every year upon the first snowfall, the residents of Peekaville gather around the tree to write messages of gratitude onto tags and hang it up on the tree. This serves as a reminder to be thankful for the people, places, and things in our lives, through the good times, as well as the bad.

This challenge brings to life this experience and we hope you can get involved! Below you’ll find more details on each of the activities, the prizes, and how to enter:

Activity 1: Letter to Cody

For this activity, read The Peekapak Pals and The Tree of Gratitude with your students. In this story, the Peekapak Pals are in a grumpy mood, but a surprising turn of events helps them realize that there’s a lot in this world for which to be thankful.

After reading the story, read the Letter from Cody, have your students write a class letter back to Cody sharing their ideas on practicing gratitude.

To access the story and the Letter from Cody, head over to Peekapak.com to create a free account (or log in if you already have an account). After signing in, go to lesson one of the ‘Gratitude’ unit where you will be able to access the book, as well as the Letter from Cody.

Entries: This challenge will give you one entry for the Grand Prize!

Activity 2: Gratitude Tags

After reading the Peekapak Pals and the Tree of Gratitude, we learned that we can be thankful for many different things. We can be thankful for people, like how Cody was thankful for his friends, we can be thankful for places, like how Lucia was thankful for the sky, or we can be thankful for things, like Mr. Baker’s bread.

For this challenge, have your students create gratitude tags. On a piece of paper, have students write down and/or draw any one person, place or thing they are grateful for.

Students can print out the tag here or create their own gratitude tag!

To submit your response, have all your students hold up their tags to their webcam and send us a screenshot (student’s faces are not required). If you are teaching in person, send us a picture of their tags!

Entries: This challenge will give you two entries for the Grand Prize!

Activity 3: Class Letter of Gratitude

For the last challenge, have your class play together Lesson 5 of our special COVID-19 focused Kahoots and write a class letter of gratitude to someone they consider a superhero in your community! Superheroes don’t have to be just healthcare workers, other examples include, but are not limited to, writing to a teacher, teacher’s assistant, police officer or firefighter.

Tip: If teaching virtually with access to a polling feature, for the classroom letters, consider creating a poll of different options that the students can choose from so that there is an agreement on who to write to or what to say!

Entry: This challenge will give you three entries for the Grand Prize!

Prizes

For the #TreeofGratitude challenge, there are three tiers of prizes.

The Grand Prize will be two $100 Visa gift cards (perfect for the holiday season!), along with one of the following items: sticker sets, a print copy book set (3 books) or a life-size Peekapak Pal cardboard cutout.

The second prize will be two $50 Visa gift cards (perfect for the holiday season!), along with one of the following items: sticker sets, a print copy book set (3 books), or a life-size Peekapak Pal cutout.

The third prize will be one $50 Visa gift card (perfect for the holiday season!), along with one of the following items: sticker sets or print copy book set (3 books).

How to Join our #TreeOfGratitude Challenge

Join our #TreeofGratitude Challenge by sending us a photo of your classroom’s response via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram by tagging @Peekapak and using the hashtag #TreeofGratitude. You can also email us your response at hello@peekapak.com.

For bonus entries:

Follow @Peekapak on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Entries through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram will get a bonus entry.
Each retweet of your post by a friend/fellow teacher will receive a bonus entry, and for each friend or teacher you tag on Instagram you will also receive a bonus entry.

On November 30th, 2020, when the challenge ends, we will be randomly picking winners and will direct messages or email our winners (please make sure that you are following us so we can message you for the prize).

We’re so excited to hear your classroom’s ideas on practicing gratitude and we hope you enjoy the story and lesson.

With gratitude,

Ami & The Peekapak Team

Peekapak Provides Ready-to-Teach Lessons as Students Return to Learning

August 23, 2020
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Peekapak is empowering the next generation of globally aware, enthusiastic, and empathetic citizens – whether learning is in-person, virtual, or hybrid. This year, Peekapak is offering new features to ensure educators can seamlessly teach important social-emotional learning skills in whatever setting a student may be in through its award-winning stories, ready-to-teach lessons, family activities, and interactive learning games.

Supporting In-Class, Remote, and Hybrid Learning for Social-Emotional Learning

Throughout the last few months, two trends in education have become increasingly apparent: (1) educators across the globe are transitioning to remote learning, and (2) social-emotional learning has been gaining rapid attention and support. Given these trends, it is evident that there is an increasing need for educators to provide a social-emotional learning platform to students in a safe and effective way during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is why Peekapak is happy to announce that we have adapted our program to fit all formats of learning including:

Synchronous online learning through our new series of 50 ready-to-teach presentations to support online lessons per grade level.

Asynchronous online and family learning through our new video lessons and myPeekaville, our learning game.

In-class learning through our 80 classroom lesson plans per grade level.

While we have put extensive and careful effort into making these resources the best that they can be, we understand that the transition to either full or partial remote learning can be difficult for students. That is why we have also worked closely with our educators to design an entirely new product to help ease with this transition: The Back to School with The Peekaflu Series!

Ready-to-Teach Lessons

To help deliver Peekapak classroom lessons over video conferencing for remote learning, we will be offering ready-to-teach slideshow presentations to help guide lessons and save teachers time. We have put extensive effort into these presentations to ensure that the lessons are both concise and meaningful. Our goal is to help save time and make it easy for teachers to conduct remote lessons.

Video Lessons to Share with Families

To support independent and asynchronous learning at home, Peekapak will also have a series of video lessons of teachers doing read alouds, that can be shared with families to guide young learners.

Our goal is to help lighten a teacher’s load and support literacy at home with these pre-recorded videos of our teachers doing read alouds of our early childhood books (Pre-K and Kindergarten). The teacher will pause to ask questions and there will be questions for the family to ask their child afterward.

The myPeekaville iPad App

To better support the use of myPeekaville at home, students will have the option to log into an iPad app to use myPeekaville. myPeekaville is an interactive learning game with audio to guide students to learn SEL skills in the class or home. The app was carefully designed and tested to ensure that students are both engaged, and learning meaningful lessons.

Back to School with The Peekaflu Series

This series will feature a brand new story about a return to school after the Peekaflu lockdown. It will include 6 lesson plans that will cover topics such as dealing with the new rules and helping make sense of this new ‘normal’.

About Peekapak

Peekapak is an award-winning, literacy-based social-emotional learning (SEL) platform of stories, evidence-based lessons, family activities, and interactive learning games. Peekapak helps overcome barriers to teaching SEL by making learning these skills more accessible, engaging, and measurable for school districts, educators, parents, and students. With its flexible and accessible design that can be easily modified, teachers can effortlessly integrate Peekapak’s ready-to-teach lessons into their planned curriculum. Behind-the-scenes, teachers, and administrators receive real-time reports showing a student’s progress and emotional state. This allows educators to be proactive in helping curve future mental health issues and promote positive well-being in the classroom.

Learn more about Peekapak from this short video or request more information here.

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 8: What do we need?

May 28, 2020
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8A Letter from Inés

Hi, friends! It’s Inés here.

The Peekaflu is still pretty bad here in Peekaville. We are stuck in our homes, but I know that means I’m safe. Mr. Bison sends us school work to do but I secretly miss my desk and Mr. Bison’s goofy stories. I mostly miss going to the Ice Cream Parlor and ordering an ice-cream sundae with bananas, duskberries, and french fries! My favorite!

I’ve noticed that everyone seems to have a lot of different feelings. My father seems stressed. My friends seem bored. My grandma seems scared. I want to help everyone but I’m not sure how. Maybe someone needs a phone call! A pep talk? Movie recommendation? A joke?

I’m going to make a list of everyone I know and ask them how they are feeling and what they need. I like feeling helpful! And this is the best way I know how!

What do you need?

Your helpful friend,

Inés

Family Activity:

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Inés with your child(ren).
Ask the following questions:
- How is Inés feeling?
- What does Inés miss doing?
- Why is Inés having trouble helping her friends and family?
- What is Inés’ idea?
Help your child write a letter, or draw an illustration, or record a video response to Inés.
Have your child send their letter back to their teacher and/or take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Inés may see it and respond!

8B What Do You Need Match Up

Inés asked her family and friends how they are feeling. Now can you help Inés match each helpful idea to the right friend? Add in your own family and friends at the bottom and how you will help them.

There is no right answer! Choose what you think fits best 🙂

8C What Do I Need? Self Care Activity

Inés is very good at being helpful. She asked all of her friends how they are feeling and what they need. She made everyone feel very special and loved. It’s important to care for others. It’s also important to care for ourselves! Sometimes we need to stop and ask ourselves, what do I need? This is called self-care.

Answer the questions below to find out what you need. Then try one of the examples of self-care. After, journal about how you felt before, during, and after the activity. You can also write Inés a letter telling her about your self-care! Take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Inés may see it and respond!

Download and review activity materials

To access our Coronavirus Lesson plan materials please download from this folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What do we need?
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

Districts, schools, educators and families impacted by health-related closures can access Peekapak’s entire platform for free. To sign up, visit this link: https://www.peekapak.com/schoolclosures

This will allow schools to provide lessons, at-home activities and interactive learning games for all affected families with children between Pre-K to 5th grade. Our resources promote literacy skills while helping families remain calm and practice social-emotional learning skills like self-regulation, empathy, and perseverance.

More Remote Learning Resources:

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 7: Our Elders

April 22, 2020
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Lesson 7: Our Elders

7A: Letter from Cody

Hi friends! It’s Cody here.

My family and I are still at home. Are you? Yesterday, I wore my pajamas the whole day. It was awesome! But then I felt sleepy all the time. Zzzzz!

I heard on the news that the Peekaflu is dangerous for older people. Most of them can’t have visitors and must stay in their rooms. I’m pretty lucky that I get to be with my family. I can imagine that it’s a bit lonely and scary to be alone.

I want to do something for the older people in my community. I think maybe I’ll write them letters! I could add in some pictures, funny jokes, and a cool comic. Maybe they’ll even write back and we can become peeka-pen-pals! That’d be awesome.

Will you help me write some letters?

Your friend,

Cody

7B: Questions + Letter to Elder

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Cody with your child(ren).
Ask the following questions:
- How is Cody feeling?
- Why does Cody want to write letters to the elderly/senior citizens?
- What types of things can Cody include in his letter?
- Why do letters help show someone we care?
Help Cody by writing a letter to a senior citizen, or elder, in your community. Use our template attached or create your own letter! Either mail the letter or take a picture and email it to a relative or to your local senior citizen center. How many can you write?
Take a photo/video of your child’s letter(s) and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

SAMPLE:
Dear friend at <NAME OF CENTER>,

My name is <FIRST NAME>.

Include a story, some interesting facts, a joke, a picture! You choose!

I hope you are staying healthy and safe!

Your friend,

<FIRST NAME>

7C: What is Wise Dialogue

Dialogue: Read the conversation between Cody and his dad. Act it out or maybe even use puppets.

Cody: Dad! Dad! Dad! I sent a letter to Kenji’s granny and she sent one back to me. She’s my first peeka-pen-pal!

Dad: That’s wonderful Cody. What does it say?

Cody: She said that she liked my comic book and all the fun facts I taught her.

Dad: Are you going to write back?

Cody: Yes! I’m going to teach her all of the things I know, like who the coolest superheroes are right now and…and…the best strategy for winning berryball!

Dad: Hmmm… Instead of you teaching her. Maybe she could teach you?

Cody: Huh? But I’m the one in school.

Dad: That’s true, and you’ve learned a lot there. But elders are wise.

Cody: What does ‘wise’ mean?

Dad: Being wise means you have experience, knowledge and good judgement. Wisdom comes with age. They’ve seen a lot more, met a lot more people, and had some big life experiences.

Cody: That is true. Kenji always says he has a lot of respect for his granny because of the life she’s lived.

Dad: Exactly! We need to respect and listen to our elders. I think we should all go to Elder School.

Cody: That’s it! I’m going to ask Kenji’s granny to teach me something or tell me a story about her life. I could become wise too! Maybe I can even interview her on the phone?

Dad: Great idea Cody. I’ll sign up for Elder School too!

Inspired by the following story (great read for the adults!): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/opinion/covid-home-school-grandparents.html

7D: Elder School Activity

Senior citizens, or elders, have a lot of wisdom. They have met interesting people, visited fascinating places, and learned many life lessons along the way.
Reach out to a grandparent, senior citizen from the community (get help from a parent), or your new peeka-pen-pal and ask them to teach you something interesting!
- Example topics:
  - A life lesson
  - What life used to be like (a typical day, their childhood, their job)
  - An interesting story from their past
  - An observation about life today
Schedule a time for the activity (give them time to think about their topic!).
After your activity, write down (or draw) what you learned, have your child send in their summary or picture to their teacher and take a photo and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!
Write a letter of gratitude to your elder for giving you wisdom!

Download and review activity materials

To access our Coronavirus Lesson plan materials please download from this folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What do we need?
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

Districts, schools, educators and families impacted by health-related closures can access Peekapak’s entire platform for free. To sign up, visit this link: https://www.peekapak.com/schoolclosures

More Remote Learning Resources:

Read more

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 6: Hibernation Station

April 21, 2020
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Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

6: Hibernation Station

6A: Letter from Cody

Hi friends! It’s Cody here.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in my room. I like listening to music while I draw. It keeps me calm. Brady’s music playlist has some new Katy Beary songs I like. It reminded me that Katy Beary must be hibernating right now.

Bears hibernate by staying in their homes for a long time. When it gets warmer outside, they come back outside – well rested and ready to go.

That got me thinking, we’re hibernating right now too! While I’m hibernating, I should learn a super cool new talent. When the Peekaflu goes away and we go back to school, I can show off my new secret talent in a big reveal… Ta-da! Maybe I will ask my friends to join me. We’ll have a talent show to perform our new talents!

What secret talent should I learn? What secret talent will you learn?
Your (secretly) talented friend,

Cody

6B: My Secret Talent

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Cody with your child.
Ask the following questions after reading:
- Why is hibernation similar to the stay-at-home order?
- Why does Cody want to have a talent show? Why is it a secret talent show?
- What should Cody learn?
Help your child write a letter (or drawing/video) responding to Cody.
Have your child send a photo of their letter back to their teacher and/or take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Family Activity:

Cody remembers that when he learned to play the drums, he had to show perseverance and make a plan to reach his goal. He uses the same template to learn his new secret talent. What is his secret talent? You’ll have to wait and see!
Use the activity sheet attached (My Goal Contract -lesson 11 (Perseverance Unit Grade 3) to write down the goal for your new secret talent.
- Here are some inspirational new talents:
  - Learn to draw
  - Learn to juggle
  - Learn card magic tricks
  - Learn to bake cookies
  - Learn a new dance move
  - Write with your opposite hand
  - Learn a new hairstyle
  - Play an instrument
After you complete your goal sheet, give it a try! Invite your family and friends to learn a new talent too. When you come out of hibernation like Katy Beary, you can have a secret talent show just like Cody!

Download and review lesson materials

To access the Coronavirus Lesson 6 Letter from Cody please download from this folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What Do We Need
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

Districts, schools, educators and families impacted by health-related closures can access Peekapak’s entire platform for free. To sign up, visit this link: https://www.peekapak.com/schoolclosures

More Remote Learning Resources:

Read more

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe

March 31, 2020
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Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe, Practicing Gratitude

Lesson 5A: Letter from Cody

Hi friends! It’s Cody here.

Today I learned that doctors, nurses, and all of the hospital staff still have to go to work! I told my dad that I think medical people should stay home, like us. But he said they are saving people who have the Peekaflu. That is super brave. They are like real life superheroes! I think I’m going to make a comic about them called “Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu!”

At first, I was angry for being stuck at home. But I’m actually lucky to be safe at home. How can I thank the Doctors and Nurses for being brave? I’m really grateful that they are working to keep Peekaville safe. Maybe I should write a letter of gratitude! Will you help?

Your friend (from a safe distance),

Cody

Lesson 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Cody with your child.
Ask the following questions after reading:
- Why do some people have to go into work?
- Why does Cody call these workers ‘superheroes’?
- Cody was feeling stuck at home, but now he feels safe at home. What does that mean? What do you think caused his change of mind?
Help your child write a letter (or drawing/video) of gratitude for our hospital workers.
Have your child send a photo of their letter back to their teacher and/or take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Lesson 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekfalu Comic Activity

Cody is very grateful that doctors and nurses are going to work every day to help fight Peekaflu. It feels like the hospital workers are real-life superheroes battling the evil Peekaflu. Cody decides to write a comic. He needs help brainstorming ways to fight Peekaflu. He thinks about hand washing, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Can you make a comic about Dr. Nurse fighting the evil Peekaflu?
- Make sure to include ways that the Peekaflu can be defeated!

Have your child send a photo of their comic back to their teacher and/or take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Download and review lesson materials

To access the Coronavirus Lesson 5 Letter from Cody please download from this folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What Do We Need
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Read more

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 4: A Special Space

March 31, 2020
0Comments 15Views

Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Lesson 4: A Special Space

Lesson 4A: Letter from Cody

Hi friends! It’s Cody here.

I’m bored. I mean REALLY bored! We’ve been stuck at home for a whole week now and I feel like I don’t know what to do with myself. My dad says I’m feeling this way because I’m restless.. The Peekaflu is still going around so everyone is staying home and staying away from each other. I know that’s the best way I can help everyone get better. But…it’s sooo boring!

I’ve already played all my games, read all my books, and drawn three new comics. I wish I could have my friends over. My family is too busy working to play. Hmpf!

My bedroom used to be my favorite place to hang out, but now I’m sick of it. What can I do to make my room feel more comfortable? Or maybe more exciting? Do you have any ideas?

TIA! (Thanks in advance!)

Your friend,

Cody

Lesson 4B: Questions

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Cody with your child.
Ask the following questions after reading:
- Why is Cody staying at home?
- Why is he getting bored?
- Have you ever felt bored?
- Cody loved being in his bedroom, but now is getting sick of it.
  - How can he make his room feel more comfortable?
  - How can he make it more exciting?
  - How can he redecorate or reorganize it?
- How do you feel about your bedroom? What does your bedroom look like?

Lesson 4C: My Special Space Activity

A special place is a room or spot in your house where you feel safe, comfortable, and confident. Maybe it’s your bedroom, your basement, or your seat at the kitchen table! Everyone’s space looks different. Some spaces are busy and cluttered. Others are cozy and quiet. Sometimes we share the space with a family member. Sometimes we have our own space.

Let’s take a look at some of the Peekapak pals’ special spaces.

This is Cody’s space
- What do you notice?
- What does he have in his space?
- Is it clean or cluttered?
- Does Cody’s space remind you of his personality? How so?
- Is it similar or different from your space? Why?

This is Lucia’s space
- What do you notice?
- What does she have in her space?
- Is it clean or cluttered?
- Does Lucia’s space remind you of her personality? How so?
- Is it similar or different from your space? Why?

This is Inés’ space
- What do you notice?
- What does she have in her space?
- Is it clean or cluttered?
- Does her space remind you of her personality? How so?
- Is it similar or different from your space? Why?

Now let’s visit your special space. Maybe it’s …
- Your room
- Your desk
- Your seat at a table
- Your basement
Draw what your space looks like. Describe why it’s your special space. How does it make you feel?
- Option: You may be spending more time than usual in your special space. How can you make it look and feel more comfortable or more exciting? How can you rearrange it? Organize it? Decorate it? Sometimes a fresh new look is exactly what you need!
  - *Remember if you share the space with someone else, talk to your family member about changing it together!
- Have your child send a photo of their drawing to their teacher and/or take a photo and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Download and review activity materials

To access materials please download from this folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What do we need?
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Read more

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 3: We over Me

March 31, 2020
0Comments 33Views

Coronavirus Lesson Plans: Lesson 3: We over Me

Lesson 3A: Read the Dialogue

Cody is still upset about the Berryball finals getting canceled. He calls Kenji on his Peekapad.

Cody: Hi, Kenji.

Kenji: Hey, Cody! Are you okay? You sound sad.

Cody: I guess I’m sad, but also mad. I was so excited to play in the Berryball finals and now it’s canceled! It’s not fair!

Kenji: I’m sorry Cody. I know you and your team were practicing really hard for it.

Cody: Wait… I have an idea! I should call all my Incrediberries teammates and go play later this weekend. We can probably get the other team to come, too. No adults can stop us if it’s a secret!

Kenji: Uhh… Cody, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.

Cody: Why? No one on our team seems sick.

Kenji: I’m glad, but the problem is that we could still have gotten it from someone and we’re carrying Peekaflu without showing symptoms.

Cody: But, if we don’t feel sick, then we are okay, right?

Kenji: Well… it’s not that simple. Even if I’m not coughing or have a fever, I might still have it and be able to pass it to others. It’s really important that we protect other people in our community, like my grandma.

Cody: I don’t want anything to happen to your grandma. What can I do? Should I bring her some of Saffron’s butterberry soup?

Kenji: Actually, the opposite! The best way for us to help is to stay at home and stay away from others. This is called social distancing.

Cody: Why does that help?

Kenji: Think about a stack of dominoes. If one domino falls, they all start to fall.

Cody: So, the dominoes falling is like people getting sick from coming in contact with each other?

Kenji: Exactly! And what happens if you move the dominoes farther apart?

Cody: I know! I know! When they fall, they don’t hit the other dominoes. The stack doesn’t all fall down.

Kenji: Exactly! If we all stay separate for a little while, the Peekaflu won’t spread. It will stop and fewer people or animals will get sick.

Cody: Even though I really want to play Berryball, I understand that it’s not about me, it’s about we. If I am a domino, I can stay at home and do my part to make sure that I don’t get anyone sick.

Kenji: You’re right Cody. I’m proud of you!

Lesson 3B: Family Activity – Questions to ask your child

Parents/guardians, read the dialogue between Cody and Kenji with your child(ren). We suggest you act it out or do a puppet show!
Ask the following questions after the dialogue:
- Why does Kenji not want Cody to play Berryball?
- What is social distancing? Why is it helpful?
- How does Kenji use dominoes to explain Peekaflu?
- What does Cody mean when he says, “it’s about we, not me”?

Lesson 3C: Scenario cards activity

‘We over me’ is the idea that sometimes we have to think about what is best for everyone in our community. Even if it is different from what we want. Cody had to choose ‘we’ over ‘me’ when he decided not to play Berryball with his friends. It was tough, but he was helping a lot of people by staying home.
Read through the following situation cards with your child(ren) and discuss how you would handle each one.
Use the following questions for each situation to help the characters choose ‘we’ over ‘me’.
- How is the character feeling? What does the character want to do?
- What can they do instead? Get creative!
- What would you do?

Download and review the Me to We Cards

To access the Coronavirus Lesson 3 Me to We scenario cards please download from this folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions
- 3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What Do We Need
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

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Coronavirus Lesson Plans – Lesson 2: Berryball Blues

March 31, 2020
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Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Lesson 2: Berry Ball Blues

Lesson 2A: Letter from Cody

Hi friends!

It’s Cody here. I am feeling really, really mad. The Berryball finals are supposed to be this weekend, but now they are canceled. It’s because of the Peekaflu. It’s not fair! No one on my Incrediberries team even seems sick. We worked really hard to make it to the finals. Why can’t we still play?

Have you ever had plans changed at the last minute? Were you ever really looking forward to something, but then it was canceled? How did you feel? What did you do? Did you try to understand why it happened?

Your friend,

Cody

Lesson 2B: Questions + Response back

Parents/guardians, read the letter from Cody with your child(ren).
Ask the following questions:
- How is Cody feeling?
- Have you ever had something you were excited about canceled? If so, tell me about it. If not, can you imagine how it might feel?
- How did you feel?
- What did you do?
- Why is it important right now to stay at home even if you’re not showing symptoms of illness?
Help your child write a letter, or draw an illustration, or record a video response to Cody.
Have your child send their letter back to their teacher and/or take a photo/video and post it on Twitter (tag @Peekapak). Cody may see it and respond!

Download and review Cody’s Letter

To access Cody’s letter please download from this folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NpRK0HI1EBOY2z4heOjGWwISQUVAfhTb?usp=sharing

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

Lesson 1: The Peekaflu (above)
- 1A Letter from Cody
- 1B: Questions + Response
Lesson 2: Berryball Blues
- 2A: Letter from Cody
- 2B: Questions + Response
Lesson 3: We over Me
- 3A: We Over Me Dialogue
- 3B: Questions3C: Scenario Cards Activity
Lesson 4: A Special Space
- 4A: Letter from Cody
- 4B: Questions
- 4C: My Special Space Activity
Lesson 5: From Stuck to Safe (Gratitude)
- 5A: Letter from Cody
- 5B: Questions + Letter of Gratitude
- 5C: Dr. Nurse Fights the Evil Peekaflu Comic Activity
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 6: Hibernation Station
- 6A: Letter from Cody
- 6B: My Secret Talent
Lesson 7: Our Elders
- 7A: Letter from Cody
- 7B: Questions + Letter to Elder
- 7C: What is Wise Dialogue
- 7D: Elder School Activity
Lesson 8: What Do We Need
- 8A Letter from Inés
- 8B What Do You Need Match-Up
- 8C What Do I Need: Self-care Activity

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

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Join the Gratitude Challenge 2019

November 6, 2019
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To show our appreciation, we’re hosting a gratitude challenge inviting classrooms to share their ideas of gratitude with the Peekapak Pals.

All submissions will be entered for a chance to win 3 prizes of $100 Amazon Gift Cards.

You can participate with your Peekapak account by:

Printing and putting up our poster on Gratitude found on the Gratitude Unit Overview, under ‘Unit Resources’.
Reading The Peekapak Pals and The Tree of Gratitude with your students. In this story, the Peekapak Pals are in a grumpy mood, but a surprising turn of events helps them realize that there’s a lot in this world for which to be thankful.
Responding to Cody’s Letter, by completing Lesson 1, under the Gratitude unit). Under this lesson, you and your students can write a class letter to Cody sharing your ideas on practicing gratitude.

Join the Gratitude Challenge by sending your classroom’s response either via Twitter or Facebook by tagging @Peekapak or emailing us at hello@peekapak.com. Entries through Twitter and Facebook will get 2 bonus entries and each share of your posts will get bonus entries too. Challenge ends Nov 30, 2019.

We’re so excited to hear your classroom’s ideas on practicing gratitude and we hope you enjoy the story and lesson. Looking forward to seeing your submissions for our Gratitude Challenge!

With gratitude,

Ami & The Peekapak Team

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Incorporating SEL into Everyday Activities

December 27, 2018
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SEL Peace Corner

Create a Peace Corner in your classroom as an area for students to go to when they feel angry, down, or just need a moment to themselves. Include “calming” elements like noise-cancelling headphones, music, and books. This is a great and easy way to encourage students to practice self-regulation and calming techniques.

SEL Emotional Check-ins

Having emotional check-ins with students is another technique for incorporating SEL that can help them practice identifying their emotions and learn how to manage them. This could be a great activity to include in morning meetings. It can also give educators a better understanding of how students are feeling and can help them identify potential issues.

Looking for a technology-based program to teach empathy and other social-emotional skills to elementary aged children? Look no further than Peekapak! Peekapak is an award-winning, social-emotional learning (SEL) platform that uses engaging lessons, stories, and digital games in the classroom and at home. Developed by education experts, Peekapak’s innovative curriculum teaches skills like gratitude, empathy, and self-regulation using literacy, reading, and writing based learning curriculum.

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Book Review: Who Do I Want To Become? By: Dr. Rumeet Billan

December 27, 2018
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A book by Dr. Rummet Billan for anyone, of any age, who has been stumped by the question of what they’re going to be when they grow up.

Who Do I Want To Become?

There are plenty of books out there that address the question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” From Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do all Day? to Richard Nelson Bolles’s What Color is Your Parachute?, we are often encouraged to define ourselves through our career goals. But should we consider a different question? Author, social entrepreneur, and educator Dr. Rumeet Billan believes so.

In her new picture book, Who Do I Want to Become?, Rumeet invites readers of all ages to think deeply about what type of person they would like to become, rather than what job they would like to have. Through the story of a young boy struggling with a homework assignment, Rumeet gently guides readers to think about self-determination and what is truly meaningful in life.

In this highly relatable story, a class project is due, and Dylan is struggling with the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Ultimately, he realizes that it’s who you are that matters the most.

In the Classroom

Rumeet’s book will become an instant favourite in classrooms as it can help guide students’ learning and goals. By encouraging students to think about who they want to be instead of what they want to be, we can better prepare students for the future. According to a report by the Institute for the Future, 80% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t even been invented yet. Therefore, it is essential to encourage students to think about which characteristics they would like to embody in their lives rather than which job they would like to have.

Who Do I Want To Become? is a refreshing new take on a question asked time and time again. One that invites us to discover something wonderful about ourselves that has nothing to do with what you want to be and everything to do with who you are and who you want to be.

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Meet the Peekapals: Paul Solarz

December 18, 2018
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At Peekapak, we celebrate educators. These amazing, passionate, and dedicated individuals bring joy to learning every day. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have a special group of educators supporting our growth – The Peekapals: Our Peekapak Ambassadors! Our Meet the Peekapals series showcases their personal achievements, thoughts on education and SEL, and more.

Peekapal: Paul Solarz

Paul is an uncle, 5th-grade teacher, and the author of “Learn Like a PIRATE.” He loves to cook, travel, and watch sports on TV. Paul is passionate about making learning fun and relevant to his students, and spreading great teaching ideas over Twitter!

PEEKAPAK: Tell us about what you are most proud of accomplishing while working in education?

PAUL SOLARZ: I’m most proud of the relationships that I’ve built with each of my students over the years. When they come back to visit, I’m immediately reminded of the great time we’ve had learning together and am honoured they would take time out of their busy lives to chat with me!

P: What do you find most challenging about teaching? Most rewarding?

PS: Pleasing all of the people, all of the time is the most challenging aspect of teaching! And obviously, it can’t be done! Therefore, I try my best to please my STUDENTS nearly all of the time, and not worry about anyone else. After all, they’re the ones I’m trying to make the biggest impact with.

P: In your opinion, what is the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL)?

PS: I’m a STRONG believer that social-emotional lessons and reminders are the most important aspect of our 5th-grade classroom. Life lessons and guidance on how to treat others improve our classroom culture and each of our relationships. Since collaboration is so important in our classroom, the better we work together, the more likely we are to learn!

P: What do you envision for the future of education and how do you suggest we get there?

PS: I believe that students need to be empowered to make decisions freely, not fear making mistakes, and respond positively to constructive teacher and peer feedback. Classrooms should look more like 21st-century businesses where everyone is working together and helping each other accomplish tasks. Individual accountability is important, but it shouldn’t be the reason teachers avoid creating a collaborative classroom community! When students learn to think for themselves, be aware of others needing help, and anticipate potential problems, they’ll be better prepared to be successful in the world we live in!

Are you an elementary educator or leader interested in becoming a Peekapak Ambassador? If so, please read and fill out this form.

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Meet the Peekapals: Byron Gilliland

December 18, 2018
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Peekapal: Byron Gilliland

Byron is a STEM enthusiast and innovator and is always looking for new ways to prepare his students for their futures. He believes that learning should be fun for students and should allow them to master core content standards through their own interests. Byron creates a learning environment where students feel safe to express their ideas and value the ideas of others. Follow him on Twitter here!

PEEKAPAK: Tell us about what you are most proud of accomplishing while working in education?

BYRON GILLILAND: During my time in education, I have increasingly focused on what my students will need in the future. I find ways to integrate engineering and computer science within the curriculum in a motivational way. I feel that even though my classroom is filled with 1st graders, they have a path started that will lead them to success in the future.

P: What do you find most challenging about teaching? Most rewarding?

BG: Most challenging – instituting a transformational change in practice to student interest focused in classrooms. Most rewarding – seeing students take an interest in learning new things because they have choices in how they share their learning with others.

P: In your opinion, what is the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL)?

BG: It is a FOUNDATIONAL skill in the classroom and in life. SEL allows students the opportunity to truly learn and apply content at a higher level of thinking.

P: What do you envision for the future of education and how do you suggest we get there?

BG: The future of education (in my opinion) is allowing students to use their interests to fuel their learning. For us to truly get there as educators and as a society, we must first see the value of this type of learning and realize that the world is constantly changing and our practices should adapt.

Are you an elementary educator or leader interested in becoming a Peekapak Ambassador? If so, please read and fill out this form.

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Meet the Peekapals: Nick Clayton

December 18, 2018
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Peekapal: Nick Clayton

Nick has been training educators for nine years. Currently, he is a Special Education and Technology teacher for grades 4 – 6 at Puesta Del Sol Elementary School in Victorville, CA. He lives with Amanda, his wife of thirteen years, Mia, his eight-year-old daughter (who started the NPO: @MiasBoxesofLove) and Griffin, his five-year-old son. Nick loves sharing his passion for education and EdTech and loves being a Peekapak Ambassador as it allows him to share his SEL adventures in the classroom. Check out what’s happening in his classroom on Twitter.

PEEKAPAK: Tell us about what you are most proud of accomplishing while working in education?

NICK CLAYTON: One of my most memorable moments was taking fifth-graders on a virtual field trip to Switzerland. I facilitated a connection with Google to talk to the creators of Solar Impulse, the first and only solar-powered airplane to circumnavigate the globe. The students that joined in were disadvantaged and many have never left their city. But here, they had the opportunity to talk to scientists and were interviewed like there was no one more important on the planet. It was amazing to participate in.

P: What do you find the most challenging about teaching? The most rewarding?

NC: My biggest challenges come when I am not able to reach a student. I pride myself on building relationships and getting to the root of what may be going on. I try to help my students with their baggage so that they may be able to learn more confidently. My most rewarding experiences come from the toughest students. When I finally reach through their hard, protective shells, it is so rewarding to watch them grow.

P: In your opinion, what is the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL)?

NC: Social-emotional learning allows students to understand their feelings and emotions to help them learn in a more effective way. It removes the stigma from social settings.

P: What do you envision for the future of education and how do you suggest we get there?

NC: The future of education is one where students are given the opportunity to learn no matter the bounds of their financial situations or baggage. Social-emotional learning will help these situations as generations progress. When students are aware of their emotions and taught how to properly socialize, they will be more effective in helping to fix the inequalities of society as the policymakers of tomorrow.

P: Tell us about your experience with Peekapak.

NC: My students benefit from the interactions they engage in when discussing the stories and reading letters from the characters. The Kindness unit was particularly helpful with my older students who struggle with understanding the importance of kindness as a tool for effective communication. The Peekapak Pals book “Season of Kindness” was such an amazing story that my students related to on a very personal level. They ended up becoming more helpful to each other and use some of the kindness examples from the book in their school lives. We also completed a sock drive for “Socktober” as a class each year that they coordinate with 15 schools. I’ve found that the Peekapak lessons are so helpful in giving meaning to their actions; it has helped them understand why it is important to volunteer and take action in their community.

Are you an elementary educator or leader interested in becoming a Peekapak Ambassador? If so, please read and fill out this form.

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SEL Conference Highlights

November 28, 2018
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SEL Conference Highlights

Our team at Peekapak was proud to attend the 2018 SEL Conference in Harrisburg, PA hosted by the Center for the Promotion of Social & Emotional Learning (CPSEL) from May 9-10. This was the second annual SEL Conference, and this year’s theme was Building Skills for Lifelong Success! We had a fabulous time getting to interact with other SEL leaders from across the United States and Canada. We were honored to be one of over 40 exhibitors who participated in this year’s festivities.

Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert Brooks

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Brooks from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Brooks gave an incredibly insightful and hilarious presentation on Mindsets, and approaches for creating a positive school climate. He stressed the importance of SEL, especially in elementary schools with young students being taught.

Mindfulness and SEL

We had the great opportunity to attend a variety of sessions during the conference. One great session we attended was Mindful Practices and Social-Emotional Learning – Together presented by Wynne Kinder and Kim Stoltzfus of Wellness Works in Schools. This presentation was about integrating SEL and mindfulness practices in the classroom. Mindfulness is all about being aware of what is going on in the present moment, physically and mentally. It was a very engaging session with innovative activities that showed the benefits of using SEL and mindfulness together in teaching young students.

Amazing Tools for SEL

There were many great SEL tools that we learned about at the conference. Kickboard is a tool that allows teachers to track and analyze the academic and behavioral conduct of their students. It allows teachers to look at trends among their students, and be able to compare the students’ emotional behavior with their performance in school. Kinful is another great tool that makes use of Virtual Reality (VR) software to teach lessons on SEL. They pair up classrooms from around the world to connect with each other, allowing students to learn about each others’ cultures while using VR technology.

Another amazing tool for SEL is Peekapak. Peekapak is an award-winning, social & emotional learning (SEL) program designed for the classroom and the home. Developed by education experts, Peekapak’s innovative curriculum combines teaching skills like gratitude, empathy and self-regulation with Common Core reading and writing standards.

To learn more about Peekapak, visit our website or check out our how to guide here.

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Promoting STEM in Childhood Education

November 7, 2018
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National STEM Day – November 8 – is a day to inspire students to explore interests related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the number of STEM-related jobs grew by 10.5% between 2009 and 2015 whereas non-STEM jobs only grew by 5.2%. This trend is expected to continue. For example, between 2014 – 2024, the average expected growth rate for all occupations is 6.5%, but for mathematical science occupations, it is 28.2%.

As these changes take place, it’s important to prepare students and get them interested in STEM from an early age. Many students often shy away from subjects like math and science, saying “it’s too hard.” By creating interest at an early age, this can be avoided and more students will be open to studying these fields in high school and post-secondary education.

How to Create Interest Around STEM

There are many ways to create interest in STEM in the classroom and at home. Try out some of these ideas:

Show kids that STEM is a part of everyday life

Although you may not realize it, STEM is a part of almost everything you do. Getting kids involved with some of these activities, can help spark an interest in STEM:

Cooking and baking
Budgeting and shopping (grocery shopping is a great and easy place to start!)
Music and rhythm (teach them how to play an instrument – and yes, pots and pans count!)

Visit museums

Art exhibits, historic museums, aquariums, science centers, the list is endless. Visiting museums can help kids explore STEM areas in fun and interactive ways. Get them to participate in interactive exhibits, ask them questions while walking around, and give them a journal so they can take notes on what they learned. If you notice that they are showing interest at a particular exhibit, follow-up after your visit and help them explore that area further.

Get outdoors

Getting active outdoors is an easy way to introduce kids to STEM themes. Going for a nature walk around the neighborhood or a nearby park is a great way to start exploring! If you’re feeling more adventurous, head out for a hike and investigate the different flora and fauna in your area. You can also start a garden to teach kids not only about STEM, but also about responsibility as they learn to care for plants themselves. If you don’t have room to start your own garden at your home or school, look into finding a community garden where you can rent space to grow!

Build something together

There are many building tools and toys available for kids. Some great options include LEGO, Play-Doh, and building blocks. You can also check out this great list of the 20 Best Building Toys for Kids in 2018. All of these tools help kids develop problem-solving and creativity skills and will get them excited about STEM subjects. Alternatively, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get kids building. Get creative by using materials you already have around your home or classroom. Use shoeboxes, bags, pool noodles, tupperware, anything! To get kids to really think, challenge them to build a Rube Goldberg machine. You just might be surprised by what they create!

Peekapak is Encouraging STEM for Everyone

At the very core of Peekapak is our mission to help all children around the world succeed. Listening to the thoughts of over 300 early childhood educators, we’ve designed a curriculum and book series featuring a balance of female and male characters interested in a variety of subjects. These interests range from programming to robotics to music and include strong characters in STEM roles. Lucia uses electrical engineering to make everything light up; Inés is a computer programming whiz; Menka has a passion for architecture; Zoey loves biology, and Saffron the Skunk uses chemistry to whip up delicious snacks.

To learn more about how Peekapak can fuel kids’ curiosity for STEM, visit our site or send us an email at hello@peekapak.com! Happy STEMing!

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EdTechTO: Education and Social Impact Investing

October 25, 2018
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On October 16th, Peekapak hosted an EdTechTO Meetup for EdTech leaders in the Toronto area. Ami Shah, CEO and Co-founder of Peekapak, led a panel discussion with industry leaders Shayn Diamond (Partner, Whitecap Venture Partners), Kevin Taylor (Associate Director, SVX), and Kathryn Wortsman (Fund Manager, MaRS Catalyst Fund). Through an informative discussion about how social ventures can find the right funding for them, Shayn, Kevin, and Kathryn gave their views on how ventures can be successful in securing investments. Here’s what they had to say:

Impact is just a barrier, not a lever

Having a social impact isn’t enough when it comes to securing funding. Yes, if you don’t have impact, social investors won’t even meet with you, but just having impact isn’t enough. You still need to develop a good business model to be successful.

Before seeking funding, you should make sure you really understand the problem your company is setting out to solve and how you are trying to solve it. Kathryn highlighted six important questions that ventures should continuously ask themselves:

What problem are we trying to solve?
How are we delivering value to our target customer?
What stage is our product/service at?
Who is our team?
What is our path to market?
Why do I care about what our venture is trying to do?

Although the answers may seem obvious, she stressed the need of having a good understanding of these areas. In addition to these questions, you should have a plan for what you want to accomplish in the next 6 – 12 months, what you need to get there, and how you will use the funding to help you. Having these answers will put you in a good position to begin looking for funding.

It’s all about the relationship

No matter what type of funding you’re looking for, Shayn, Kevin, and Kathryn agreed that it’s all about your relationship with the investor and that that relationship is a long-term one. Even if you think it isn’t the right time for your venture to bring on investors, it is the right time to meet them. Investors themselves want to meet and develop relationships with ventures before they reach the funding stage.

If you want to secure funding from a certain investor or fund, you should get to know the key people ahead of time. Whether that means looking them up on LinkedIn, asking mutual connections about them, or meeting with them in a casual environment, it is sure to help you be successful. As Shayn stated: “You’re never going to get to the term sheet if you don’t have a coffee first.”

Your relationship with the investor is a two-way street. To be successful, there needs to be alignment between all the parties that are involved and what each party’s goal is. You shouldn’t only focus on getting them to understand what you’re doing, but should also try to understand what they are doing. Investors tend to approach the first meeting with the goal of learning more about the person: they want to know who you are and why you’re doing what you do. It’s more about personal facts than business ones – although you should still have your business plan ready.

Where to start looking

Begin your search by looking for Venture Capitals that invest in what your business does. By directly going to highly aligned social funds, you will have a higher chance of being successful in securing funding.

Pitch events are also a great way to be exposed to lots of investors and provide an opportunity to receive feedback. Kathryn highlighted the DMZ and National Angel pitch events as a good place to start. It would also be beneficial to take advantage of Regional Innovation Centres (RICs). In Toronto, MaRS offers startups with free advice and support as well as grant and funding opportunities.

The panellists also stated that the Venture Capital space in Canada is very connected. They are always talking to each other and there’s no better way to meet someone than through a mutual connection. You should always be talking about your business – not selling, but talking. Don’t limit yourself to people within the social investments industry; talk to anyone and everyone about what you do because you never know who others know. Don’t discount anybody because there is always the chance that they could be the “beacon of connection” to the investor you’ve been looking for.

How to shine

All three panellists offered a different view on how a venture can make itself stand out from others and appeal to investors. Kathryn said that the social venture’s representative is attractive when they have “the energy, passion, and conviction backed up with hard facts, realistic plans, and a team that can execute.” Shayn stated that honesty and integrity can go a long way because the way you treat your customers and your business show how you will treat your relationship with the investor.

Kevin highlighted the need to be knowledgeable about your business and the industry. That being said, you don’t need to know everything. Being responsive to what investors are saying and asking can help you stand out. Incorporating their feedback into your plans, asking questions, and following up with them on questions they asked you that you didn’t initially have the answer to help show that you are invested in building a strong relationship with them. He also advised focussing on your passion for your business: “When you are pitching, it’s going to be nerve-racking. Focus on the business and how excited you are about telling the story and that will come through and make you shine.”

Join us for our next EdTechTO event!

Peekapak hosts regular meetups for EdTech leaders in the Toronto area. If you are interested in joining our invite list, send a message to hello@peekapak.com and we will be sure to invite you to future events! Our next meetup will be on November 20th.

How to use myPeekaville

October 2, 2018
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Avatars

Storybooks

Mood Check-Ins

Navigation

Finding Unit Mini-Games (Buildings)

Once you’ve unlocked the unit’s games, students can play those by click on the buildings those house the games. For a cheat sheet on where each unit’s games are, click here.

Backpack

myPeekaville Reports

When reviewing Moodboard data, you can click on any of your students to get a more detailed view of that student:

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EdTechTO: Fireside Chat with John Carbrey, Founder of SharpSchool

September 26, 2018
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On September 19, Peekapak hosted an EdTechTO Meet Up for EdTech leaders in the Toronto area. John Carbrey (Founder and CEO) and Joshua Auslander (CFO) shared the story of SharpSchool’s growth and acquisition by SchoolMessenger. Carbrey and Auslander discussed what they did to set up SharpSchool for growth and success and how they navigated the selling process. Here are some of their insights based on their story.

Build an Advisory Board

As your business grows, you’ll find yourself facing issues you’ve never dealt with before. Finding veterans who can provide guidance and advice can help you successfully navigate decisions and roadblocks. When putting together your Board, you should approach people who:

Have a broad network of contacts that you will be able to leverage
Have experience in growing a business
Can deal with a variety of issues in different functions of the organization

Hire Fractional Executives

Evaluate your org chart. Are you missing any key roles? As your business grows, you may find that the CEO has too many direct reports or that there are certain roles filled, like a Marketing Manager, but not an HR one. Maybe the CEO is managing both the Marketing and HR departments.

To help set your company up for growth, consider hiring fractional executives. These executives can provide leadership and guidance in certain areas of your business for just a few days a week. For example, you could hire an HR Manager who works for two days/week. Fractional executives can also help you identify and train potential future leaders within your company by providing them with professional development opportunities.

Define Your Vision, Then Transfer Its Ownership

A company is created by the vision of the CEO and this vision guides the business through its initial development under the CEO’s watchful eye. However, if growth is to happen, the CEO must take a step back and allow the rest of the team to take ownership of the vision.

When this occurred at SharpSchool, it was a pivotal moment for the company. During an off-site workshop, SharpSchool’s leaders gathered, identified what they wanted their respective teams to look like in the future, and put together plans of how to get there. This was all done with little input from Carbrey, outside of setting the vision, though he was present at the event. This helped transfer accountability for executing the vision from Carbrey to the rest of the team and helped empower them to perform more independently. This process helped identify the leaders in the organization. There were even some surprises, as new, unexpected leaders emerged.

Businesses are Bought, Not Sold

Your goal when building your business should not be to sell it, it should be to build the business. When planning and making projections, think long-term. Having these plans will also help a lot if you are approached by a potential buyer. It will help show them the value of your business which may help convince them to buy!

Join us for our next EdTechTO event!

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EdTechTO: Are EdTech Tools Providing Real Value to Students?

August 14, 2018
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On August 8th, Peekapak hosted an EdTechTO meetup for EdTech leaders in the Toronto area. The focus of this month’s discussion was on private schools and international schools. We were joined by special guests Lavish Bangia of MaRS Discovery District and Andrea Fanjoy of Kingsway College School. We had an insightful conversation around what EdTech tools various private schools are using, and what problems some of these schools still have with using various technology solutions. Here are some of the key highlights from the event.

EdTech tools need to provide real value to students

When deciding on which tools to use, Andrea Fanjoy explained that “whatever brings real value to the needs of the kids is worth it to us.” She spoke about how at many schools it is a challenge to meet the differentiated needs of all of the students. An EdTech tool is incredibly valuable if it is capable of solving this issue by offering means of personalization and adapting to the needs of each individual student.

Lavish Bangia expressed that for many international schools, there is a hunger to associate with North American curriculum and brands. “Canadian education carries a lot of capital across the world,” says Bangia. He also emphasized the big challenge that international schools have with handling the volume of students and any tool that helps to augment the administration process is incredibly valuable, as well as any platform that offers strong curriculum enhancement.

Concerns over screen time a big barrier to implementing new technology

Barriers to bringing in a new technology solution were discussed and the big ones mentioned were cost and concerns over how much time students are spending in front of screens. While many private schools do not have the same financial barriers that a public school might have, there are still many, especially internationally, that do not have excess funds in order to implement new educational technology programs and tools into the curriculum.

Furthermore, Fanjoy discussed the concern that her school has with young children spending far too much time in front of screens. “We must be careful and make sure there is still face time, or even tech tools that inspire more socialization,” expresses Fanjoy. Her and Bangia both felt strongly that EdTech tools are great, but the concern over excess screen time does give reason to want to consider how much technology is used in the classroom.

EdTech has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go

Going forward, both Bangia and Fanjoy think that there is a lot of improvement and innovation coming in the world of education technology. Bangia believes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be key as it is currently starting to change the face of technology as a whole. As well, Bangia believes that since technology comes naturally to the current generation of students, the friction to accept technology in the classroom and on the whole will decrease as the children of today become the educators of tomorrow.

Fanjoy is very curious to see what research comes in terms of determining the appropriate amount of screen time for children to be having every day. She is also quite keen on finding new ways for technology to help facilitate learning and socialization. “Tech tools that help inspire real authentic learning, getting kids out of a textbook world, unleashing their potential to engage in real problems is possible, but no one has taken advantage yet,” says Fanjoy. It will be exciting to see how classroom technology develops and grows moving ahead.

Join us for our next EdTechTO event!

Looking for a technology-based platform to teach empathy and other social-emotional skills for elementary aged children? Look no further than Peekapak. Peekapak is an award-winning, social & emotional learning (SEL) platform that leverages engaging lessons, stories and digital games in the classroom and the home. Developed by education experts, Peekapak’s innovative curriculum teaching skills like gratitude, empathy, and self-regulation within literacy, reading, and writing based learning curriculum.

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District Leaders’ Reception at ISTE 18

July 4, 2018
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This past week at ISTE, we teamed up with Classcraft to host a District Leaders’ reception and panel discussion on social-emotional learning (SEL) and technology. It was a great evening full of discussion and insight. We would also like to thank everyone who attended, and a special thank you to our panelists Greg Wolcott, Michael Salvatore, Mary Jane Warden, and Christine Lion-Bailey. Here are some of the key highlights from the event.

SEL Helps Students Better Understand How to Navigate Their Emotions

Greg Wolcott, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for Woodridge School District 68, shared a method he implements for SEL. Wolcott explained how his district breaks SEL down into three steps: notice, name, and navigate our feelings. “Peekapak has check-ins for primary grades that help us notice and name our feelings,” said Wolcott. “We are trying to get kids to notice and savor the positive.” We tend to overlook the difficulty young children might have with understanding and identifying their emotions and Wolcott expressed the importance of teaching students how to do this.

Finding the Time for SEL is Difficult, but Necessary

Mary Jane Warden, Director of Innovation and Instructional Technology at Park Ridge-Niles School District 64, stressed the impact and value of social-emotional learning. Warden also shed light on the difficulty teachers have fitting everything into the schedule, including the difficulty to incorporate SEL into the curriculum. She said “[We] have to make that space and time for SEL,” and it is necessary to provide teachers with the resources to implement SEL.

Empower Students by Giving them Freedom of Choice

Christine Lion-Bailey, Director of Technology and Innovation for the Morris Plains School District, highlighted the benefits she has seen from building collaborative environments for students, including STEAM labs and VR spaces, where they can choose what they learn. She also spoke about giving students the choice during lunchtime to visit the STEAM lab or visit with a teacher, and that “this choice empowers [students] to take their own steps in learning.”

Programs that Use Technology, Teach Empathy Effectively are Incredibly Valuable

Dr.Michael Salvatore, Superintendent of Schools at Long Branch Public Schools, spoke about the benefits of educational technology he has seen, including technology being used as a means to increase student access to information outside of school. This has led to initiatives like setting up wifi on school buses so students can work on coding and other edtech programs while on their way to a sports practice. As well, Salvatore expressed “anything that builds empathy is worth it,” when discussing the significance of SEL.

The District Leaders’ Reception was an overall success. Thank you to Classcraft for being excellent co-sponsors, and thank you to all of our lovely panelists and attendees.

Book a Free Demo Today!

More about Classcraft: Classcraft is a platform offering a game-based approach to teaching that encourages good behavior and class participation. Their mission is to make school more relevant and meaningful by creating playful and collaborative learning experiences that teach the whole child. Visit their website to learn more.

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Teaching Empathy with Video Games: Webinar Recap

June 19, 2018
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On June 5, we were joined by Dr. Matthew Farber in a discussion on teaching empathy with video games. In case you were unable to attend, here is a recording of the webinar along with some of the key takeaways, as well as some helpful resources.

Click here to view a recording of our webinar Teaching Empathy with Video Games

Teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at a Young Age Leads to Greater Career and Personal Growth

Kindergarten students who score high on social-emotional skills such as empathy are four times more likely to graduate from college and two times as likely to have a full-time job by the age of 25. Just like numeracy skills or literacy skills, social-emotional skills are built up through practice, and they need to be taught effectively and adequately. It is important in an era focused heavily on testing that we do not allow the teaching of soft skills to fall to the wayside.

Video Games Can be Used in the Classroom the Same Way One Might Use a Film

Many educators are unsure about using video games as a teaching tool because they are not sure how to use them in a classroom setting. Dr. Matthew Farber suggests using video games as you would use a movie or any other special media. Students will be excited about playing a video game just as they would be about watching a film (if not more), and it provides the opportunity for teachers to make use of co-viewing and open-ended reflections. It is important to engage the students in what they are doing in these games. After playing a game, discuss as a class what the students experienced when it came to decision-making, how the game made them feel, and how they can apply what they learned in the game to other aspects of their life.

Teaching Empathy with Video Games is Incredibly Effective

There are many great video games out there that can be used as an effective teaching tool. Teaching empathy with video games can be done through the feeling of agency in a game. Video games allow students to have a deeper emotional connection with a character than other media such as books or film. iCivics is a great tool that allows students to experience historical empathy by placing them in someone else’s shoes during particular situations relating to civics and law. Another excellent tool is Peekapak and the world of myPeekaville. Peekapak is an innovative online platform and personalized learning game that teaches young students important SEL skills including empathy, self-regulation and respect.

If you want to speak with the co-host of this webinar, Ami Shah, CEO & Co-Founder of Peekapak, click here to set up a time to chat.

MyPeekaville’s innovative mood check-in helps students keep track of their emotions.

Resources

Great Games to Teach Empathy and other SEL skills
- myPeekaville: an interactive learning experience featuring the characters and stories of Peekapak that reinforces SEL skills
- Spent: an online game about poverty and survival that focuses on tough decision-making
- That Dragon, Cancer: an autobiographical game based on the experiences of Ryan and Amy Green about raising a newborn diagnosed with cancer
Other Resources
- Teaching Empathy with Video Games: Dr. Matthew Farber’s original article on Edutopia that inspired our webinar
- Joan Ganz Cooney Center: a non-profit organization founded by Sesame Workshop focused on children’s literacy skills and innovating education through the use of digital media
- Common Sense Education: a division of Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that offers resources and education to families to advocate safe technology and media for young kids
- CASEL: the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. They are focused on making SEL a key part of education from preschool through high school.

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NewSchools Summit 2018: Key Takeaways and Insights

May 23, 2018
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Our team was privileged to attend the NewSchools Summit 2018 in Burlingame, CA from May 8-9. NewSchools is an organization that funds entrepreneurs seeking to innovate and improve public education. The NewSchools Summit is an invite-only event that brings together leaders in education innovation. Attendees included educators, administrators, business leaders, and more.

For the 20th anniversary of the event, many of the sessions were focused on the future of education, and the workforce, over the next 20 years. Posing questions around what the next 20 years could look like for education, how the use of technology in the classroom and workforce will continue to evolve, which metrics will remain relevant in the coming years, and what might social capital look like as we evolve into this new stage of education.

There is a Great Inequality in Technology Availability

Discussions at the Summit revolved around technology’s role in the classroom moving forward. As technology evolves, so will the quality and quantity of technology used in a child’s education. One important issue that came up is the digital divide that still exists in schools today. While there are many schools that have iPads in the classroom, there are also many schools that still don’t have wireless internet for their teachers to use. As important as it is to innovate with technology in the classroom, it is more important that all students are able to have access to basic technology.

Virtual Reality is Here, but not Everyone is Ready for it

Virtual Reality (VR) is something that has also begun to make waves in the educational system. VR allows for totally new and amazing ways to teach. However, many VR vendors feel that most classrooms are not ready for the technology, and it will take a long time until we see VR as a staple in public education.

Artificial Intelligence and Automation will Create Jobs, not Destroy Them

Many people fear that automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to a loss of jobs. However many experts in the field believe that the opposite will actually happen. Michael Chui of McKinsey Global Institute, and Dr. Vivienne Ming of Socos Labs both think that AI will lead to many news types of jobs being created. The current, and near future, state of AI will need lots of human support in order to develop and properly use the new technologies that arise.

Dr. Vivienne Ming presents on Artifical Intelligence and how it applies to future workforce employment.

Social and Emotional Learning will Play a Huge Role

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is becoming more prominent in schools. There were plenty of conversations about what educators can do in order to prioritize SEL, as well as academics. Moving forward, more resources will be invested into innovating new ways to to teach SEL.

So What’s to Come?

The NewSchools Summit 2018 taught us that by 2030, half of the jobs done will be jobs that don’t currently exist, and current elementary students will be entering the workforce. We have to continue to develop and enhance early learning in order to best prepare children for the future.

What better way to enhance learning for your students than with Peekapak! Peekapak is an award-winning, social & emotional learning (SEL) program designed for the classroom and the home. Developed by education experts, Peekapak’s innovative curriculum combines teaching skills like gratitude, empathy and self-regulation with Common Core reading and writing standards.

For more information, or to request a free demo, visit our website.

Check out the Research Study we did with Elizabeth Public Schools in New Jersey.

If you missed us at NewSchools Summit 2018 and want to set up a time to chat, click here.

How to Articles

Avatars

Storybooks

Mood Check-Ins

Navigation

Finding Unit Mini-Games (Buildings)

Backpack

myPeekaville Reports

Getting Started with Peekapak

Using Units

Using the books

PRO USERS: Narration

Using Lessons

At-Home Lessons

Reporting

CLASSROOM PRO USERS:

Mood Board

Implementing the Feelings Check-in Tool

Responding to and Supporting the Feelings Check-in Data

More Resources

Social Emotional Learning & COVID-19

Free At-Home Learning For Elementary Students

Free Math Resources

Free Reading & Writing Resources

Free Science Resources

Free Coding Resources

Free Social Emotional Learning Resources

Free Health Resources & More

Additional Helpful Resources for Educators and Families:

Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Background

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Unit Introduction: The Peekaflu

Coronavirus Lesson Plans: ‘Peekaflu Unit’

Lesson 1A: Letter from Cody

Activity 1B: To share with families:

Download and review Cody’s Letter

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

The #TreeofGratitude Challenge

Activity 1: Letter to Cody

Activity 2: Gratitude Tags

Activity 3: Class Letter of Gratitude

Prizes

How to Join our #TreeOfGratitude Challenge

Supporting In-Class, Remote, and Hybrid Learning for Social-Emotional Learning

Ready-to-Teach Lessons

Video Lessons to Share with Families

The myPeekaville iPad App

Back to School with The Peekaflu Series

About Peekapak

8A Letter from Inés

8B What Do You Need Match Up

8C What Do I Need? Self Care Activity

Download and review activity materials

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Download and review activity materials

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Download and review lesson materials

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Download and review lesson materials

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Coronavirus Lesson Plans:

Download and review activity materials

Continue with the Peekaflu Unit:

More Peekapak lessons to support remote student learning:

More Remote Learning Resources:

Lesson 3A: Read the Dialogue

Lesson 3B: Family Activity – Questions to ask your child