Elaine Makarevich

K-2 ELA and Spanish Teacher

My name is Elaine and I am fortunate to live and teach in rural northwestern New Jersey.  Family is important to me and so is my teaching career.  I have been blessed to be able to dedicate my life to both during my 29-year teaching career.  Spanning nearly three decades, my teaching assignments have included all subject areas (grades K, 2, and 3), ELA (Grade 4), Spanish instruction (K-6), Gifted & Talented Services Coordinator/Teacher, School-wide Enrichment Coordinator/Teacher, and Schoolyard Garden Coordinator. Teaching is truly a joy and a blessing in my life - it has allowed me to make a difference to many while being present in the moments of my own children’s lives. Our school garden motto sums up my career…by the children, for the children.

Lesson Plans

SubjectToClimate (NJ adapted)
Grades 3-4
60 mins
  • Views 184
  • Favorites

What About Bees?

This lesson introduces the importance of bees to humans, our food supply, and how children can create a healthy habitat for bees.

Topics: Expository Writing, Organisms: Life and Growth
Subjects: Biology, English Language Arts, Science
Types: Activity - Classroom, Data, Lesson Plan, Project, Video
SubjectToClimate (NJ adapted)
Grades K-2
60 mins
  • Views 173
  • Favorites

Plants Without Soil?

This lesson introduces students to the benefits of an aquaponics system, especially in areas where clean soil and water are scarce.

Topics: Expository Writing, Organisms: Life and Growth
Subjects: Biology, Science
Types: Activity - Outdoors, Data, Digital Text, Lesson Plan, Project, Video
SubjectToClimate (NJ adapted)
Grades K-2
70 mins
  • Views 127
  • Favorites

Los Animales y el Clima

In this lesson, students learn Spanish phrases about animals, climates, and simple actions to save energy at home.

Topic: Climate Change
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Science
Types: Digital Text, Game, Lesson Plan, Project, Video
SubjectToClimate
Grades K-2
60 mins
  • Views 338
  • Favorites

Digging Into the Secrets of Soil

This lesson introduces the idea of soil as an ecosystem and as a carbon sink.

Topic: Organisms: Life and Growth
Subjects: Biology, Science
Types: Activity - Classroom, Article, Lesson Plan, None, Video
SubjectToClimate
Grades K-2
50 mins
  • Views 25
  • Favorites

Butterfly, Butterfly, Fly Away - Where? (Butterfly #1)

This lesson introduces the effects of climate change on the life cycle of the monarch butterfly in North America.

SubjectToClimate
Grades K-2
80 mins
  • Views 23
  • Favorites

Habitat—Harm or Harmony?

In this lesson, students learn how climate change affects species and their habitats through the lens of art and science.

Types: Article, Artwork, Lesson Plan, Video