Starting a School Rubik’s Cube Club

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, May/June 2020 Issue

By Sally Marin

Are you interested in improving student engagement with your English Language Learner (ELL) students? Here’s an idea that I tried at my elementary school that was both fun and successful—a Rubik’s Cube club.

The idea came about during a home visit when I discovered that one of my ELL student’s older brothers is a Rubik’s Cube whiz. So I asked him if he’d like to help me organize a Rubik’s Cube club at my school. Since he was a 10th grade student looking to complete community volunteer hours, this was a win-win situation. 

First I met with his mother who was concerned about his ability to keep a 6-week commitment. Then I met with my potential “teacher.” After a serious conversation, “Mr. Mike,” our Rubik’s Cube instructor was born. Upon getting my principal’s support, we decided to go for it. I started researching. How would I get the cubes? Who should I invite? How do you solve the darn thing?

I settled on inviting the ELL students from 3rd to 5th grades and wound up with a group of 15 students. We held hour-long classes once a week, for 6 weeks. I also discovered the website You CAN Do the Rubik’s Cube that has amazing resources, including a free loaner program! Now, I was armed with cubes, solution guides, videos, and lesson ideas.

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Sally Marin is an ELL educator at Ballenger Creek Elementary School in Frederick, MD. She also serves as co-president of the Frederick County Literacy Chapter.

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Sally Marin
Sally Marin
Sally Marin is an ELL educator at Ballenger Creek Elementary School in Frederick, MD. She also serves as co-president of the Frederick County Literacy Chapter.

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