How to implement activities into lessons
I did a Ticket Out of Class yesterday and almost every student commented that they liked the wide range of activities that we do in class. Our activities rarely last longer than fifteen minutes.
You can find many fast activities online. To begin, click here.
Here are some practical things that I try to do to make my activities effective:
For learning:
- Clear instructions
- Clear time limit given for the task
- Clear statement of purpose / learning goal
- Collect formative assessment through notes or stats
- All students should be given the chance to do the activity — so anyone who plays pictionary should do so in small groups rather than as a class.
For management and motivation:
- Strong transitions
- Strong teacher presence in the classroom
- Use activities that speak to many skills (reading, writing, visual representation, etc.)
- Return to previous activities
- Create rapport by circulating
For a longer-lasting impact:
- Students should share what they produce with each other
- Students should reflect on what they have done
- All activities should be closed with a clear restatement of purpose
On the whole, I find that having a wide range of activities adds pace and energy to my lessons.
