Evidence Please!: Students work as partners to discover evidence from non-book complex "texts." Objects can include photographs, artwork, newspaper articles, cartoons, poems, advertisements, commercials, etc. Students will stand and make a statement about their item and present supporting evidence for their assertion.
Mingle & Group: This activity combines listening and movement as well as enables students to practice grouping strategies (especially useful in the beginning of the year). the entire class gets up and mingles, walking and chatting around the room. The teacher will ring a bell and announce a grouping (partners, foursomes, eight, etc.). Students will organize themselves into that size group - extra students will come together in a smaller group and wait for the next grouping to be called so they can join in again.
Museum Exhibition Team: Students work together to select six different pictures (art prints, illustrations, or non-fiction items - materials can be connected to subject content or just a sampling of different items) they think go together and should be hung in a museum exhibit. They must give reasons for putting these particular images together. Write the following questions on cards. Laminate and put the questions in an envelope . Place the envelope with the selection of pictures. Students take turns asking, answering, and discussing the questions. Questions: What do you see? What is happening in this picture? Who is in this picture? What color do you notice first? What geometric shapes do you see? How does this picture make you feel? What is the first thing you think of when you look at this picture? Does this picture remind you of someone you know or a place you have been? Does this picture remind you of another picture you have seen? Does this picture tell a story? Does the background have different colors than the foreground or are they pretty much the same? What is the mood of this picture? Is it happy, sad, scary, funny, peaceful? Why do you think this picture was made? Can you find some very interesting details in this picture that you may not see right away? Should this be placed in the exhibit? Why or why not?
Expert Panels: Divide the class in groups and ask each group to delve deeply into something (for example: if you are studying weather, one group will research clouds, another - storms, another - meteorology). When ready, each group will sit as a panel of experts and share their facts, information, and knowledge. They will take questions and then rotate the panels. (Students teaching students).
Vary learning opportunities & interpersonal contact: partners, small groups, whole class, circles, teams, clubs, individuals - Keep changing it up!
Mingle & Group: This activity combines listening and movement as well as enables students to practice grouping strategies (especially useful in the beginning of the year). the entire class gets up and mingles, walking and chatting around the room. The teacher will ring a bell and announce a grouping (partners, foursomes, eight, etc.). Students will organize themselves into that size group - extra students will come together in a smaller group and wait for the next grouping to be called so they can join in again.
Museum Exhibition Team: Students work together to select six different pictures (art prints, illustrations, or non-fiction items - materials can be connected to subject content or just a sampling of different items) they think go together and should be hung in a museum exhibit. They must give reasons for putting these particular images together. Write the following questions on cards. Laminate and put the questions in an envelope . Place the envelope with the selection of pictures. Students take turns asking, answering, and discussing the questions. Questions: What do you see? What is happening in this picture? Who is in this picture? What color do you notice first? What geometric shapes do you see? How does this picture make you feel? What is the first thing you think of when you look at this picture? Does this picture remind you of someone you know or a place you have been? Does this picture remind you of another picture you have seen? Does this picture tell a story? Does the background have different colors than the foreground or are they pretty much the same? What is the mood of this picture? Is it happy, sad, scary, funny, peaceful? Why do you think this picture was made? Can you find some very interesting details in this picture that you may not see right away? Should this be placed in the exhibit? Why or why not?
Expert Panels: Divide the class in groups and ask each group to delve deeply into something (for example: if you are studying weather, one group will research clouds, another - storms, another - meteorology). When ready, each group will sit as a panel of experts and share their facts, information, and knowledge. They will take questions and then rotate the panels. (Students teaching students).
Vary learning opportunities & interpersonal contact: partners, small groups, whole class, circles, teams, clubs, individuals - Keep changing it up!