Scavenger Hunts: Develop a list of things students must find, in the classroom, in a book, in a hallway, around the school, or outside the school building. Scavenger lists can be written, drawn, or retrieved on a computer/device. Students can work alone, with a partner, or in a group. Hunts can be developed for science units, social studies lessons, getting to know you activities, or for Author Studies. After students have had practice working on teacher developed scavenger hunts, students can create new ones for their classmates.
Space Switch: Make it a habit to use the classroom space in different ways. Create interesting desk configurations, push desks to one corner, only work on the floor one day, bring in a pop up tent, or change working partners every 30 minutes, moving seats so they can work together. Remember, the brain loves a break in routine and the expected.
Classroom Thermostat: Ask kids to assist in the designing of the thermostat (can be a poster, sign, image n a smartboard, or whiteboard, or 3-D model). The thermostat gauges the classroom climate and provides you with feedback on understanding. At certain lesson checkpoints, students can place colored dots, post-its, or index cards along the surface of the thermostat to communicate/question/provide feedback. Instruction can then be adjusted/differentiated based on student input.
Line Ups: Bring a few playing crds with you to use as a class lines up, or waits in line in the hallway (heading to lunch, to art, etc.) Ask students a Line Up Thinking Challenge: Select two cards and ask sums, differences, products, or quotients of those cards. Select a number card and ask kids to come up with something that comes in 2s, 5s, or 9s. Ask questions about face cards, such as name something that can be connected to a king or queen, name a character named Jack, or something that begins with "A" when they are given an ace. Ask the students to develop their own card questions for line-ups.
Novelty: Routines must be balanced with novelty... Make sure to keep things interesting for your students' brains... Mix things up... Backwards Day, Whisper Day, Dance Day, Silent Period, Outside Reading, Visit with the Buddy Class Day, etc.
Space Switch: Make it a habit to use the classroom space in different ways. Create interesting desk configurations, push desks to one corner, only work on the floor one day, bring in a pop up tent, or change working partners every 30 minutes, moving seats so they can work together. Remember, the brain loves a break in routine and the expected.
Classroom Thermostat: Ask kids to assist in the designing of the thermostat (can be a poster, sign, image n a smartboard, or whiteboard, or 3-D model). The thermostat gauges the classroom climate and provides you with feedback on understanding. At certain lesson checkpoints, students can place colored dots, post-its, or index cards along the surface of the thermostat to communicate/question/provide feedback. Instruction can then be adjusted/differentiated based on student input.
Line Ups: Bring a few playing crds with you to use as a class lines up, or waits in line in the hallway (heading to lunch, to art, etc.) Ask students a Line Up Thinking Challenge: Select two cards and ask sums, differences, products, or quotients of those cards. Select a number card and ask kids to come up with something that comes in 2s, 5s, or 9s. Ask questions about face cards, such as name something that can be connected to a king or queen, name a character named Jack, or something that begins with "A" when they are given an ace. Ask the students to develop their own card questions for line-ups.
Novelty: Routines must be balanced with novelty... Make sure to keep things interesting for your students' brains... Mix things up... Backwards Day, Whisper Day, Dance Day, Silent Period, Outside Reading, Visit with the Buddy Class Day, etc.