Lesson Starter Activities

Table of Contents Getting to Know You Personal Shield Class Time Capsule Classmate Venn Diagrams This Thing Thing Tells a Story Story Question Hat Spreading Kindness Name Card Appreciation Group Collage

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10

Fillers Add On Park It Picnic Word Chain Hidden Leader Silent Corners Animal Draw Number Drawings Monster Sign Me Observation Station Easy Poetry Formats Chalkboard Hangman Quick Word Scramble Words Within a Word Make a Word World Connection Shoe Relay How Good is your Memory? Think, Think, Think, Think Adventure Mystery Word Changing Chairs Connect the Dots Mingle

11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30

Table of Contents Getting to Know You Personal Shield Class Time Capsule Classmate Venn Diagrams This Thing Thing Tells a Story Story Question Hat Spreading Kindness Name Card Appreciation Group Collage

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10

Fillers Add On Park It Picnic Word Chain Hidden Leader Silent Corners Animal Draw Number Drawings Monster Sign Me Observation Station Easy Poetry Formats Chalkboard Hangman Quick Word Scramble Words Within a Word Make a Word World Connection Shoe Relay How Good is your Memory? Think, Think, Think, Think Adventure Mystery Word Changing Chairs Connect the Dots Mingle

11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30

Curriculum-Based Starters (General) KWL Concentric Circles Venn Diagrams True or False Tennis Doubles Doubles 2-3-4 Review Spider Basketball Alphabet Review Time Bomb Magic Moments Question Relay Heart Attack Content Tic-Tac-To Bingo Curriculum-Based Starters (Math) Graphing Magic Math Machine Mental Math Scramble Closest Patterns Silent Math Relay Heading Toward 100 Finger War

31 32 33 34 35 35 36 37 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

Curriculum-Based Starters (Language Arts) Eight 52 Team Spell 53 Calming Starters A Note about Calming Starters Stretches/Yoga Music Story Read Aloud Drop Everything and Read Storytelling Quick Creative Writing Silent Ball The Silent Silent Six

54 55 56 57 57 58 59 60 61

Telephone Slow Motion Add on to My Story Secret Message Appendix of Reproducibles Personal Shield Class Time Capsule Sign Me! Bingo

61 62 63 64

65 66 67 68

Personal Shield AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

5-11 Individual For each student: A photocopy of a shield p. 65, scissors and colored pencils

DURATION

20-30 minutes

PREPARATION REQUIRED

Make your own shield as an example

DESCRIPTION 1. Tell the students that everyone is going to do an activity to get to know each other better. 2. Ask them to help you brainstorm what types of information they might want to share: a. Hobbies/sports they like b. Family members c. Favorite animal, book, subject etc. d. Future job 3. Write the ideas on the board. 4. Pass out the shields and explain that they will write their name in the center star. 5. In each of the other 3 sections they will make a drawing to represent one of the ideas brainstormed on the board. 6. Show them your example. 7. Let them work. 8. During the course of the next couple of days, ask different students to share their shield with the class. 9. Once the students are finished sharing, display them in your classroom.

Class Time Capsule AGES FORMAT

6-13 Individual

EASIEST OPTION 1-

MATERIALS NEEDED

Per person: Photocopy of the reproducible sheet p. 66

DURATION

15-20 minutes


Photocopy the reproducible sheet

DESCRIPTION 1. Tell the students that this is a sheet seeking information about them. 2. Explain that they should put their answers on the first line only because they will write on the second line when they pull them out at the end of the year. This way they can compare their answers and see how they have changed. 3. Give students time to fill out the sheets. 4. Invite them to share some of the information with the class. 5. Collect all sheets and store them away in your closet/filing cabinet until the end of the year. 6. Write Class Time Capsule in your lesson planner towards the end of the year. 7. Pull out the papers at the end of the year and let the students see how they have changed. OPTION 2 - More Student Involvement

MATERIALS NEEDED

Depends on what the students decide

DURATION

15 minutes the first day 20-30 minutes the second day


None

DESCRIPTION DAY 1 1. Explain that you would like to make a class time capsule with them. 2. Brainstorm with the students what you might want to include. Write all ideas on the board. Include any ideas that you have. 3. Decide as a class what will be included: a. From each person: a drawing, a list of favorites, a string showing all tall he/she is, a special picture… b. A story/book the class wrote/compiled together, a class picture, graphs about class likes and dislikes

Class Time Capsule

cont.

DESCRIPTION DAY 2 Day 2 is reserved as a work day: -to make the class graphs -to fill out a class created questionnaire -to create a book/story together -to measure themselves -to put all the items in a box/envelope and hide it away until the end of the year Follow steps six and seven above. SUGGSTION Create magic around the creation and re-visiting of this capsule full of the students’ thoughts and representations of themselves.

Classmate Venn Diagrams AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-18 Small Group Per group: a piece of paper and pencil

DURATION

20 minutes


An example Venn diagram you did with your family members

DESCRIPTION 1. Present your Venn Diagram as an example. 2. Put students into groups of 2-3. 3. Model what the Venn Diagram will look like for the number of students in each group. 4. Give them time to find out how they are similar and how they are different. 5. Using this information, the group should create a Venn Diagram. 6. Once they are finished ask each group to share something interesting with the rest of the class. 7. Ask the class to try to think of several characteristics that are the same for the entire class.

This Thing Tells a Story AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

8-18 Individual None

DURATION

5-10minutes (then a few minutes a day until all students have participated)


Find a “thing” in your life that tells a story

DESCRIPTION 1. Find a belonging that tells an anecdote from your life: a. The hat you wore when you saw Bono in the airport b. The baseball glove you wore when you caught the last out of a game. c. A picture of a fun/sad/surprising/moving event. d. A coin from a memorable trip e. A ticket from the best concert ever f. A rock/shell you kept from an unforgettable moment 2. Bring the item in and share your anecdote with the students. 3. Invite them to think about a “thing” in their lives that could tell a story. 4. Schedule students to bring in their items over the next week. 5. During different moments of the day/week give students the opportunity to share their items and anecdotes. 6. Keep in mind, asking more than 2-3 students to share at a time gets long and other students lose their ability to pay attention.

VARIATION 1. Ask student to write their anecdote before presenting it. 2. You could even read the anecdote without mentioning the author and ask the class to guess the owner.

Question Hat AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-18 Whole Group One hat or bag Per person: a piece of paper and pencil

DURATION

10-20 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Give each student a small slip of paper and a pencil. 2. Ask them to write a question that would help them to get to know someone better: a. What is your favorite color? b. How many people in your family? c. What kind of pets do you have? d. When is your b-day? 3. Collect all slips and put them in the hat/bag. 4. Invite all students to sit in the circle. 5. Give the hat to one student. 6. That student removes one slip of paper, reads it aloud, answers it, and mixes it back in. 7. Pass the hat to the next student. 8. That student takes out a slip, reads it, answers it, and puts it back in. 9. Follow the pattern around the circle 1-3 times depending on attention span. VARIATION WITH MUSIC 1. Turn on some fun music. 2. Pass the hat around the circle until the music stops. 3. The person who has the hat when it stops takes out a slip and answers it. VARIATION #2 1. The teacher can write out the questions ahead of time and pull out the hat any time there are extra minutes to be filled.

Spreading Kindness AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-18 Individual Per person: a piece of paper and pencil

DURATION

10-20 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Give everyone a piece of paper and ask them to write their name at the top. 2. At the signal, each student should pass his/her paper to the person behind him/her. 3. That person then writes something specific that they like about the student whose name is at the top of the paper. 4. At the signal, the paper gets passed back to the next person. 5. Students write a compliment on the new paper. 6. You can change the directions the papers follow. (Pass them to the right, 2 people to the left, in front, etc.) 7. Continue this until you run out of time or until everyone has written on each page.

Name Card Appreciation AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-18 Whole Class A name card for each person in the class

DURATION

5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to form a circle. 2. Hand one name card to each person. No one should have their own name. 3. Invite each person to say an appreciation or a kind comment about the person whose name appears on their card.

Group Collage AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-13 Small Groups Per group: Magazines to cut up, scissors, Paper, glue

DURATION

10-15 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Form groups of 3-4 students. 2. Explain that they are to make a collage with pictures of things they ALL like. 3. Hand out the materials and let the students work. 4. Find time during the different transitions of the day to allow the groups to share their collages.

Add On AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

5-12 Whole Group None (although music can be fun) 10 min or more


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to form a circle. 2. Request that each student think of a movement that: a. Does not require leaving the circle b. Follows a two count (The participants can slowly count a beat of 1, 2 as they perform the move). c. Are doable by all participants such as: i. Clap hands twice (1,2) ii. Tap right foot (1) Tap left foot (2) iii. Saturday Night Fever finger up diagonally (1) and down diagonally (2) iv. Raise one hand (1)and then the other(2) v. Snap your fingers (1) then slap your thighs (2) vi. Step to the right with one foot (1)then bring the other foot along side (2) 3. Student 1 begins by doing and counting out a movement. 4. All students in the group repeat movement and count it out three times. 5. Student 2 immediately repeats Student 1´s movement once and adds on his/her own. 6. The group practices both movements together while counting three times. 7. Student 3 adds his or her move. 8. The group performs the three parts of the choreography together. 9. This continues all the way around the circle.

VARIATIONS 1. If you have slow music in your classroom, it can be fun to perform the movements in order to music. Repeat the cycle several times. 2. For younger students or if you have little time, you can limit the number of students volunteering movements.

Park It AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

Any Whole Group None 5 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask all students to stand up. 2. Explain that “Park it” means to sit down. 3. Call out a characteristic proceeded by “Park it if…” a. Park it if… you have blue eyes b. Park it if…your birthday is in spring c. Park it if…you have a brother d. Park it if…you have black socks on e. Park it if…you played basketball during recess 4. Students who fit into the category need to park it/sit down. 5. Keeping the pace quick, call out another characteristic. 6. The last student standing “wins”. VARIATION 1. Allow students to jot down characteristics and put them in a hat.

Picnic AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

5-11 Whole Group None 5-10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Sit students in a circle. 2. Start by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I am bringing lemonade.” 3. Student 1 repeats what the teacher said and adds on an item (e.g. “I’m going on a picnic and I am bringing lemonade and brownies.”) 4. Student 2 repeats the first two and adds a third. (e.g. “I am going on a picnic and I am bringing lemonade, brownies, and plates.”) 5. Go all the way around the circle. VARIATION 1. Change where you are going (the moon, camping, the pool…etc.)

Word Chain AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

Any Whole Group None 5 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. On the board write an example like this one: a. Hope – elephant – teacher – read 2. Ask students to look at the pattern and raise their hand if they think they know a word that could go next. 3. Once a student identifies the pattern (the next word needs to start with the last letter of the word prior), have the student explain it to the group. 4. Tell the students that this is the idea of the game “Word Chain”. 5. Do a practice round. (If I say the word yellow, what could be the next word?) 6. Choose one of the formats below and begin the game.

VARIATIONS OF FORMATS 1. Sit all students in a circle and simply go around the circle. 2. Ask all students to stand up and once they contribute a word to the chain, they can sit down. 3. Go up and down the rows. 4. Simply raise your hand if you have a contribution.

Hidden Leader AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED


DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to sit in a circle. 2. Invite one person to volunteer to leave the room for a moment. 3. Once that person steps out, find a volunteer to be the Hidden Leader. 4. The Hidden Leader begins a movement while seated in the circle. 5. All other participants immediately do the SAME movement. 6. The hidden leader’s task is to change movements every 5-20 seconds without being identified as the leader by the first volunteer. All other participants need to immediately follow/repeat the changes. 7. Call the first volunteer back into the room. 8. The first volunteer has three guesses to identify the leader. 9. At the end of the round, play again with two new volunteers if you have time.

Silent Corners AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

Any Whole Group None 5-10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. As a class give a name/description to each corner (next to the teacher’s desk, by the door, by the window, near the closet...etc) 2. Choose one person to be “it”. 3. That person sits in the center of the room and closes his/her eyes and counts to 15 slowly. 4. During those 15 seconds all other students move quietly to one of the corners of the room. 5. Before the student opens his/her eyes, he/she calls out a corner. 6. All people in that corner must come and sit down quietly in the center of the room. 7. Repeat the process with the students remaining until there are 2.

Animal Draw AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

5-11 Small Groups Per group: one die, one paper, one pencil 5-10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Put students into groups of 3-4. 2. Write the following on the board: 1

Head and Trunk

2 3 4

Legs Tail Ears

5 6

Body tusks

3. In each group, student one rolls the dice and draws the corresponding body part(s) according to the chart on the board. 4. The die is passed to Student 2 who rolls the die and he/she draws the body part for that number. 5. If a student rolls a number that is a repeat, he/she simply passes the die on to the next person. 6. This continues until the elephant is completed. 7. The first group to finish makes an elephant noise to indicate their success. VARIATION 1. The animal can be changed for future rounds. The animal’s home (a tree, a nest, the ocean…etc.) can be added if you need an extra item. 2. Curriculum material could be included. For example, if you are studying the digestive system, the chart might look like this: 1 Small intestine 2 3 4

mouth Pancreas and gall bladder esophagus

5 6

stomach Large intestine

Part of the evaluation would be if everything is labeled correctly and in its proper spot. Example 2: 6 parts of a time-line (for history or a story line)

Number Drawings AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

7-12 Individual Pencil and Paper 5-10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Have students fold their piece of paper into thirds and then in half. There should be 6 areas of the paper. 2. Ask students to write the numbers 1-6, one in each area. 3. Their task is to use each number as the basis for an imaginative drawing.

VARIATION-LETTER DRAWINGS 1. Ask each student to write down the first letter from their first name and the first letter from their last name. 2. Now invite them to create a creature or drawing using the letters as the base.

Monster AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

5-11 Whole Group Per person: Pencil and Paper 10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Give a piece piece of paper paper to each each student student and and ask them them to fold it it in thirds. 2. Explain Explain to the the students students that that they they are going going to to make a monster/alien/imagin monster/alien/imaginary ary animal. 3. The first person is to draw the head head and neck in in the first third of the paper. 4. When they they are done, they they fold the first first third toward the the back so it can not be seen. 5. Then they pass it it to the person person to the the right. right. 6. Now it is time time to make make the body body and arms arms on the the new paper. paper. 7. Once finished, finished, the second second third third is folded back back and passed to the right. 8. The last last third third is reserved reserved for for the legs legs and and feet. feet. 9. It is good to ask the the students students working working on the the head/nec head/neck k and the body/arms to draw a few centimeters onto the next section so that the parts all match up. 10. Open the monsters up and get a good laugh.

Sign Me AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

8-18 Whole Group Per person: Pencil and Photocopy 10-15 minutes -Make and photocopy a worksheet of 1015 silly items that need to be performed by the students. -Reproducible -Reproducible example on p. 67

DESCRIPTION 1. Hand out a workshee worksheett to each each student. student. 2. Explain Explain that that stude students nts must must wande wanderr the class class looking looking for people people to perform the activities and sign their papers. 3. The goal is to be the first one to have have all items items signed signed on the sheet. 4. No person person may may sign sign two two times times on one shee sheet. t. 5. Enjoy!

Observation Station AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

5-12 Pairs None 5-10 minutes None

DESCRIPTION 1. Quickly Quickly change change somethi something ng about your your appearance appearance without without the students noticing. 2. Tell them that you have just changed something. something. Can they guess what it is? 3. After they guess, put put students students into pairs telling telling each each one who is A and who is B. 4. Invite the the B’s to close their eyes eyes and count to 10 slowly slowly and all together. 5. While While B’s eyes are are closed, closed, A should change change somet something hing about about his/her appearance. 6. On the count count of 10, 10, B can open open his/her his/her eyes eyes and try try to identif identify y the difference. 7. Then give give B the the chance chance to adjust adjust somethi something ng and let let A guess. guess. 8. If there is time allow student student to change partners and do it again. again.

Easy Poetry Formats AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED

7-12 Individual Per person: a piece of paper and pencil

DURATION

20 minutes


An few examples of the format you choose

ACROSTIC DESCRIPTION 1. Tell the students that they are going to write a poem about themselves using their name as the base of the poem. 2. Share your acrostic poem: a. Pointing out your name vertically b. Signaling how the first letter of each line begins with a letter from your name c. Show how each line gives information about you. 3. Let them know that they can do any combination of their first name, middle name and last name. 4. Allow them time to write. 5. Ask students to share their poems. HAIKU DESCRIPTION 1. Share a few haiku poems with your students that you have written. 2. Point out that the only rules are that: a. The first line have 5 syllables b. The second line have 7 syllables c. The third line have 5 syllables 3. Haikus are often about nature, but can be about any topic. 4. Let the students write. 5. Allow students to choose their favorite to decorate and hang up in the classroom. LIMERICK DESCRIPTION-For older students 1. Read a few examples of limericks. 2. Write one on the board. 3. Ask students to point out what they notice: a. 5 lines b. Lines 1,2 and 5 rhyme c. Lines 3 and 4 rhyme. d. There is a particular rhythm to it i. Lines 1, 2, 5= da-da-daah da-da-daah da-da-daah ii. Lines 3 and 4= da-da-daah da-da-daah 4. Give them time to write. 5. Share and laugh together.

Chalkboard Hangman AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

9-18 Whole Group Chalk 5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Draw the hangman scaffold on the board. 2. Choose a spelling or vocabulary word from the students’ studies. 3. Write one blank line on the board for each letter in the word. 4. Ask for volunteers to guess a letter in the word. 5. If the word contains the letter, fill that letter into its corresponding blank(s). Write it as many times as it occurs in the word. Example: photosynthesis If the student guesses “s”, fill in all of the “s”. ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

S ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ S ____ S

6. If the student guesses a letter that does not appear in the word, write the letter on the board and add a body part to the victim: head, body, arms, legs, feet, hands 7. The objective is for a student to guess the word before the last body part is added and thus the “man” is hung. VARIATION 1. Allow the student who wins to come to the board and lead the next round. VARIATION #2-WALK THE PLANK 1. A student volunteer is brought to the front of the room. 2. Play Hangman as described above, however, every time someone guesses incorrectly, the volunteer needs to take a step. 3. The “plank” can be the teacher’s desk, a bench, a row of chairs or just an imaginary plank on the floor. 4. If it is imaginary, create a beginning and an ending line to be clear when the poor victim falls into the ocean.

Quick Word Scramble AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

7-18 Whole Group None 5 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Think of 5-6 words from a unit of study. 2. Scramble each one separately and put them on the board. 3. See how long it takes for the students to unscramble all the words correctly.

Words within a Word AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

8-18 Individual Per person: paper and a pencil 5-10 minutes


Prepare a word or phrase that allows tbe students to make many words

DESCRIPTION 1. Put a word or phrase on the board. 2. Ask students to use the letters in the word/phrase to form as many other words as they can. 3. Letters can only be used the same number of times they appear. Partial Example: Arsenal plays Chelsea tonight. Are Ton Nap Lay Lays Renal

Play Pay Pays Cheat Heat Heal

Sea Pea Rent Ape teaches yes

Make a Word (based on Boggle by Parker Brothers)

AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

10-18 Individual Per person: paper and a pencil 5-10 minutes

PREPARATION REQUIRED -Create a 4x4 grid or a 5x5 grid. -Fill in the grid with mostly common letters. -Play a round to ensure that many words can be formed. DESCRIPTION 1. Put the grid on the board and give students 3 minutes to perform their task. 2. Students are to use adjoining letters to form words. 3. A letter may not be used more than once unless it appears multiple times in the grid. 4. The letters need to connect in order to form the word. No jumping around. Example:

a

r

t

h

o

d

s

e

c

t

b

w

u

a

o

m

v

l

p

l

a

n

r

f

s

Possible words Dart Wet

Man Reach

Incorrect Attempts Search-because the r is not connected to the a or c. Sets-each square can only be used once in a word

Van Patch

World Connection AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

10-18 Whole Group Atlas for reference purposes 5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Student 1 begins by naming a river, city, country, or mountain in the world. (e.g. Spain) 2. Student 2 needs to name a river, city, country, or mountain that begins with the last letter of the first response. (e.g. Nile) 3. Student 3 needs to name a river, city, country, or mountain that begins with the last response mentioned. (e.g. Eugene) 4. Students have 5 seconds to respond. 5. Any incorrect response or lack of response puts the student out of the game. 6. If a student’s response is challenged, use the Atlas or internet to make the decision. If the original student was correct, the challenger is out. If the challenger is correct, the original student is out.

Shoe Relay AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED

All ages 2 Groups None 5-10 None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask all students to take off one shoe. 2. Put all the shoes in a pile at the end of the room. 3. Clear two safe, direct routes to the pile of shoes. 4. Divide students into two groups. 5. Each group should stand equidistant from the pile of shoes. 6. On the count of three, the first student in each group, runs to the shoe pile, finds his/her missing shoe, puts it on and runs back to the group. 7. Then student 2 runs to the pile and does the same thing. 8. Continue this pattern. 9. The team to get all their shoes on first wins.

How Good is your Memory? AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All Whole Group Random items to put on a Tray 5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask all of the students to sit in a circle. 2. Place the tray of items in the center. (For younger students it should be 3-5 items. For older students it can be 10-15) 3. Give the students 30 seconds to study the items. 4. Take the tray away and secretly remove one item. 5. Bring the tray back and see who is the first person to guess the missing item. This person becomes the volunteer for the next round. 6. Let the students see the tray again for 20 seconds. 7. Ask the volunteer to take the tray away and secretly remove one item. 8. Invite the volunteer to bring the tray back and see which student will correctly guess the missing item. 9. Play for as many rounds as you like. VARIATION FOR OLDER STUDENTS WITH PAPER AND PENCIL 1. Put the tray in the circle as above. 2. Give the students 20 seconds to study the tray. 3. Hand out paper and pencil and ask the students to write down all the items they remember from the tray. 4. The student who remembers the most items correctly wins.

Think, Think, Think Based on the game Scattergories by Milton Bradley

AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

9-18 Small Groups Per person: paper and pencil 10-15 minutes

PREPARATION REQUIRED -Think of the categories to be used: boys names, girls names, cities, fruits and vegetables, toys, musical instruments, animals, authors, actors/actresses, presidents, countries, candy/dessert, something you would find at a hardware store, -Play the game by yourself to judge the difficulty DESCRIPTION 1. Choose 2-4 categories depending on time available. 2. Decide on 3-5 letters. 3. Draw the game chart on the board and ask students to copy it. (ex. If the categories are: fruits and vegetables, instruments and authors and the letters are T, R, C, S, the game chart would look like this:) T R C S Fruits/veg Instruments authors 4. Explain that they are to fill in a word for each category that begins with the letters provided. 5. Inform students how much time they have to complete the chart. 6. Once finished, put students in groups of 3-6. 7. Students take turns reading the words on their chart. Here is an example: T Fruits/veg Instruments authors

tomato

R radish

trumpet JR Rowling

C

S

cantaloupe

spinach

clarinet

Slide trombone shakespeare

B. Cleary

8. If anyone else wrote the same word, it is crossed off and no points are given. Students get 1 point for each answer that is unique to the group. 9. Each student should tally up his/her points and compare it with the others in the group. 10. The person with the most points wins. VARIATION-PAIRS 1. Put students in pairs and let them fill out the grid together. 2. In this case, 2-3 pairs could play against one another.

Adventure AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

5-12 Whole Group None 5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Clear the perimeter of the room. 2. Ask students to form a circle along the outside of the room. It is best if no on is touching. 3. Explain to the students that they will all be going on an adventure and that you hope they will really live the experience. 4. Start walking around the circle in a normal fashion. 5. After a bit change the scene: -There is a lot of tall, thick grass up here. Better get out your machete. -Oh no! Quick Sand! Grab on to a branch! -Uh oh. This next part looks like hot lava. -Whew! Here is a river to cool us off. Just keep your eyes open for the crocodiles. -Eeew! This part is all sticky and muddy. -You aren’t going to believe this. This patch is all ice! -Whoa! We need to cross this gorge and there is only a tight rope! 6. Continue changing scenes randomly and somewhat quickly. The unpredictability is part of the fun. 7. Everybody’s facial expressions and actions should be changing with each change of environment. 8. You can ask students for situations/environments to pass through.

Mystery Word AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

9-18 Pairs Per person: paper and pencil 10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask each student to think of a five letter word and write it down at the top of the paper. 2. Each student should then fold over the top flap of the paper (which holds the word). 3. Student 1 will attempt to guess Student 2’s word by writing down a random five letter word. 4. Student 2 writes the number of letters that are also in his/her word. Example: Student 1 guesses: trash Student 2 word is: chain Student 2 would write  next to trash. 5. Now it is Student 2’s turn to guess Student 1’s word. 6. This pattern continues until one person guesses the other’s word. 7. Pairs that finish early can repeat the activity with a three or 4 letter word. Suggestion 1. Play an example round on the board with the whole class to ensure that everyone understands.

Changing Chairs AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION



None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to throw out a category. (e.g. Soccer) 2. Divide the students into 4-5 groups. 3. Each group has a name that relates to the topic. (e.g. Liverpool, Juventus, Real Madrid, Manchester United, AC Milan) 4. Form a circle with chairs. There should be one chair for each person. 5. Remove one chair at random. 6. The person who was sitting on the chair moves to the center of the circle. 7. That person calls out one of the group names. (ex. AC Milan) 8. All students in the AC Milan group need to stand up and change chairs. 9. At the same time, the person in the middle tries to get a seat. 10. The person without a chair goes to the middle and calls out a different group name. 11. The person in the middle can also say the category name (ex. Soccer) and then all the students need to change chairs. 12. Play until you run out of time.

Connect the Dots AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

8-18 Individual Per person: paper and pencil 5- 10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to draw a specific number of large dots randomly on their page. (between 6-10) 2. Collect the papers. 3. Shuffle the papers and hand them out to a new owner. 4. The students should create drawings using the dots as the main framework.

Mingle AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION



None

DESCRIPTION 1. Explain the entire game to the students before letting them mingle. 2. Ask students to mingle by repeating in a sing-song way the word “mingle” many times. 3. After 3-15 seconds call out a pair command: -hand to hand -foot to hand -head to knee -elbow to shoulder 4. Once the pair command is called, each person in the class needs to find another student and connect in the way mentioned. 5. The person who does not have a partner, becomes the new leader. 6. If the class totals an even number, the teacher does not have to play. However, if your class totals and odd number, you need to participate. 7. The leaders should be different every time.

KWL AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

Any Whole Group Paper and Pencil 10-20 minutes Begin a Unit/Lesson


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Write a three column table on the board or chart paper. 2. Write the letters K, W, L on top of each column. (one per column) 3. Introduce the new topic. (e.g. “Today we are going to start studying mammals.”) 4. Ask the students what they already know about mammals. 5. Write their responses in the K (Know) column. 6. Once the students have told you all their knowledge on the topic, ask them if they have any questions about mammals or if there anything they would like to learn about mammals. 7. Write down their answers in the W (Want to Know) column. 8. At the end of the unit, return to the chart to fill in the L (L earned) column about what they learned. VARIATION 1. This can be done in small groups with older students.

Concentric Circles AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Whole Group None 10 min Review Homework/Discussion


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Divide the class into two even groups. 2. Ask Group 1 to form a circle in the center of the room. 3. Ask Group 2 to form a circle around the outside of Group 1. 4. Group 1 should then turn to face someone in the outside circle. Each person should be in front of someone else. 5. Give the students a topic to discuss. It can be as easy as: a. What did you learn from reading the article for homework? b. What struck you while you were reading the chapter last night? c. Why do you think the main character behaved like she did in last night’s chapter? d. What were the three most important points to remember from the video? e. Ask the person across from you to help you improve a specific part of your essay. f. Share the strategy you used to solve last night’s math problem. 6. Allow the students a few minutes to discuss the topic and then ask ONE of the circles to rotate. This can be rotate one or two persons to the right/left. 7. Students can continue talking with the new person on the same topic or you can give them a new topic. 8. Rotate as many times as you like.

Venn Diagrams AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

8-18 Pairs Per pair: 2 Paper Circles, 2 Pencils and a piece of paper 10-15 min Analyze Information


Cut out a circle for each student.

DESCRIPTION 1. Choose two things to compare: a. Amphibians and Reptiles b. Two characters in a book c. Two political leaders d. Our hometown and another place 2. Give each student a circle. 3. Assign half the class to write about topic A and the other half to write about topic B. This should be done in his/her circle. 4. Once complete, form partners using one topic A student and one topic B student. 5. Give each group a piece of paper and ask them to write out their thoughts/information in a Venn Diagram format: a. Ideas and information that pertain to only topic A stay on the far right. b. Ideas and information that pertain to only topic B stay on the far left. c. Ideas and information shared by both topics is written in the area that overlaps.

Variation to Increase Difficulty 1. Compare three topics and make a three circle Venn Diagram (Second diagram).

True or False AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

6-18 Whole Class None 5-10 minutes Review information

PREPARATION REQUIRED Jot down 10-15 true/false statements about the current unit of study/homework.

DESCRIPTION 1. Invite all students to stand up. 2. Decide on the movements or areas to indicate true and false and explain them to the class:

TRUE

FALSE

Remain Standing

Sit Down

Put your hands on your head Go to the back of the room

Put your hands out to the side Go to the front of the room

3. Say a true/false statement relating to the unit or homework. 4. Students should do the movement/go to the area that corresponds to their answer. 5. Teacher can ask a student to prove or explain their answer. 6. Continue to next statement.

Tennis Doubles AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

10-18 Small Groups of 4 None 5-10 minutes Review information


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Divide students into groups of four. 2. Students should then form two groups of two and sit across from each other. 3. The teacher calls out the topic: Pride and Prejudice-Elizabeth Bennett 4. Student 1 of Team 1 says something that relates to the topic: strong 5. Student 1 of Team 2 says something relating to the main topic: many sisters 6. Student 2 of Team 1 says something relating to the main topic: self-righteous 7. Student 2 of Team 2 says something relating to the main topic: Thinks Mr. Darcy is a snob 8. The topic gets lobbed back and forth until someone can no longer continue. 9. Have an extra topic or two for groups that finish quickly.

2-3-4 Review AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

12-18 Whole Group None 5 minutes Review Information


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Give students 3 minutes to mingle and say two key points about the day’s lesson to four different students.

Spider AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7-18 Small Groups of 4 Paper and Pencil 5-10 minutes Review information/homework


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Divide students into groups of 4. 2. Draw a simple spider on the board. (One smaller circle on top of a bigger circle and many legs off the side.) 3. Give them a piece of paper and ask them to draw the same thing on their paper. 4. Give the students a topic and ask them to write as much information as they can around the spider. (One piece of information per leg.) 5. If the group has more than eight pieces of information, they should just add legs onto the spider. 6. When groups are finished, or when the time is up, ask groups to share with the class a few pieces of information off their spider.

VARIATION FOR OLDER STUDENTS 1. Simply eliminate the spider head and ask them to web about their knowledge of the subject. VARIATION 2 1. This can be done as a whole class activity.

Basketball AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7-18 Groups of 4-6 Garbage Can and a ball or wad of paper 5-10 minutes Review information/homework


Prepare a list of questions

DESCRIPTION 1. Have teams line up perpendicular to the front of the room. 2. Explain that the first person in line is the only person who can answer the question. 3. Ask question 1. 4. The first person who answers correctly, gets a chance to shoot a basket. 5. If he/she makes the basket, he/she earns 2 points for the team. If he/she misses, one point is earned. 6. Each team should rotate its players. The first person goes to the back and everybody else moves up. 7. Ask question 2 and follow the same pattern. 8. Continue through all the questions or until all members of the team have had a chance at the front.

Alphabet Review AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

10-18 Individual/Pairs Per person/pair: paper and pencil 10-15 minutes Review Information


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Ask each student/pair to write the letters of the alphabet down the side of the paper. 2. Explain that their task is to think of words starting with as many letters of the alphabet that relate to the unit of study: Possible Example Topics:

plants, countries, presidents, authors, Julius Cesar by Shakespeare, chemistry terms

Time Bomb AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Whole Group A Timer 8-15 minutes Review Information


Create a set of questions/topics

OPTION 1DESCRIPTION1. Ask students to form a circle. 2. Provide the students with a topic like “Adaptations” 3. Turn the timer to 20-30 seconds and pass it to a student. 4. Student 1 gives a piece of information about adaptations a. Some animals use camouflage 5 Student 1 passes the timer to the student next to him/her. 6 Student 2 quickly adds information on the topic and passes the timer to the next student. 7 This pattern continues until a student cannot participate or the timer goes off. If either of those two occurs, the student holding the timer is out. OPTION 2 DESCRIPTION 1. Prepare a list of 35-50 questions. 2. Ask students to form a circle. 3. To find the first player in the game, set the timer to go off in less than 20 seconds. 4. Throw the timer to a player, that player in turn throws it to someone else. Students should keep throwing it until it goes off. The student holding the timer when it goes off begins the round as player 1. 5. Set the timer again. Vary the amount of seconds each time, but keep it under a minute. 6. Return the timer to player 1 and ask a question. 7. Player 1 needs to answer the question as quickly (and correctly) as possible and throw the timer to another player in the circle. 8. Ask another question. Player 2 needs to answer that question and throw it to another player. 9. This continues until the timer goes off. The player holding the timer is out. 10.If a student answers incorrectly they are out. 11.Play for as long as you like or until there are only 2 players left. VARIATION FOR OPTION 2 1. The day before, ask each student to write up 2-5 possible test questions and their answers. 2. Use these in the game.

Magic Moments AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7 and up Whole Group or Small Groups None 10-20 minutes Synthesize Information

PREPARATION REQUIRED Decide on a scene for each group Examples: Science: liquid particles being frozen History: Battle at Normandy Literature: Most important moment in Chapter 10 of our novel Math: A story problem DESCRIPTION-WHOLE CLASS 1. Explain to the students that they are going make a moment in time come alive in the classroom. 2. Grab a small group of volunteers (4-6) to be the actors. 3. Tell the whole class the scene. 4. Invite the class members to call out characters the volunteers should portray. 5. Once the characters have been selected and assigned, let the students offer ideas about what the characters need to do/say/act. 6. Let the volunteers make the moment come alive.

DESCRIPTION-SMALL GROUPS 1. Once the class has experienced this activity as a whole group, you might want to increase participation and do it in small groups. 2. Divide the students into groups 3. Give each group a different scene. 4. Allow 5-8 minutes to practice. 5. Let each group present their scene to the class. 6. Permit time for short class conversations after each presentation to discuss important details, anything left out…etc.

Question Relay AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Small Groups For each group: A cut up photocopy and a pen and a paperclip 10 minutes Review Information

PREPARATION REQUIRED -Make a list of review questions (7-10) -Photocopy one list for each group. -Cut up the list into slips of paper. (One question on each slip) -Paperclip the slips together. (one for each group) DESCRIPTION 1. Divide the class into groups of 4. 2. Ask all groups to huddle in the back of the classroom with a pen. 3. Unclip the slips and lay each pack in a line across the front of the room directly in line with a group. 4. When you give the signal, student 1 from each group will run to the front of the room, grab ONE question from the team’s pack and race back to the team. 5. The team will then write down the answer to the question. 6. Then, student 2 will run up to grab another question from the team’s pack. 7. The team will write down the answer and send student 3. 8. This continues until one team has answered all the questions. 9. The first team to answer all the questions correctly wins.

Heart Attack AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Whole Group Chalk 10-15 minutes Review Information


Create a set of questions

DESCRIPTION 1. Give each person on the team a number. (All teams need to have the same numbers. If one team has an extra person, then give two numbers to a player on the other teams.) 2. Call out a vocabulary word or review question. 3. Then call out a number. 4. The students who correspond to that number race to the board to write down the correct answer. 5. The team whose player answers correctly first gets the point.

SUGGESTIONS 1. Have students clear the aisles between the rows so no one trips on a book. 2. Move the teacher desk to the side if it sits in front of the chalk board. 3. Keep track of how many times you call each number so everyone gets their fair share of participation.

Content Tic-Tac-To AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

5-18 Pairs or Whole Class Per pair: worksheet and pencil 5-10 minutes Review Information


Make a worksheet if you choose to do the activity in pairs

DESCRIPTION WHOLE CLASS 1. Draw a tic-tac-to grid on the chalkboard. 2. Include a piece of material to be reviewed in each square: For very young students: colored circles, body parts, Numbers, letters For young students: simple addition/subtraction problems, Spelling words with missing letters, vocabulary word definitions, 2-D shapes For older students: simple algebra problems, 3-D shapes, science terminology, vocabulary words, musical notes 3. Divide the class into two teams. Choose who will be represented by X and who will be represented by O. 4. Decide which team will go first. 5. Student 1 of team one selects a square and then gives the answer. If student is correct the respective “X” or “O” is put in that place. 





6. Students on the team need to work individually. No whispering answers. If you hear an answer being called out, the team loses its turn. 7.If the student makes an error, play simply moves to the other team. 8. Team 2 follows the same pattern. 9. No student can repeat a turn until all have played. 10. The team to get 3 X or 3 O in a row wins. DESCRIPTION PAIRS (FOR STUDENTS 7-18) 1. The game is the same, but allows for increased participation. 2. It requires either: a. you making a photocopy with the tic-tac-to grid and the info ahead of time. b. you putting the tic-tac-to grid with the information on the board and the students copy it down before playing. c. students making the tic-tac-to grid and writing in the information.

Bingo AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

Any Individual Per person: paper, pencil, beans 10-20 minutes Review Information


Photocopy the Bingo Grid p. 68 collect beans to mark the bingo card

DESCRIPTION 1. Give students an empty Bingo grid and ask them to fill in the squares with half of the information being studied. For example: Class/Subject Chemistry Language Arts History

Math

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Information for Bingo Grid Periodic Symbol ocabulary word Historical Event

Information to be called out Element Definitions Person who participated in the event or date occurred Number (in words)

Numbers from 1-50 Give each student a handful of beans. Decide the type of bingo to be played: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, X, C, T, U, four corners, or whole card. Randomly call out a piece of information. (e.g. Carbon) Students look to see if they have the corresponding periodic symbol on their bingo card. If they do, they cover it with a bean. Continue to call out info randomly. Once a student covers the designated pattern on their card, he/she yells out “Bingo”. Check to make sure there was no error. Award a simple prize (e.g. Standing ovation) Play again using a different type of bingo. When finished collect the cards and beans to use again another day.

QUICK VARIATION 1. Instead of playing on the usual 5 x 5 grid, students can simply draw a 3 x 3 grid in their notebooks for a quick game.

Graphing AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE PREPARATION REQUIRED

5-12 Whole Group For each student: one square of paper And a piece of tape 10-15 minutes Brain Jump Start -Prepare a poster board/bulletin board to use as a graph. -Pre-cut the tape and put the pieces near the graph.

DESCRIPTION 1. Give each student a square. 2. Tell the students to write their name on their individual square. 3. Ask the students a question and give them the possible responses: a. Favorite ice cream: vanilla, chocolate, mint, or other b. Favorite color: blue, red, yellow, orange c. Number of brothers and sisters: 0, 1, 2, more than 2 d. How do you get to school?: walking, bus, car, bike 4. Show the students the class graph and model where to put the squares: correct area for response and one directly on top or next to the other. 5. Invite one table or row of students at a time to place their square on the correct place on the graph. 6. When finished, ask the students comprehension questions about their class graph: a. Which answer had the most? b. Which answer had the least? c. How many people answered chocolate? d. How many more people answered chocolate than vanilla?

VARIATIONS 1. As your class becomes accustomed to graphing, you can leave the squares and tape out for them and they can answer the day’s question as they come in the classroom. 2. For small children, you can use drawings instead of squares (ice cream cones, different colored circles, people, buses…etc.) 3. For older kids, they can turn these into line graphs or pie graphs.

Magic Math Machine AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7 and up Individual None 5-8 minutes Brain Jump Start

PREPARATION REQUIRED -Choose the missing variable to the equation (e.g. +5) -Choose the sample equations 4 ___=9 12 ___=17 23___=28 10___=15 DESCRIPTION 1. Draw a big box on the board. 2. Tell the class that this simple looking box is actually a Magical Math Machine. When you put a number in at the top it is magically transformed and comes out a different number at the bottom. 3. The students’ task is to figure out what magical computation is happening in the box. 4. Using the numbers above as an example, start by writing a “4” on top of the box. 5. Then tell the students a 9 has come out the bottom. 6. Write “4 ___=9” to the side of the box so the students can remember and continue on with the next set of numbers. 7. Write “12” at the top of the box. (Make a magical math machine noise while the number is transformed.) 8. Write the number “17” at the bottom. 9. Ask students to write down the magical computation if they know it. 10. Write the next numbers on the board. 11. After doing several equations, walk around the room and see what students are thinking. 12. Ask students to share their ideas, strategies and prove their answer is correct. 13. Choose a different computation to do it again. VARIATIONS TO ADJUST THE DIFFICULTY 1. Subtraction and division are more challenging than addition and multiplication. 2. For older students do a 2 step equation: 

2x+2 o o o

5____=12 8____=18 3____=8

o

2____=5

Mental Math Scramble AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7 and up Individual None 5-8 minutes Brain Jump Start


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Write 5 numbers in different places on the board. 3 5 8 7 2 2. Ask the students to add these numbers together without the use of pencil and paper. 3. Invite them to raise their hands when they are finished. 4. Call on students to mouth the answer to you, so you get a sense of the different answers that are out there. 5. Once all students seem to be done, ask a student to share how they went about adding these up. As the student talks, show his/her thought process on the board. 6. Ask if anyone else went about it differently and show their thought process. Student 1 8+7=15 3+2=5 15+5=20 20+5=25

Student 2 7+3=10 8+2=10 10+10=20 20+5=25

Student 3 2+3=5 5+5=10 8+7=15 10+15=25

7. Be sure to probe students why they chose their strategy. VARIATION TO INCREASE THE DIFFICULTY 1. Increase the amount of numbers to add. 2. Increase the value of the numbers to add. (I like to keep in mind the strategy of forming tens/hundreds and so often choose my numbers keeping that in mind.) 3. Put one number on top and ask the students to subtract the 3 numbers underneath from it. 205

3

7

4. Put several numbers on the board and ask the students to multiply them together.

Closest AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Individual Per person: paper and pencil 5-10 minutes Brain Jump Start


Decide on a target number and the five random numbers the students can use.

DESCRIPTION 1. Put the target number and the five random numbers on the board. 2. Explain to the students that they are to use the random numbers with any mathematical operation to get as close to the target number as possible. Example for Younger Students Target number 150 Random numbers: 2, 3, 10, 72,100 Possible answer:

2+3=5 5*10=50 50+100=150

Example for Older Students Target number 1224 Random numbers: 4, 26, 145, 321, 562 Possible answer [(26*145)-(4*562)] – 321=1201

Patterns AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

Any Individual Per person: paper and pencil 5 minutes Brain Jump Start


Choose an age appropriate pattern

DESCRIPTION 1. Write the pattern on the board including three blank spots at the end. 2. Ask students to continue the pattern. 3. Review as a class.

EXAMPLES FOR VERY YOUNG STUDENTS 1. Use colored circles or pictures instead of numbers. a.

2. Place students in a pattern in front of the room. Who could be next? Student Student Student Student Student With With With With With pants shorts pants Shorts pants EXAMPLE FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS 1. 3, 9, 15, 21, ________, _________, _________

EXAMPLES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 1. 3x + 1, 6x + 2, 12x + 4, ________, _________, _________ 2. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ________, _________, _________ (Add previous 2 terms) 3. 1, 2, 2, 4, 8, ________, _________, _________ (Multiply previous 2 terms)

Silent Math Relay AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

8-13 Whole Class Chalk 5-10 minutes Brain Jump Start


Draw a 10x10 chart on the board for each team.

DESCRIPTION 1. Divide the students into 2-3 teams. 2. Ask the teams to line up in front of their chart on the board. 3. Tell them the information to be put in the chart 1-100 400-500 3-300 Skip counting by 3 Multiplication chart 4. At the count of three, the first student in each group runs up to the team chart and fills in the first square. 5. Once the first person has returned, the second student runs up to write the second number. 6. Then the third person writes the third number. 7. If there is an error, a student can correct it INSTEAD OF writing a new number. 8. There is no talking during this game which helps holds people accountable. 9. The group to finish correctly first, wins.

Heading Toward 100 AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

9-18 Whole Group Cards with students’ names on them 10 minutes Brain Jump Start


Cards with students’ names on them

DESCRIPTION 1. Flip a name card over at random and give a math problem (ex. 8+5) 2. The student whose name is called can take as much time as he/she needs to answer. 3. No one else in the room may speak. 4. Once the student answers correctly, flip another card over and add on to the problem (e.g. +7) So Student 2 must take the answer from Student 1 and add seven. 5. Flip over another card and provide another number to add. 6. The goal is to reach 100. 7. The game starts over if: anyone makes a mistake, some one wasn’t paying attention and thus doesn’t know what numbers to add, or if another student shouts out the answer.

VARIATION 1. In order to increase the difficulty, you can add in multiplication, subtraction and addition. 2. The new goal would be to say as many correct answers in a row as possible. Partial Example: Student 1 Student 2 5+5 10 x 10

Student 3 100/4

Student 4 25+37

Student 5 62-13

Finger War AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

6-13 Pairs None 5-10 minutes Brain Jump Start


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Inform the students whether they should be adding, subtracting, or multiplying. 2. The pairs stand facing each other. 3. Each person puts one hand behind his/her back. 4. On the count of three, the students say “Finger War” and show his/her chosen amount of fingers. 5. Each student tries to be the first to add, subtract, or multiply the fingers together and say the answer correctly. 6. Continue until time runs out. VARIATIONS TO INCREASE DIFFICULTY 1. Each player uses two hands. 2. Make 2 dice with bigger numbers for each pair and use those. VARIATION TO INCLUDE MOVEMENT 1. Line up the pairs. 2. Play one round. 3. The student in each pair who won, moves forward one group to make a new pair. 4. The student who answered more slowly stays put. 5. Play as many rounds as you have time for changing partners after each round.

Eight AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

12-18 Whole Group Per person: Paper and Pencil 5-10 minutes Brain Jump Start

PREPARATION REQUIRED Decide the day’s topic. Some possibilities might include: -Eight things to do after school -Eight topics you’d like to learn about -Eight places you’d like to go -Eight people you’d like to meet -Eight favorite moments -Eight reasons why your parents should by you a car -Eight things you’d do with a million dollars -Eight words to describe your family/yourself DESCRIPTION 1. As a way to get brains churning, give the students a topic and 510 minutes to complete the task. 2. At the end of the time, ask each student to quickly share one item from their list. VARIATION FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS 1. Lower the number of items to 5 or 3. 2. Allow students to think about it instead of writing (make sure to hold them accountable). SUGGESTION 1. Allow students to suggest the topics.

Team Spell AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION OBJECTIVE

7-18 Groups of 4-6 None 10 minutes Review information


Have the week’s spelling words ready

DESCRIPTION 1. Divide the group into teams of 4-6. 2. Ask each team to stand in a line perpendicular to the front of the class room. 3. Give Team 1 a spelling word. 4. The first person says the first letter of the word. 5. The second person says the second letter of the word. 6. The third person says the third letter of the word. 7. Continue this way until the word is complete. 8. If the word is longer than the number of players on the team, then the order repeats itself until the word is spelled. 9. At the end of the word, the rest of the student should indicate whether the word was spelled correctly or not by showing a 1=correct and 2=incorrect. 10.If the word was not spelled correctly, anther group may try it. 11. At the end of each word, the first person in the line should move to the back and everyone else rotates up one place. 12. Continue on with the rest of the teams and spelling words. 13. Begin round 2.

A Note about Calming Starters Getting students re-focused after a transition is often difficult and frustrating. When changing classrooms or returning from lunch or recess, the students frequently come in energized and need help settling down to be able to concentrate. It is important to include activities in one’s daily/weekly routine to provide the students with the chance to calm down and get focused. This chapter offers many options that could be easily slid into your schedule and allow for a smoother and more satisfying transition into learning. Having a short activity on the board that students can begin as soon as they walk in the room is another successful option. It gives the students a focus and a responsibility. Although it will take some students longer than others to get on task, all students will eventually fall into the routine once they know to look for the assignment and realize that they are being held accountable for its completion. Here are a few ideas that do not require much planning on your part: a logic puzzle one of the starters from another chapter in this book students write sentences using the week’s spelling/vocabulary words math problems students find the grammatical/spelling errors in the paragraph on the board students respond to questions about the last lesson comprehension questions cloze activities filling out forms for a passport, job application, or driver’s license   

 

   

Also, it is often a good idea to use transition times to have a pep talk with a difficult student. Let them know what is coming up next, what they need to do to succeed, and give them some words of encouragement . Regularly implementing some of these ideas into the most difficult portions of your schedule will offer relief and tranquility into your day. Give it a try!

Stretches/Yoga AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

5-12 Whole Group None 5-10 minutes

PREPARATION REQUIRED -Possibly checking out some of the children’s yoga sites to learn about some of the animal stretches DESCRIPTION 1. Ask students to find a place in the room where they cannot touch anyone. 2. Explain to the students that they are going to do some stretches all together. 3. Model the activity: a. Teacher models a stretch while students watch. b. Then all together the students will perform the stretch 5 times at the same slow pace and counting in an “inside voice”. 4. Do 8-12 simple stretches with the students. If you don’t want to do yoga, just think back to your days in Physical Education class. It is a good way to change the flow of energy in the room. VARIATION 1. After doing the activity on several occasions, let students earn the right to lead the stretches. 2. Ask 8-12 people to lead one stretch each. 3. If this is an activity that you do often, allow the students to name the stretches.

Music Story AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

5-10 Individual Classical Music or Opera, paper and colored pencils/crayons 20 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Explain to the students that music can tell a story or make us feel a certain way. 2. Ask students to close their eyes and listen to a piece of music allowing their imaginations to follow the music. 3. Play the music. 4. Pass out paper and colored pencils/crayons to each student and ask each person to draw an image that pops in their minds while listening to the music. 5. Let them know that there is no right answer. 6. Play the song several times while the students draw. The room should be quiet so students can be inspired by the music. 7. Allow different students to share their drawings. It is interesting to ask the students what part of the music made them think of the image. Some students may tell a story while others will do something more abstract. All are acceptable. SUGGESTIONS 1. Some music suggestions might be: a. Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony #5 b. Edvard Grieg The Peer Gynt Suite In the Hall of the Mountain King c. Gioachino Rossini William Tell Overture The Finale d. Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 Finale

2. It is interesting to see how the students let their imaginations run wild when doing this activity in the future.

Read Aloud AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All Ages Whole Class A great story 5-20 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Grab a great book and begin reading. It can be an old favorite of the class or a new selection. 2. If students are charged with energy, they can remain in their seats to listen to the story while you walk around the room.

Drop Everything and Read AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All ages Whole Class Reading material for each student 5-30 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Tell students that for the next “x” amount of time, everyone in the class (including you) will take some time to read silently and individually. SUGGESTIONS 1. If this activity is new to students, then it is a good idea to start with a short amount of time (e.g. 5 minutes) and work up to more. 2. If your students are not accustomed to having a special place to sit on the floor away from others and work, then ask them to remain in their seats. 3. Allow students to read anything during this time (as long as it is school appropriate and they are quiet.) a. Magazines b. Cartoons/comic books c. Novels d. Short stories e. Newspaper

Storytelling AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All ages Whole Class None 5-10 minutes


-Choose a story that you know well. -Plan ways (like repeated text pattern or sound effects) that would allow the class to participate

DESCRIPTION 1. Find your theatrical self and make the story come alive.

EXAMPLES FOR CLASS PARTICIPATION 1. “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”-Divide the class into Three groups. First group will chant about Papa Bear’s things. The second group will chant about Mama Bear’s things and the third group is in charge of Baby Bear’s things. Students can repeat after you to make sure they all say the same thing. 2. For “The Three Pigs” get the class to be the wolf and say “Open up! Open Up! Let me in or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll BLOW your house down” 3. For “The Little Red Hen” the students can do actions for each of the animals and say “Not I, said the _______”.

Quick Creative Writing AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All ages Whole Class None 20 minutes


Choose a topic

DESCRIPTION 1. Throw an interesting topic on the board. “If” topics are often fun: a. If you could beam yourself anywhere right now, where would you go? Why? What do you think it would be like? b. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be? Why? What would you say to them? What activity would you want to do with them? c. If you could have one super hero power, what would it be? Why? What would you do with it? d. If you could change into any animal for a day, what animal would you choose? Why? What do you think your day might be like? 2. Give the students 20 minutes to write silently. 3. Allow students to share their ideas.

Silent Ball AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All ages Whole Class Soft or rubber ball 5-10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Put desks into a circle. 2. Ask students to stand in front of his/her desk. 3. Explain the following rules: a. Students can sit on their desks (only sitting and only if being safe) b. Students must remain silent c. Students throw the ball gently to other students d. Students who don’t follow these rules are out. e. Students who do not catch the ball when thrown directly to them are out. 4. Give students options of what to do once they are out of the game: a. Watch the game silently b. Do their homework silently c. Read a book silently d. Draw silently 5. Give a student the ball. He/She throws the ball gently to another student. 6. That student throws the ball gently to yet another student. 7. Continue like this until there is only 2 people left or until you run out of time.

The Silent Six AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION PREPARATION REQUIRED


DESCRIPTION 1. Choose 6 silent volunteers to go to the front of the room. 2. All other students need to close their eyes and put their heads down and are quiet. 3. While the heads are down the Silent Six quietly move around the class. Each volunteer softly touches the head of one of the students at the desks. 4. The student who is touched puts their hand up. 5. Once done, the Silent Six return to the front of the room and say “Silent Six Successful”. 6. At this, all the students lift their heads and open their eyes. 7. The six students whose hands are up take turns trying to guess who touched them. Each student gets two guesses. 8. If they are correct, they become part of the new Silent Six. If they are incorrect, new members are chosen. 9. The old Silent Six take their seats and the game is played again.

Telephone AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

All ages Whole Class None 5 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Make two or three lines of students. 2. Tell the first person in line 1 a command (jump three times) 3. The first person, whispers the command to the second person. 4. The second person whispers it to the third person. 5. This continues all the way down the line. 6. The rest of the teams are trying their best to hear the command and write it down before the end person does the task. 7. If the other team(s) writes it correctly, they get a point. 8. If the last person on the team sending the message performs the task correctly, they get a point. 9. When team 1 is done, give a command to the first person on team 2.

Slow Motion AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

5-9 Whole Class None 5 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Using a slow motion voice (drawing out all of the vowels: IIIIIIIII neeeeeed youuuuuur aaaatteeeeeentiooooooon), and slow movements get the students attention. Most will stop what they are doing to see what your strange behavior is about. 2. Explain in a normal voice that: a. the whole class needs to move and talk in slow motion for the next few minutes. b. only one person talks at a time. c. in order to talk students should raise their hands and wait to be called on. 3. Ask the students to perform a variety of tasks: -walk around the room -do 3 jumping jacks -climb an imaginary tree -flap your arms like a bird. 4. Invite volunteers to suggest movements. 5. Sing a movement song with the students in slow motion -“The Itsy Weensy Spider” -“Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” -“The Wheels on the Bus”

Add on to My Story AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

8-18 Individual Per person: paper and pen 15-20 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Start the entire class off with an interesting beginning. It can be taken from a book, a student’s writing, or you can invent your own. 2. Ask students to continue the story from the point at which you stop. 3. Tell students how much time they and remind them to include a problem, climax and resolution. VARIATION 1. Begin the same way as above. 2. After 5 minutes, ask the students to put his/her name on the paper and pass it to the right. 3. All students get a new paper and continue the new story developing the problem and heading toward a climax. 4. After 5 minutes, ask the students to put his/her name on the paper and pass it to the right. 5. This student should try to finish up the story with a climax and resolution. 6. When finished, allow the students time to go back and read each of the stories they participated in. 7. Allow students to share ones they feel are particularly good.

Secret Message AGES FORMAT MATERIALS NEEDED DURATION

7-12 Individual Per person: paper and pen 10 minutes


None

DESCRIPTION 1. Use the “secret code” provided to write a message on the board.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

¢

Y

Z

Example Message (Don’t forget to do your homework tonight):

2. Ask students to decode the message. 3. When students finish, ask them to write a message using the secret code. 4. Students can trade papers to decode each other’s messages.

Personal Shield

Class Time Capsule

What is your favorite : 1. Color ---------------

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2. T.V. show? ---------------

3.

FOOD

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4.

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Subject in school?

---------------

6.

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After School Activity?

---------------

5.

--------------

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Song?

---------------

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What job do you want when you are older? ---------------

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Where do you want to go on vacation? ---------------

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What is the first thing you would buy if you won $1000.

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Sign Me! 1. Stand on one foot for 25 seconds _______________________

2. Meow “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star __________________________ 3. Do 4 push-ups 4. Sing 10 seconds of Opera (type) music____________________ 5. Play Patty Cake

____________________

6. Walk the length of the room clucking and flapping your wings like a chicken__________________ 7. Balance a text book on your head and walk to the Chalkboard ____________________ 8. Say “Two tigers tapped their toes at twilight on Tuesday” five times quickly _________________ 9. Dance a 10 second “ballet”

____________________

10. Balance a pencil on your upper lip for five seconds

____________________

11. Throw a piece of paper in the air and catch it behind your back ____________________ 12. Write your name legibly with your non-dominant hand

____________________

13. Put your shoes on backwards and dance around

Bingo

____________________

Lesson Starter Activities

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