(Activities)
- Make name tents with two truths and a lie.
- Jigsaw Strategy. Expert groups, lower stress setting, teach to others, still get to hear about everything, better for older kids, use puzzle graphic organizer, everyone has to be invested, needs to be a trust among students, structured way to move, when students do the work they’re learning.
- Corn and Alka-seltzer. Describe kernel.
- Ask students to classify items. This is hard because it’s often a spectrum. It’s harder when the teacher makes up the category.
- Trade items with a partner and play “Guess My Rule”.
- Use large paper Venn Diagrams to sort items.
- Classify minerals. Very satisfying because it’s a real thing scientists do that kids can do too.
- Create a binary classification tree.
- Fish Bowl discussion.
- Gallery Walk.
- Have students create a personal memory poem.
- Create a whole class poem.
- Ask students to write poems about their background/experience as a way to get to know them.
- Ask students to bring in songs about science (ie about stars) or other references from their own lives.
- Have students create an electrical circuit. Ask students to make predictions. Can ask students about the prefix “cir”.
- Man from Mars. Ask the students to give directions. Teaches them to be explicit. Can be harder on superstar students.
- Make a quiz board after circuits.
- Create a life map with highs and lows.
- Kings and Queens. Rock, papers, scissors, shoot. Winner stands on a chair and others say “All Hail ____”.
- Save the last. Highlight a phrase and share.
- Have the students share the story of their name.
- Monarch butterflies.
- Raise a cecropia caterpillar.
- Mineral testing.
- During the first week of school, ask students to share: 1. It makes me happy when ______ and 2.) I would prefer it if people don’t _______.
- Teach turn and talk on carpet. Touch knees.
- Act out what it means to be respectful.
- Teach behavior through books. ie David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon
- Read First Day Jitters and bring in “jitter juice” for kids.
- Talk about story of your birth and identify life events.