education activities for classroom

Introducing TeachCatalystAI

TeachCatalystAI is a professional teaching assistant tool designed to help teachers create lesson plan, teaching materials, and many more with ease. Our AI-powered tool will help you streamline your classroom management, making it easier to keep track of students, assignments, and behavior. Our AI-powered tools and templates are great and configured to make you effective in teaching.

35 Fun Classroom Activities to Keep Students Engaged

Affiliate Disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

The fun classroom activities to keep students engaged in your classroom are designed to spark creativity and foster a love for learning.

From interactive games to hands-on experiments, these activities cater to diverse learning styles and interests.

By incorporating engaging activities into your lesson plans, you can create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment that promotes active participation and knowledge retention.

Whether you’re looking to reinforce math concepts through games like Fraction War or ignite the imagination with Story Cubes, these activities are sure to captivate students’ attention and make learning enjoyable.

Fun Classroom Activities to Keep Students Engaged

Fraction War

Fraction War is a thrilling educational game that transforms learning fractions into an exciting competition. Students engage in friendly battles using math-inspired cards, enhancing their understanding of fractions while having a blast.

This interactive activity not only reinforces mathematical concepts but also fosters a sense of competitiveness and teamwork among students.

By incorporating Fraction War into your classroom routine, you can create a dynamic learning environment that promotes both academic growth and social skills development.

Get ready to witness students eagerly participating in this engaging game, eager to showcase their math prowess and strategic thinking. Fraction War is the perfect blend of fun and learning, making it a valuable addition to any math curriculum.

Hangman is a classic and interactive word game that adds an element of excitement to the classroom.

This engaging activity is not only a fun way to unwind at the end of the day but also a fantastic opportunity for students to enhance their vocabulary and spelling skills. By guessing letters to uncover a hidden word, students can sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in a playful setting.

Hangman encourages active participation and collaboration among students as they work together to solve the puzzle and avoid the “hanging” outcome.

Integrating Hangman into your classroom routine can create a lively and engaging atmosphere that promotes language development and teamwork. Students will eagerly anticipate their turn to guess letters and solve the mystery word, fostering a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition.

This game is a versatile tool that can be adapted to various subjects and themes, making it a valuable addition to any teacher’s repertoire. Incorporate Hangman into your classroom activities to inject a dose of fun and learning into your students’ day.

Scavenger Hunt

Get students moving and thinking by organizing a themed scavenger hunt within the classroom.

Scavenger hunts are not only a fun and interactive way to engage students but also a great opportunity to promote teamwork and problem-solving skills. By creating clues related to the lesson material or a specific theme, students can actively apply their knowledge in a hands-on and exciting way.

This activity encourages critical thinking as students decipher clues, collaborate with their peers, and navigate the classroom to find hidden treasures.

Incorporating a scavenger hunt into your classroom activities can spark curiosity and enthusiasm among students, making learning more enjoyable and memorable. It provides a dynamic learning experience that caters to different learning styles and encourages active participation.

Additionally, scavenger hunts can be easily customized to suit various subjects and age groups, adding versatility to your teaching toolkit. By incorporating this engaging activity, you can create a stimulating learning environment that fosters creativity, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment among students.

Encourage creativity and teamwork by playing the classic drawing and guessing game, Pictionary.

This engaging activity not only sparks imagination but also fosters collaboration among students as they work together to decipher drawings and guess the correct words.

Pictionary is a fantastic way to enhance communication skills and promote a sense of camaraderie in the classroom. By incorporating themed words related to the lesson material, you can also reinforce learning in a fun and interactive manner.

This game provides a refreshing break from traditional teaching methods and allows students to express themselves artistically while honing their observational skills.

Pictionary is a versatile activity that can be adapted to various subjects and age groups, making it a valuable addition to your repertoire of classroom activities.

Combine learning and fun with this educational twist on the traditional bingo game. Math Bingo is a fantastic way to reinforce mathematical concepts playfully and engagingly.

By incorporating numbers, equations, or math problems into the bingo cards, students can practice arithmetic skills while enjoying a friendly competition with their peers.

This activity not only helps improve numerical fluency but also boosts students’ confidence in solving math problems.

Math Bingo can be customized to suit different skill levels, from basic addition and subtraction for younger students to more complex multiplication and division for older ones.

Teachers can adapt the game to align with specific learning objectives or curriculum standards, making it a versatile tool for classroom instruction.

Additionally, Math Bingo encourages active participation and attentiveness, as students eagerly listen for the next number or equation to mark on their cards.

With Math Bingo, learning math becomes an interactive and enjoyable experience, fostering a positive attitude toward numbers and problem-solving.

This game not only enhances mathematical proficiency but also promotes teamwork and strategic thinking among students.

Incorporate Math Bingo into your lesson plans to make math lessons more dynamic and engaging for your students.

“Charades” is a classic game that not only entertains but also enhances communication skills and creativity.

By engaging in this interactive activity, students have the opportunity to think on their feet, express ideas non-verbally, and interpret gestures and expressions.

This game encourages teamwork as students work together to convey and decipher messages through actions and gestures.

Additionally, “Charades” promotes creativity as participants must think creatively to convey specific words or phrases without speaking. Through this fun and engaging game, students can improve their ability to communicate effectively, think outside the box, and collaborate with their peers.

“Charades” is a versatile activity that can be adapted to various themes or subjects, making it a valuable addition to classroom activities that promote both social interaction and cognitive development.

STEM Challenges

STEM Challenges offer a dynamic way to engage students in hands-on learning experiences that inspire critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

By integrating science, technology, engineering, and math concepts into interactive challenges, students can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. These activities encourage creativity, collaboration , and innovation as students work together to design solutions and overcome obstacles.

STEM Challenges not only foster a deeper understanding of STEM subjects but also promote skills essential for future success in various fields. Through these engaging challenges, students can develop a growth mindset, enhance their analytical abilities, and cultivate a passion for exploration and discovery.

Story Cubes

Encourage creativity and narrative skills in your classroom by incorporating the engaging activity of Story Cubes.

By rolling dice featuring various images, students can spark their imagination and craft original stories based on the pictures they land on.

This interactive game not only fosters storytelling abilities but also enhances students’ creativity and critical thinking skills as they connect the different images into a cohesive narrative.

Story Cubes provide a fun and dynamic way for students to explore different story elements, characters, settings, and plot twists. This activity can be adapted to various subjects, allowing students to express their ideas and thoughts creatively.

By engaging in storytelling through Story Cubes, students can improve their communication skills, boost their confidence, and develop a deeper appreciation for the power of storytelling in conveying messages and emotions effectively.

Integrating Story Cubes into your classroom activities can transform traditional learning into a captivating and interactive experience that motivates students to think outside the box and unleash their storytelling potential.

Test students’ knowledge with a classroom adaptation of the popular quiz show, “Jeopardy.” This interactive game format challenges students to showcase their understanding of various subjects through engaging trivia questions and answers.

By incorporating “Jeopardy” into your classroom activities, you can create a competitive yet fun learning environment that motivates students to actively participate and dynamically demonstrate their knowledge.

This activity not only reinforces key concepts and information but also encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and quick decision-making skills.

“Jeopardy” can be customized to suit different topics and learning objectives, making it a versatile and effective tool for reviewing material, assessing comprehension, and fostering a spirit of healthy competition among students.

Paper Airplane Contest

Challenge students to unleash their creativity and competitive spirit in a thrilling “Paper Airplane Contest.”

This engaging activity not only encourages students to showcase their artistic skills but also fosters teamwork and sportsmanship.

By designing and testing their paper airplanes, students can explore aerodynamics, physics, and problem-solving in a hands-on and entertaining way.

The contest provides a platform for students to experiment with different designs, materials, and techniques, promoting innovation and critical thinking.

Additionally, the friendly competition aspect adds excitement and motivation , making learning a fun and interactive experience.

Memory Game

Challenge students’ cognitive abilities and boost their focus with an engaging “Memory Game.”

This classic activity not only enhances concentration and memory skills but also promotes cognitive development in a playful setting.

By encouraging students to match pairs of cards or objects, they can sharpen their memory retention and cognitive processing abilities.

The competitive element adds excitement and motivation, making the learning experience both educational and entertaining.

Additionally, the game fosters a sense of achievement as students successfully recall and match items, boosting their confidence and self-esteem.

Incorporating this interactive and stimulating activity into the classroom can provide a valuable opportunity for students to enhance their cognitive skills while having fun.

Classroom Karaoke

Start the “Classroom Karaoke” session by creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere where students can showcase their talents and have fun.

By encouraging students to sing along to their favorite songs, you not only promote confidence but also foster creativity in a relaxed setting. This activity provides a platform for students to express themselves through music, boosting their self-esteem and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones.

Karaoke sessions can also enhance teamwork and collaboration as students cheer each other on and participate in group performances. This collaborative aspect promotes a sense of camaraderie and unity among classmates, creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

Moreover, incorporating karaoke into the curriculum can have educational benefits, such as improving pronunciation, language skills, and public speaking abilities. Students can practice enunciation and vocal projection while having a great time singing along to popular tunes.

Overall, “Classroom Karaoke” is a dynamic and engaging activity that not only encourages confidence and creativity but also promotes teamwork and provides educational benefits in a fun and interactive way.

Painting Party

Transform your classroom into a vibrant art studio with a “Painting Party” that encourages students to unleash their artistic expression.

By providing a creative outlet through painting, students can explore different themes and express themselves through colors and brushstrokes. This activity not only fosters creativity but also allows students to relax and unwind in a fun and engaging way.

Engaging in a painting party can also promote mindfulness and focus as students immerse themselves in the artistic process. It provides a break from traditional learning methods and allows students to tap into their imagination while developing their fine motor skills.

Moreover, hosting a painting party can enhance social interactions and collaboration as students share their artwork, provide feedback, and appreciate each other’s creativity.

This collaborative aspect fosters a sense of community and support within the classroom, creating a positive and inclusive environment for all students to thrive.

Sudoku Challenge

“Engage your students in a stimulating mental workout with the ‘Sudoku Challenge.’ This activity is designed to boost their logic and problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive way.

By introducing Sudoku puzzles tailored for students, you can encourage critical thinking and strategic planning in a playful setting. Sudoku is not only a brain-teasing game but also a great tool to enhance concentration and attention to detail.

As students tackle the challenge of filling in the grid with numbers while adhering to the rules, they sharpen their analytical abilities and perseverance. Moreover, the Sudoku

Challenge promotes a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when students successfully complete a puzzle. This feeling of achievement can boost their confidence and motivation to take on more complex tasks.

Integrating Sudoku puzzles into the classroom routine can also provide a refreshing break from traditional learning methods, offering a mental exercise that is both entertaining and beneficial for cognitive development.

Challenge your students’ minds with Sudoku and watch them thrive in the realm of logic and problem-solving.”

Get students energized and active with a lively “Dance Off” session. Encourage students to showcase their best dance moves in a friendly competition or simply let loose and have fun at a dance party.

Dancing not only promotes physical activity but also boosts mood and creativity, making it a fantastic way to break the monotony of the classroom routine. By incorporating a “Dance Off” activity, you create a dynamic and engaging environment where students can express themselves through movement and music.

This interactive experience fosters teamwork, confidence, and self-expression, all while providing a fun and memorable learning opportunity.

So, turn up the music, let the students groove, and watch as they unleash their inner dancers in this exciting and energizing activity.

Wind down with an educational film related to the curriculum or for pure entertainment. “Movie Day” is a fantastic way to engage students in a different learning format while providing a well-deserved break.

By incorporating films that tie into the curriculum, you can reinforce key concepts visually and engagingly. Alternatively, selecting movies purely for entertainment can also help students relax and enjoy a shared experience.

This activity encourages critical thinking, discussion, and reflection, making it a valuable addition to your classroom routine. So, grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and let the magic of cinema enhance your students’ learning experience.

Creative Writing Prompts

Inspire storytelling and writing skills with engaging writing prompts. Encourage students to unleash their creativity by providing thought-provoking prompts that spark their imagination.

From prompts that transport them to far-off lands to those that delve into personal reflections, these exercises help students develop their narrative abilities and express their thoughts effectively.

By incorporating a variety of prompts, you can cater to different interests and writing styles, fostering a love for storytelling and language.

Whether it’s a prompt about a mysterious object or a futuristic world, these activities not only enhance writing skills but also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving.

Watch as your students’ creativity flourishes through the power of storytelling and imagination.

Cooking Class

Enhance students’ understanding of measurements and foster teamwork skills through an interactive cooking class.

By engaging in hands-on culinary activities, students can apply math concepts in a practical setting while collaborating with their peers to create delicious dishes.

Encourage students to follow recipes, measure ingredients accurately, and work together to achieve a common goal. This fun and educational experience not only teaches cooking skills but also promotes communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.

Watch as students bond over shared culinary creations and develop a deeper appreciation for the art of cooking.

Incorporating a cooking class into the classroom curriculum provides a unique and engaging way to learn valuable life skills while having a tasty time together.

Science Experiment

Make learning hands-on and exciting with interactive science experiments. Engage students in a variety of captivating experiments that spark curiosity and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.

From creating chemical reactions to exploring the laws of physics, these hands-on activities provide a dynamic way for students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.

Encourage students to hypothesize, observe, and draw conclusions from their experiments, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. By immersing students in the world of science through engaging experiments, you can ignite a passion for discovery and exploration.

Watch as students light up with excitement as they witness scientific principles come to life right before their eyes. Science experiments not only make learning fun but also cultivate a love for STEM subjects and inspire future scientists and innovators.

Origami Workshop

Engage students in the “Origami Workshop” to develop their fine motor skills and patience through the intricate art of paper folding.

This hands-on activity not only enhances creativity but also encourages focus and attention to detail. By guiding students through the step-by-step process of creating various origami shapes, they can experience the satisfaction of turning a simple piece of paper into a beautiful work of art.

Origami workshops provide a calming and meditative experience, promoting relaxation and mindfulness in the classroom. Encourage students to explore different folding techniques and patterns, fostering their problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.

Through the Origami Workshop, students can unleash their creativity and discover the joy of transforming paper into unique creations.

Classroom Olympics

Organize a thrilling “Classroom Olympics” event to foster sportsmanship and teamwork among students. By hosting mini indoor games like relay races, bean bag toss, or balloon pop challenge, students can engage in friendly competition while learning the value of collaboration and fair play.

Encourage students to participate in various activities that test their physical abilities and coordination, creating a fun and inclusive environment for all.

The Classroom Olympics not only promote a healthy sense of competition but also instill important life skills such as communication, leadership, and resilience.

Through this exciting event, students can bond with their peers, boost their self-confidence, and create lasting memories of teamwork and camaraderie.

Role-Playing Games

“Role-playing games” provide a dynamic platform for students to immerse themselves in interactive scenarios, fostering creativity and empathy.

By assuming different roles and engaging in fictional situations, students can develop their imagination and understanding of diverse perspectives. These games not only enhance communication skills but also promote teamwork and problem-solving abilities.

Encouraging students to step into the shoes of various characters allows them to explore different emotions and experiences, nurturing their empathy and social awareness.

Through role-playing, students can break out of their comfort zones, build confidence, and cultivate a deeper sense of understanding towards others.

Incorporating diverse scenarios and characters in these games can enrich students’ learning experiences and encourage them to embrace new perspectives and ideas.

Jigsaw Puzzle Race

Engage students in a thrilling Jigsaw Puzzle Race that promotes teamwork and critical thinking skills. This activity encourages collaboration as students work together to piece together the puzzle against the clock.

By racing against time, students enhance their problem-solving abilities and learn to communicate effectively under pressure. The competitive element adds excitement and motivation, making the learning experience dynamic and engaging.

Through this fast-paced challenge, students not only sharpen their cognitive skills but also develop resilience and adaptability. Encourage friendly competition and celebrate teamwork as students race to complete the puzzle, fostering a sense of achievement and camaraderie.

Get ready to witness students’ creativity and strategic thinking in action during this exhilarating Jigsaw Puzzle Race.

Trivia Quiz

Test knowledge across various subjects with a fun and educational trivia quiz. Challenge students to showcase their understanding of history, science, literature, and more in a lively competition.

By incorporating diverse questions, this activity not only reinforces learning but also sparks curiosity and critical thinking. Engage students in a friendly battle of wits, encouraging teamwork and healthy competition.

The trivia quiz provides a platform for students to demonstrate their knowledge in a fun and interactive way, fostering a sense of accomplishment and intellectual growth.

Enjoy the excitement as students eagerly participate, eager to showcase their expertise and learn from their peers.

Elevate the classroom atmosphere with this engaging and enlightening activity that promotes both individual achievement and collaborative learning.

Transitioning from the mental challenge of trivia to physical and mental rejuvenation, “Yoga Break” offers students a moment of relaxation and mindfulness.

By incorporating a brief yoga session into the classroom routine, students can destress and refocus, promoting overall well-being and mental clarity.

Encourage students to stretch, breathe, and connect with their bodies, fostering a sense of calm and balance. This activity not only provides a physical break but also cultivates mindfulness and self-awareness, essential skills for academic success and personal growth.

Embrace the opportunity to introduce students to the benefits of yoga, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and stress management techniques. Let the soothing practice of yoga create a peaceful and rejuvenating atmosphere in the classroom.

Engage students in hands-on creativity with “DIY Crafts.” These projects not only boost creativity and fine motor skills but also encourage self-expression and innovation.

By providing materials for students to create their own unique crafts, you foster a sense of pride and accomplishment. DIY crafts can range from simple paper creations to more complex projects, allowing students of all skill levels to participate and showcase their talents.

Encourage students to think outside the box, experiment with different materials, and unleash their imagination. This activity promotes problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and patience, all essential for personal and academic growth.

Coding Games

Introduce basic coding concepts through interactive and fun coding games. Engaging students in coding games not only teaches them valuable technical skills but also fosters problem-solving abilities and critical thinking.

By incorporating elements of play and competition, students are motivated to learn coding in an enjoyable and stimulating environment. These games can range from simple block-coding puzzles to more complex programming challenges, catering to students of varying skill levels.

Encourage teamwork and collaboration among students as they work together to solve coding problems and achieve common goals. Coding games provide a hands-on approach to learning technology, preparing students for future careers in STEM fields.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Transform your classroom into a whimsical wonderland by hosting a “Teddy Bear Picnic” activity. Invite students to bring their favorite stuffed animals for a cozy indoor picnic filled with fun and laughter.

This creative and interactive event not only fosters a sense of camaraderie among students but also encourages imaginative play and social interaction. Incorporate storytelling or themed activities to enhance the picnic experience and keep students engaged throughout.

By creating a relaxed and playful atmosphere, students can unwind and recharge while still participating in a structured educational activity.

Start a vibrant “Book Club” in your classroom to foster a love for reading and meaningful discussions among students.

Select engaging books that spark curiosity and ignite imaginations, creating a space for intellectual exploration and critical thinking.

By encouraging students to delve into diverse genres and themes, you can broaden their perspectives and enhance their analytical skills.

Facilitate lively discussions where students can share their insights, interpretations, and emotions related to the books they read.

This interactive and collaborative activity not only promotes literacy but also cultivates communication and empathy among peers.

Mystery Box Challenge

Stimulate curiosity and problem-solving by presenting students with mystery box challenges. Engage students’ critical thinking skills as they eagerly unravel the mysteries hidden within the boxes.

Encourage teamwork and collaboration as they brainstorm creative solutions to the unknown content. This interactive activity fosters a sense of excitement and anticipation, keeping students actively engaged in the learning process.

By incorporating the mystery box challenge into your classroom, you provide a hands-on experience that promotes exploration and experimentation. Watch as students eagerly embrace the challenge, honing their analytical abilities and thinking outside the box to uncover solutions.

Mystery box challenges offer a fun and dynamic way to enhance problem-solving skills and ignite a sense of discovery among students.

Poetry Slam

Encourage students to unleash their creativity and express themselves through the power of words during a “Poetry Slam.”

This engaging activity provides a platform for students to share their thoughts, emotions, and perspectives through poetry recitals and performances. By participating in a Poetry Slam, students not only enhance their public speaking skills but also cultivate a deeper appreciation for literature and self-expression.

Encourage students to explore various poetic forms, themes, and styles, fostering a love for language and creativity.

Through this interactive experience, students can build confidence, empathy, and communication skills while celebrating the beauty of words and emotions.

Escape Room Puzzle

Create an immersive “Escape Room Puzzle” experience in your classroom to ignite students’ teamwork and critical thinking abilities.

Design intricate puzzles and challenges that require collaboration and problem-solving to unlock clues and escape the room within a set time limit. This activity not only fosters strategic thinking but also enhances communication and decision-making skills.

Students will have a blast working together to unravel mysteries and crack codes, all while honing their ability to think outside the box.

The thrill of solving each puzzle will keep students engaged and motivated, making learning a fun and interactive adventure.

Watch as your students immerse themselves in the excitement of the escape room challenge, building resilience and perseverance along the way.

Board Game Bonanza

Engage students in a thrilling “Board Game Bonanza” where they can immerse themselves in a day filled with strategic thinking and friendly competition.

Rotate through a selection of classic and modern board games to cater to different interests and skill levels. Encourage teamwork, critical thinking, and decision-making as students strategize to outwit their opponents.

This activity not only promotes cognitive skills but also fosters social interaction and sportsmanship. Watch as students engage in friendly rivalries, learn to follow rules, and celebrate victories together.

A Board Game Bonanza is a fantastic way to break the routine, spark creativity, and create lasting memories in the classroom.

Puppet Show

Transform your classroom into a stage for creativity and public speaking with a captivating “Puppet Show” activity.

Students can unleash their imagination as they create unique characters and storylines for an entertaining performance. This interactive experience not only fosters creativity but also enhances public speaking skills as students bring their puppets to life and engage with their audience.

Encourage collaboration and teamwork as students work together to script and rehearse their show, promoting communication and cooperation.

The Puppet Show activity provides a fun and engaging way for students to express themselves, build confidence, and showcase their talents in a supportive environment.

Watch as students shine on stage, delivering memorable performances that leave a lasting impact on both the performers and the audience.

Outdoor Exploration

Take learning outside with nature walks, outdoor experiments, or observational studies for a refreshing change of environment.

“Outdoor exploration” provides a hands-on approach to learning, allowing students to connect with nature while engaging in educational activities. Encourage curiosity and discovery as students observe the natural world around them, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment.

By incorporating outdoor exploration into the curriculum, educators can promote physical activity, sensory experiences, and environmental awareness.

This interactive learning experience not only enhances academic knowledge but also promotes holistic development by nurturing students’ connection to the outdoors.

These diverse activities aim to make learning more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable for students, fostering a positive and dynamic classroom environment.

By incorporating a variety of fun and educational activities into the curriculum, educators can cater to different learning styles and interests, keeping students motivated and eager to participate.

From hands-on STEM challenges to creative writing prompts and interactive games, these activities not only enhance academic knowledge but also promote teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

Encouraging students to explore, experiment, and collaborate through these engaging activities can lead to a more enriching learning experience.

About the author

Latest Posts

The fun classroom activities to keep students engaged in your classroom are designed to spark creativity and foster a love for learning. From interactive games to hands-on experiments, these activities cater to diverse learning styles and interests. By incorporating engaging activities into your lesson plans, you can create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment that…

Suggestions for Teachers Improvement

Improving as a teacher can be tough, but small changes can have a big impact. Growth often comes from consistent improvements rather than drastic transformations. One simple way to enhance your teaching is by keeping a water bottle on your desk. This small practice can make a difference in your day-to-day routine. It’s these little…

Personalized Learning Approach: Steps Towards a More Personal Classroom

From my experience, personalized learning has a significant impact on student engagement and academic success. Educators constantly strive to accommodate the diverse needs of their students, but achieving true personalization requires a deliberate approach. By taking specific steps to prioritize individual student growth, we can create a more enriching educational experience that fosters a deeper…

• Teaching Tips

20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students [Plus: Free List of 45+ Activities]

Planning to use interactive classroom activities intentionally can really transform the learning dynamic. Here are 20 activities to get you started.

Top Hat Staff

How interactive are your classroom activities? Do you have less energy for class than you used to? Do you find student grades declining? And are the teaching methods you’ve always relied on not working as well as they once did? We spoke to two college instructors, Chris Merlo and Monika Semma. Their strategies for interactive classroom activities will energize your class and get the discussion moving again.

Table of contents

• Why are interactive activities important in college?

6 community-building activities

5 communication activities for college students, 3 motivational activities for college students.

• 6 team-building activities for college students

Interactive classroom activities, in short

Why are interactive classroom activities important.

Merlo, a computer science teacher, says that interactive classroom activities are not new to students, and one main reason why teachers have trouble connecting is that they fail to adapt to their students’ perspectives.

“My six-year-old son doesn’t find iPads amazing; to him, they’ve always just existed. Similarly, to a lot of students today, experiences like team exercises and flipped classrooms, while foreign to many instructors are not new.

“If we care about reaching today’s students, who seem to have a different idea of student responsibilities than we had, perhaps we have to reach them on their terms.

“In my thirties, I could still find a lot of similarities with my twenty-something students. But now, in my forties? Not so much. What I’ve started to realize is that it isn’t just the little things, like whether they’ve seen Ghostbusters. (They haven’t.) It’s the big things, like how they learn.”

Semma, a humanities TA, found that the chalk-and-talk approach failed on her first day in front of a class. “It was a lot like parallel parking in front of 20 people,” she said. “I looked more like a classmate. I dropped the eraser on my face whilst trying to write my name on the board. One of my students called me ‘mom.’”

“I chalked it up to first day jitters, but that same quietness crept its way back into my classroom for the next tutorial, and the next tutorial and the next. While nearly silent in class, my students were rather vocal in the endless stream of emails that flooded my inbox. That way I knew they wanted to learn. I also knew that I had to find a way to make tutorials more engaging.”

From these experiences, Merlo and Semma now share some interactive classroom activities for students and for teachers that can turn a quiet classroom full of people unwilling to speak up to a hive of debate, making the student learning experience more collaborative for everyone.

Energize your college classroom and get discussions flowing. Download The Best Classroom Activities for College Courses to engage and motivate students.

1. Open-ended questions

Chris Merlo: Open-ended questions don’t take any planning. All they take is a class with at least one student who isn’t too shy. I remember a class a few semesters ago that started with nine students. Due to a couple of medical conditions and a job opportunity, three of the students had to drop the semester. The problem was that these three students were the ones I counted on to ask questions and keep the class lively! Once I was left with six introverted people, conversations during class seemed to stop.

By luck, I stumbled on something that got the students talking again. I said, “What has been the most difficult thing about [the project that was due soon]?” This opened the floodgates—students love to complain, especially about us and our demands. This one simple question led to twenty minutes of discussion involving all six students. I wasn’t even sure what a couple of these students’ voices sounded like, but once I gave them an open-ended opportunity to complain about an assignment, they were off to the races. A truly successful classroom activity.

2. What’s wrong with this example?

Chris Merlo: Students also love to find a professor’s mistakes—like me, I’m sure you’ve found this out the hard way. When I teach computer science, I will make up a program that, for instance, performs the wrong arithmetic, and have students find the bug. In a particularly quiet or disengaged class, you can incentivize students with five points on the next exam, or something similar.

If you teach history, you might use flawed examples that change a key person’s name, such as “King Henry VIII (instead of King John) signed the Magna Carta in 1215,” or match a person to an incorrect event: “Gavrilo Princip is considered to have fired the first shot in the Spanish Civil War (instead of World War I).” Beam these examples on the whiteboard, and let the students’ competitiveness drive them to get the right answer before their classmates.

3. Let students critique each other

Chris Merlo: This can go badly if you don’t set some ground rules for civility, but done well, classroom activities like this really help open up collaborative learning. One of my colleagues devised a great exercise: First, give students about half of their class time to write instructions that an imaginary robot can understand to draw a recognizable picture, like a corporate logo, without telling students what will happen later. Then assign each student’s instructions to a randomly chosen classmate, and have the classmate pretend to be the robot, attempting to follow the instructions and draw the same logo.

After a few minutes, introduce a specific student who can share their results with the class, then ask their partner to share the initial instructions. This method gives students a chance to communicate with each other (“That’s not what I meant!”) and laugh and bond, while learning an important lesson.

This exercise teaches computer science students the difficulty and importance of writing clear instructions. I have seen this exercise not only teach pairs of such students meaningful lessons but encourage friendships that extended beyond my classroom.

Get students participating with these 45 classroom activities

4. Pass the “mic”

Monika Semma: As an instructor, it’s amazing how much information you can gather from a student-centered review session. Specifically, if you leave the review in the hands of your students, you can get an easy and thorough assessment of what is being absorbed, and what is being left by the wayside. The more you encourage participation, the more you’ll see where your class is struggling and the more comfortable students will become with course material. Here’s how to transform a standard review into one of your more popular classroom activities:

• A week before the review, ask students to email you two to five key terms or theories that they feel they need to brush up on. Take all that data and compress it until you have a solid working list of what students want to review most.
• In class, provide students with visual access to the list (I found writing all the terms on a chalkboard to be most effective). Instruct the class to have their notes out in front of them, with a pad of paper or blank Word document at their fingertips, and encourage them to take notes as the review is in progress.
• A trinket of sorts (I highly recommend a plush ball), used as a “microphone,” helps to give students equal opportunity to direct the review without putting individuals on the spot too aggressively. The rules are simple: she or he who holds the “mic” can pick one term from the list and using their notes, can offer up what they already know about the term or concept, what they are unsure of, or what they need more elaboration on.
• Actively listen to the speaker and give them some positive cues if they seem unsure; it’s okay to help them along the way, but important to step back and let this review remain student-centered. Once the speaker has said their piece, open the floor to the rest of the class for questions or additional comments. If you find that the discussion has taken a departure from the right direction, re-center the class and provide further elaboration if need be.
• Erase each term discussed from the list as you go, and have the speaker pass (or throw) on the “mic” to a fellow classmate, and keep tossing the ball around after each concept/term is discussed.

Students will have a tendency to pick the terms that they are most comfortable speaking about and those left consistently untouched will give you a clear assessment of the subjects in which your class is struggling, and where comprehension is lacking. Once your class has narrowed down the list to just a few terms, you can switch gears into a more classic review session. Bringing a bit of interaction and fun into a review can help loosen things up during exam time, when students and teachers alike are really starting to feel the pressure.

5. Use YouTube for classroom activities

Monika Semma: Do you remember the pure and utter joy you felt upon seeing your professor wheel in the giant VHS machine into class? Technology has certainly changed—but the awesome powers of visual media have not. Making your students smile can be a difficult task, but by channeling your inner Bill Nye the Science Guy you can make university learning fun again.

A large part of meaningful learning is finding interactive classroom activities that are relevant to daily life—and I can think of no technology more relevant to current students than YouTube.

A crafty YouTube search can yield a video relevant to almost anything in your curriculum and paired with an essay or academic journal, a slightly silly video can go a long way in helping your students contextualize what they are learning.

Even if your comedic attempts plunge into failure, at the very least, a short clip will get the class discussion ball rolling. Watch the video as a class and then break up into smaller groups to discuss it. Get your students thinking about how the clip they are shown pairs with the primary sources they’ve already read.

6. Close reading

Monika Semma: In the humanities, we all know the benefits of close reading activities—they get classroom discussion rolling and students engaging with the material and open up the floor for social and combination learners to shine. “Close reading” is a learning technique in which students are asked to conduct a detailed analysis or interpretation of a small piece of text. It is particularly effective in getting students to move away from the general and engage more with specific details or ideas.

If you’re introducing new and complex material to your class, or if you feel as though your students are struggling with an equation, theory, or concept; giving them the opportunity to break it down into smaller and more concrete parts for further evaluation will help to enhance their understanding of the material as a whole.

And while this technique is often employed in the humanities, classroom activities like this can be easily transferred to any discipline. A physics student will benefit from having an opportunity to break down a complicated equation in the same way that a biology student can better understand a cell by looking at it through a microscope.

In any case, evaluating what kinds of textbooks, lesson plans and pedagogy we are asking our students to connect with is always a good idea.

Brainwriting

Group size: 10 students (minimum)

Course type: Online (synchronous), in-person

This activity helps build rapport and respect in your classroom. After you tackle a complex lecture topic, give students time to individually reflect on their learnings. This can be accomplished through guided prompts or left as an open-ended exercise. Once students have gathered their thoughts, encourage them to share their views either through an online discussion thread or a conversation with peers during class time.

Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping is the process of visually organizing concepts and ideas and understanding how they relate to each other. This exercise is a great way for students to look outside of their individual experiences and perspectives. Groups can use this tactic to review previous work or to help them map ideas for projects and assignments. For in-person classes, you can ask students to cover classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper. For online classes, there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas, like Google Docs or the digital whiteboard feature in Zoom.

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students 

Propose a topic or issue to your class. Group students together (or in breakout rooms if you’re teaching remotely) according to the position they take on the specific issue. Ask the groups of students to come up with a few arguments or examples to support their position. Write each group’s statements on the virtual whiteboard and use these as a starting point for discussion. A natural next step is to debate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument, to help students improve their critical thinking and analysis skills. 

Make learning active with these 45 interactive classroom activities

Compare and contrast

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students

Ask your students to focus on a specific chapter in your textbook. Then, place them in groups and ask them to make connections and identify differences between ideas that can be found in course readings and other articles and videos they may find. This way, they can compare their ideas in small groups and learn from one another’s perspectives. In online real-time classes, instructors can use Zoom breakout rooms to put students in small groups.

Assess/diagnose/act

This activity will improve students’ problem-solving skills and can help engage them in more dynamic discussions. Start by proposing a topic or controversial statement. Then follow these steps to get conversations going. In online classes, students can either raise their hands virtually or use an online discussion forum to engage with their peers. 

• Assessment: What is the issue or problem at hand?
• Diagnosis: What is the root cause of this issue or problem?
• Action: How can we solve the issue?

Moral dilemmas

Group size: Groups of 3–7 students 

Provide students with a moral or ethical dilemma, using a hypothetical situation or a real-world situation. Then ask them to explore potential solutions as a group. This activity encourages students to think outside the box to develop creative solutions to the problem. In online learning environments, students can use discussion threads or Zoom breakout rooms.

Conversation stations

Group size: Groups of 4–6 students 

Course type: In-person

This activity exposes students’ ideas in a controlled way, prompting discussions that flow naturally. To start, share a list of discussion questions pertaining to a course reading, video or case study. Put students into groups and give them five-to-ten minutes to discuss, then have two students rotate to another group. The students who have just joined a group have an opportunity to share findings from their last discussion, before answering the second question with their new group. After another five-to-ten minutes, the students who haven’t rotated yet will join a new group.

This or that

Course type: Online (synchronous or asynchronous), in-person

This activity allows students to see where their peers stand on a variety of different topics and issues. Instructors should distribute a list of provocative statements before class, allowing students to read ahead. Then, they can ask students to indicate whether they agree, disagree or are neutral on the topic in advance, using an online discussion thread or Google Doc. In class, use another discussion thread or live chat to have students of differing opinions share their views. After a few minutes, encourage one or two members in each group to defend their position amongst a new group of students. Ask students to repeat this process for several rounds to help familiarize themselves with a variety of standpoints.

6 team-building classroom activities for college students

Snowball discussions  .

Group size: 2–4 students per group

Assign students a case study or worksheet to discuss with a partner, then have them share their thoughts with the larger group. Use breakout rooms in Zoom and randomly assign students in pairs with a discussion question. After a few minutes, combine rooms to form groups of four. After another five minutes, combine groups of four to become a larger group of eight—and so on until the whole class is back together again.

Make it personal

Group size: Groups of 2–8 students

After you’ve covered a topic or concept in your lecture, divide students into small discussion groups (or breakout rooms online). Ask the groups questions like “How did this impact your prior knowledge of the topic?” or “What was your initial reaction to this source/article/fact?” to encourage students to reflect on their personal connections to the course concepts they are learning.

Philosophical chairs

Group size: 20–25 students (maximum)

A statement that has two possible responses—agree or disagree—is read out loud. Depending on whether they agree or disagree with this statement, students move to one side of the room or the other. After everyone has chosen a side, ask one or two students on each side to take turns defending their positions. This allows students to visualize where their peers’ opinions come from, relative to their own.

Get more interactive classroom activities here

Affinity mapping

Group size: Groups of 3–8 students 

Course type: Online (synchronous)

Place students in small groups (or virtual breakout rooms) and pose a broad question or problem to them that is likely to result in lots of different ideas, such as “What was the greatest innovation of the 21st century?” or “How would society be different if  _____ never occurred?” Ask students to generate responses by writing ideas on pieces of paper (one idea per page) or in a discussion thread (if you’re teaching online). Once lots of ideas have been generated, have students begin grouping their ideas into similar categories, then label the categories and discuss why the ideas fit within them, how the categories relate to one another and so on. This allows students to engage in higher-level thinking by analyzing ideas and organizing them in relation to one another. 

Socratic seminar

Group size: 20 students (minimum)

Ask students to prepare for a discussion by reviewing a course reading or group of texts and coming up with a few higher-order discussion questions about the text. In class, pose an introductory, open-ended question. From there, students continue the conversation, prompting one another to support their claims with evidence from previous course concepts or texts. There doesn’t need to be a particular order to how students speak, but they are encouraged to respectfully share the floor with their peers.

Concentric circles

Group size: 20 students (maximum)

Students form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. Each student on the inside is paired with a student on the outside; they face each other. Pose a question to the whole group and have pairs discuss their responses with each other. After three-to-five minutes, have students on the outside circle move one space to the right so they are standing in front of a new person. Pose a new question, and the process is repeated, exposing students to the different perspectives of their peers.

Making your classes more interactive should help your students want to come to class and take part in it. Giving them a more active role will give them a sense of ownership, and this can lead to students taking more pride in their work and responsibility for their grades.

Use these 45 classroom activities in your course to keep students engaged

A more interactive class can also make things easier for you—the more work students do in class, the less you have to do. Even two minutes of not talking can re-energize you for the rest of the class.

Plus, these six methods outlined above don’t require any large-scale changes to your class prep. Set up a couple of activities in advance here and there, to support what you’ve been doing, and plan which portion of your class will feature them.

The reality remains that sometimes, students do have to be taught subject matter that is anything but exciting. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make it more enjoyable to teach or learn. It may not be possible to incorporate classroom activities into every lecture, but finding some room for these approaches can go a long way in facilitating a positive learning environment.

And let’s not forget, sometimes even an educator needs a brief departure from the everyday-ordinary-sit-and-listen-to-me-lecture regimen.

Recommended Readings

Educators In Conversation: How to Help Students ‘Do’ Sociology

A 6-Step Exercise for Discussing AI In Education

Subscribe to the top hat blog.

Join more than 10,000 educators. Get articles with higher ed trends, teaching tips and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox.

ChatGPT for Teachers

Trauma-informed practices in schools, teacher well-being, cultivating diversity, equity, & inclusion, integrating technology in the classroom, social-emotional development, covid-19 resources, invest in resilience: summer toolkit, civics & resilience, all toolkits, degree programs, trauma-informed professional development, teacher licensure & certification, how to become - career information, classroom management, instructional design, lifestyle & self-care, online higher ed teaching, current events, amazing opening and closing activities that students won’t want to miss.

The beginning and end of a class are crucial moments. They provide opportunities to engage students and ensure that learning sticks. But class openers and closers can also be super fun! Here are 15 student-friendly, impactful, and entertaining ways to open and close any class.

Class openers

A great way to get kids to arrive on time is with a little healthy, brain-building competition. Students can compete in groups or as individuals, working to solve a riddle that relates to the day’s learning. Include a small prize or simply celebrate the winning student(s). Check out EdGalaxy’s handy list of classroom-friendly riddles and get going!

When students arrive to class, give them a secret fact-finding mission. Hide a lesson artifact (or several!) around the classroom and offer clues to find it. Whoever finds the object can be your helper for the lesson or can get a little extra credit.

Build a daily writing practice through visual, do-now writing prompts. Encourage free writing by piquing student interest in topics that relate to your day’s lesson or that stand alone. Here’s a list of visual prompts to get you started. Also, TeachStarter has a cool web-based tool that randomly provides an image to get students thinking and writing. Set a timer and some parameters and stick to a consistent practice.

Create a spinning wheel with a variety of review questions, discussion prompts, topics, or assignments on it. You can have students spin the wheel to answer questions or use the wheel to choose the day’s activities. Don’t have a wheel? No problem! Use this online tool to customize your choices and spin randomly.

A cheap beach ball can be a fun discussion or review tool. Write questions or discussion starters on the ball using dry erase marker so you can reuse it. Toss the boss around and then call out a color. The student holding the ball must answer the question written on the section of the beach ball that is your chosen color and the question closest to their hands. Make it even more fun by playing music and encouraging students to keep the ball moving until the music stops.

Get students ready to learn and focus with some online game time. A short game at the beginning of class can be used to review previous material or assess prior knowledge for a new topic using online tools like Kahoot or Brain Pop .

End-of-class activities

Elevator pitch.

Knowing how to summarize your thoughts in a concise and thoughtful manner is a true 21st-century skill. At the end of class, ask students to sum up the day’s learning in a 30- to 60-second elevator pitch. Make sure to include the context and importance of the day’s learning and how it may fit into the larger scope of the class’ learning.

Cool down from the intensity of class and ask students to draw a few concepts taught in the day’s lesson. Ask them to draw a summary of the lesson for someone who didn’t participate in the learning that day. Have more time? Try it Pictionary-style and get kids trying to guess what lesson concept their classmates are drawing.

This is a fun way to get students reflective about the day’s learning while getting amped up for where you might be guiding them tomorrow. Ask students to predict tomorrow’s lesson either in writing or verbally in a closing discussion. Another idea is for students to use sticky notes to add their guesses to a prediction board. The next day, see who was right in order to help students understand how learning flows and connects from one day to the next.

Schmooze  it

Have students stand up and schmooze! Play some music and have students walk around until you stop it. When you press pause, whoever they’re standing next to is their new “friend” at a party. They should briefly explain what they learned in class that day to the “stranger.” You can even offer conversation starters like: “Did you know?” or “I just found out that…” When the music starts up again, they should move on and “meet” someone else. Deepen the experience by providing a different prompt each round.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals shares this fun method for getting kids to summarize and explain their learning at the end of class. “This can be done individually, with a partner, or in small groups. Students get a sealed envelope that contains a slip of paper with a topic, vocabulary word, or problem written on it. Students then have to explain, describe, or solve the contents of the envelope.”

A quick way to encourage participation from all students and gauge understanding of the day’s topics is the Whip Around. “To implement this wraparound strategy, you pose a question or prompt to the class and then have each student share aloud their quick response,” according to Facing History ’s Teaching Strategies Library . “This strategy provides an efficient way for all students in a classroom to share their ideas about a question, topic, or text, revealing common themes and ideas in students’ thinking. Wraparound activities can also be provocative discussion starters.”

Working with older kids? Encourage responsible use of social media and concise summations of learning by asking students to discuss their class topics in a daily tweet. Use a predetermined class hashtag and encourage students to tag sources and experts to build a learning network.

Make learning come full circle — literally — by engaging in end-of-class circle talks. In a reflection circle, “the teacher cues students to reflect on their learning for the day or to set goals for the next day. This can be as simple as going around the circle to answer an open-ended question such as, “What’s one thing you want to work on tomorrow?” It might also be an activity that involves reflective thinking,” according to The Responsive Classroom , which shares great ideas on end-of-class circle practices .

A simple yet effective closing activity is the quick review. Encourage students to share their own review of the day either with each other or together as a class. “Choose a few students and give each 60 seconds to speak about something you’ve covered that day….older learners may even give a “how to” lesson; they may also summarize a story they heard,” shares The Busy Teacher . “To motivate students to speak, you may choose to reward the student who says the most, or includes the most information, with a reward sticker.”

Jennifer L.M. Gunn spent 10 years in newspaper and magazine publishing before moving to public education. She is a curriculum designer, a teaching coach, and high school educator in New York City. She is also co-founder of the annual EDxEDNYC Education Conference for teacher-led innovation and regularly presents at conferences on the topics of adolescent literacy, leadership, and education innovation.

You may also like to read

• Classroom Activities for Introverted Students
• How to Create a Culture of Self-Care in Your School
• Elevating Responsive Teaching: Poverty, Trauma, and Resilience
• Education Conferences in 2021 That You Should Consider Attending
• Examples of Outdoor Activities to Get Your Students Writing
• How Do We Actually Know a Lesson Went Well?

Categorized as: Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources

Tagged as: Engaging Activities ,  Mid-Career Teacher ,  New Teacher

• Cultivating Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:...
• Early Childhood Education: Resources, Theorie...
• Online & Campus Master's in Elementary Educat...

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

• Classroom Ideas
• Teacher’s Life
• Deals & Shopping
• Privacy Policy

36 Fun Classroom Games for Every Student

December 19, 2023 //  by  Brittany Kuhn

We all need a break from the routine and if your kiddos are looking a little bored or sleepy lately, it’s probably time to shake things up! Classroom games are the perfect strategy to get your students moving and to engage them in their learning! We have everything you need from exciting starter and exit activities to fun brain breaks and review games. So stop your search and dive into our 36 fun classroom games for every student! 

1. Spot The Error

This fun activity actually uses memes to get your students thinking about correct grammar! This would be a perfect morning greeting task or a fun game for review. Play the interactive game or present the memes on slides; any way you choose, they’ll love editing these captions!

Learn More: Can You Spot The Error

2. Prediction Exit Ticket

A great activity is to have your kiddos think critically about what they’ve learned. Have them write their predictions on sticky notes or pieces of paper to post on the board as they leave for the day. This is one of many exit ticket activities that you can use in your teaching! 

Learn More: The Teacher Toolkit

3. Who/What Am I?

Your learners are sure to love this game! Just have them place a sticky note on their forehead with the name of a person or a key vocabulary word that you are studying. They’ll then walk around your classroom asking their peers yes/no questions to figure out the mystery! 

Learn More: Ice Breaker Ideas

4. Chain Notes

This is a great review activity that also reveals any misconceptions your children might have about a topic. Just write an open-ended question on an envelope about something you’re studying, have them write their answer, put it in an envelope, and pass it on to the next student!

Learn More: Griffith University

5. Blind Artist

Practice listening and communication skills with this fun game! Have your kiddies start by sitting back-to-back. One of them will describe a picture in front of them while the other one, who can’t see the picture, must draw it based on their partner’s descriptions. This one’s a sure winner!

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

6. Student-Led Review Sessions

Your students will take ownership of their learning by creating assessment questions and answer choices. Have them work in small groups and then compile the questions into a game format for them to answer in teams! This one’s great for math, but can also be used in any subject area! 

Debates are great activities for building your kids’ critical thinking skills. Choose from these thought-provoking questions or create your own that are related to a current topic of study. Divide your class into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ sides and then watch as the games begin! 

Learn More: Junior Scholastic

8. Four Corners

Four corners is an easy activity that’s low-prep and will get your students out of their seats! Label each corner of your classroom with A-D or 1-4 and then create questions with four possible answers. Read your questions out loud and have them move to the corner with their answer choice.

Learn More: Alyssa Teaches

9. Interview/Role Play

Assign some of your children a character from a novel study or a person from a historical period that you’re studying while your other ones will create interview questions. Hold a ‘daytime talk-show’ style presentation where the actors are interviewed by their classmates. Bonus for dressing up!

Learn More: Everyday Speech

Your students, regardless of age, will love BINGO! This is great for a whole class review and can be used across content areas. Create your boards, call out questions, and watch as they eagerly search for the answers and get excited about their chance to shout out BINGO!

Learn More: Teaching Channel

11. 3-2-1 Exit Ticket

This exit ticket is great for encouraging your pupil’s self-reflection while also checking their understanding. On a sticky note or flash card, they’ll write three things they learned, two things they’re unsure about, and one question they want to ask. Have them turn it in as their ‘ticket’ out of class!

Learn More: The Art Of Education

12. Inside/Outside Circles

This one is a great community-building game! Arrange your kiddos in two circles facing each other and then post a question. They’ll discuss the answer with their partner for two minutes and when the timer goes off, the inside circle moves clockwise one seat and you’ll begin again!

Learn More: EduToolBox

13. Scavenger Hunt

Just say the words ‘scavenger hunt’ and watch your students’ faces light up! This is great for getting them excited about a new topic or for reviewing before a test. Just hide questions or tasks around the room for them to complete, and with each answer, their next clue will be revealed! 

Learn More: A Lesson Plan For Teachers

14. Hot Seat

Start this fun activity with one of your kiddos sitting in a chair facing the class. Write a word on the board so they can’t see it and have them call on the audience for clues to help them guess the word. When they’ve correctly guessed, someone else takes a turn in the ‘hot seat’!

Learn More: Teaching To The Nth Degree

15. Idea Line-Up

This is a movement break activity that gets your learners thinking about their opinions on different topics. After you’ve posed a question, they’ll find their position on a continuum from agree to disagree. Next, have them justify their stance to a classmate who has a different perspective!

Learn More: Universiteit Utrecht

16. Elevator Pitch

At the end of a lesson, have your students pitch what they’ve learned in 60 seconds to either you or one of their classmates. You could also have them work in groups for a little healthy competition to see which team has crafted the most succinct summary of the material! 

Learn More: Edutopia

17. Sentence Race

This game is perfect for helping your little ones unscramble sentences! You could split your class into teams to see which group can unscramble digital sentences the fastest, or have them race to a display with paper sentence strips. Either way, this is sure to be a keeper! 

Learn More: Tiny Tap

For this collaborative activity, start by placing your children into groups and assign only a part of a problem or class text to that group. Next, have one student from each of your groups get together to make a new group where they discuss how their individual topics all fit together.

Learn More: Reading Rockets

19. Pictionary

Activate your kids’ creative side by playing Pictionary! Divide them into teams and have a member from each team come to the board to draw a word or phrase from a current unit. The first team that guesses correctly wins a point! 

Taboo is perfect for getting your students thinking about everything related to a topic! One member of a team will have a main word and a list of related words that they can’t use to describe this word. They’ll have to figure out other ways to help their team guess it correctly!

Learn More: Better Lesson

21. Simon Says

If you want a fun brain break activity, look no further than Simon Says! Give your kiddies actions to perform, but warn them that they can only do it if your directions follow the phrase ‘Simon says.’ If they do an action that doesn’t follow that phrase, they must sit down!

Learn More: The Genius Of Play

22. Pico, Fermi, Bagel

This is an awesome math game! One of your mathematicians will think of a three-digit number while their classmates take turns guessing the digits. Each guess is either Pico, the right number in the wrong place, Fermi, the right number in the right place, or Bagel, the wrong number entirely! 

Learn More: University Of Washington

23. Chatterboxes

This is a fun, creative activity that requires no prep from you! Give your students a finger game template and have them write their own review questions and answers. They’ll then fold it and play with their classmates, asking and answering each other’s review questions!

24. Board Race Relay

This is another fast-paced game your kids will love! Have them stand in four lines at the back of your classroom. Ask a question about that day’s learning and the first student in each line will race to the board. The fastest to write the correct answer wins! 

Learn More: One Stop English

25. Hot Potato

This classic game is also great for reviewing important material before a big test. Have your students stand in a circle and pass the ‘hot potato’ until you say stop. Whoever is holding the object has to answer a question correctly or sit down. The last one standing wins!

Learn More: ESL Speaking

26. How Many Can You Name?

This game is a perfect start activity to get your children thinking about what they already know about a topic. They’ll get one minute to list as many words associated with a category. You can use this one across content areas – think adjectives, WWII, or terms related to the solar system! 

Learn More: Bunscoil Rís Edmund Rice Senior School

27. Beach Ball

This can be used in many different ways from an icebreaker to a review! Write questions on a beach ball and have your kiddos stand in a circle. They’ll say ‘left’ or ‘right’ as they toss the ball and when it’s caught, their classmate will have to answer the question under that hand!

Learn More: Teaching With Jennifer Findley

28. Gallery Walk

For an interactive movement break, have your students participate in a gallery walk! Just post questions around the room and have them work in groups to answer them. After a few minutes, they’ll move to the next question where they’ll get a chance to read the other group’s responses.

 Learn More: Facing History

29. Hangman Alternatives

A snowman, alien, and fighter pilot/parachute are more positive alternatives to the classic game of hangman! For this no-prep game, you’ll give your kiddos spaces for the number of letters in a word and they’ll have to guess the letters correctly. For each incorrect guess, you’ll add a part to your picture!

Learn More: YouTube

30. Word Ladder

Start this fun word association game by writing a content-relevant word on your board. Have one of your pupils give a word related to it and write this above your word. They’ll call on a classmate to give a word related to their word and you’ll repeat this until everyone’s had a turn! 

Learn More: My World Their Way

31. Round-Robin Storytelling

This activity is great for small groups. One of your students will write the opening of a story and then pass their paper to a classmate who will add to the story before passing it to another. This is a super fun game that will definitely produce some giggles! 

Learn More: Education World

32. Riddle Starters

A good starter activity that gets your students thinking is a riddle. Post riddles from the list here or think of your own that are related to a specific topic your class is learning about. They’ll love waking up their brains by trying to figure out the answer before anyone else!

Learn More: Innovative Teaching Ideas

33. Popcorn Reading

This is an oldie but goodie! Start by reading aloud a text and then shout out ‘popcorn’ followed by the name of one of your kiddos. They’ll pick up where you left off and continue to read until they want to stop. Then they’ll repeat the process to give someone new a chance to read! 

Learn More: Scribd

34. K-W-L Chart

K-W-L charts are great activities to explore what your children already know about a topic, and what they want to know about it. This also acts as a post-assessment in that they can add what they’ve learned after your lesson!

Learn More: Read Write Think

35. Minute To Win It

Based on the popular game show, your children will have a blast with only one minute to solve a problem or answer a question! The more they get correct or complete, the more points they earn. Play this one as individuals or place them in groups for a fun team competition!

Learn More: Rhody Girl Resource

36. Scattergories

This is another great word association game that can be played across different subject areas! Give your kiddos a list of categories and a letter and they’ll have one minute to think of words that both fit the category and start with that letter. Each word that works will get a point!

Learn More: EMediaVA Blog

Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

17 Favorite Classroom-Learning Games

• Share article

(This is the first post in a two-part series.)

The new question-of-the-week is:

What are your favorite classroom games?

I’m taking a break from finishing the series on teacher observations and, instead, sharing this series on classroom-learning games.

In the midst of the pandemic, I’m finding games an essential part of classroom instruction. They serve two (and many more) purposes: engagement in learning and distraction from COVID.

Today, Shannon Jones, Jennifer Bay-Williams, Molly Ness, and Sheniqua Johnson share their favorites.

You might also be interested in several game collections I’ve created. You can find all the updated lists here , and here are a few key ones:

The Best Online Learning Games t o Play During Distance Learning

The Best Ideas f or Using Games i n the ESL/EFL/ELL Classroom

The Best Websites f or Creating Online Learning Games

Now, to today’s guests:

Shannon Jones is a 15-year educator working in Wheaton, Md. She is a focus teacher for students in kindergarten through 5th grades. She can be reached at [email protected] or @MsJonesLuvsMath:

Learning games are an effective way for students to review current and previously taught content. Zaretta Hammond states that: “The very act of playing the game encourages the brain to strengthen the new neural pathways by making the learner continuously search his memory for information.” I typically use learning games during my small-group time. I also may use them at the beginning of a lesson to spark engagement and raise the energy level in my classroom.

The text Mini-lessons for Math Practice by Rusty Bresser and Caren Holtzman is full of quick and engaging math games that are great for brain breaks in the classroom and time fillers for the very end of the school day. Several of my favorites from this text include: Digit Place, Estimation Jar, Whole-Class Pig, and Guess My Rule.

Mall Math from The Great Big Book of Super-Fun Math Activities’ Jean Liccione is year after year one of my students’ favorite games. Students are provided with a menu of items from different stores at the mall that they can buy. Students use the spinner to choose a store from which to buy or return items. The game reinforces adding and subtracting decimals, but the students love the shopping and choosing aspect.

Battleship can be played with either the coordinate grid system or place value. In the place-value version, each player builds a secret nine-digit number, and students take turns guessing the place value of their partner’s digits. This is a great way to fortify knowledge of place value because students are required to use place-value language on each of their turns.

Rio, from A Month-to-Month Guide: Fourth-Grade Math by Lainie Schuster or the game Knock It Off are games that focus on the most challenging of the multiplication facts. Typically, I choose the 6s, 7s, 8s, or 9s to set up the board due to the challenging nature of these facts. Focusing on just one set of facts at a time, students roll a 12-sided dice or find the sum of two six-sided dice, then they multiply their number by 6, 7, 8, or 9 depending on the game board they’ve chosen. They win by using all of their 10 “chips.”

Fraction War is played with the same rules as the popular card game War. Students have a deck of like or unlike fractions. They take turns flipping over a card, then they compare the size of their fractions to determine a winner for each round.

Minecraft and Fortnite are currently very popular with my students, and it is always great when you can take a current trend that is in demand with your students and turn it into a game that meets one of your grade-level standards. The figures from Minecraft can be printed in color on 10 by 10 or 5 by 10 grids. Students can then work in learning centers to determine the fraction, decimal, and percent that is shaded. With Fortnite, print the map in either one or four quadrants, and students can work to find the coordinates of given places and their reflections, etc.

Some of my favorite online games include: Nearpod’s Time to Climb, Kahoot, Quizziz, and Blooket. My students enjoyed each of these games during virtual learning. All of these games can easily be played in the classroom, with some even offering a self-paced version that is ideal for independent learning in the classroom.

Game Criteria

Jennifer Bay-Williams works with preservice and practicing teachers as a professor at the University of Louisville and with teachers all over the world through conferences and workshops. She is the author of over a dozen books, including two books with Corwin Press Figuring O ut Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning , K-8 and Everything Y ou Need for Mathematics :

I love games. My favorite games involve mathematical reasoning. Over the years, I have found and created hundreds of games. Today, as I select or create games, here is what I consider.

• Is there a speed component? If yes, it is a “ no ” for me. When students are in a hurry, they can’t think straight. You can probably relate.
• Are students solving the same problem? Well, this goes back to the last bullet. If two or more people are solving the same problem, the faster thinker dominates the thinking in the game. This is a “ no ” for me.
• How is winning determined? If it is based on who knows more, or is faster, or any other personal attribute, then this is a “ no ” for me. No student should feel less “smart” than the person they are partnered with, even if they are competing to win a game.

With a scan for these three pitfalls, here is short list of what I hope to find, or that I build in, to games that make the cut:

• Student reasoning is embedded. Many games have strategies to win the games, but what I want in a game is reasoning strategies related to the mathematics.
• Students can learn from their opponent or partner as they play.
• I (and other teachers) can see and hear student reasoning as they play.
• It is adaptable and reusable (so we don’t get bogged down in a new game taking time to learn the directions).

A few favorites. It is really hard to pick, but here are two that I hold up for different reasons.

Rectangle Fit. Students have grid paper (e.g., 25 by 15). The teacher rolls two die, which are the sides of a rectangle. Students fit that rectangle on their grid paper and record the product inside that rectangle. Teacher rolls again. Eventually, the teacher rolls something like 5 and 6, and some students cannot fit that rectangle on their grid. These students are out of the game. Winners are the last ones still playing.

Why I like this game: It connects visual representation to multiplication facts and helps students “see” commutativity. It is easily adaptable—use regular die for smaller products, 10-sided die for larger; you can even adapt to decimals! Change the grid size. Play with a group of six instead of the whole class. Oh, yeah, and kids love it (just today I received such a message from a teacher in summer school):

Photo by Jennifer Bay-Williams

Strategories: This is not a misspelling but an adaptation of a popular game. Students are given a recording card with strategies listed and a blank cell to write in an example problem. For adding fractions, the card looks like this:

To begin, students work individually to create a problem that “fits” that strategy. Then, students find a partner and talk through how to solve their own problem (or alternatively, talk through how to solve their partner’s problem). Students can have a different partner for each strategory. If you want to score it, you can score a correct process and correct answer each at 5 points.

Why I like this game: Real fluency is knowing when a strategy is a good idea—AKA flexibility. Flexibility is a neglected component of fluency! As students create a problem, they are thinking about when they would use it. The pair-exchange is great peer teaching, active movement, built in accountability, and 100 percent participation. As follow-up, I can ask partners to describe how their two examples are alike (comparing is so important in math learning) or focus on nonexamples (What problems don’t “ fit” a strategory?)

A word has yet to be used in this response that is almost always used in response to the question, Why use games? “Fun.” Games are fun. I love fun. Math should be fun. But fun is an outcome, not a purpose. My favorite games happen to be fun, but they are my favorites because of the opportunities for students to engage in meaningful practice, show off their good reasoning, and learn with and from each other, realizing along the way that everyone can do math.

Literacy Games

Molly Ness is a teacher educator and author of four books about English/language arts instruction, the most recent titled Every Minute Matters: 40+ Activities for Literacy-Rich Classroom Transitions . She sits on the board of directors for the International Literacy Association. You can reach her at [email protected] , www.drmollyness.com , or @drmollyness on Twitter:

Elementary educators know how important it is to infuse fun into your classroom routines—and we know time is precious. Yet there are so many spaces throughout the day when we have transition times: starting the day, lining up for an assembly, waiting for buses, and even small spaces when lessons take less time than we’d planned. Instead of turning to worksheets to fill those spaces, teachers I work with play with language in those transition times throughout the day.

Remember the childhood favorite Battleship, where you would place your plastic ships in pegs without your opponent seeing? The goal was to sink your opponent’s ships using horizontal and vertical coordinates. Sink or Spell is an engaging adaptation. In this version, students use their spelling and/or vocabulary words as their ships. Simply make a 10 x 10 grid, with numbers running horizontally and letters running vertically. Glue two of these sheets inside a file folder and laminate (so it’s reusable and ready to go for many games!). Students play in pairs, so both players get folders. Give students a list of words (this is a great review activity!), and each player secretly chooses five words from the list and writes them on their board—horizontally or vertically (but not backward or diagonal). Players take turns calling out coordinates (for example, C7). If a player’s opponent has a letter in that box, the opponent says, “Hit” and tells the other player what letter is in the box. If the box is empty, the child says, “Miss.” Players may guess the word or continue to guess coordinates. To sink a word, the player must correctly spell the word—and they get bonus points for defining it, using in a sentence, etc.

Use a label maker or printing labels to adapt a Jenga game into a literacy-rich version of Tower Tumble . Write vocabulary words, sight words, or homophones on each block. Students pull a block, read the word, define it and/or use it in a sentence, and then place it on the topmost level. The game ends when the tower tumbles!

I’m all for getting kids up and active, and kids love doing this with Beach Ball Bonanza . Hit up the dollar store and buy inflatable beach balls. Using a permanent marker, write open-ended prompts on each section of the ball. Ideas include the following:

• Sight words
• Comprehension questions: “What’s your favorite character in the book … and why?”
• Prompts for vocabulary: “Use it in a sentence” or “Here’s a synonym”

Model soft throws (this isn’t dodgeball!) and how to read the prompt closest to your right thumb. When kids catch the ball, they read the prompt underneath and share their answer, before gently tossing it to a classmate. To use this as a vocabulary-review activity, call out the word while the ball is in midair. So if the word is furious , a child might catch the ball, see the prompt under their right thumb is “Give an antonym for the word,” and answer happy before tossing the ball to a friend.

Creating a fun, literacy-rich classroom is a win-win, especially when you infuse games into those “found moments” throughout the day.

Kahoot, Jenga, & More

Sheniqua Johnson is a language-acquisition specialist in north Texas:

The classroom-learning games I enjoy the most allow students to be interactive while applying their knowledge or having the opportunity to review academic-vocabulary terms, problem-solving skills, or concepts. These games include Draw Me, Headbands, Kahoot, and Jenga.

Draw Me: Students practice and apply knowledge of academic-vocabulary terms by drawing visuals of the terms and allowing players to guess the term.

Headbands: Students review knowledge of academic-vocabulary terms by placing a term over their heads while players give clues until the person holding the term guesses correctly.

Kahoot: Interactive game through an app. Provides immediate feedback for teacher to plan small-group interventions. This game can be played independently or with small groups.

Jenga: Academic-vocabulary terms are written or placed on game pieces. As students choose pieces to remove from the tower, they must define words or answer questions, such as, word problems.

Thanks to Shannon, Jennifer, Molly, and Sheniqua for contributing their thoughts!

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email (The RSS feed for this blog, and for all Ed Week articles, has been changed by the new redesign—new ones are not yet available). And if you missed any of the highlights from the first 10 years of this blog, you can see a categorized list below.

• The 11 Most Popular Classroom Q&A Posts of the Year
• Race & Racism in Schools
• School Closures & the Coronavirus Crisis
• Classroom-Management Advice
• Best Ways to Begin the School Year
• Best Ways to End the School Year
• Student Motivation & Social-Emotional Learning
• Implementing the Common Core
• Challenging Normative Gender Culture in Education
• Teaching Social Studies
• Cooperative & Collaborative Learning
• Using Tech With Students
• Student Voices
• Parent Engagement in Schools
• Teaching English-Language Learners
• Reading Instruction
• Writing Instruction
• Education Policy Issues
• Differentiating Instruction
• Math Instruction
• Science Instruction
• Advice for New Teachers
• Author Interviews
• The Inclusive Classroom
• Learning & the Brain
• Administrator Leadership
• Teacher Leadership
• Relationships in Schools
• Professional Development
• Instructional Strategies
• Best of Classroom Q&A
• Professional Collaboration
• Classroom Organization
• Mistakes in Education
• Project-Based Learning

I am also creating a Twitter list including all contributors to this column .

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Sign Up for EdWeek Update

Edweek top school jobs.

Sign Up & Sign In

Want a daily email of lesson plans that span all subjects and age groups?

Subjects all subjects all subjects the arts all the arts visual arts performing arts value of the arts back business & economics all business & economics global economics macroeconomics microeconomics personal finance business back design, engineering & technology all design, engineering & technology design engineering technology back health all health growth & development medical conditions consumer health public health nutrition physical fitness emotional health sex education back literature & language all literature & language literature linguistics writing/composition speaking back mathematics all mathematics algebra data analysis & probability geometry measurement numbers & operations back philosophy & religion all philosophy & religion philosophy religion back psychology all psychology history, approaches and methods biological bases of behavior consciousness, sensation and perception cognition and learning motivation and emotion developmental psychology personality psychological disorders and treatment social psychology back science & technology all science & technology earth and space science life sciences physical science environmental science nature of science back social studies all social studies anthropology area studies civics geography history media and journalism sociology back teaching & education all teaching & education education leadership education policy structure and function of schools teaching strategies back thinking & learning all thinking & learning attention and engagement memory critical thinking problem solving creativity collaboration information literacy organization and time management back, filter by none.

• Elementary/Primary
• Middle School/Lower Secondary
• High School/Upper Secondary
• College/University
• TED-Ed Animations
• TED Talk Lessons
• TED-Ed Best of Web
• Under 3 minutes
• Under 6 minutes
• Under 9 minutes
• Under 12 minutes
• Under 18 minutes
• Over 18 minutes
• Algerian Arabic
• Azerbaijani
• Cantonese (Hong Kong)
• Chinese (Hong Kong)
• Chinese (Singapore)
• Chinese (Taiwan)
• Chinese Simplified
• Chinese Traditional
• Chinese Traditional (Taiwan)
• Dutch (Belgium)
• Dutch (Netherlands)
• French (Canada)
• French (France)
• French (Switzerland)
• Kurdish (Central)
• Luxembourgish
• Persian (Afghanistan)
• Persian (Iran)
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Portuguese (Portugal)
• Spanish (Argentina)
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Spanish (Mexico)
• Spanish (Spain)
• Spanish (United States)
• Western Frisian

sort by none

• Longest video
• Shortest video
• Most video views
• Least video views
• Most questions answered
• Least questions answered

If you're an adult mayfly you'll probably die before the end of this video

Lesson duration 05:13

71,721 Views

How to increase your happiness

Lesson duration 06:09

204,917 Views

How do gas masks actually work?

Lesson duration 04:31

350,050 Views

We need to track the world's water like we track the weather - Sonaar Luthra

Lesson duration 13:30

46,476 Views

The rise and fall of the Maya Empire’s most powerful city

Lesson duration 05:32

200,056 Views

Does math have a major flaw?

Lesson duration 05:20

239,188 Views

How to protect the oceans - Sylvia Earle

Lesson duration 18:17

325,636 Views

The Nazis recruited to win the Cold War

Lesson duration 06:44

336,294 Views

How to prevent political corruption

Lesson duration 05:22

336,862 Views

The true story behind the legend of the 47 Rōnin

355,786 Views

The solar system is beige

Lesson duration 09:10

209,400 Views

This person isn't actually screaming

Lesson duration 05:23

226,159 Views

What is earwax — and should you get rid of it?

Lesson duration 05:54

624,528 Views

This piece of paper could revolutionize human waste

Lesson duration 05:35

2,472,540 Views

What makes someone vote against their political party? - Sarah Longwell

Lesson duration 11:16

32,166 Views

How can groups make good decisions? - Mariano Sigman and Dan Ariely

Lesson duration 08:37

151,481 Views

How to lead a conversation between people who disagree - Eve Pearlman

157,896 Views

The psychological traits that shape your political beliefs - Dannagal G. Young

Lesson duration 09:05

104,363 Views

What Earth in 2050 could look like

Lesson duration 05:00

374,709 Views

The Greek myth of Demeter's revenge

344,410 Views

What’s it like to be a chef in Antarctica?

Lesson duration 03:22

4,490 Views

Wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory's favorite moments

Lesson duration 08:06

39,985 Views

Culture of Jeju Haenyeo: women divers

Lesson duration 09:02

288,264 Views

What are animals thinking and feeling? - Carl Safina

Lesson duration 19:27

259,886 Views

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Free printable Mother's Day questionnaire 💐!

43 Awesome Team-Building Activities for Kids

Build trust and community in your classroom.

Looking for great ways to help students learn to work together, listen carefully, communicate clearly, and think creatively? Try some of these awesome team-building activities for kids. They’re a super way to give your students the chance to get to know one another, build trust as a community, and, best of all, have fun!

1. Seeing Spots

The Teacher Dish: Brain Break Dots via theteacherdish.blogspot.com

For this activity, you’ll place a colored sticker dot (blue, red, green, or yellow) on each student’s forehead without them knowing what color it is. When the game begins, each “team” of students (with the same color) must find each other— without speaking. This is a wonderful team-building activity because it encourages non-verbal communication and cooperation.

2. Elbow Pass

Looking for team-building activities for kindergarten kids? This silly activity helps them make new friends and learn to work together. Not only do they get to work on hand-eye coordination, they are looking each other in the eye and having a laugh together.

3. Common Thread

Fun 365/Team-Building Banner via fun365.orientaltrading.com

Divide students into groups of four and have them sit together in these small groups. Give each group five minutes to chat among themselves and find something they all have in common. It could be that they all play soccer, or pizza is their favorite dinner, or they each have a kitten. Whatever the common thread, the conversation will help them get to know one another better. Check in with the groups after five minutes to see if they need more time. After each group has come up with their common element, have them work together to create a flag that represents it.

4. Fingertip Hula-Hoop

There are quite a few team-building activities for kids that use Hula-Hoops. In this game, your students stand in a circle and raise their arms with only their index fingers extended. Place a Hula-Hoop so that it rests on the tips of the children’s fingers. Tell the students they must maintain a fingertip on the Hula-Hoop at all times, but they are not allowed to hook their finger around it or otherwise hold the hoop; the hoop must simply rest on the tips of their fingers. The challenge is for the children to lower the hoop to the ground without dropping it. To make this more challenging, you can place communication constraints on the children—no talking or limited talking, for example. Watch the video for a demonstration.

5. Four-Way Tug-of-War

This classic outdoor activity is double the fun of the traditional tug-of-war. Tie two long jump ropes together at their center points, creating an X shape. Tie a bandanna around the center point. Next, use cones to form a circle that fits around the X. Form four equal teams, and have each team stand at one of the four ends of the ropes. At your signal, each team begins pulling. The objective is to be the first team to pull the others in their direction far enough for the bandanna to cross to the outside of the circle of cones. Students who feel nervous about participating can serve as referees who make sure everyone is safe.

6. Hot Seat

This fun game is a lot like the game show Password . Split your class into two teams and have them sit together in teams facing the whiteboard or chalkboard. Then take an empty chair—one for each team—and put it at the front of the class, facing the team members. These chairs are the “hot seats.” Choose one representative from each team to come up and sit in the “hot seat,” facing their teammates with their back to the board.

Flash images one at a time on the screen behind the people in the hot seat. Taking turns, each team will offer one clue to their representative. If they guess the image correctly, their team gets one point. If not, it’s the other team’s turn to help their representative. Continue until one of the representatives gets the image correct. Then switch out students in the hot seat and continue.

7. Classification

Inspiration Laboratories/Classification Practice via inspirationlaboratories.com

For this activity, prepare a tray with 20 unrelated items—for instance, a spool of thread, an eraser, a juice box, etc. Alternatively, create a document with 20 images of items to put up on the screen. Divide your class into even groups. Set a timer and have each group divide the 20 items into four categories that make sense to them. For example, they may put an earring, a glove, a headset, a sock, and a smile into the category “things you wear.” Have groups work quietly so that their ideas are kept secret. When each group is finished, give each one time to present their categories and their rationale behind each category.

8. Yes, No, Stand Up

The version of the game above is designed specifically to help English-language learners, but it can also be used as a good “get to know you” game for younger kids. Prepare a list of yes or no questions to ask your students. For example, do you like chocolate? Is your favorite color blue? If their answer is yes, the student stands up. If their answer is no, they sit down. Pause between questions to give students time to look around and find students they have answers in common with.

9. Balloon Battle

Happy Mom Hacks/Balloon Games via happymomhacks.com

This fun game teams students up as they try to bat a balloon over each other’s goal line. Divide students into two teams. Each team will have five players on the field at one time. Periodically blow a whistle to have students substitute in so that everyone gets a chance to play. The first team to score 10 points wins. For more fun balloon games check out Happy Mom Hacks .

10. Move On, Look Back

This hopping game will crack your students up. Start with students in a circle with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. When you say “Move on,” students will take one hop forward together. When you say “Look back,” students will take one hop backward together. And when you say “Forever alone” (or any other phrase you’d like, such as “180” or “Turn around”), students will turn 180 degrees and place their hands on the shoulder of the person who was behind them.

11. Birthday Line-Up

Did you know there are team-building activities for kids that can help teach students how to line up? It may take 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the age of your students, so plan accordingly. The objective is to have students line up in order of their birthdays—January 1 through December 31. To do this, they will need to know the order in which the months fall as well as their own birthday. They will also need to talk with one another in order to figure out who goes in front of whom. To make it super challenging, tell them they must do it without speaking at all, only using hand signals. Other ways to line up include by height, alphabetically, or by foot size.

12. The Perfect Square

This activity requires strong verbal communication and cooperation. All you need is a long rope with the ends tied together and something to serve as blindfolds for students, such as bandannas or fabric strips. Have students stand in a circle holding the rope in front of them. Signal them to put their blindfolds on and set the rope on the ground in front of them. Ask students to turn and walk a short distance away from the circle. Assign a partner to any students who may need help. Finally, have everyone come back to the rope and try to form a perfect square with their blindfolds on. Set a time limit to make it more challenging.

13. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tag

If you have a large space for kids to do team-building activities, try this one. Divide students into two teams. Before you begin, stake out the boundaries and position a home base at either end for each team. For each round, each team must confer and decide whether they will be rock, paper, or scissors. Have the two teams line up facing each other, and on your signal, have all players flash Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot! The kids on the losing team must run back to their base before they are tagged by one of the kids on the winning team.

14. Flip-the-Tarp Challenge

Looking for creative-thinking team-building games and activities for kids? Divide students into two teams. One team will do the challenge first while the other team watches, then they will switch places. Have all members of the team stand on a flat bedsheet, tarp, or blanket (kids should fill up all but about a quarter of the space). Challenge the team to flip over the sheet/tarp so that they are standing on the other side of the sheet/tarp without stepping off or touching the ground.

15. “Get To Know You” Balloons

Beth Smith/ABC Scavenger Hunt via darlingtonschool.org

Give each student an empty balloon and a slip of paper. Ask them to write a get-to-know-you question on their paper, such as How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you have any pets? What’s one fun thing you did this summer? Next, have them put their question inside the balloon, blow it up, and tie the end.

When everyone is ready, have them gather on the rug and, on your signal, toss their balloon up in the air. Give them a couple of minutes to bat the balloons around, then call stop . Have each student grab one balloon and come sit in a circle. Go around the circle and, one at a time, have students pop their balloon, read the question inside, and answer the question. This is one of those team-building activities for kids that they will always remember.

And to help your students remember each others’ names, try these 30 Fun Name Games To Try With Your New Class .

16. Hot and Cold

Form groups of three to five students. One person from each group (the finder) steps out of the classroom. The rest of the group picks an object (for instance, the pencil sharpener) in the classroom for the finder to find. When the finder comes back in, they begin walking around the classroom in search of the object. The others guide the finder by saying “hot” or “cold” to lead them in the right direction. If the finder is far away from the object, the group will say “cold.” When the finder gets close, the group will say “hot” until the finder picks the correct object. Variation: Instead of saying “hot” and “cold,” have students applaud softly for cold and applaud vigorously for hot.

17. Marshmallow-and-Toothpick Challenge

Divide students into groups of equal numbers. Pass out an equal number of marshmallows and wooden toothpicks to each group. Challenge the groups to create the tallest, largest, or most creative structure in a set amount of time, each member taking turns doing the actual building. Afterward, have each group describe what they made.

18. Art Reproduction Puzzle

The Teaching Distillery/Puzzles via theteachingdistillery.com

Divide students into groups of six or eight (or larger if you want to make the task more difficult). Provide each team with an image and blank pieces of white card stock, one per team member. First, each team must cut up the image into the same number of pieces as there are group members. Then, each player will take one of the pieces of the image and reproduce it onto their blank piece of card stock with pencils, colored pencils, or markers. (If the team cuts the image into irregularly shaped pieces, each team member must then cut their blank paper into the same shape.) When every team has created the pieces of their puzzle, they will switch pieces with another team. The team will work together to solve the puzzle.

19. Hula-Hoop Pass

This activity helps kids work on listening, coordinating, and strategizing skills. It works best with smaller students. Have your students stand in a big circle. Place a Hula-Hoop on one student’s arm and have them join hands with the student next to them. Ask all the other students to join hands to close up the circle. The objective of the game is to pass the Hula-Hoop all the way around the circle without unclasping hands. Students will have to figure out how to maneuver their bodies all the way through the hoop to pass it on.

20. Bumpity-ump-bump-bump

Playworks/Bumpity Bump Bump via playworks.org

This is a fun name game that requires quick thinking! Students stand in a large circle. One student comes to the middle. That student walks around the inside of the circle, stops in front of one person, and gives them a direction. There are four choices: Left = say the name of the person to the left; right = say the name of the person on the right; it = say the name of the person who is it; or self = say one’s own name. After you give the student the direction, the designated person says “bumpity-ump-bump-bump!” out loud. The student who was given the direction races to say the name of the correct person before the student finishes the phrase. If they can’t, they’re the next person on the inside of the circle.

In this challenging trust-building activity, blindfolded students line up with their hands on each others’ shoulders. A person without a blindfold takes the end position. The object of the activity is for the sighted person to guide the non-sighted students without verbal communication to collect various soft objects scattered on the floor. Once the lead person finds an object, they must deposit it in a bucket. Extra challenge: Students must keep their hands on each others’ shoulders at all times.

22. No-Hands Cup-Stacking Challenge

Nick Cornwell/Stacking Cup Challenge via nickcornwell.weebly.com

If you’re looking for hands-on team-building games and activities that work for groups of kids, try this challenge. It’s an exercise in patience and perseverance, not to mention a total blast! Decide how many students you want in each group and tie that number of strings to a single rubber band, making one for each group. Each person in the group holds on to one of the strings attached to the rubber band, and, as a group, they use this device to pick up the cups (by expanding and contracting the rubber band) and place them on top of each other in order to build a pyramid. See detailed instructions here .

23. Mini Cup-Stacking Challenge

And for younger students, this simplified version of the game allows kids to partner up one-on-one. Using just a few pipe cleaners and a rubber band, each student can take a hold and work together to create a stack.

24. Body Parts

Karl Bastian/Head, Shoulders, Knees, Cup via kidologist.com

Students face off head-to-head in a squat position with a plastic cup on the ground between them. The leader calls out body parts and the players have to move their hands to that spot—head, knees, toes, eyes, nose, etc. But when they say “Cup!” the pair each tries to grab the cup. If they grab it, they remain in the game. The other player is “out” for the rest of the round.

Also, if a student touches the cup when “Cup!” was not called, they are immediately out! So they need to listen carefully as the leader attempts to trick them into lunging toward to the cup.

25. Human Alphabet

Nadine Silverthornes/Alphabet Game via todaysparent.com

If you have a large open space for your team-building games and activities, try this idea. Have students spread out and guide them through a few rounds of forming letters with their bodies. For instance, “Use your body to make a T. … Now make an O!”

Next, call out a simple short word, such as “so” or “dog.” Students will have to team up to form the word, with each student using their body to form one of the letters. Start with two-letter words, then three, then four. If students want more of a challenge, come up with a phrase that will take the whole class to complete.

26. Caterpillar

Divide students into groups of four. Lay out four Hula-Hoops per group and have one student stand in the center of each one to form teams of “caterpillars.” Line all of the teams up at the end of a field or large open space. Set out four or five objects in front of the lines, such as cones, foam blocks, or balls.

The goal of the game is to collect as many objects as possible by moving the caterpillar forward. To move forward, the last player in line steps into the hoop with the player in front of them, picks up their empty hoop, and passes it overhead to the front of the line. The front player then places the hoop on the ground in front of them and steps into it. Every player then shifts forward, moving the caterpillar. Only the front player may pick up objects, but it is the team’s job to carry the collected objects throughout the game. The game ends when there are no more objects on the ground.

27. Shrinking Vessel

For this activity, you will need a few jump ropes. Divide students into groups of six or eight. Have each group make a circle with their jump rope (their “lifeboat”) on the ground so that the ends are touching. Now have all the members of each group get into their lifeboat. This should be easy the first time. Then have all players get out and reduce the size of their circle by one foot. Again, all players need to get into the boat. Repeat this process, making the lifeboat smaller and smaller while you watch your students come up with creative solutions for making sure that everyone fits safely inside their boat.

28. Pretzel, Unpretzel

Susan Box Mann/The Human Knot Game via icebreakerideas.com

This is one of the all-time favorite team-building activities for kids. Divide your class in half and have each group choose one pretzel maker and two unpretzelers. Direct the unpretzelers to turn their backs. Have the rest of the students in each group form a circle and hold hands. Now, have the pretzel maker direct the students (with words only) to twist around, step over, and duck under each others’ arms to form a human pretzel. Once they are sufficiently twisted, call the unpretzelers over and have them try to direct the students (with words only) in order to untangle them. Students cannot drop their hands at any time. The first team that successfully unpretzels their group wins.

29. Zip, Zap, Boing!

This super-lively circle game involves three actions—zip, zap, and boing. Zip directs play in one direction around the circle. Boing reverses the direction of play. And zap passes play to the opposite side of the circle. See the video above for a full demonstration. A couple of rules: Boing cannot be performed when someone passes the signal using zap. And zap cannot be passed to the person standing right next to you.

30. Spiderweb

Heather Lynne/Would You Rather Web at raisingmemories.com

This team-building game will teach your students that even though they may be different in many ways, they are still connected to one another. Gather in a circle, standing or sitting. The game begins when the first person, holding a large ball of twine, tells the group a funny or embarrassing story about themselves.

Once they finish, they hold on to the end of the twine and throw the ball to someone else in the circle. Play continues until the twine has been passed to each person. The end result will produce a “spiderweb” out of the twine, connecting each student to all of the others.

31. Team Tic-Tac-Toe

This fun and active version of the old-fashioned game gets kids revved up about working as a team. Hula-Hoops are placed in the shape of a tic-tac-toe frame. Then students divide into teams and the race begins! One student from each team runs to the frame and drops a bean bag in a spot. They return and tag the next runner, who does the same thing. Play continues until one team achieves a tic-tac-toe!

32. Newspaper Fashion Show

Andrea and Rachel/Newspaper Fashion via mommylessons101.com

This is a great way to incorporate upcycling into your team-building games and activities. Divide students into groups of five or six, then give them a stack of newspapers, tape, and scissors. Set a timer and ask them to create the most fashionable outfit using only the supplies given. When time is up, have each group designate a model for the outfit, and have the group share information about the outfit. Once everyone shares, put on some rocking music and have a mini fashion show.

33. Back-to-Back Drawing

https://youtu.be/EqsL64uk1Q4

Need team-building games and activities that build communication skills? Ask students to pair up and sit back-to-back with their partner. Give one student a blank piece of paper and a pen or a marker. Give the other student a piece of paper with a simple drawing on it. The kid who receives the illustration will verbally describe the drawing to their partner. The other kid must draw the illustration by listening to the verbal instructions alone.

34. Changing Tableau

Ask for five or six volunteers to come up to the front of the class. Divide the rest of the students into two teams and have them sit together. Have the students up front arrange themselves into a tableau. Give the two teams a short time to observe the tableau, trying to memorize their physical arrangement.

After a couple of minutes, ask every person on both teams to face away from the team up front. The tableau team will decide on one thing to change about the tableau. When they are rearranged, the teams can turn around and try to figure out what changed. The first team to spot the difference gets a point. Continue play until one team receives 10 points.

35. Straw Challenge

Georgia Teen Institute/Straw Challenge via https://guidegti.wordpress.com

If you’re looking for team-building games and activities for kids that require coordination and cooperation, try this one. Have your students form a large circle and give each one a plastic straw. The objective of the challenge is to balance each straw between one person’s right pointer finger with the left pointer finger of the person next to them. Try making some movements such as rotating the circle to the left or right, raising one foot, etc. The challenge is to keep the connection of straws intact.

36. Group Juggle

Have students circle up and make sure you have a supply of small plastic balls at the ready. Start by tossing one ball from person to person in the circle. After a minute, add in another ball. Instruct students to mindfully toss the ball, avoiding a collision. After another minute, add in another ball. Continue adding balls each minute to see how many balls your students can successfully juggle.

37. Hula-Hoop Ring Toss

Team members take turns tossing a Hula-Hoop over colored cones. Each color has a different point value. This game also incorporates math practice when adding your team’s score.

38. Great Chain Race

Jennifer/Paper Chain STEM Challenge via themathchick.net

For this team-building activity, students split up into groups of three or four. Each group gets one sheet of paper (a different color for each group), one pair of scissors, and one glue stick. The teams then cut their paper to make a paper chain that’s as long as possible—they might choose to make many skinny rings or cut up small rings to get as many rings from their paper as possible. In the end, lay out the paper chains the kids created and see whose is the longest.

39. Team Pen

Working together, students try to create a drawing. Attach strings to a marker, however many you’d like. Have students each take one end and gather around a table. Together, they will need to communicate in order to manipulate the pen and draw the required image.

40. Knee Relay

This raucous activity will have your students rolling on the floor with laughter. Using only their knees, players must take turns picking up oranges one at a time from the ground and transfer them to a hoop across the room. The team to transfer the most oranges in 60 seconds wins. Plus, you’ll have a juicy snack for everyone when you’re done.

41. Human Caterpillar Activity

Students will work together to move a circle made of newspapers across the room. Before you begin, use strong tape to connect the sections of newspaper into a loop. To begin, students will step inside and move their feet and hands to help move the loop in the direction of the finish line, as shown in the video. The challenge is keeping pace with the students in front of them. The first team that is able to navigate their caterpillar to the finish line first is the winner.

42. Blind Minefield

Looking for obstacle course team-building activities for kids? This fun and challenging activity requires communication, listening skills, and trust. Students will navigate through an obstacle course while blindfolded with the help of a partner who will call out directions. If the blindfolded student touches any of the objects in the minefield, their turn is over and another pair gives it a try. The team with the most players to make it through without touching any hazards wins.

43. Paper Tower

Using creative problem-solving skills, each team of students must build the tallest tower possible with 20 sheets of plain computer paper. The tower must be stable enough to be measured. This activity is not only a great team-building activity, it’s a lot of fun!

Do you have favorite go-to team-building activities for kids? Come share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

For more great ideas, check out  45 of the best cooperative games to promote camaraderie and healthy competition ..

WeAreTeachers

You Might Also Like

45 Best Cooperative Games To Promote Comradery and Healthy Competition

Teamwork makes the dream work. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

• BookWidgets Teacher Blog

20 interactive teaching activities for in the interactive classroom

Interactive teaching is all about instructing the students in a way they are actively involved with their learning process. There are different ways to create an involvement like this. Most of the time it’s through

• teacher-student interaction
• student-student interaction
• the use of audio, visuals, video
• hands-on demonstrations and exercises

You encourage your students to be active members of your class, thinking on their own, using their brains, resulting in long-term memory retention . Not only the students’ knowledge will improve, but their interest, strength, knowledge, team spirit and freedom of expression will increase as well.

In this blog post, I will talk about the use of interactive methods for teaching, encouraging more dedication towards the lesson material. We will see some interactive teaching tools, interactive teaching ideas, and interactive teaching games. Not only will I talk about the use of interactive methods of teaching, but I’ll also give you some examples of methods used in the present classroom as well.

Ready? Let’s find out some interactive classroom activities to engage your pupils!

3 Effective interactive teaching strategies to encourage speech in your classroom

First, I want to put some activities in the spotlight. The following interactive student activities are three of the most effective ways to encourage more speech in your classroom.

1. Think, pair and share

2. Brainstorming

3. Buzz session

Of course, there are many other interactive teaching ideas as well. I split up the activities in different categories:

Individual student activities

Student pair activities, student group activities, interactive game activities, 4. exit slips.

5. Misconception check

6. Circle the questions

Create corners concerning different questions that were circled. Let your students work on the extra exercises and explanation in the corners, individually. As your students will all have circled different questions, you have to give each student a different and personalized order to visit the corners.

7. Ask the winner

8. Pair-share-repeat

9. Teacher and student

10. Wisdom from another

11. Forced debate

Variation: one half of the class takes one position, the other half takes the other position. Students line up and face each other. Each student may only speak once so that all students on both sides can engage the issue.

12. Optimist/Pessimist

13. Peer review writing task

14. Board rotation

15. Pick the Winner

16. Movie Application

Create an interactive classroom full of interactive learning games. Games are so much fun for students since it doesn’t feel like learning. With BookWidgets, you can make interactive learning games like crossword puzzles, pair matching games, bingo games, jigsaw puzzles, memory games, and many more in minutes (and there’s a Google Classroom integration as well).

17. Crossword puzzle

18. Scrabble

19. Who/what am I?

Want to create a bingo game yourself? You can start for free right here:

Create a Bingo Game

That’s it! Like in any list, you could add many other interactive lesson ideas. I could go on for quite a while myself. But what about you? Share your creative, interactive classroom ideas in our Facebook Group . This way, we can build out this article with many more great ideas!

One more thing… Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter ! 😉

Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education.

BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

Transformative Classroom Activities That Inspire Students

In the dynamic landscape of education, classroom activities play a pivotal role in shaping the learning experience for students. These activities go beyond traditional lectures and textbooks, offering a hands-on, interactive approach that not only engages students but also enhances their understanding and retention of academic material. In this article, we will explore the importance of classroom activities and delve into a diverse array of transformative activities that educators can employ to inspire and empower their students.

The Significance of Classroom Activities:

Classroom activities are not just diversions from the standard curriculum; they are essential components of effective teaching and learning. By incorporating interactive elements into the classroom, educators create an environment that caters to diverse learning styles, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts. These activities encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills – attributes that are crucial for success in the ever-evolving global landscape.

1. Socratic Seminars

Socratic seminars are discussions that encourage students to engage in thoughtful dialogue about complex issues or texts. This activity not only promotes critical thinking but also enhances communication and argumentation skills. By posing open-ended questions, educators guide students to explore different perspectives, fostering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment.

2. Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Project-based learning is a hands-on approach that immerses students in real-world projects, encouraging them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. Whether it’s designing a sustainable solution for a community issue or creating a multimedia presentation, PBL allows students to develop problem-solving skills, teamwork, and creativity while gaining a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

3. Interactive Simulations

Interactive simulations use technology to create virtual environments that replicate real-world scenarios. They are the best classroom activities. From science experiments to historical re-enactments, these simulations provide a safe and immersive space for students to explore, experiment, and learn. Interactive simulations cater to different learning styles, making complex concepts more accessible and engaging for students.

4. Think-Pair-Share

Think-Pair-Share is a cooperative learning strategy that encourages active participation and collaboration. In this activity, students first individually reflect on a question or prompt, then pair up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts, and finally share their insights with the entire class. This structured process promotes both individual reflection and group interaction, fostering a supportive learning community.

Debates are powerful tools for developing critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills. By assigning students positions on a particular issue, educators prompt them to thoroughly research and articulate their arguments. Debates not only enhance students’ ability to construct persuasive arguments but also expose them to different perspectives, promoting a more nuanced understanding of complex topics.

6. Jigsaw Classroom

The jigsaw classroom is a cooperative learning technique where students become “experts” on a specific topic and then share their expertise with their peers. This collaborative approach not only promotes an in-depth understanding of the subject matter but also cultivates teamwork and communication skills. The jigsaw classroom fosters an environment where students rely on each other’s knowledge, creating a sense of shared responsibility for the learning process.

7. Flipped Classroom

The flipped classroom model reverses the traditional learning structure by delivering instructional content outside of class through videos, readings, or online resources. Class time is then dedicated to interactive activities, discussions, and problem-solving. This approach allows students to engage with the material at their own pace, transforming the classroom into a dynamic space for application and exploration.

8. Role-Playing

Role-playing activities immerse students in different perspectives, scenarios, or historical periods. Whether re-enacting historical events or simulating business negotiations, role-playing enhances empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. Students not only gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter but also develop valuable interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

9. Collaborative Writing

Collaborative writing projects involve students working together to create a shared piece of written work. These classroom activities encourage communication, teamwork, and the synthesis of individual ideas into a cohesive whole. Whether crafting a research paper, story, or presentation, collaborative writing promotes a sense of collective responsibility for the final product.

10. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual learning tool that helps students organize and connect ideas. Students create diagrams that illustrate relationships between concepts, making complex information more digestible. This activity not only aids in concept retention but also allows students to express their creativity and unique perspectives.

11. Mystery Skype

Mystery Skype is an interactive activity that connects students with classrooms from different locations. Through a series of yes-or-no questions, students aim to determine the location of the mystery classroom. This activity promotes geography skills, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, fostering a sense of global citizenship among students.

Conclusion:

Classroom activities are the key to unlocking the full potential of students by providing them with opportunities to actively engage, explore, and apply their knowledge. From Socratic seminars that stimulate thoughtful dialogue to interactive simulations that bring learning to life, these activities cater to diverse learning styles and create a vibrant and dynamic educational experience.

Educators play a crucial role in selecting and implementing these activities, tailoring them to the specific needs and objectives of their classrooms. By embracing a variety of transformative activities, educators can inspire a love for learning, cultivate critical thinking skills, and prepare students for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of education, the innovative use of classroom activities stands as a beacon, guiding students toward a future filled with curiosity, discovery, and lifelong learning.

Also Read: 25 Classroom Valentine Ideas that the Kids Will LOVE!

Most Popular Stories

Unlocking Global Opportunities: The Role and Impact of International Schools

In today’s interconnected world, the demand for high-quality education that prepares students for global challenges and opportunities has never been

Alpine School District Faces Backlash Over Special Education Restructuring

Source-Daily Herald Josh Smith’s emotional plea echoed through the Alpine school board meeting as he advocated for his son Michael,

BCP Council to Pay £8k after Boy’s Education Injustice

A recent ruling has put Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council under scrutiny as they are mandated to pay £8,000

Exploring the Essence and Impact of Organizational Culture

Organizational culture is more than just a buzzword in the corporate world—it is the invisible force that shapes attitudes, behaviors,

Striking the Elusive Work-Life Balance: Strategies for Thriving in Both Spheres

In today's busy world, finding a balance between work and personal life can be challenging. The demands of our careers,

Education Department Investigates Alleged Discrimination at Columbia University

Source-Columbia Spectator In response to recent protests and allegations of discrimination, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated an investigation

Sub-Saharan Africa’s Growth Requires Quality Education for Growing Population

Source-SciTechDaily Sub-Saharan Africa is on the brink of a demographic transition that could be a game-changer for its economies. However,

Expanded So-called ‘don’t Say Gay’ Education Restrictions Advance in Alabama

A bill aimed at furthering education restrictions on discussions of "gender identity or sexual orientation" in public schools is progressing

Join Our Newsletter!

Get the latest education updates delivered to your inbox.

Future Education Magazine is an exceptional source of knowledge and resources for those looking to choose the right path in education. Whether you are a student, parent, educator, or education enthusiast, our magazine is committed to providing you with insightful and valuable content.

• Higher Education
• Professional Courses
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• [email protected]
• +1 (408) 520-9503
• 3277 S White Rd #41 San Jose, CA 95148, United States

Copyright © 2024: Future Education Magazine | All rights reserved.

Learning Space

Teachable Moments

Stay Connected

Edu News | January 26, 2022

24 stem lessons you can quickly deploy in the classroom.

Calling all teachers pressed for time, substitutes looking for classroom activities that don't require a lot of prep, and others hoping to keep students learning in especially chaotic times: We've got a new collection of lessons and activities that you can quickly deploy.

Read on to explore our collection of Quick and Easy STEM lessons and student activities , organized by grade band. Get everything you need to guide students through standards-aligned lessons featuring connections to real NASA missions and science as well as links to student projects, which can be led by teachers or assigned as independent activities.

Grades 9-12

Explore More

Make a Paper Mars Helicopter

In this lesson, students build a paper helicopter, then improve the design and compare and measure performance.

Subject Engineering

Time 30-60 mins

Student Project: Make a Paper Mars Helicopter

Build a paper helicopter, then see if you can improve the design like NASA engineers did when making the first helicopter for Mars.

What Tools Would You Take to Mars?

Students decide what they want to learn from a robotic mission to Mars and what tools they will put on their robot to accomplish their goals.

Subject Science

Rockets by Size

Students cut out, color and sequence paper rockets in a simple mathematics lesson on measurement.

Subject Math

Rocket Math

Students use rocket manipulatives to help them develop number sense, counting, addition and subtraction skills.

Tangram Rocket

Students use tangrams to create rockets while practicing shape recognition.

Time 1-2 hrs

Student Project: Build a Rover and More With Shapes

Use geometric shapes called tangrams to build a rover and other space-themed designs!

Time Less than 30 mins

Student Project: Build a Rocket and More With Shapes

Use geometric shapes called tangrams to build a rocket and other space-themed designs!

Mineral Mystery Experiment

Students explore the science behind an intriguing planetary feature by creating saline solutions and then observing what happens when the solutions evaporate.

Grades 2-12

Time 2 sessions of 30-60 mins

Student Project: Do a Mineral Mystery Experiment

Dissolve salts in water, then observe what happens when the water evaporates.

What Do You Know About Mars?

Students decide what they want to learn from a robotic mission to Mars.

Melting Ice Experiment

Students make predictions and observations about how ice will melt in different conditions then compare their predictions to results as they make connections to melting glaciers.

Parachute Design

Students design and test parachute landing systems to successfully land a probe on target.

Planetary Poetry

In this cross-curricular STEM and language arts lesson, students learn about planets, stars and space missions and write STEM-inspired poetry to share their knowledge of or inspiration about these topics.

Student Project: Write a Poem About Space

Are you a space poet, and you didn't even know it? Find out how to create your own poems inspired by space!

Ocean World: Earth Globe Toss Game

Students use NASA images and a hands-on activity to compare the amounts of land and surface water on our planet.

Simple Rocket Science Continued

Students gather data on a balloon rocket launch, then create a simple graph to show the results of the tests.

Spaghetti Anyone? Building with Pasta

Students use the engineering design process to build a structure to handle the greatest load and gain first-hand experience with compression and tension forces.

Student Project: Building With Spaghetti

Use spaghetti to build a tower modeled after the giant structures NASA uses to talk to spacecraft.

Simple Rocket Science

Students perform a simple science experiment to learn how a rocket works and demonstrate Newton’s third law of motion.

Soda-Straw Rockets

Students study rocket stability as they design, construct and launch paper rockets using soda straws.

Student Project: Make a Straw Rocket

Create a paper rocket that can be launched from a soda straw – then, modify the design to make the rocket fly farther!

Rocket Activity: Heavy Lifting

Students construct balloon-powered rockets to launch the greatest payload possible to the classroom ceiling.

Design a Robotic Insect

Students design a robotic insect for an extraterrestrial environment, then compare the process to how NASA engineers design robots for extreme environments like Mars.

Student Project: Design a Robotic Insect

Design a robotic insect to go to an extreme environment. Then, compare the design process to what NASA engineers do when building robots for Mars!

How Far Away Is Space?

Students use measurement skills to determine the scale distance to space on a map.

Student Project: How Far Away Is Space?

Stack coins and use your measurement skills to figure out the scale distance from Earth's surface to space.

Planetary Travel Time

Students will compute the approximate travel time to planets in the solar system using different modes of transportation.

The Ring Wing Glider

In this simple engineering design lesson, students turn a piece of paper into an aircraft wing and then try to improve upon their design.

Student Project: Make a Paper Glider

Turn a piece of paper into a glider inspired by a NASA design.

How Do We See Dark Matter?

Students will make observations of two containers and identify differences in content, justify their claims and make comparisons to dark matter observations.

Grades 6-12

Let's Go to Mars! Calculating Launch Windows

Students use advanced algebra concepts to determine the next opportunity to launch a spacecraft to Mars.

Find our full collection of more than 250 STEM educator guides and student activities in Teach and Learn .

For games, articles, and more activities from NASA for kids in upper-elementary grades, visit NASA Space Place and NASA Climate Kids .

Explore more educational resources and opportunities for students and educators from NASA STEM Engagement .

TAGS: Lessons , Teachers , Educators , Parents , Substitutes , Activities , Students , Science , Engineering , Quick and Easy

Kim Orr , Web Producer, NASA-JPL Education Office

Kim Orr is a web and content producer for the Education Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her pastimes are laughing and going on Indiana Jones style adventures.

63 Outdoor Learning Activities Kids will Love

As a parent, and teacher, I try to get my children outside as much as possible. I am always looking for new outdoor learning activities. I was once told that (almost) any activity you can do inside a classroom, you can do outside.

There is a lot of truth to this and with the right materials, you can easily take learning outside. Although I used many of these activities as outdoor classroom ideas for kindergarten, children of all ages can enjoy the activities and ideas.

Whether you are an educator looking for outdoor education activities, or a parent or caregiver simply looking for outdoor activities for kids you will find lots of ideas in this collection.

I have gathered a collection of 63 outdoor learning activities. I hope they inspire you to try an activity outside!

The activities are sorted by subject area for quick reference. Some of the activities are simply ideas of how to bring learning outside. Other activities are specifically centered around nature and wilderness.

All of the activities can be done outside and involve learning! I hope you find some ideas that inspire you!

For a printable outdoor activity, a link to a printable outdoor scavenger hunt escape room is included. Simply print and play!

Outdoor Classroom Ideas by Subject

*Click the link below the picture for full activity description.*

This simple alphabet activity can be done just about anywhere, at any time. It is a great way for kids to practice letter formation and have fun in nature.

With this activity, kids will have fun recognizing their letters and then spraying the letters with water.

For children practicing sight words, have some fun finding, and splashing the sight word with a bucket of water.

Can you find two words/pictures that rhyme? This giant memory game is sure to be a favorite with kids!

This Sight Word Scrub is a great, hands-on, way to learn and practice sight words.

This Beginning Sound, Melt and Break is perfect on a hot day!

Create a nature journal with children to record some of their outdoor experiences.

Sometimes a simple, cozy reading nook is all kids need. Bring their love of reading outside.

You only need a few simple materials, and lots of sunshine, for these kid created works of art!

Get kids moving with a scooter board and some chalk.

Focus outdoor learning with a collection of hands-on activities all in a printable booklet. From STEM building challenges to art projects, kids will love working their way through the booklet and activities.

There are so many outdoor learning activities you can do with these vocabulary vases.

Did you know you can make paint using natural materials? You can with this nature paint activity.

Kids use the nature surrounding them to create these pieces of art. A small amount of clay, paint and lots of creativity is all you need.

Winter Outdoor Education

During the winter months, you can mix the snow into your outdoor education program. It is a wonderful sensory experience for kids to paint in the snow. It’s beautiful too!

Mix a bit of science and art with this exploding paint bombs activity.

How cute are these? This is a perfect outdoor education activity because kids use items they find in nature to create art.

Kids will love getting their hands messy with this outdoor sensory activity.

If your kids like drawing and creating using sidewalk chalk, they will love this liquid sidewalk chalk. It is easy to make and the color is bright and beautiful!

Kids love collecting rocks. Put those rocks to good use with this nature art outdoor learning activity. It mixes a bit of art and math into an activity you can use over and over again.

Keep creating and drawing outside with this homemade sidewalk chalk activity. Our favourite was the rainbow block of chalk!

STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Challenges

This is one of my all time favorite outdoor education activities. With only a few materials children are challenged to build a tent or structure. It is hours of fun!

Teach kids about gravity in a fun, outdoor activity as they watch their superheroes fly!

Add some extra learning during a hike. Learn about compasses and direction.

This activity incorporates a bit of science and math into a human body activity that kids will love.

This solar oven would be great when camping at home! The activity includes lots of science and fun.

Outdoor Learning Activities

Create something for a marble to roll down into a bowl. Kids get their hands on the materials and solve the challenge.

Kids create their own javelin and use it for a STEM activity! A easy way to get kids outside learning and moving.

More STEM and Hands-On

If your kids are interested in birds and their nests, this inquiry project is a perfect hands-on outdoor learning activity.

Kids love playing with ice especially if there are tiny treasures inside to dig out. Perfect for fall!

Kids create their own balloon rocket with this science experiment.

Outdoor learning activities do not have to require lots of preparation. Sometimes, just giving children materials and watching what they create results in amazing learning.

What if you simply gave children a collection of fabrics?

Outdoor learning is not limited to the warm months. Kids love being outside in all weather. This building activity can be done year round.

Teach kids about friction!

Create balloon rockets, then test and race them outside.

Small world play is a favorite with young children. This frog habitat is a great way for kids to learn about frogs.

Outdoor Learning Activities – Science

Can you do anything to make ice melt faster? Watching ice melt has never been this exciting!

Trap, inspect and learn about bugs right in your own backyard!

What lives in dirt? Kids discover all of the living things in the dirt.

Kids learn about photosynthesis in a way they can understand and see!

Kids explore their senses as they work through an outdoor scavenger hunt.

A simple sound hunt activity encourages kids to become aware of their surroundings.

Outdoor Learning Activity Printable

Help kids recognize various leaves and try out some fun experiments.

With this activity kids record what they find and explore with their senses.

Learn how to identify various clouds with this activity.

How many nests can you find? Mix math with science with this nature hunt.

Go rock pooling with children with this outdoor learning activity kids will love.

Where do all the animals go in winter? This fun outdoor scavenger hunt leads kids to find animals in their “natural” habitat.

Show kids how sunscreen protects their skin from the sun with this experiment.

Find and spray number activity!

Outdoor Learning Activities Math

Make a regular hike or walk through the forest even more engaging with a free printable scavenger hunt . There is lots of math mixed in as children are challenged to find twigs the length of their hand and stones smaller than their fingernail. The sheet is printable, and free!

A number scavenger hunt will get kids excited about numbers as they hunt to find the numbers in order.

This Outdoor Number Order Sort is a great, hands-on way to increase number recognition.

Test kids memory skills with this memory match game using various materials found in nature.

Get kids moving with this simple outdoor learning activity that incorporates a bit of math and physical education.

Keep kids moving with these field day activities to do outside.

Match and represent numbers using rocks in this hands-on outdoor learning activity.

Challenge children to search for all of the beautiful patterns in nature.

Being able to sort by seeing the differences in objects is an essential skill. Try out this outdoor education sorting activity.

Outdoor Learning Activities Sensory

If you are planning a camping trip, this printable escape room is a perfect activity to take with you. Simply print and play and to add to the excitement of the trip. Simply print ahead of time, and use materials you (likely) already have with you.

This is one of my favorite outdoor education activities! Let kids get a bit muddy as they “bake” with this sensory activity.

If you are looking for an active game, this is a great way to get kids moving outdoors.

Kids explore their senses with their feet with this bare foot sensory activity.

5 days filled with outdoor learning activities, such as “Campfire Day”.

Leaf Weaving works on fine motor skills for little hands.

Kids love playing with cookies cutters and play dough, but used outside with snow creates a whole new sensory activity.

Instead of throwing out paper, recycle and create this seed bomb.

Outdoor Learning Activities – Social Studies/History

Children learning about World War 1 will be engaged with this outdoor learning activity for WWI.

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Tenrry Markers 48 Colors Dual Tip Art Alcohol Marker Set for Kids, Teens, Toddlers Compound, Easter Egg Book Decora…

Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint in Assorted Colors (8 Ounce), 20403 White

Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint, White, 1 oz

Outdoor scavenger hunt escape room.

Escape rooms are very popular right now! Take the fun of an escape room outside to your own backyard with this printable backyard escape room. No special materials needed, simply print, set up in minutes and play!

Earth Day Printable Flip Book

Celebrate the earth with a collection of Earth themed activities. Ideal for classroom use or homeschool. Click image for more information.

Outdoor Learning Choice Board

Looking for a printable collection of outdoor learning activities that you can do at outside at home or school? Download the free choice board from Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Once you subscribe, and confirm, you will gain access to the Free Resource Library and be able to download lots of free resources.

Click here to subscribe.

More Kids Activities and Hands-On Teaching Ideas

Looking for more hands-on teaching ideas? Below are a collection of favorite and most popular activities, including science experiments, escape room puzzles and STEM challenges.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

The easy way to make your own teaching games

Join one million teachers making fun classroom games!

Say hello to whole class gaming from a single screen

Play from just one screen without the need for student devices

Choose from more than one million games made by other teachers

Make games that'll engage students of all ages like never before

Play in class or online for quizzes, brain breaks, review and more

Teachers love us

From my classroom to yours

Welcome to Baamboozle! The platform I wish existed when I was a teacher. The one I had to teach myself how to code to bring to life. The one more than a million teachers now call home. A place where they make the most fun teaching games on the planet! You're gonna love it 😉 Ronan

Ready to play?

Make and play your own games for free

• (888) 506-6011
• Current Students
• Main Campus

• Associate Degrees
• Bachelor’s Degrees
• Master’s Degrees
• Post-Master’s Degrees
• Certificates & Endorsements
• View All Degrees
• Communications
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Humanities, Arts, and Sciences
• Ministry & Theology
• Social Work
• Teaching & Education
• Admission Process
• Academic Calendar
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Military Education Benefits
• Transfer Students
• Tuition & Costs
• Financial Aid
• Financial Aid FAQ
• Online Student Testimonials
• Student Services
• Resource Type
• Program Resources
• Career Outcomes
• Infographics
• Articles & Guides
• Get Started

4 Engaging Classroom Activities that Promote Student Participation

Student participation is an important aspect of teaching. Learners who engage in student participation activities retain more information and give their teachers important visibility into how they understand concepts.

In a study by Faculty Focus, more than 70% of students saw a positive relationship between their participation and learning. They also saw value in other students’ comments in class. These students felt that classroom participation helped confirm what they’d learned, facilitated retention of the information, provided clarification and deepened their understanding of topics.

Student Participation Activities

A great way to encourage student engagement for every age group is using hands-on activities in the classroom that get everyone involved. Try these student participation activities and printable downloads to get your classroom engaged.

Response Cards

Some students aren’t as comfortable speaking up in class as others. Response cards offer an alternate way for even the shyest students to engage in the classroom without anxiety. Response cards can be used throughout a variety of subjects and allow all students to have their voices heard without talking over each other.

• Create common responses to classroom discussion questions. You can download our printable response cards here .
• Explain when you’ll be using the response cards. For example, if you are going over reading material, let your students know that they’ll be using response cards to answer your questions about the material.
• Explain to the students that they should keep their cards facing toward you so they feel comfortable in their anonymity.
• Let the students know that there are no right or wrong answers, and the response cards are meant to help you adjust your lessons to their needs.
• When using response cards, look around at the responses and decide if they warrant further discussion. This can be done without calling a student out by name and simply diving into both sides or a misunderstanding.

Advance Your Teaching Career

CU’s online Masters of Teaching in High School Education prepares you with the methods you need to increase classroom participation, engage your students and make sure they’re ready for college and the workforce.

Gallery Walk

A gallery walk is a tremendous way to encourage teamwork and give everyone in the class a chance to engage with and understand the material being taught. It also gets students out of their chairs and talking with their peers in a productive manner.

• Post discussion questions related to a current curriculum topic around the room. Three to five questions is usually a good amount, depending on the size of your class.
• Split your class into the same number of groups as there are questions. It’s important that the groups aren’t too large so everyone in the group is able to provide feedback.
• Allow the groups time to answer each question and write their feedback down on a sheet. Download our feedback template here .
• Each group will answer the question and add on to the previous group’s content.
• At the end of the activity, you will have a comprehensive look at how the class is grasping the material.
• Discuss the content with the class as well as any questions they had.

A-Z Topic Reflection

This activity can be done alone or with a group and will require your students to think deeply about material they’ve just learned. Creating an A-Z topic summary also helps you understand what your students have picked up from a book or lesson module.

• Ask your students to write a word or sentence summarizing what they’ve learned for each letter of the alphabet. Use our worksheet for this activity for ease .
• If you have a large class or work with young students, group students or assign individuals just a few letters to write summaries for.
• Allow students to share their words or summaries for each letter with the class if they’d like.

Peer-Generated Testing

This activity truly makes students reflect on the material they learned, as well as gives them a chance to hear what others have learned. A peer-generated test allows students to come up with questions about material as opposed to just answer questions.

• After you finish a lesson, instruct students to prepare a few test questions related to the lesson material as well as the answers to those questions. We’ve prepared a template you can give your students to keep things organized.
• After each student has prepared questions and answers, pair them with another student so they can quiz each other. Do this as many times as you’d like so that students get to answer different questions from multiple students.
• Ask some students to share their questions and answers with the class after the activity.

Student participation has long-lasting effects on students, allowing them to retain information, build confidence and relationships and learn from their peers. Use these engaging classroom activities and others to ensure that student participation in your classroom increases.

For more ideas on how to encourage student participation and influence classroom engagement, consider an online master’s of teaching in high school education . Campbellsville University’s program prepares you with the methods you need to increase classroom participation, engage your students and make sure they’re ready for college and the workforce.

No matter what age group you teach, student participation is important. Check out all of the online education master’s degrees offered by Campbellsville University to find one that meets your needs.

• Overview Compare us on performance, installation and management
• Product details
• Audio conferencing Full-room audio conferencing solutions for all your spaces
• Video conferencing Integrated audio and video solutions for engaged learning
• Software and services Cloud-based tools to keep your spaces running smoothly
• All products
• HDL pro series

• Software and services
• Nureva Console Manage and monitor from a secure cloud-based platform
• Nureva Developer Toolkit Access easy-to-use APIs to control, manage and automate
• Nureva Pro Get extra protection with a value-added subscription service
• Contact sales
• Find a distributor

See all products          Discover our advantages  

• See all solutions
• Business Make hybrid meetings and training productive and hassle-free
• Education Create learning and meeting spaces that engage everyone
• Government Strengthen communication with powerful audio solutions
• Healthcare Deliver better patient outcomes by supporting remote collaboration
• See all industries

• Customer stories
• Product news
• Press releases
• Video library Watch product demos, feature highlights and more
• Resource library Find data sheets, brochures, reference designs and more
• Blog Find tips and insights for better hybrid work and learning
• Events Join us at trade shows, conferences and other events
• Become a reseller Sell innovative solutions and deliver value to your customers
• Distributors Find an authorized Nureva distributor in your area
• Book a demo

• About us Read where we come from and where we’re going
• Sustainability Creating sustainable audio solutions for the future
• Careers Join our team as we work to reinvent audio conferencing
• Press releases Get the latest news about products, customers, channel and more
• Awards Read about our recent wins for our products and technology
• News coverage Find articles and videos about our products and people

• Nureva Console sign in
• Nureva Console
• Create an account

15 active learning activities to energize your next college class

The evidence just keeps growing – postsecondary students engage more, learn more and accomplish more with active learning. In yet another proof point, a meta-analysis from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that student exam scores improved 6% when active learning approaches were used. And students in traditional classes were 1.5 times more likely to fail than those being taught with interactive methods.

Are you ready to move to a different way of teaching but need some ideas to get you started? Or maybe you’ve been running your courses this way for years but want ideas that work for hybrid and HyFlex learning. Whether your classes are in person, online or somewhere in between, here are 15 active learning activities to try with your students this semester.

1. Think-pair-repair

In this twist on think-pair-share , pose an open-ended question to your class and ask students to come up with their best answer. Next, pair learners up and get them to agree on a response. Get two pairs together, and the foursome needs to do the same thing. Continue until half the group goes head to head with the other half. If some of your students are online, breakout rooms in your conferencing software let you do the same thing virtually. Here’s how it works in Zoom .

2. Improv games

If your classroom is museum-level quiet no matter how you try to liven things up, try some low-stakes (read: not embarrassing) improv activities. In the three things in common game , pairs figure out the most unexpected things they share (this can also be done online in breakout rooms). Or challenge your students to count to 20 as a group with one person saying each number – but no one is assigned a number, and if two people talk at the same time, everyone starts again at 1. (If some students are in the room and some remote, you’ll need classroom audio with full-room coverage for this to work. Here’s how Nureva ® audio can help .)

3. Brainwriting

You’ve probably tried brainstorming, but have you tried brainwriting ? In this approach, students are given time to come up with their own ideas individually before sharing them out loud or posting them to an online whiteboard or other shared platform. Building in space for individual reflection leads to better ideas and less groupthink.

Help students build accountability by teaching each other. Start by dividing them into “home groups” (4 or 5 people works well). Again, breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet make this simple even if some people are remote. Assign each person in the group a different topic to explore – they’ll regroup to work with all the students from the other groups who are exploring the same idea. Once they’ve mastered the concept, students return to their home group and everyone shares newfound expertise.

5. Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping  is a great way for students to step away from their individual perspectives. Groups can do this to review previous work, or it can help them map ideas for projects and assignments. In pre-COVID times, you may have covered classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper – now there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas.

6. The one-minute paper

How much could you explain in one minute? At the end of class, set a timer and ask students to record their most eye-opening revelation or biggest question. This activity lets students reflect on learning and build writing skills – plus you’ll get a window into their understandings and misunderstandings. Here are  more prompts  you can use to get students writing.

7. Real-time reactions

When students are watching a video, a mini lecture or another student’s presentation, have them share their real-time reactions. This helps students spot trends and consider new points of view. You can set up a hashtag to allow for  live tweeting , or use the chat function in your conferencing software.

8. Chain notes

Write several questions on pieces of paper and pass each to a student. The first student adds a response (use a timer to keep things moving quickly) and then passes the page along to gather more responses. Multiple contributions help build more complete understanding. A digital alternative involves using shared documents that multiple students are invited to edit. Then your class can examine the responses and identify patterns and missing pieces.

9. Idea line up

Choose a question that has a range of responses, and then ask students where they stand – literally. Have them come to the front of the classroom and organize themselves in a line, based on where on the spectrum of answers they find themselves. In a hybrid classroom, get them to place themselves on a virtual number line instead.

10. Mystery quotation

Test how well students can apply their understanding of an issue or theoretical position. After they’ve explored a topic, show them a quotation about it they’ve never seen before. Their task is to figure out the point of view of the person behind the quotation – and justify it to the class. Students can debate this issue in small breakout groups before beginning a whole-class discussion.

11. Idea speed dating

Have students cycle through your space, or through breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet, sharing insights about a topic or their elevator pitch for an upcoming project. As they present their learnings multiple times on several “ speed dates ,” students’ presentation skills and perspectives will grow.

12. Peer review

The process of peer review is as old as academia, and it’s never too early to start. Have students swap drafts of their essays, proposals or lab reports, and then come up with comments and questions for each other. Make sure to be clear about what the goals are (using rubrics helps). For example, students could identify compelling arguments, unanswered questions and holes in logic.

13. Quescussion

Ever played Jeopardy? Then you’re ready for quescussion. It’s like a standard class discussion but only questions are allowed (students call “Statement!” if someone slips up). If you play this game at the beginning of the course, the questions can help shape your course. If you have students both in the room and calling in from a distance, make sure the remote learners get equal airtime and that your audio system is picking up student voices clearly.

14. Sketchnoting

Instead of taking traditional lecture notes, try getting your students to sketch a picture that represents what they’ve learned during class. Remember, it’s not about the quality of the art – it’s about how drawing prompts students to visualize their understanding and look at their learning from a different perspective.

15. Empathy mapping

Take a page from the designers’ handbook and get students to explore deeper by embracing a perspective. It’s deceptively simple – write down what a person says, thinks, does and feels . The ability to slow down and immerse yourself in another point of view is valuable. In design thinking, empathy maps help designers create better products for users. But this process can be just as valuable for analyzing characters from literature, historical figures or political stances.

Flexible tools for exceptional learning

Discover the easiest and most cost-effective way to equip your classrooms for engaged hybrid learning. Nureva ® audio systems ensure that student and instructor voices are picked up in every inch of the classroom – with no need for expensive multicomponent setups.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published August 2018 and has been updated.

Topics: Higher education Hybrid learning

Posted on April 2, 2020

9 questions to create a powerhouse active learning classroom

15 ways to spark student reflection in your college classroom, related posts.

How to design remarkable active learning classrooms [checklist] Tags: Higher education, Hybrid classroom, Hybrid learning

Keep learning.

15 active learning activities to energize your next college class Tags: Higher education, Hybrid learning

15 ways to spark student reflection in your college classroom Tags: Higher education, Hybrid learning

9 benefits of active learning (and why your college should try it) Tags: Higher education, Hybrid learning

Powered by microphone mist tm technology, become an insider.

Subscribe to get news, resources and more

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright © 2024 Nureva Inc. All rights reserved.

Book a live demo

Hear the Nureva difference in just 15 minutes

• Virtual Experiences
• In-Person Experiences
• Hybrid Experiences
• Social Calendar [New]
• Experience FAQ
• Features & Benefits
• How Pricing Works
• Client Testimonials
• Happiness Guarantee
• Blog Articles
• Video Library
• View Experiences

17 Fun Interactive Games For Students

By: Grace He | Updated: February 26, 2024

Here is our list of the best interactive games for students.

Interactive games for students are fun activities and games in which students participate in groups. These games also offer a fun and hands-on learning experience. Examples include Charades, Four Corners, and Pictionary. The purpose of these activities is to help students absorb educational material and make them feel comfortable in school. These activities are also known as “classroom games.”

These ideas are similar to interactive games for kids , study game s, team building games for students , online classroom activities and team building exercises . Two examples of these activities are vocabulary games and communication games .

This list includes:

• interactive games for college students
• interactive games for kids
• interactive games for high school students
• online interactive games for students
• interactive classroom games
• interactive quiz games for students
• education games for students
• school appropriate games
• school friendly games

Here we go!

List of interactive games for students

Interactive games for students are necessary for schools because they provide a new learning experience while giving a break to the students from the mundane school routine. These games also develop skills and competencies in children. To help you engage students in the classroom, here is our list of the best interactive classroom games for students.

Hangman is a fun and interactive game for students, which you can play in the classroom or online. When playing in the classroom, you will need an interactive display or a whiteboard. When playing online, you can use a virtual whiteboard app.

Every student participates and takes turns guessing while the teacher draws on the board.

The rules of the game are simple. The teacher will think of a word and draw blanks according to the number of letters. For example, if the word has six letters, then you draw six blanks. To make the game easy, you can also tell about the category, like if it is the name of a singer, a movie, or a famous place.

The students will think of some letters, and for every wrong letter, the teacher will draw a portion of the hangman. When the drawing is complete, the game is lost. However, if players guess the correct letters, then they save the hangman.

2. 10 Questions

10 Questions is one of the best interactive games for college students because it uses collective critical thinking.

In this game, you will divide the class into two groups. One group will think of an item. Then, the other group will prepare ten questions to ask to guess the object. Since the group has a limited number of questions, they must choose strategically.

You can set a rule that every group member will ask one question. The group can decide on the questions, and their answer will be either yes or no. The groups cannot ask for explanations or details.

After getting all the answers, the other group will think of an object and give their guess. The group will get a point if they make the right guess.

This game highlights the importance of group discussion and indicates how the groups must analyze the information and develop a unified answer.

Check out more question games .

Get our free team building toolbox

• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. 101 And Out

101 And Out is a fun game that will test your students’ math skills. This game is also easy to play, which makes it among the best interactive games for kids.

Here is how to play:

• Divide the class into two groups.
• Give a die to each group.
• Each group gets two dice rolls.
• With each dice roll, they can either keep the exact number or multiply it. So, for example, if one group gets a five on a dice roll, they can keep the same number or multiply it and keep 25.
• The groups will keep adding numbers with each dice roll.
• The goal is to reach 101 or close to it to win the game.

If you are playing this game with children, then you can set easy rules and ask them to add the numbers only and eliminate the multiplying rule.

4. Don’t Answer

Don’t Answer is a fun and engaging game that will check how well your students know each other.

In this game, you will make the class sit in a group. It is better to make good friends sit with each other because it will make the game easier.

Each student will randomly pick another student from the crowd and ask a question.

For instance:

• What is the name of your favorite superhero?
• Which is your favorite dish?
• When was the last time you got scolded?
• When is your birthday?
• How many siblings do you have?

However, this game has a twist. The addressed student cannot directly answer. The asked-about student cannot speak and can tell the other players whether an answer is right or wrong by a thumbs up or thumbs down. If the initial response is wrong, then they can ask follow-up questions to get the correct answer.

Trivia can be a great choice if you are looking for interactive quiz games for students. These challenges can disguise learning as a fun and spirited competition. Facing off in feats of knowledge can bring lessons alive and help students better retain information.

To make this game interactive, you can divide the class into groups. Then, when children discuss the answers in groups and decide mutually, it will strengthen their bond and friendship.

The best idea is to tell the kids about the trivia beforehand. Then, when they give the correct answers after coming fully prepared, it will boost their confidence and morale as well.

Here is a list of starter trivia questions and a guide to team Jeopardy .

6. Simon Says

Simon Says is a fun game that will get groups laughing. The fact that you play it both in-person and online makes it among the best online interactive games for students.

This game also builds a friendly relationship between the teacher and students.

How to play:

• Make all the students stand while keeping a distance between them.
• When everyone is ready, the teacher will say a sentence.
• The rule is that if the sentence starts with “Simon says,” the students must do it. If it does not begin with “Simon says,” then the students will not act. For example, the teacher will say, “Simon says, jump on both feet,” In this case, the children will jump.

To make the game more challenging, rattle off commands quickly. Rapidfire instructions will test and sharpen students’ focus. You will be surprised at how the students will act without listening for the particular phrase.

7. Charades

Charades is an interactive game you can play at any event. In this game, you will divide the class into two groups.

Each group will decide on a word for another group. Then, one member from the other group will come to act that word for their team. However, the member who acts cannot speak the word.

The team members will keep guessing until they reach the correct answer.

You can also set a time limit to make the game enjoyable. You can also make it more fun by asking the students to do activities specific to the classroom. For example, you can ask them to act like their favorite teacher.

8. Blindfold Conversation

Blindfold Conversation is an engaging game that will make your students interact and collaborate during the activity.

In this game, you will make your class stand in a circle. Then, one student will come to the center, and you will blindfold them. Next, a few students will make the blindfolded child spin in a circle. When stopped, he will point to one student. That student will speak in a funny voice, and the blindfolded student will guess their name.

9. Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled Eggs is the best game for a large classroom. The more participants you have, the more fun this game will be.

In this game, you will choose one student and make them leave the classroom or blindfold them. Then, you will pick one student to hide. You can hide them under the chair or make them leave the class to be out of sight. Then, all the other students in the class will change their places.

Then, the blindfolded student will enter the class and guess which student is missing.

This game boosts students’ powers of observation, which can come in handy while studying.

10. Pictionary

Pictionary has been the favorite game of children and adults alike. Pictionary can be a great choice if you are looking for some interactive games for high school students.

This game involves drawing a picture on the board without speaking the word. One student will come to the board and draw the image of the word given. Then, the whole class will participate in guessing the picture.

You can also play Pictionary online if you have online classes. The online version offers the same level of fun as the in-person version of this game. You can play online Pictionary on Drawize or conduct a Zoom meeting and use the digital whiteboard.

Learn more about Drawize.

11. Geography Puzzles

Geography puzzles are a great idea to make the geography class fun and engaging for students. Children often get bored in such classes. You can bring a twist with a class activity.

To do a geography puzzle, first, divide the class into groups. Then, you will give blank maps to each group. Finally, ask the class to fill out the maps and write the names of the countries.

You can also make it specific and include the topics in the puzzle taught in the class.

12. Ad Making

Making an advertisement is a unique and creative activity that students will enjoy. As this activity requires critical and creative thinking, it best suits high schoolers and teenagers.

First, give a product to your students. For example, soap, pencil, or notebook. It is better to hand out familiar, everyday objects to make the activity easy.

Then, ask the students to make an advertisement in groups to sell the product. The students can take inspiration from the ads they watch on television. Then, the students will perform in the class, and the team with the most creative idea will win.

13. Minute To Win It

Minute To Win It is a beloved game show. This exercise consists of different activities and games that participants will only have one minute to complete. The player who gets the most points in one minute will win the round. The best part about this game is that multiple players can participate, making it ideal for the classroom.

It is better to have the theme and decor of the original game show to improve the competitive skills of the students. Some examples of activities are:

• Stack plastic cups on each other without making them fall.
• Get a biscuit from your head into your mouth without using your hands.
• Keep three balloons in the air.
• Using a straw, such up skittles from one plate and transfer them to another.
• Throw ping pong balls into a basket from a distance.

These activities will make the students focus, and due to the limited time, they will try their best to be as quick as possible. The best part of this activity is that you can play multiple games, as each challenge takes under a minute.

Check out more Minute to Win It games .

14. Invent A Solution

Inventing a solution requires critical thinking, as students will work together in groups to fix a problem.

In this game, you will give an imaginary scenario to your students. For example, an alien spaceship has attacked the world, and the aliens want to invade your hometown. How will you make a deal with them or kick them out?

You can also use examples from everyday life, like giving a scenario of your friend who is in trouble and you have to save them.

Then, the students will get five minutes to discuss the answer in the group. Once done, one student from each group will come on the stage and explain their solution to the class.

Check out more problem-solving activities .

15. GoNoodle

GoNoodle is the favorite online platform of teachers. This website contains many fun games and interactive activities that help students participate and boost their confidence. If you are looking for some online interactive games for students, then GoNoodle can be the right platform.

The website gives you different categories of games to choose from. You can play games according to specific subjects and topics and do activities like stretching in video sessions.

Learn more about GoNoodle.

16. Debate Competition

A debate competition is among the best interactive games for high school students. Such competitions and activities improve students’ critical thinking skills, boost their confidence, and improve their communication skills.

To ensure interaction, you can divide the class into two groups and give an argumentative topic for discussion. One group will focus on the cons, and the other will highlight the pros. For example, you can provide globalization as the topic for discussion and ask the class to have speeches and arguments on it.

17. Four Corners

Four Corners is among the best interactive classroom games. This challenge involves four groups of students. You will also blindfold one student.

The rest of the students will run to four corners of the room. The blindfolded student will point to one corner, and students at the other corners will be out of the game.

Then, the remaining four students will run to the four corners again. Finally, the blindfolded child will again point to one corner, and the student there will win.

This game is easy to play, takes limited time, and only has one winner in each round.

Interactive games for students are necessary to boost their focus on their studies and keep them active in class. These games also build trust and friendly relationships as students play in groups to win.

Our list of interactive games for students includes in-person and virtual games that can keep students engaged and boost their confidence. For best results, match activities to the subject and your class’ age group, learning styles, and personalities.

For more fun with students, check out virtual field trips and family day activities .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Interactive games for students

Here are answers to questions about interactive games for students.

What are some interactive games for students?

Here is a list of some interactive games for students:

• Scrambled Eggs
• Making an advertisement
• Debate competitions
• Solving puzzles

In these games, students participate in groups or help one student with a problem. Such games also boost the thinking skills and confidence of children.

How do you get students to interact through games?

The best idea to get students to interact through games is by making them participate in groups. The students will use their abilities and work will full confidence. Also, they will be anxious about not letting their teammates down with poor performance, which will help them focus on the game. Also, the students will discuss the solutions before taking action. Discussing in groups and putting forward their points will also help them build trust and eliminate shyness.

Why are interactive games important for students?

Interactive games are important for students to help them learn better and develop or improve their skills. Interactive games also take the students out of the standard classroom routine and provide a new learning path.

Interactive games also build confidence, improve communication, and help students determine what to do in situations using their critical thinking.

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

We lead wildly fun experiences for teams with 1,000,000+ players to date.

4.96 / 5.0 rating on

50,225 Google Reviews

Get our free team building tool box

$49 value at no cost..

• May as well check it out?
• 100+ tested icebreaker questions
• 24+ themed Bingo generators
• 5+ PDFs (including the 8% Rule)
• 2024 team building calendar and more...

Enter your email for instant access

50 Ways to Teach Using Music in Your Classroom

• April 6, 2021

Music has the power to calm minds, inspire joy, and help people process tough emotions all at once. But did you know that teaching children about music can boost school performance? Bringing music into your classroom can not only make lessons more engaging, it may also promote cognitive and social-emotional advantages for your students.

Read on to learn more about the emotional and academic benefits of musical education. Then, discover kid-friendly books and activities about music that are perfect for elementary classrooms.

How Music Affects Brain Development and Social-Emotional Learning

In addition, music education is linked to social-emotional development. For example, children who participate in extracurricular music programs typically develop stronger social skills—particularly communication with their parents, teachers, and classmates.[3]

Music education also has the potential to raise self-esteem. A study at Northwestern Oklahoma State University found that children involved in their school’s music program felt better about their individual growth and had fewer feelings of alienation.[4]

40 Music Activities for the Kids in Your Classroom

1. Use the New York Philharmonic KidZone to play musical games and learn a little about orchestras.

2. Print out a music-themed I Spy activity and see how many of the items your students can spot.

3. Play a singing game for a musical activity that requires no instruments.

4. If you have a copy of the picture book at your school library, try this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom-themed rhythm game .

5. This brain break uses a popular children’s song to help students practice literacy and music skills.

6. PBS Kids offers plenty of music games featuring characters your students may already know.

7. To teach your students about different notes, try dot composing .

8. Learning music history can be fun with Classics for Kids as a guide.

9. If your classroom is learning remotely, try Music at Home Bingo .

10. If you have a piano or keyboard on hand, this Grizzly Bear music game can be a lot of fun.

11. The solfeg.io website teaches children musical notation using classic or pop songs.

12. As long as you have dice on hand, this Shake and Tap activity is both fun and easy to set up.

13. For a musical social-emotional learning activity, try listening to classical music that can help children learn about emotions .

14. Put together DIY pan flutes and see what kind of melodies your students can come up with together.

15. To teach students about different musical notes, print out and play with these matching cards .

16. This Music Monsters activity is great for teaching older elementary students a quick lesson on composition.

17. Try one of these clap-along videos to practice rhythm with your students.

18. Make these Baa Baa Black Sheep puppets together, then sing the popular nursery rhyme.

19. For a kid-friendly activity of a more advanced concept, play the Monkey Game , which teaches children about crescendos and decrescendos.

20. This interactive music game is great for classrooms that are still distance learning.

21. Play musical charades (#2 on this list) to get your students moving and bonding as a class.

22. The Utah Symphony offers music scavenger hunts that students can complete while watching a performance on YouTube.

23. Sing “Charlie Over the Ocean” , a popular call-and-echo song that’s great for classrooms.

24. Play MusicMan (#1 on this list) , an artsy and fun twist on hangman.

25. This My Book of Instruments print-out can be enjoyable for students to color in while learning about different instruments.

26. These music games all get children moving by mixing music with sports.

27. For an activity your students will love to take home, make rubber band harmonicas .

28. This Musical Jars activity doubles as a great STEM experiment.

29. This name game can help your students learn a little more about treble clefs.

30. The Isle of Tune website is great for teaching children about musical composition in a visual way.

31. Print out these rhythm cards and use them to practice clapping along to a song.

32. This Song Cubes activity can be a fun way for early elementary students to learn about simple tunes and rhythms.

33. For an activity you can keep going throughout the year, visit the Composer of the Month website as a class.

34. Explore Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures for plenty of kid-friendly activities from the renowned music venue.

35. For a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activity, try one of these Science of Sound experiments .

36. If you’re looking for a sensory activity that younger students will enjoy, make rainstick bottles .

37. This rhythm game is great for teaching students about percussion.

38. If your classroom has tablets available, try TuneTrain —a free app that teaches children how to create music.

39. These singing activities are all Zoom-compatible for distance learning classrooms.

40. Do the robot dance for an exciting way to practice gross motor skills.

10 Picture Books About Music

1. movin’ to the music time by cherry lyon jones and wayne andreason.

When one little girl hears music, she can’t help but dance. This book is a free digital copy offered by Waterford—meaning you can print or share it online with your class.

2. Ketzel, the Cat who Composed by Lesléa Newman and Amy June Bates

Did you know that Jewish composer Moshe Cotel had a cat who helped him write an award-winning song? This picture book is extra special because it’s based on a true story.

3. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

Duke Ellington is known as one of the best jazz musicians of all time. Learn about his life and art in this Corretta Scott King Award-winning book.

4. Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D’Arezzo by Susan Roth

The invention of musical notes revolutionized the art form and made it so that songs can last forever. Learn all about Guido D’Arezzo, the man who invented written music.

5. Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard

Johann Sebastian Bach grew up surrounded by music. Learn how this composer used his knack for patterns and melodies to create his renowned art.

6. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss and Marjorie Priceman

Looking for a playful and vibrant way to teach children about instruments and musical notes? This picture book uses colorful illustrations and light humor to offer a quick music lesson.

7. Elvis Is King! by Jonah Winter

Elvis Presley is the indisputable king of rock ‘n’ roll, and people of all ages still love his songs. Learn what made his music so revolutionary and how he battled stage fright as a child in this picture book.

8. We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song by Debbie Levy and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This picture book shares the history of “We Shall Overcome,” a song known as the anthem of the civil rights movement. Discover how this song has inspired generations to fight for freedom and against injustice.

9. I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello by Barbara S. Garriel and John O’Brien

Need a picture book that you can sing along with? The rhymes in this story follow the tune of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.”

10. Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist by Gina Capaldi and Q.L. Pearce

Zitkala-Ša was a Native American activist known for her musical talent. Learn about her life and mission to fight for civil rights, along with her artistic achievements.

• Gersema, E. Children’s brains develop faster with music training . University of Southern California News. https://news.usc.edu/102681/childrens-brains-develop-faster-with-music-training/.
• Wetter, O. E., Koerner, F., and Schwaninger, A. Does musical training improve school performance? Instructional Science: An International Journal of the Learning Sciences, July 2009, 37(4), pp. 365-374.
• Broh, B. A. Linking extracurricular programming to academic achievement: Who benefits and why? Sociology of Education, 2002, 75(1), pp. 69-95.
• Jenlink. C.L. The Relational Aspects of a School, a Music Program, and At-Risk Student Self-Esteem: A Qualitative Study . Northwestern Oklahoma State University. https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/316911/Thesis-1993D-J53r.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

More education articles

National Poetry Month: Elementary Classroom Activities & Picture Books

Every April, the literary world comes alive with rhythm and rhyme as we celebrate National Poetry Month. For elementary school teachers, this month is an

Bridging the Trust Gap in AI: Ethical Design and Product Innovation to Revolutionize Classroom Experiences

Written by Leah Dozier Walker Executive Vice President of Equity & Inclusion at Waterford.org The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds tremendous promise across the

24 Activities, Teaching Strategies, and Resources for Teaching Students with Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodivergent condition that affects communication, behavior, and learning. Psychologists use the term spectrum disorder because symptoms and support needs

Can You Complete These 48 Summer Reading Challenges?

MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Awards Waterford.org a $10 Million Grant

12 Types of Classroom Activities for Adults | Examples to Engage Learners in Training Sessions

Activities you can run during your training sessions should NOT be restricted just to the classic team-building games and icebreakers ! There are 12 other types of classroom activities for adults that you can also use and these activities each have a different purpose and benefit.

So let’s take a look below at the types of classroom activities you can use and let’s look at some examples.

Page Contents

What Kind of Activities Can You Run to Engage your Learners?

The best way to engage learners and help them remember and understand information is to make sure that they actively participate.

So, you do not want to talk at them all the time but you want them to actively contribute in some way .

To do so, there are many types of classroom activities you can use in your classes or training workshops that are perfect for adult learning.

The trick is using the activities that are most suited to the learning objective you are trying to achieve and using a variety of activities, in order to engage as many learning styles as possible. So what are these 12 activity types?

Quizzes are a fun way to engage learners and there are many types of quizzes you can devise, such as multiple-choice, true/false, or fill-in-the-blank quizzes.

You can ask participants to do quizzes on their own, or you can ask them to work in groups and even set a quiz up as a competition, whereby the group that gets the most questions right wins.

When designing a quiz, it is important to keep it simple. A quiz should lighten the mood, rather than feel like a test.

When to use quizzes : Quizzes are useful when you want your learners to revise a topic and also when you want to check their understanding.

2. Buzz Groups

Buzz groups are short discussions that are done in pairs or groups of three people at the most. They are called buzz groups because, as participants start talking, they will generate a buzzing noise in the class with their chat.

Ask your participants a question; ask them to solve a problem or to agree on a definition.

Other good types of questions for buzz groups include asking participants to find similarities and differences between concepts; discussing pros and cons or discussing the participants’ opinions on something.

The question needs to be simple and to the point. Write the question somewhere where the participants can easily see it, such as on a board, a PowerPoint ppt slid e, or a handout.

Buzz groups are best when they are kept short, so give your participants up to 5 minutes and try to limit it to that timeframe.

At the end, ask each pair to report their answers to the rest of the class and then you summarize them.

When to use Buzz groups : Buzz groups are useful to engage participants who are shy and are not comfortable working with big groups. They are also good for participants to start reflecting on a topic.

3. Snowballing

This is a follow-up from buzz groups and it consists in combining small groups into bigger groups.

So, for example, after a buzz group, ask pairs to combine into groups of four and do a follow-up activity from the discussion they had in the buzz group. You can then ask the groups of four to combine into a group of eight for another subsequent activity.

When to Use Snowballing : Snowballing works best when the activities are connected and expand on each other. You can use snowballing when you want to guide your participants into developing a project, for example.

4. Brainstorming

Brainstorming consists in encouraging participants to come up with ideas to solve a problem or answer a question.

Brainstorming is done quickly as participants are encouraged to say whatever first comes to their minds. The aim here is not quality but quantity. The ideas will be analyzed and discussed later.

During brainstorming, ideas are not judged and the flow of new ideas is instead preferred. All ideas are welcome.

You can run a brainstorming session with the whole class at once, as you write down the answers, or in groups, so each group writes down their answers and then they present them to the rest of the class so the ideas can be combined or improved.

At the end, the most useful ideas are chosen.

When to use brainstorming : Brainstorming is very useful for problem-solving. Also, you can use a quick brainstorming session to introduce a new topic, so that participants come up with their own solution first before you explain the topic to them.

5. Discussions and Group Learning

When introducing a discussion, make sure that the topic meets one of the learning objectives of the course.

In order to be useful, a discussion needs to be structured and very focused.

You start a discussion with one question, and then you can have a series of follow-up questions if it is useful to delve deeper into a topic, whilst maintaining focus. For instance, as you facilitate the discussion, you can ask probing questions, such as ‘Can you say a little bit more about that?’

The question needs to be clear and concise and always use open questions . A closed question only requires a yes or no answer and does not lead to any interesting discussions.

For example, if you ask ‘Is team-work important?’ participants may just answer yes or no and that is the end of the discussion. If, instead, you ask, ‘Why is teamwork important?’ they will elaborate. Dr Valeria Lo iacono

Also, good questions are personal and/or controversial. A personal question requires the participants to express their personal opinion or to tell something that they experienced.

If you are looking for an in-depth discussion, ask participants to work in small groups as smaller groups encourage everyone to participate.

At the end of the activity, ask each group to summarize their discussion to the rest of the class (they can nominate one person to present) and then reflect with the whole class to summarize everything that all the groups have discussed.

When to use discussions : Discussions are useful when you want participants to reflect on something in-depth and for topics that involve attitudes and awareness, rather than factual information.

Whereas a discussion encourages participants to cooperate and to explore a topic, debates are competitive. Groups or individuals are pitched against one another to put their argument forward.

There are many ways for you to organize a debate but, just like a discussion, a debate needs to be well structured. Unless participants are already well informed about the arguments on a specific topic, give them a scenario or a case study to debate.

You can ask participants to debate in pairs or in groups. After a pair or two groups of participants debate, the other participants listen and make a decision at the end as to which argument was stronger.

Another way to run a debate is to ask each person or group at the opposite sides of the debate to switch sides at the end of the debate.

When to use debates : A debate is useful when you want learners to understand alternative viewpoints.

7. Presentations

Presentations consist in dividing participants into small groups and asking them to design a short presentation together and deliver it in front of the class.

The presentation can be produced as a result of research, or simply as a result of a short group discussion.

The difference between asking participants to just share their discussion with the rest of the class and doing a presentation is that the latter is more formal.

For a presentation, participants come to the front of the room and each person in the group takes turns delivering a part of the presentation.

Depending on the resources and time available, they can use visuals such as PowerPoint slides or a sheet of A1 paper or simply speak in front of the rest of the class.

When to use presentations : They are very useful, of course, if you are teaching presentation skills, as a way for participants to practice. They are also good for teaching other topics though, as another way to involve students actively.

To do a presentation, participants really need to focus on the topic; they need to work well together and it is a good way for them to take ownership of their learning.

8. Role-play

With role-play, you give your participants a scenario and they act it out with each participant playing a different role.

Commonly, you run role-plays in groups of three, where two participants play a role each and one participant acts as an observer (if the class is not divisible by three, there can be two observers). You can run the role-play more than once for the same group so that participants can rotate roles.

When to use role-play : Role-play is very useful for any type of training that involves interpersonal skills. For example, it is good for teaching how to give feedback, how to handle conflict, and communication skills.

Alternatively, you can have just one performance, with one group of participants acting out the roles, while the rest of the class observes.

9. Training Games for Learners

There are many games that you can do for your training sessions, too many to list here. We have listed some games in our ‘ 25 Corporate Training Activities’ eBook , which you can refer to.

Games are usually fun activities that can involve the use of props; they can be competitive or at least present a challenge, and are usually done in groups. Some games can be done sitting down and others standing up or moving around.

When to use games for Classroom Training : You can use games at the start of a training session to allow participants to become familiar with each other (the so-called ice-breakers), or during the session when you want to re-energize your participants.

There are a couple of things you need to be aware of though when it comes to using games for training.

Firstly, every game must be connected to a learning objective. Asking participants to do random games that have no connection with the topic can be counterproductive (as participants will wonder what the point is) and a waste of time.

Secondly, make sure you use games that all your participants are comfortable with, based on variables such as their age, gender, culture of belonging, and job role.

10. Problem-solving Activities for Learners

Problem-solving consists in giving participants a problem to solve such as a scenario that poses a problem, a practical task to solve, a puzzle or an enigma.

When to use problem-solving : Problem-solving is useful when you want to encourage creativity; for practical topics that require hands-on involvement or for scientific subjects.

11. Case Studies in Lesson Plans

Case studies consist in practical scenarios, which reflect a real-life situation involving people (they do not have to be situations that really happened but they need to be believable and realistic).

Rather than being an activity in itself, a case study is something that can be used as material for another activity.

When to use case studies : Case studies are useful for presenting participants with scenarios that can be used for discussions, debates, problem-solving, or role-play.

The beauty of case studies is that they give participants real-life examples, which are relatable and bring a topic to life, making it relevant.

12. Asking Questions

Asking questions is not an activity as such, but it is a very important tool for a trainer to engage participants.

Instead of explaining an idea straight away to your participants, lead them to that idea by asking questions. It does not matter if they give wrong answers as you will guide them and explain the concept later.

The important thing is that the emphasis is on understanding rather than simply knowing something.

So, for example, if you are teaching presentation skills , instead of just explaining straight away what the main qualities of a good presentation are, ask your participants ‘What do you think the three best qualities of a good presenter are?’.

You can also ask a series of questions to delve deeper into a topic.

You can also ask your participants questions after you have covered a topic, as a way of checking if they understood.

When to use questions : Every time you are introducing a new topic and whenever you want to reinforce the participants’ learning or test their understanding.

Bonus Idea: Using Visuals

You can use visuals as a starting point for another activity. For example, you can use pictures or videos to start a conversation. Likewise, you can ask participants to produce visuals as an activity.

For instance, you can ask them to draw a picture to express a concept, to draw a diagram, or to take a photo (depending on the situation).

Another type of visual you can ask participants to draw is a mind map . Mind maps are a useful way to separate a topic into sub-topics or to look at the same topic from different points of view.

• Recent Posts

• What Are the 5 C’s of Communication? - April 18, 2024
• 80 Effective Workplace Communication Quotes: Amplify Your Impact - April 18, 2024
• How to Become a Corporate Trainer or Freelance Trainer & Start a Training Business in 2024 - March 21, 2024

>> View All Training Course Materials

Training Materials Catalogue & Prices

Payment Options

Bulk Discounts

What Is Included in Our Training Packages?

Brighten your day, refocus, and reenergize with one of our mindfulness coloring sheets, activity pages, or audio-guided breathwork/meditations! Download, print, listen, and use in your classroom or for personal use.

Coloring and Activity Pages

Two local Iowa artists illustrated the coloring and activity pages. The “Coloring & Activities For Caring Classrooms” book was designed by local artist Mackinzie Rekers .

The “Be Well. Teach Well. Live Well. Coloring Book for Educators” book was created by Greta Songe . Each design in this set represents one of the 8 dimensions of wellness – emotional, social, occupational, intellectual, physical, financial, environmental, and spiritual.

Audio-Guided Breathing and Meditations

Purposeful breathing and meditation are simple yet powerful techniques for managing stress and promoting relaxation. Use this practice at any time during your day to cultivate a sense of calm, enhance focus and clarity, and reduce stress.

Education | ChatGPT is transforming Colorado education, for…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Digital Replica Edition

• Latest Headlines
• Environment
• Transportation
• News Obituaries

Education | ChatGPT is transforming Colorado education, for better and worse. Experts say maybe that’s a good thing.

Technology and education experts are forming a statewide committee to look at use of ai in colorado schools.

Her English courses will feature more in-class assignments and less homework. Heeding the College Board’s Advanced Placement AI guidance , Wilson will ask students to defend their thinking orally. And the 24-year veteran teacher is considering using programs to monitor her students’ online whereabouts on school-issued devices.

Wilson admitted to sporting rose-colored glasses about ChatGPT — a chatbot that uses generative AI to create unique text responses to users’ prompts — when it debuted at the end of 2022.

“We can’t stick our heads in the sand about it,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s here. We’re going to have to figure out how we’re going to use it.”

A year and a half into ChatGPT’s life, the AI program’s impacts on education in Colorado and beyond are irrefutable. Conversations about artificial intelligence in the classroom have dominated conferences and training sessions for schools and universities across the state. Local and national technology and education experts are forming a new, statewide steering committee to explore the future of AI in Colorado education.

In this early Wild West era, decisions about ChatGPT’s usage in the classroom largely depend on who’s in front of the whiteboard and who’s in administrative leadership. That’s left educators and students alike still finding their footing as they navigate the new frontier of yet another disruptive technology feared by some and exalted by others.

Last year, Wilson told The Denver Post that she wanted to incorporate ChatGPT into lessons to teach students appropriate ways to use the free, accessible software, such as for brainstorming, researching and outlining purposes — a starting point from which they could add their own knowledge and creativity.

Denver Public Schools, however, has tried to limit access to ChatGPT in the classroom by blocking students from using the program with their district email addresses, said Billy Sayers, the district’s director of STEAM, or science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The school district does not want teachers using ChatGPT in educational instruction, either, due to student data-privacy concerns, he said. (The Denver Post and seven other newspapers last week sued ChatGPT maker OpenAI , alleging the company illegally harvested copyrighted articles to create the generative AI program.)

Colorado’s largest school district is looking into programs that would establish guardrails and address safety concerns around AI usage, Sayers said, acknowledging that students do need to be prepared to encounter AI in their post-graduation lives.

Despite those constraints, ChatGPT still loomed large in Wilson’s classroom this year.

Her students’ work often didn’t read like the high schoolers she knew, she said. AI plagiarism trackers confirmed her fears: Students were using ChatGPT to write their assignments. Soon, students grew wiser about covering their tracks, she said. The plagiarism was still apparent, but near-impossible to prove.

“I don’t have 20 to 30 minutes to spend on every piece of writing to determine if they’re thinking or not,” Wilson said. “Now I have to come up with new ways to work around this, and I like being innovative and we need to be as teachers. But it does feel exhausting.”

In light of generative AI — which draws from information gathered from the internet to create text responses, images and sounds based on users’ requests — Wilson said it’s time teachers rethink their assignments altogether.

“If the question is so easily answered by AI, then maybe we allow the students to use AI to learn that,” she said, “and then figure out what product we want from them.”

Teaching teachers about generative AI

Matthew Farber, an associate professor of educational technology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, taught middle school in the early 2000s. He remembers the moral panic over the specter of Wikipedia and Google eroding education.

“I’ve always been an early adopter to bring these things in and integrate it into best practices in the classroom,” he said.

Now, Farber teaches teachers how to do the same. And he incorporates generative AI into his coursework. His students can use the technology — with guardrails. They shouldn’t be copy-and-pasting wholesale from ChatGPT, he said, but they can use the program for inspiration.

One of his assignments asks students to engineer ChatGPT prompts to have the program produce a children’s story.

A student might ask ChatGPT to write a bedtime story about a puppy going to Jupiter in the style of Ernest Hemingway, Farber said. Then, students analyze the stories and tweak their prompts to make the stories better — more inclusive, enlightening, immersive. Not only do students learn how to play with generative AI, but they learn what makes a good story, he said.

“It’s this idea of refining prompts so students become critical thinkers of what AI is giving you,” Farber said. “It’s kind of a newer version of how we taught Google search or using physical encyclopedias when I grew up.”

Not teaching these skills, Farber said, or blocking the programs on school-issued devices creates a technological equity problem. Students who rely on school computers won’t develop the same skills as their peers who can go home and tinker.

“By not teaching how to use these technologies, you’re not preparing children for the jobs of the future,” Farber said. “That’s not to say everybody needs to be a prompt engineer, but it would be like graduating in 2010 and not understanding how to do a proper Google search.”

Farber sees innumerable benefits for students and educators from using generative AI in the classroom. ChatGPT can rework a lesson plan for a different grade level, Farber said, or assist English language learners in their academic pursuits.

Farber, like Wilson, believes generative AI is pushing educators to reconsider how they’ve always done things and lean into innovation.

“There are teachers in the educational technology communities who will say if the assignment is something that ChatGPT can do in 20 seconds, maybe it’s not a good assignment,” Farber said.

Diana Wagener, a language arts teacher at Battle Mountain High School in Eagle County, said when planning a lesson, she thinks about how students might use AI appropriately and inappropriately so she can guide them in what they’re allowed to do.

“We are working toward lessons that allow critical thinking to continue to happen while establishing which tasks can take advantage of the AI tools available — this is the new normal,” Wagener said. “I believe the future of writing will be individuals managing generative AI to help them produce clearer, more meaningful prose and help eliminate students getting stuck in the process of writing it down correctly.”

ChatGPT and cheating

For educators to feel comfortable deploying newer learning methods, Farber said school leadership must offer meaningful professional development.

That’s where Molly Jameson, the interim director of the University of Northern Colorado’s Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, comes in.

Faculty members come to the center for one-on-one professional development, webinars and workshops to learn to become better educators. The Greeley institution has held six trainings around AI in the classroom this year and plans to make it a focus next year, too, Jameson said.

At UNC, instructors decide the rules around ChatGPT in their classrooms.

Jameson helps them craft instructions in their syllabi depending on whether they want to forbid all generative AI usage in their classrooms, encourage it with parameters or if land somewhere in between.

She’s heartened by how UNC educators use generative AI — from having students use image-creating AI to envision a sustainable future to tasking AI to help students narrow down research paper ideas.

“People get worried and stressed out every time a new technology comes around,” Jameson said. “Not that that is invalid. Plagiarism has increased since the pandemic . My philosophy is, instead of fighting against it, let’s figure out how to effectively use it because that’s the direction the world is going.”

It’s difficult to demonstrate the impact ChatGPT has had on plagiarism in schools.

At UNC, 34 cases of academic dishonesty were reported in the 2021-2022 academic year. The next year, 17 cases were reported and, as of April 19, 37 cases were reported this academic year. Just under half of the academic misconduct incidents reported this year at UNC involved alleged misuse of AI or ChatGPT, said Deanna Herbert, a campus spokesperson.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, cheating and plagiarism infractions skyrocketed during the 2020-2021 school year, when students were sent home to learn remotely during the pandemic. During the 2019-2020 academic year, the university recorded 454 violations, but the first pandemic year brought 817.

“The increase in violations during the pandemic was a national trend among institutions of higher education,” said Nicole Mueksch, a CU Boulder spokesperson. “The numbers have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.”

In 2021-2022, violations at CU Boulder fell to 437 and in the 2022-2023 school year — when Chat GPT surfaced — they dropped even further to 293. CU does not track how many of these instances are AI-related.

“While this may seem like an interesting inverse correlation, CU Boulder has made a concerted effort to communicate and educate on expectations around the use of AI with faculty and students,” Mueksch said. “Faculty are encouraged to inform their students of the standards and expectations that are specific to their course; and all students enrolled in a class or classes are responsible for knowing and adhering  to the Honor Code , which includes plagiarism with the use of paper writing services and technology.”

These numbers only reflect reported incidents.

One student at Metropolitan State University of Denver said they and every student they know use ChatGPT in some form.

The student, who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity out of fear of academic retaliation, said the philosophy of teaching students responsible, resourceful ways to use AI hasn’t yet filtered into any of their courses. Their professors have denounced all ChatGPT usage, threatening repercussions like expulsion, they said.

But for this student, ChatGPT has been a helpful tool they said they used, for example, to better understand confusing texts from ancient philosophers. Even though they attend classes, do the readings, ask questions and visit office hours, sometimes a deadline is staring them in the face.

So they turn to generative AI for support when Aristotle becomes incomprehensible and ask ChatGPT to explain things in laypersons’ terms.

“Girl, respectfully, these people are speaking in B.C. Klingon,” the MSU Denver student said.

The student said they wished some of their professors were open to exploring how ChatGPT could be used as a tool for learning, just like other once-feared technologies, including calculators, computers and the internet.

That’s the route Vilja Hulden, a teaching associate professor in CU Boulder’s history department, has taken.

Instead of policing ChatGPT, Hulden said she hopes to drive home a desire to learn for the sake of learning. She has assigned work that allows students to tinker with the AI program and see what it’s capable of — and what its limitations are.

“The longer I’ve been at this job, the more jaded I’ve gotten at policing plagiarism,” Hulden said. “Nobody is going to die because history students cheated on their essay.”

Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.

• Report an Error
• Submit a News Tip

More in Education

Education | How will Colorado’s new funding formula affect rural districts? It depends.

Education | Aurora school principal ousted amid investigation into attempted student kidnapping by registered sex offender

Crime and Public Safety | DA brings 10 new charges against Littleton bus monitor accused of beating autistic child

Colorado News | Auraria student organizers reject $15,000 donation offer to remove pro-Palestine encampment