Fun Activities for College Classes

Liven up the college classroom with fun activities.

College courses are an opportunity for students to not only learn facts, but to explore subjects in great detail with professors who have often dedicated their lives to a particular course of study. To liven up a college classroom, instructors may want to incorporate different activities that are academic or social in nature. Such activities may include icebreakers, outdoor lectures, guest speakers or field trips.

Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a good way for students to get to know one another, which is especially important for study groups they may form later. As such, spend a few minutes of class time leading fun icebreaker games. Two truths and a lie, for example, is a game that allows students to find out information about one another. Each student must tell two facts about themselves and one lie, while the rest of the group must guess which pieces of information are real and false. The class can also play "I never," a game that requires students to say things that they have not done, while those who have must identify themselves.

Outdoor Lectures

Lecturing outdoors is a fun, yet relaxing way to make your students feel more comfortable with you and their peers. Find a pleasant, grassy area where your students can sit as you lecture. Also, allow for group discussion about the topic at hand to promote greater participation. You may also ask students to bring food like sandwiches, chips, vegetables and fruits to share with their classmates in a picnic-style format. Be sure to choose a warm day, however, to ensure your students are comfortable.

Guest Speakers

Guest speakers who are well-versed experts in a particular subject area can be a fun addition to any college classroom. Try to find speakers who have not only studied a particular subject, but have experienced it as well. If you are teaching a course on Cuba in the 1960s, for example, a guest speaker who lived in Cuba during the time would be informative and entertaining for students. This may be even more interesting if you bring guest performers to demonstrate a dance style or other art form associated with the subject you are teaching. Allow students to ask questions and even require that each student prepare two questions for the guest speaker prior to class.

Field Trips

Field trips are not limited to elementary school children, as college students can find them to be fun and educational as well. Take your class to a location that is related to the subject you are teaching. English professors, for example, may take their class to watch a Shakespeare play or to the birthplace of an author the class is studying. If you are teaching a course like mathematics, perhaps a field trip to a location where math is used daily is an appropriate option for your class.

References

• University of Hawaii: Break the Ice