Different Classroom Activities
Classroom activities break up class time and can make lessons more sociable and enjoyable. These activities can range from internet lessons and games to movies and experiments. Experiments can interest students in the sciences and give them a hands-on experience of what they are learning, while word searches and crossword puzzles help to reinforce vocabulary. Internet activities are often designed for younger students, because game-like formats teach students math and language as they play.
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Science Experiments
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Science experiments help to keep students interested in science. Projects such as watching the fermentation process and building a model volcano help students understand scientific processes while getting a hands-on experience. Experiments that allow students to leave the classroom and go outside, such as building and testing a buoyant parachute, can excite students as they move away from their normal routines. See the "Resources" section of this article for an assortment of indoor and outdoor scientific experiments.
Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles
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Word searches and crossword puzzles help to reinforce vocabulary and history lessons. These puzzles can be generated for free online and printed out for the class. When students fill out a word search, they learn how words are spelled by searching through a combination of letters and choosing the right combination. When students solve a crossword puzzle, they must think about the meanings of the words as they fit them into the puzzle. Allow the class to work solo or in groups for a more sociable experience. For an extra boost in incentive, you can offer extra credit points for a completed puzzle.
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Internet Games and Activities
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There are many educational internet games available for free use. Internet games are especially effective on a younger audience. For example, if you are teaching students how to add and subtract, there are many counting games meant for children online. If you are teaching students how to multiply and divide, there are many real-world problem solving games available online. Other online games can teach students language and spelling. See the "Resources" section for a selection of educational internet games meant for young students.
Movies
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If you are teaching literature, chances are there will be some classics on the reading list. While teaching classic novels can give students an interest in history and help to increase your class' vocabulary, some novels are difficult for young students to read and understand. This is when a movie based on the book comes in. Play segments of the movie alongside the students' reading agendas. Have the class discuss the chapters of reading assigned and then compare these chapters to the segment of the movie. Visuals and open discussions will make reading lessons more interactive and will make difficult reading assignments less stressful.
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References
Resources
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