Active Learning

Think-Pair-Share

This activity is a great way for students to be able to pause and process what they have just learned. Ask the class a question that they must first consider by themselves then give them the opportunity to discuss it with their neighbor. Once they've discussed the question, students are then invited to share their answers with the class. By giving them this time, you are enabling them to be more engaged in their learning.

Quick Draw

This activity is great, especially for visual learners or students that aren't quite writing yet. After learning a new concept or topic, have your students draw a picture about what they've just learned. For example, after reading part of the story: Jack and the Bean Stalk, have your students draw what has happened in the story up to that point. Then a student may draw a picture of a boy planting seeds with a bean stalk growing in the background.

A-Z Topic Summary

End of lesson responses are a great way to engage your students and help them connect the dots on their own. I love having my students do an A-Z Topic Summary either as individuals or in pairs. If it is an individual activity, I'll have my students write either a word or a sentence having to do with the lesson for each letter of the alphabet. For example, if we learned about baking they would write a sentence for A such as: “Always preheat the oven before baking.” If we do that activity in pairs, I'll usually assign a letter to each pair and have them write a sentence rather than have them do the whole alphabet.

3-2-1

This activity is very quick so it's perfect when you're pressed for time but still need to give your students a chance to process the material. First you'll have them write three facts they learned about the topic. Next, two questions they still have about the topic that might not have been covered in class. Finally, have your students write one opinion they have about the material.

• Use pipe cleaners, magnetic letters, sand, shaving cream, or clay to form letters, practice writing letters, sentences, rhyming words, opposites, etc.
• Use plastic Easter eggs to help students to learn opposites, rhyming, or compound words. To do that all you have to do is write one word on the outside of one of the eggs and the other word on the other egg. For example, if you want students to learn compound words, write “base” on one egg and “ball” on the other egg. Then students match the eggs.
• Older students can benefit from hands-on activities as well. Here are a few ideas for them.
• Older students can learn about dialogue, imagery and character development by recreating scenes from a novel they are reading.
• They can learn parts of speech by constructing sentences. To do this all they have to do is write words on cards and arrange themselves in a line to create a sentence. This is not only hands-on by physical as well.
• Using Manipulatives
• Using word box
• Mystery box

Mathematics

Since ancient times, manipulatives have been used to help solve math problems. An abacus, tallies, stones, beads, and wooden counting boards are a just a few of the tools people used to help them learn math. Here are a few hands-on activities to help students learn math today.

• Kindergarten students must learn about coins and their value. Have students use a magnifying glass to observe each coin, have them sort coins into jars, and toss coins to predict their landing.
• Students can learn how to count money by filling a plastic Easter egg with coins. For example, write on a strip of paper, __ nickels = 25 cents. The students would then have to put the correct amount of nickels into the egg and write the answer on the paper.
• Students can take a yard stick and go around the classroom and measure items.

Have students use beads, coins, or candy to help them solve math problems. Any manipulative that you think would keep them actively engaged would be considered hands-on. If you have a worksheet that you want students to complete, to make it hands-on all you have to do is give them any manipulative mentioned above to help them complete the assignment.