HOOK them from the S T A R T
HOOK them from the S T A R T
Warm up your class with one or two of these SUPER fun NO PREP games! These are guaranteed to engage even the most reluctant learner, and get your students READY for a fun day of learning.
Warm up your class with one or two of these SUPER fun NO PREP games! These are guaranteed to engage even the most reluctant learner, and get your students READY for a fun day of learning.
Choose a pair of students to unmute and play against each other
Share your screen
Show the class one of the “Spot It” slides
Whoever “spots” the item that is on both cards first, wins.
Continue the game by choosing more pairs of students
Can also play whole glass, and have students write their answer in the chat box or say their name when they've spotted the item
Share your screen (in grid view) so the students can see each other
Teacher will then call out directions like Simon Says (somewhat quickly)
Then, instead of doing a Simon Says, quickly call out a math fact
Students write the answer in the chat box
The first 3 students who write the correct answer get a shout out, ten finger woo, etc.
Variations:
Vocabulary words
Spelling words
Other facts from different subject areas
Choose any letter from the alphabet
Once the letter is chosen, have students find something in their house that starts with that letter
Once all students are back at their screens, they can share the items they found
This game can be played using the linked slides above OR with images of things you are learning about in class to activate prior knowledge
Choose about 5-10 items for a “mystery box”
Show students all of the items
On the next slide, take 1 item away and ask students to guess which one is gone
Can be done verbally, or have students type the item in the comment box
Can be done whole class, in groups, or pairs
💡FUN IDEA💡
Have students design their own mystery box slides around your content, and have one child present each day.
Make sure you are in present mode and grid view so students can see each other
Students can write their answers down, shout them out, or type in the chat box depending on how you want to play
Think of a list of categories--this could be related to the content or not.
Spin the wheel to choose a letter.
Have students write/think of items IN THE CHOSEN CATEGORY that start with that letter.
Example:
Category: Cities in Minnesota
Letter: D
Answers: Duluth, Danube, Delano, Darwin, etc.
Played the same as Spot It
Choose a pair of students to unmute and play against each other
Share your screen
Show the class one of the slides
Whoever “spots” the item that is on both cards first, wins.
Continue the game by choosing more pairs of students
Can also play whole glass, and have students write their answer in the chat box or say their name when they've spotted the item
Share your screen
Display one of the “Where’s Waldo” pictures
Tell students it’s a race to see who can find Waldo first
Ask students to go to AutoDraw and create a sketch around a specific topic or category. This can be content-specific or selected at random.
Choose a student to present their drawing to the class.
You could also have students guess what the drawing represents.
Use ChatGPT to help students explore content in new ways. Examples of use:
Ask for definitions on any level (explain it to me like I'm a Kindergartener, 8th grader, etc.)
Remix student work into different formats. Take student work and ask Chat GPT to remix into: soap opera, rap battle, sea shanty, children's book with suggested illustrations, etc.
Ask Chat GPT for a content-related joke for class.
Grade the bot: Ask Chat GPT to explain a concept from class, and then have students analyse the answer and grade the response using your rubric.
🔮Resources by @sparkles_and_pompoms on Instagram!
KEEP them E N G A G E D
KEEP them E N G A G E D
If you have content or a lesson to deliver via direct instruction, try to pause at least once halfway for a quick activity to re-energize and engage your students. Try one of the activities below.
If you have content or a lesson to deliver via direct instruction, try to pause at least once halfway for a quick activity to re-energize and engage your students. Try one of the activities below.
Word Sneak
Word Sneak
How to Play:
The goal here is to work 5 previously chosen words into a conversation.
You can choose two students, and then message them their individual lists, or you could go up against a student.
The word lists can be also made public, which leads to the anticipation of how that person will work it into their conversation.
Internet Pop Quiz
Internet Pop Quiz
How to Play: Come up with a few random questions to ask students. The ones in the video are given below.
What's the last thing you ordered online?
What is your record for the most TV show episodes you watched in one sitting?
What is your most used app?
What is your phone wallpaper?
Who is the last person you texted?
What is the best pic you took of your pet lately?
Hashtag Challenge
Hashtag Challenge
How to Play:
Ask students to create a statement around a chosen hashtag, and/or create hashtags around your current content.
Ideas:
#OneTimeInClass
#PoeisWeird
#Lifein1950
#ScienceFACTS
#WhyIRead
MadLib Theater
MadLib Theater
How to Play:
Retell a story, novel, or historical event in a new way.
Have students write the Mad Lib collaboratively (groups of 3-4) with a theme based on your unit of study, using new vocabulary words, important facts, dates, etc.
Partner with another group to complete each other's Mad Libs, blindly of course.
Then, each group would perform the theatrical version of the Mad Lib they completed.
You can automate some of this using Flippity and a Google Spreadsheet template! Try it here. (Example)
Whisper Challenge
Whisper Challenge
How to Play:
Use key vocab words here. Ask for two student volunteers.
Have one remove their headphones or mute their device volume.
The other student can whisper the word as demonstrated in the video.
Ask for new volunteers or use this in class with all students paired.
This one can be a quick break before refocusing on content.
Check out more Tonight Show themed activities here.
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