Just Good Ideas
Odd One Out: Choose words or pictures related to a topic and ask pupils to work out the odd one out
Taboo: Taboo is a game involving describing given words without being able to use those which naturally come to mind
Living Photographs: Pupils try to work out what can be seen, heard smelt etc in a photograph.
Conversion: Ask students to take material that is presented in one format and covert it into a different format; text into a mind map, text into a flow diagram, text into a storyboard, text into a chart.
Calling Cards: Students have cards to show responses to questions the teacher asks. Pupils hold cards up to show understanding or opinions.
Back to Back: Students sit in pairs back to back- the chair backs should be close enough so pupils can hear each other. Decide who is A and who is B. A is given a visual material. B is given a plain piece of paper and a pencil. A describes the visual material while B attempts to make a perfect replica.
Bingo: Students have 3 x 3 grid. Put key words on board. There should be more key words to chose from than squares on the grid, so that all pupils have different cards. Pupils choose one word to write in each box. Teacher calls out questions or definitions and the pupils cross through the appropriate word.
Beat the Teacher: Explain that you are going to describe a procedure, a piece of text, write a passage on the board, explain a concept, draw a diagram etc.. You are likely to make mistakes, the students job is to work out what the mistakes are
Pictionary: Pupils draw key topics ir ideas for other pupils to guess.
Hot Seating: On pupil to be in the hot seat. Other pupils all write down 3 questions to ask. The person in the hot seat chooses people to ask the questions.
Concept map: Ideas from the lesson are displayed. Students have to draw links between information, with brief reasoning for each link.
Pupil as teacher: Choose a pupil to teach the class about a topic they have either background knowledge or experience of.
Mystery Object: Show the class a mystery object or photograph. Ask them to come up with 5w questions, which when answered may tell them what the object is.
Who wants to be a millionaire: Multiple choice questions. Students may ask the class, ask a friend, or go 50-50. Can be done on paper or using a computer template.
Dominoes: A word association game, using a series of cards. Students match key word/ picture with definition.
Human Continuim: Extremes of an idea or opinion placed on opposite sides of the room. Pupils to arrange themseles along the line based on either their own opinion or on information given to them by the teacher.
Who am I: Write words on stickers or post it notes and stick to pupils backs of foreheads. He or she then has to ask a series of questions to work out what their word is.
Circle Time: Can be used to review learning at the end of the lesson or at the start to establish prior learning. Choose an object that can be passed around the pupils. Only the one holding the object can contribute.
Find someone who...: Write a series of questions for a topice, pupils have to find people in the class that know the answers to the questions. They can't ask the same person more than once.
Anagrams: Rearrange key words and challenge pupils to work out what they are.
a-z: Time challenge pupils to think of a word for every letter of the alphabet for a topic.
Text message: Ask pupils to write a text message to someone who was absent from the lesson explaining the key points of what they have learnt.
Connections Game: Can be played by individuals, pairs or groups. Ask students to write down 10 key words, students should then try to divide the words into pairs and be prepared to be justify their pairings.
Question Game: Present an object to the players and ask them to write down as many questions as they can about the object within a specific time limit.
What If: Good for generating innovative ideas. e.g. What if an earthquake hit London...
Disadvantages: List the disadvantages of a seemingly useful object. Then list the ways of correcting the item. This ensures pupils dont accept inadequacies but think of solutions and developments
The Alphabet: Compile a list of words that have relevence to an object or area of study. Justofy each of them or ask questions relating to them.
The Question: Start with the answer and attempt to write at least 5 questions for it.
The Interpretation: Describe a situation then think of several different explanations for it.
Whats in my head: Project clues to an object or place gradually getting easier to guess the correct answer. After eac. h clue pupils must write an answer they may change their answer but not go back and change what they have already written, the answer simply doesnt count any more. The winner is the student who got the correct answer first.
Circle of blame: Students call out the causes or effects of something e.g deforestation in Brazil. This is written on the board. Students choose up to 6 of these explanations and draw a cricle in their books. They divide the circle like a pie chart to show the % of blame thy give to each one. They can then pair up and explain their decisons.
Maps from memory: Students work in groups to redraw an image / map etc from memory. The group whose is most accurate wins. Eaxh member of the group takes it in turns to walk to the image and study it for a period of time e.g. 20 seconds, they then return to their group and draw what they can remember.
Quiz Quiz Trade: Have each student write down a question and the answer on a piece of paper. Then students trvel around the room and ask another student to answer their question. The other student then asks their question and then they swap questions and start the process again.
321: KS3 3 - things you'll remember from this lesson, 2 - things you have learnt, 1- questions you have. KS4 3- pieces of information I have learnt this lesson, 2 - things i need to revise, 1 - question you have.