By. Meredith Biesinger
The cooler weather energizes me, and it also energizes my students! If and when this happens in your classroom, you might need to break up your schedule into smaller blocks of time by giving your students a “brain break.”
We all need brain breaks sometimes, don’t we?
Here are a few seasonal tips that are not only fun but will help your students get back on track in the classroom this fall.
K-5 ideas
Hot Pumpkin
“Hot pumpkin” is just like hot potato, but with a foam pumpkin, you can find foam pumpkins in several craft stores or the dollar section of Target. Play season music, and when the music stops, the student holding the “hot pumpkin” is out. Students will need to be quiet to hear the music, so this will give them a brain break and allow some movement without losing the order of your classroom.
Eyes on Me
Since it’s Halloween time, you can find some buggy eyes or silly glasses pretty easily. When you need your student’s attention, put these on and say, “eyes on me, please!”
6-12 Ideas
Fall Football
Honestly, I’m sure many teenagers would love to play “hot pumpkin.” But in the event they don’t, try a different strategy with older students by tossing a foam football around the classroom while doing a Q&A on whatever subject they’re learning. Math facts? Vocabulary? Reading comprehension questions? This idea works as a great review session while having a little fun.
Virtual Learning
Fall Story Starters
Use fall-themed choices to spark student writing! Older students begin writing their short stories in a document and use this as a springboard for their work. Have students write a short story including multiple story starters while also practicing their tone.
For younger students, have them select just one story starter and type it in a document. Later, your virtual classroom can share their short fall-themed stories, and you can even make it “hot beverage day,” where they sip hot chocolate or cider while they share their stories!
