If you wish to reduce, if not wipe out, clock-watchers in your classroom, then don’t do the same things everyday. Definitely, you want engaged learners who are eager to participate in your lesson. Then observe variety in your activities. Here are some activities in the development of a lesson:
For Data-gathering
- interview – it is where students meet other people and ask them questions regarding any topic.
- library research – students/pupils shall maximize the use of traditional sources of information available at the library.
- Internet research – students/pupils must be informed first which sites are reliable sources of information. The teacher must teach the students/pupils first how to ascertain that a site provides credible and reliable information.
- reading – it could be short stories or any reading material that best suits the subject matter.
- lecture– But don’t abuse it! – students/pupils don’t have much interest in lectures at the current times. But this doe not mean that you will preclude this activity.
- inviting resource speakers – who can best discuss the subject matter other than the expert on it. Invite resource speakers; it could be your co-teacher or someone outside of your community but is well-known to be a guru of that specific subject matter.
- field trip – nothing beats real-life experiences. Thus, if opportunity permits, make use of field trip to expose your students/pupils to the real world.
- experiment – this is most suited in science subjects. Experiments provide a tangible experience for students/pupils that will satisfy their curiosity.
- panel discussion
- hands-on learning
- case study
For Organizing and Summarizing
- using graphic organizers
- jingles, rap, song
- verses
- acrostic
- PowerPoint presentation
For Application/Creative Activities
- solving real-world problems (using skills and information related to curriculum)
- performances and demonstrations of skill mastery
- authentic projects (created for a real purpose-such as a model of a student store to be housed in the cafeteria and run by student council)
- portfolios of students’ best work and work in progress
- letters to the editor (school newspaper or local news-paper)
- PowerPoint presentations
- brochures
- writing and performing a song, rap, or musical
- news report for a local news program
- television talk shows
- mock debates and mock trials
- mock job interviews
- personal narratives
- cartoons, comic strips
- organizing a symposium