How do I make extra time meaningful? Sponge Activities Sponge activities are to fill in short time periods and gaps to “avoid the void.” Categories Teacher gives a category and students should be ready to add an example Teacher will say four items and students figure out the category and another example for the category. Telephone Number Students make as many problems as they can using their telephone number (or the schools telephone number) Rearrange the numbers to make the largest number possible 3-2-1 “3” things I learned today… “2” things I am still wondering about… “1” thing I will do right away Writing Reflection on understanding of the unit or today’s lesson Students generate questions about the topic of lesson/ or what might be asked on a test Write advice for the president (teacher, principal, parents, siblings, etc.) Write a thank you letter If I had a million/hundred dollars . . . Students share with shoulder partner what they would do Students write down what they would do Students create a budget and list for their money Synonyms and Antonyms Teachers give word(s) and students generate antonyms and or synonyms for the word(s) Word Fun Students make as many words out of the word provided by the teacher as they can Example: President - sit, dent, dents, stripes, drips, pride, etc. Map Drawing Draw a map of (classroom, bedroom, playground, house, etc) using a ruler. Provide a key for your map including measurement used How can I make groups quickly? It’s All in the Cards (teacher would need a deck of cards) Distribute one card per student Activate the brain? (and form the group) - Move to a group by number/face card - Find a partner with a matching card - Huddle group/small group based on suit - Be excused for break/class/lunch/etc based on suit If no cards are available, then have students number off and then group like numbers Line Up Teacher poses a question that has a number for an answer (Example: What percentage of the world is made up of water?) Students line up in order according to their answer or what they think the answer is Teacher shares answer and then forms groups based on line . . . partners, groups of four etc. by the people students are standing beside
How do I make extra time meaningful? Sponge Activities Sponge activities are to fill in short time periods and gaps to “avoid the void.” Categories Teacher gives a category and students should be ready to add an example Teacher will say four items and students figure out the category and another example for the category. Telephone Number Students make as many problems as they can using their telephone number (or the schools telephone number) Rearrange the numbers to make the largest number possible 3-2-1 “3” things I learned today… “2” things I am still wondering about… “1” thing I will do right away Writing Reflection on understanding of the unit or today’s lesson Students generate questions about the topic of lesson/ or what might be asked on a test Write advice for the president (teacher, principal, parents, siblings, etc.) Write a thank you letter If I had a million/hundred dollars . . . Students share with shoulder partner what they would do Students write down what they would do Students create a budget and list for their money Synonyms and Antonyms Teachers give word(s) and students generate antonyms and or synonyms for the word(s) Word Fun Students make as many words out of the word provided by the teacher as they can Example: President - sit, dent, dents, stripes, drips, pride, etc. Map Drawing Draw a map of (classroom, bedroom, playground, house, etc) using a ruler. Provide a key for your map including measurement used How can I make groups quickly? It’s All in the Cards (teacher would need a deck of cards) Distribute one card per student Activate the brain? (and form the group) - Move to a group by number/face card - Find a partner with a matching card - Huddle group/small group based on suit - Be excused for break/class/lunch/etc based on suit If no cards are available, then have students number off and then group like numbers Line Up Teacher poses a question that has a number for an answer (Example: What percentage of the world is made up of water?) Students line up in order according to their answer or what they think the answer is Teacher shares answer and then forms groups based on line . . . partners, groups of four etc. by the people students are standing beside
Substitute%20Teacher%20Toolkit.docx