7 ways to celebrate women’s history month in the classroom

7 ways to celebrate women’s history month in the classroom

by | Mar 7, 2023 | Lesson Ideas, Science

7 ways to celebrate women’s history month in the classroom

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history. As a teacher, you may be wondering how you can incorporate Women’s History Month in the classroom. But I also know that at this time of year you may also feel snowed under with your normal lesson preparation and don’t have the energy to prepare new lessons ??‍♀️

Fortunately, there are many ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in middle school! In this blog post, we will explore some ideas for how you can celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom and make it a meaningful and educational experience for your students.

women's history month in the classroom
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7 ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in the Classroom

 

1. Highlight Female contributions in your subject area

One of the best ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom is to highlight the contributions of females in your subject area. You can do this by creating a bulletin board or display in your classroom featuring famous or well-known females in the subject. You could also assign your students research projects on these women, or have them give presentations on the work of one particular woman.

For example, in science, some women you could highlight include:

  • Marie Curie, who won Nobel Prizes in both physics and chemistry for her work on radioactivity.
  • Rosalind Franklin, who made significant contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA.
  • Jane Goodall, who is known for her ground-breaking research on chimpanzees and animal behavior.
  • Barbara McClintock, who won a Nobel Prize for her work on the genetic structure of corn.
  • Mae Jemison, who became the first African American woman to travel to space in 1992.

By highlighting these and other female scientists, you can help your students understand that science is not just a field for men, but one that is open to anyone with a passion for discovery and learning.

 

2. Explore Gender Bias 

Another way to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom is to explore the issue of gender bias. You can do this by having your students read articles or watch videos about the experiences of female’s in a relevant field, or by inviting a female working in the field to speak to your class about her experiences.

Some questions you could discuss with your students include:

  • Have women historically faced barriers to entering and advancing in ____________?
  • Are there still gender biases in ____________ today?
  • What can we do to ensure that women have equal opportunities in ____________?

By exploring these questions, you can help your students develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by female’s in various industries, and how they can help promote equality and diversity.

3. Conduct hands on activities

A fun way to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom is to conduct hands-on activities that are inspired by the work of key females. For example, you could have your students build a model of DNA based on the work of Rosalind Franklin, or create a simple electromagnet based on the work of Marie Curie.

Other activities you could consider include:

  • Building a model of a chimpanzee habitat inspired by Jane Goodall’s research.
  • Growing corn plants and observing their genetic structure, based on the work of Barbara McClintock.
  • Conducting experiments on the effects of microgravity on plant growth and development, inspired by Mae Jemison’s work in space.

By conducting these STEM and hands-on activities, you can help your students develop a deeper appreciation for the work of female scientists and the impact they have had on our understanding of the world around us.

 

4. Host a guest speaker

Consider inviting a female working or studying in your subject area to speak to your students. This could be a local scientist, a college professor, or a female who works for a government agency, a law firm or art museum. Hearing from a woman who has succeeded in a field of interest can be a powerful motivator for your students. You could also have a Q&A session after the talk to give your students an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the female’s work in that area.

Women’s History Month in the classroom 

5. Read Biographies or books

Another way to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom is to assign your students biographies of females to read. 

After reading these books, you could have your students write book reports or give presentations on the lives and work of these females. By doing so, you can help your students develop a deeper understanding of the personal and professional challenges faced by women in that occupation, and the ways in which these women faced them.

There are also many great books about women that you can read with your students that may be easier to digest than biographies. 

For example:

History: The Greatest Women in History: The Remarkable Women Who Changed Our World

Designers: Women made: Great Women Designers

Mathematics: Women in Mathematics: The Addition of Difference (Race, Gender, and Science)

Mathematics: Power in numbers: the rebel women of mathematics

Science: Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science and the World

Science: Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

 

6. Watch documentaries or films that celebrate women in various occupations or fields 

From YouTube to Netflix and everything in-between, there are a lot of resources available to show documentaries or films to your students. Often it is also easy to find ready-made film studies or questions to go with the documentaries.

As a science teacher here are some of my favorites:

  • Women in motion (2021)
  • Picture a Scientist (2020) 
  • Jane (2017)
  • Hidden Figures (2016)
  • Code girl (2015)
  • Mission Blue (2014)

 

7. Encourage girls to pursue options related to that subject area

One of the most important things you can do to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom is to encourage girls to pursue their dreams and careers in whatever area they are interested in. Girls are often discouraged from pursuing certain careers such as in science or mathematics related fields, which is why it’s so important to provide them with positive role models and encourage them to pursue their interests. 

Women’s History Month in the classroom

Conclusion

Do you celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom?

If you do I’d love for you to share how you celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom below in the comments.

Don’t forget to visit my store to pick up some ready made station activities!

Women’s History Month in the classroom

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15 Powerful reasons to use station activities in the classroom

15 Powerful reasons to use station activities in the classroom

by | Feb 25, 2023 | Lesson Ideas, Pedagogy

15 Powerful reasons to use station activities in the classroom

As teachers, we are always looking for ways to engage our students and make learning enjoyable. One effective approach is the use of station activities in the classroom. Station activities are designed to provide students with a variety of learning experiences, all within the same class period. The benefits of using station activities in the classroom extend to both the students and the teacher. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore 15 powerful reasons why you should consider incorporating station activities in the classroom. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting out, station activities can help you better meet the needs of your diverse student population and make your classroom a more vibrant and dynamic learning environment. 

So grab a coffee, get comfortable, and  let’s dive in to the many benefits of using station activities in the classroom!

station activities in the classroom

reasons to use station activities in the classroom

Disclaimer: This blog post, ’15 Powerful reasons to use station activities in the classroom’, may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps me to continue writing awesome content for you! Read full disclaimer here. station activities in the classroom

What are station activities in the classroom?

 Station activities are a teaching approach that involves breaking the class into small groups and having them rotate through a series of learning stations. Each station provides students with a different activity or task that focuses on a specific learning objective. Students work in small groups, with each group rotating through all of the stations.

To set up station activities in your classroom, you’ll need to first determine your learning objectives for the lesson. Then, create several activities that focus on these objectives. 

Stations don’t have to be a lot of effort to set up. They don’t even need to be hands-on activities. A station could consist of a worksheet, reading a passage, or even watching a video. It could be all the normal activities you were going to do in a lesson, but rather than having the class do them at the same time you could set them up as stations. 

Next, divide your class into small groups and assign each group to a different station. Depending on the size of your class and the number of stations, you may need to repeat some stations to ensure that all groups have a chance to complete all activities.

Some ideas for making station activities in the classroom run smoothly include:

  • Setting a timer for each station so students know when to rotate to the next station (I don’t usually do this as I like my students to move at their own pace, however, if you have students who dawdle or need help staying on task then this can be super helpful). 
  • Put students into groups rather than letting them choose their own. I like to group my students so that my strugglers have some support from peers who are able to work more independently.
  • Set up more than one set of stations. My classes are usually upwards of 25 students. If I have a smaller number of stations (say 5) I like to set up two lots of these to reduce waiting time and crowding. 
  • Have students take turns ‘leading’ the station. This may involve reading instructions, ensuring all parts of the station are completed, and ensuring the station is cleaned up and reset for the next group.
  • Set rules and expectations as well as consequences for what happens if they don’t follow them. Generally students really enjoy station activities, so ensuring they understand that if they muck around they will be required to sit back in their seat to complete the work might be enough for them to be on their best behaviour.
  • Make sure instructions are clear for each station so that students can start immediately and avoid confusion.
  • Give students a goal of what needs to be done in the time frame to keep expectations high.
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Reasons to use station activities in the classroom for students

Using station activities in the classroom has some very powerful benefits for student learning. Some of these include:

1. Encourages Active Learning: Station activities allow students to be more actively engaged in their learning. By moving around the classroom, working on different tasks, and collaborating with peers, students are more likely to be invested in the learning process.

 

2. Differentiated Instruction: Stations can provide an opportunity for teachers to differentiate instruction and meet the individual needs of their students. Teachers can create different stations for different skill levels or learning styles, providing students with targeted activities that are most effective for them.

 

3. Differentiated Environment: Stations also allow for differentiation by allowing students to work at their own pace, complete stations in different orders, choose to sit or stand, and potentially choose who to work with. Providing this level of choice is also powerful in giving students ownership over their own learning. 

 

4. Increases Student Engagement: By providing a variety of tasks and activities at different stations, teachers can capture the interest of all students and promote engagement. Students are less likely to get bored or disengaged when they are presented with a variety of options.

 

5. Promotes Collaboration: Station activities in the classroom can encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer teaching. Students working in pairs or small groups can discuss and compare their work, and help each other if they are struggling. I often also witness this not just within a group, but between groups. Students may check with the group that completed that station ahead of them to see if they also got the same result. 

 

6. Enhances Learning Outcomes: When students are engaged, active, and collaborative in their learning, they are more likely to retain information and perform better academically. By incorporating station activities, teachers can enhance learning outcomes and help students achieve academic success.

 

7. Allows for Movement: By allowing movement, you are also allowing more oxygen to be pumped to the brain. This helps students remain focussed on the tasks and keep their brain active to learn new information.

 

8. Builds a positive vibe: This is hard to describe, but when I use stations in my classroom there is a vibe. Students are discussing the learning, smiling, working hard, enjoying different tasks, enjoying the collaboration. It’s a vibe. A great one. 

station activities in the classroom

Reasons to use station activities in the classroom for teachers

9. Cost effective for equipment or supplies: If you have limited sets of equipment or materials for a whole class activity, then this is an excellent solution. Rather than having to buy lots of equipment, you can just buy one set of each and have students take turns at each station.

This is particularly helpful for myself as a science teacher as we often don’t have a class set of the more expensive equipment.

 

10. You can move around freely: Being able to move around the room rather than being stuck up the front allows you to witness students in the depths of learning, hear their conversations and participate in them, provide direct instruction or assistance as necessary, and even take the time to make notes for informal assessment. 

 

11. Differentiate instruction and assistance: By moving around to different groups you are able to provide more differentiated instructions, information and help as students need it. 

 

12. Assess students and provide feedback in real time: We know that feedback is most useful if it is timely. By using stations and moving around, it provides you with this opportunity to check student work and give feedback at the time it is needed.

 

13. Observe students working in different ways: It is a great thing to witness students learning in a range of environments and with different people. This can help you plan for future lessons in making observations about how long students take at each station, who they work well with, who is good at leading the group, etc. 

 

 14. Provides great opportunities for action photos: Take these opportunities to take photos of students engaged in learning. Use these to put up around the classroom, put in a newsletter article, add to the school website, promote your subject or even send home to parents.

 

 15. Helps you build positive relationships with students: While it can be hard to get to know students while they are working at their desks, station activities in the classroom allow for you to chat with them more freely and engage with them more personally.

This is really helpful for building a positive rapport and relationship with your students.

station activities in the classroom

Conclusion

There are so many benefits to both students and teachers when using station activities in the classroom.

Do you use them in your classroom?

Please share your experiences below in the comments!

Don’t forget to visit my store to pick up some ready made station activities!

station activities in the classroom

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6 ways to use positive reinforcement for students

6 ways to use positive reinforcement for students

by | Feb 13, 2023 | Lesson Ideas

6 ways to use positive reinforcement for students

As teachers, we all want our students to make good choices and engage in positive behavior. But, let’s face it, getting students to do the right thing can sometimes be a challenge. So, how can we encourage our students to make the right choices and engage in positive behavior? The answer is simple: positive reinforcement for students.

Positive reinforcement for students is a powerful tool that can be used to shape student behavior and encourage good choices. It involves rewarding desired behaviors with positive attention, recognition, or tangible rewards. When students receive positive reinforcement for their good behavior, they are more likely to repeat that behavior in the future.

So grab a coffee, sit back and relax while I give you 6 ways you can use positive reinforcement for students in your classroom to encourage good behavior.

positive reinforcement for students

Disclaimer: This blog post, ‘6 ways to use positive reinforcement for students’, may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps me to continue writing awesome content for you! Read full disclaimer here. common teacher fearsNew Science Teacher Advice

This blog post is written in two parts, the first by Katrina Harte, The Animated Teacher, and the second by guest blog writer Rachel Peach.

6 ways to use positive reinforcement for students

1. Verbal praise

Verbal praise is one of the simplest and most effective forms of positive reinforcement for students.

Simply acknowledging and complimenting students for their good behavior can go a long way in shaping their behavior. This is particularly true for students whose love language is words of affirmation. Read more about student ‘love languages’ here.

2. Classroom rewards

You can establish a system of rewards for positive behavior, such as a prize box or a special privilege. For example, students who exhibit good behavior throughout the week might earn the privilege of sitting in a special chair or getting a special treat.

3. Public recognition

Public recognition, such as posting student work or announcing a student’s name in front of the class, can be a powerful form of positive reinforcement. It gives students a sense of pride and can be a great motivator for good behavior.

4. Written praise

Written praise, such as a note or a certificate, can be a tangible form of positive reinforcement for students that they can keep and look back on later. It can also be a great motivator for good behavior.

5. Personalized reinforcement

Personalized reinforcement, such as a one-on-one conversation or a special activity, can be a powerful form of positive reinforcement for students. It shows them that you are taking the time to recognize their individual efforts and achievements.

6. Group rewards

Group rewards, such as a class party or a field trip, can be a powerful form of positive reinforcement for students.

It gives them a sense of pride and camaraderie and encourages good behavior through peer pressure.

While I wouldn’t usually promote peer pressure, what you will actually observe is students holding each other accountable for their actions. This is often more powerful than a teacher holding a student accountable as their peers generally hold a lot more weight.

 

It’s important to note that positive reinforcement should not be used as a bribe or a threat. When used properly, positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for shaping student behavior and encouraging good choices. However, when used as a bribe or a threat, it can have negative consequences and can actually decrease desired behavior.

 

BUT WAIT! There’s more!

Here are some super helpful thoughts on how to encourage students to do the right thing by my very gifted colleague, Rachel Peach.

 

Just do the right thing!

By Rachel Peach

Three students drifted in late to class. Issue some demerits.

Bringing History books to Science. A reminder about organisation.

Laptops not charged … again. A couple more demerits.

Students gazing out of the window. A 5 minute lecture on the importance of focus.

Random talk about the weekend. Redirect. Random talk. Redirect. Random talking again.

 

Why don’t students just do the right thing?

Why does anybody do the right thing?

 

Motivation is a complex topic which, put simply, can be described as either intrinsic or extrinsic.

The intrinsically motivated student finds joy in learning, may strive towards mastering a goal with more persistence, is likely to experience a state of flow and needs less teacher prodding.

Intrinsic motivation tends to foster creativity and critical thinking with students continuing to noodle problems outside the classroom. Students who experience success are likely to have enhanced motivation.

Shift your practice to reward students doing the right thing. This honours students who sometimes slip under the radar whilst highlighting great learning behaviours which is something we should be noticing and celebrating. 

The trick is to do positive reinforcement for students spontaneously and unexpectedly. 

 

For example

  • Give rewards to students who turn up on time after recess.
  • Introduce your first lesson activity, take the roll, then walk around the room giving rewards to students who have started on their learning activity. 
  • Listen to group talk and give rewards for students talking on task.

Announcing your rewards ahead of time makes them extrinsic motivators.

Unexpected rewards for appropriate learning behaviours nudges students towards new habits and might reinforce intrinsic motivation drivers in students over time.

This is one more mechanism we can use to help students become great learners so let’s reward students who show great learning behaviours.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, positive reinforcement for students is a powerful tool that can be used to encourage good behavior.

By rewarding desired behaviors with positive attention, recognition, or tangible rewards, we can shape student behavior and make it more likely that they will engage in positive behavior in the future.

So, the next time you’re trying to get your students to do the right thing, try using positive reinforcement for students to encourage good behavior.

You might just be surprised at the results!

Make sure you join my email list for top tips, free resources and classroom ideas. 

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The second half of this blog post was guest written by a highly regarded colleague of mine, Rachel Peach. Rachel has been an overly-enthusiastic Science teacher for more than 25 years and has taught in London, Amsterdam and Sydney. Her passion for Biology started as a child exploring her grandparents’ farm and beach-combing with her family.

Now she specialises in facilitating differentiated, engaging and authentic learning programs for all students. Rachel is an expert mentor with the Modern Classroom Project and is the Assistant Learning Leader in the Science Faculty of a K-12 Independent school in Sydney. When she is not thinking and talking about pedagogy, you can find Rachel walking with her dog and daughters in the Australian bush.

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5 easy ways to spice up a lesson

5 easy ways to spice up a lesson

by | Feb 7, 2023 | Lesson Ideas

5 easy ways to spice up a lesson

As a teacher, it’s difficult to always keep your students engaged and interested in what you’re teaching.

But don’t worry! I’ve got your back.

Here are 5 of my best and easiest ways to spice up a lesson (that doesn’t dramatically increase your workload!)

So grab a coffee, find a comfy chair, relax and get ready for some spicy lessons!

easy ways to spice up a lesson

Disclaimer: This blog post, ‘5 easy ways to spice up a lesson’, may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps me to continue writing awesome content for you! Read full disclaimer here.

5 easy ways to spice up a lesson

1. Take it Outside

Get your students up and out of their seats by taking your lesson outside. A change of scenery can help break up the monotony of the classroom and add a new level of excitement to the lesson. 

This doesn’t need to be for any particular reason. 

Got some worksheets for students to do? Get them to complete them outside. That’s it.

Apart from being a great way to spice up a lesson, is also one of my fave ways to differentiate. It allows students to sit or stand or lie down in a way that works for them. It also allows students to group together, pair up or isolate for quiet time. 

If you want to go the extra mile you could turn your lesson into a scavenger hunt, but honestly just taking your class outside is enough.

Some tips:

  • Set strict rules before hand with the warning that if they don’t behave appropriately or don’t take their work seriously you will bring them back inside.
  • This doesn’t have to go for the entire lesson. Even just a 20 minute section of the lesson could be done outside.
  • Make sure you let your admin know if you are planning to do this in case of an emergency or the need for a student to be contacted by the office.
  • Consider other classes, the weather, and seating options. 

2. Incorporate a Fun Brain Break

Brain breaks are a great way to spice up a lesson. They give your students a mental break which allows them to re-focus and continue learning. 

Incorporating a fun activity that has a competitive edge like bottle flipping, or rock, paper, scissors, can re-energise students and help them be ready to dive back into the lesson.

Here are 23 of my favorite brain break ideas for middle school.

brain break ideas for middle school

3. Turn it into Stations

Adding movement and choice are great components when you are looking to spice up a lesson. Turning your lesson into stations is a great way to get your students up and moving while still teaching them important concepts. 

You can set up stations around the room and have students rotate through each station, working on different aspects of the lesson. 

This allows students to work at their own pace and can make the lesson feel more interactive and hands-on.

Again, this doesn’t need to involve heaps of extra preparation for you. Instead of having the class work linearly through the different activities you already had planned, split them up into stations around the room. 

4. Make it a Competition

Adding a competitive element to your lesson can be a great way to get your students motivated and engaged. 

Whether it’s a friendly competition between groups or a class-wide contest, giving students a reason to work hard and try their best can add a new level of excitement to the lesson. 

I often do this while watching an educational video. I split my class into teams, and while watching students write questions (and answers) from the video. We then go around and each group can ask the class a question. The group that answers first correctly gets a point and if no one can answer it then the team that asked it get a point.

This works particularly well to spice up a lesson for videos that are more than 10 mins long. 

Don’t forget to add some incentive, like a prize or lollies, to keep your students motivated.

    5. Add Some Fun Tools

    Adding fun tools to your lesson can help keep your students engaged and make the lesson more interactive. 

    Buzzers, dice, or mini whiteboards, can be used to create hands-on and interactive lessons. Even something more simple like incorporating post-it notes is enough to spice up a lesson.

    Incorporating these fun tools can help keep your students interested and engaged, even when the subject matter is challenging.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, incorporating these five simple tips into your lessons can help make your lessons more engaging and interesting for your students. 

    From taking the lesson outside to adding fun tools, there are many ways to add a new level of excitement to your lessons. So don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new!

    If you’re still in doubt, try to add movement, change the environment, or try something new and out of the ordinary.

    Do you have a way you like to spice up a lesson?

    Please comment below!

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    Science Halloween Activities Middle School: 3 Easy Last Minute Ideas

    Science Halloween Activities Middle School: 3 Easy Last Minute Ideas

    by | Oct 21, 2022 | Lesson Ideas

    Science Halloween Activities Middle School: 3 Easy Last Minute Ideas

    Science halloween activities middle school

    Halloween is such a fun time to celebrate and being a science teacher gives you the best opportunity to make the most of super fun Halloween activities and experiments. However, I totally understand that sometimes it is not possible for you to prepare, purchase or have enough energy for the messy kind of experiments that Halloween often calls for. Or maybe its suddenly the week before and you forgot about it?!

    Don’t worry! I’ve got your back.

    I’ve created a list of my favorite mess-free Middle school science Halloween activities so you can still wow your students without the mess and expense! Make sure you read all the way through to also claim a FREE murder mystery template!

    Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

    science halloween activities middle school

    Disclaimer: This blog post, ‘Science Halloween Activities Middle School: 3 easy last minute ideas’, may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps me to continue writing awesome content for you! Read full disclaimer here.New Science Teacher Advice

    Mess-free Science Halloween Activities Middle School

    I don’t want you to miss out on the Halloween fun just because you aren’t able to run Pinterest perfect experiments or decorate your classroom with hundreds of dollars worth of decorations that are only useful once a year. So I’ve created this list of spooky, engaging, and fun Halloween science activities that are easy to implement and enjoy without the mess or expense usually expected at Halloween. 

    The resources I’ve collated cost less than $5 which is a lot less than buying materials for a whole class to do an experiment. These resources can also be used year after year and with multiple classes. 

    If you don’t want to purchase them you can definitely come up with your own similar ideas and resources to implement in your classroom. I hope they inspire you and spark some ideas!

    1. Digital escape rooms

    Digital escape rooms are my absolute favorite resource to use in my class. They are engaging for students and promote problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and collaboration. They are also no-prep for you as they are self-marked and also come with a full set of teacher answers in case students need help along the way. 

    Here are some of the spookiest digital escape rooms for middle school science:

    Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

    What is needed to access the digital escape room?

    Students just need access to a device with internet access. While the escape room uses a Google Form, students are not required to sign in so they don’t need an account to play. It is designed to be zero prep for you – just share the link with students and away they go!

    What does the digital escape room consist of?

    The activity contains a set of tasks students must complete in order to ‘escape’.

    Answers are entered into a Google Form (provided). The task cards are included digitally within the Google Form, but a pdf version of the task cards and answers is also included for you.

    Why use science digital escape rooms?

    1. It is zero prep! Just share the link with students and away they go!
    2. It is a fun and engaging way for students to review content.
    3. It builds student skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.
    4. It can be used in a wide range of environments including in the classroom, online learning, homeschooling, and distance education.
    5. It is self-marking.
    6. Full teacher answers included.

    Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

    2. Two-player racing quiz

    2-player racing games are an awesome way to engage students and revise content and key terms. You can build them yourself in Google sheets or purchase them for a few dollars.

    This bundle includes 3 racing games on the scientific method and branches of science in spooky Halloween themes including spiders, witches and ghosts.

    Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

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    3. Murder Mystery

    Murder mysteries are a fun way to make a worksheet more fun and they can be created for any topic.

    The way I create mine is to have four ‘characters’ who each tell their ‘facts’. 

    The ‘murderer’ is the one who has told 2 lies. The ‘accomplice’ tells one lie. The witnesses are innocents and have only true statements.

    To see an example of my Classification Murder Mystery click here.

    Do you want a free template? Enter your details below and I’ll send you my template so you can make your own murder mysteries!

    Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

    FREE murder mystery template

    Enter your email address here and I'll send you a FREE copy of my murder mystery template so you can create your own for your classes!

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       Conclusion

      Preparing middle school science Halloween activities doesn’t have to be an onerous task. Just grab one of the above resources and watch your students engage and have fun this Halloween!

      Mess-free science halloween activities middle school

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      9 better alternatives to homework

      9 better alternatives to homework

      by | Aug 31, 2022 | Lesson Ideas

      9 better alternatives to homework

      Traditionally homework has been school work that students complete outside of the classroom and outside of school hours. This usually consists of textbook questions, worksheets, or research tasks.

      Studies have been inconsistent in providing concrete evidence for the benefits of homework, and the effectiveness of set homework tasks depends greatly on the task itself.

      This list of 9 alternatives to homework will help you give students a break from the norm while still impacting their learning and character development. 

      alternatives to homework in middle school

      alternatives to homework in middle school

      Disclaimer: This blog post, ‘9 better alternatives to homework’, may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. This is of no extra cost to you and it helps me to continue writing awesome content for you! Read full disclaimer here.

      Alternatives to homework

      It is worth noting that I don’t use the word ‘homework’. Why? Because it has such a deeply ingrained negative connotation for both students and parents.

      Terms I prefer to use instead include:

      • At home learning
      • Daily / Weekly Practice
      • Challenge
      • Game
      • Consolidation

      These terms don’t have the same negative connotation as ‘homework’ and help the students think about the tasks in a more positive way. 

      Before I get into my suggestions, here are some benefits of using alternatives to homework:

      1. You don’t have to mark them. These activities are designed to be able to be marked simple as participated or not. Not all home learning tasks need to add to your workload!

      2. They encourage the development of character traits and skills – not just academic ones.

      3. They are simple and easy to assign to almost any topic – and in fact, they don’t need to be specifically linked to a topic at all.

      4. The nature of the tasks remind students to maintain balance between school / study and home life. 

      5. They can be easily differentiated to cater for the variation of student situations.

      alternatives to homework in middle school

      9 better alternatives to homework

      1. Baking from a recipe

      Following instructions is very important in life as well as most subjects. For example, in subjects, such as science, students need to be able to work safely in a laboratory.

      Setting a home task where students need to bake something following a recipe is a great alternative that allows students to practice these skills in a fun way.

      Have students either bring you a photo of them in action baking, or evidence of the product itself!

      Be mindful: Check any food allergies of your students if you want students to bring in the treats they bake.

      2. Photo challenge 

      Having students take a photo of their learning as applied in real life. This is a great way to help students practice being observant and also see the relevance of their learning outside of the classroom.

      Be mindful: Students may not have access to a camera or smartphone. They could just write a short description of what they saw and where they saw it.

       

      3. Play a board/card game 

      Playing board games or card games requires students to practice their social and problem-solving skills. These are skills that are essential in the classroom and also in the real world. 

      I love alternatives to homework that help build student character in addition to academic skills. 

      Be mindful: Depending on your context, students may not have access to board games or they may not have family members around each day to play a board game with. Often school libraries contain games that can be rented out.

      alternatives to homework in middle school

      4. Home learning / flipped learning

      Flipped learning is different from homework in that rather than practicing a skill they have learned in class, they learn the skill so they come to class ready to practice the skill.

      This is usually done with the teacher filming a short tutorial to be watched at home before the upcoming lesson.

      Flipped learning helps to develop autonomy and allows students to take their learning at their own pace since they can pause, rewind and rewatch the video as many times as they need to. 

      The videos are usually less than 10 minutes in length so it is also a nice quick learning opportunity. 

      Be mindful: Ensure all students have access to the technology required to watch the video.

      5. Activities that apply their learning 

      Activities that focus on applying their learning in practical ways are effective alternatives to homework tasks of a traditional sense.

      For example, have you taught students about the unit cost in maths? The home task could be going shopping with a parent and photographing different options and calculating the best buy option.

      Or maybe you’ve been learning about density in science? Have students compare the density of various household items in water at home. 

       

      6. Reflect on learning

      Asking students to write a small paragraph to reflect on the things they learned in your class that day or week is a really valuable use of their time and a great alternative to homework.

      Reflecting and writing it down helps their brain to recognize the information as important. 

      Are you reading this thinking ‘yeah but its so annoying to mark’. 

      Then don’t! Just mark it as a participation home task. Whether students submit their paragraph on Google Classroom or hold up their book in class for you to tick off ‘complete’, it doesn’t have to be an onerous task for you.

      alternatives to homework in middle school

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      7. Interview someone

      Interviewing someone can be as simple as giving the students 3 questions to ask someone at home. It could be about their own views on a topic, where they see the usefulness of your subject, or about their career. 

      This activity builds student skills in communication and listening whilst also providing an opportunity to build or deepen connections with people.

      Be mindful: Some students may not have access to someone to interview every day. Try to give a few days so students have the opportunity. If they don’t have anyone at home you could suggest they interview a teacher, another student or even the bus driver. 

       

      8. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while

      Promoting the continuation and building of connections during term time is important for students to maintain balance in their lives. Some students struggle to do this themselves and so may feel the need to have ‘permission’ from their teacher. 

      Be mindful: Some students may not have access to a phone or enough credit to make long calls. Provide alternatives such as chatting with a neighbour in person. 

      9. Spend time with family

      If a student spends 60 minutes completing homework, then for a family whose parents don’t get home from work until after 5pm, and who go to bed around 9pm, that is one quarter of their family time taken away by homework every day. Add in an extracurricular activity or sport and students are missing out on significant family time.

      The simple act of not setting any homework or task can make a significant difference in the home lives of our students. 

      Encouraging them to spend quality time with their family instead is a valuable alternative to homework. 

      alternatives to homework in middle school

      Conclusion

      Homework is not bad and it does have its benefits. However, having a range of alternatives to the typical homework tasks allows for students to enjoy a balanced life while also building skills other than just the academic ones. 

      Have you tried any of these alternatives to homework?

      Comment below!

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