What? We have class now?

(Emergency Activities)

Curtis Maranda

These activities require little planning so they work well for “surprise” classes. The activities can be used independently as warm-ups.

Karuta/ Sentences:

In groups of four, students will have cards with different words on them

(ex: shocking, racism, dissatisfied, etc.). I will say one of the words and the first student to slap their hand down on to the card is the winner. The winning student will keep the card and then I will explain the word. All groups will have two minutes to write a sentence using the new word. All groups will share their sentence with the class. The process will be repeated 5 or 6 times.

Chain Sentences:

Students will pass a piece of paper around in a circle. Each student will write a word and together they will form a sentence. The teachers will demonstrate on the whiteboard. They will be given a topic to help them start. Each group will share their sentence with the class. The process will be repeated several times.

(I have modified this activity into a story making activity. Each group writes one sentence of the story and then they pass the paper to the next group. After 7 or 8 rotation I read the stories to the class. The students made very funny and bizarre stories.)

Word Game:

Each group will be given 5 minutes to write down as many words as possible about a given subject (ex; traveling, school, food,). Each group will share their three most interesting words. The process will be repeated several times.