30 seconds

Students are shown a number of terms for exactly 30 seconds. They need to memorise as many as possible. After 30 seconds, the terms are hidden and they need to write down as many terms as they can remember along with at least one fact about that term.

(subscription only)

Consider all reasons

Starter

Students are given an open ended statement related to the topic.  In pairs, they identify as many reasons as possible in order to provide an answer to the statement

(subscription only)

Memorise this!

Starter

Students work in pairs or small groups to remember words which have been shown to them.

(subscription only)

Odd one out

Starter

Students are shown a number of key terms.   They have to decide which of the terms is the ‘odd one out’ and give a reason for their choice

(subscription only)

Teach me about

Starter

Students become the teacher! One student is tasked with preparing a five minute revision starter about this topic for the beginning of the following lesson.

(subscription only)

Word Tennis

Starter

Students work in groups of three with two 'serving' words related to the topic. The observer monitors for words which are 'out'

(subscription only)

10 Questions

Starter

A volunteer (either a student or class teacher) is given a slip of paper so they know 'what they are'.

The rest of the class can ask up to a maximum of 10 questions to guess what they are. The volunteer can only answer 'yes' or 'no'

(subscription only)

task

What? Why? How?

Starter or plenary

Students are given a scenario. They have to suggest a solution, explain why they feel their solution is the most appropriate and finally explain how to implement their solution.

(subscription only)

task

Teacher talkabout

Starter or plenary

The class 'test' the teacher on their knowledge of key words related to this topic

(subscription only)

Word association

A starter or plenary task.

Students are asked to write down all of the words they associate with this topic. They then work with a partner to categorise them.

(subscription only)

task

One, Two, Three

Can be used either as a starter or a plenary task.

Students are given a sheet to complete firstly on their own, then with a partner and then joining up with another pair

(subscription only)

task

Pass the Buck

An excellent starter or plenary for involving all students and getting them to identify a large number of facts about the current topic

(subscription only)

task

Give me ten

A starter or plenary task

Students work in pairs to come up with ten words related to this project before joining up with another pair to expand their list.

(subscription only)

Just a minute

Starter or plenary task

Students are asked to talk to a partner about this topic for 60 seconds whilst abiding by a set of rules

(subscription only)

Taboo

A plenary activity.

This task follows the traditional Taboo game. Students work in teams with one student from each team having their back to the board. A word is displayed on the board and teams take it in turns to describe the word to the student without actually mentioning the word itself.

(subscription only)

Lesson summary

Students are asked to write down three things that they have learned during the lesson.

This plenary gives them an opportunity to evaluate the lesson and their learning and an AFL opportunity for the teacher.

task

4-4-2

A plenary activity where students are asked to summarise the lesson and pick out the main key words related to the topic.

task

Corkboard

A great plenary idea both for AFL and for getting feedback from every student

task

I predict

This task acts as the plenary from one lesson and the starter for the next lesson

task

Pyramid

A plenary activity.

Students are asked to complete a self assessment sheet to indicate what they have learned during this lesson

task

Text me

A plenary activity where students are asked to write a text message to explain what they have learned during the lesson

task

Mastermind

A plenary activity which is loosely based on the game show 'Mastermind'

(subscription only)

Call my bluff

A plenary activity based on the popular game show, ‘Call My Bluff’

(subscription only)

Pick me

This provides a differentiated starter or plenary activity. Students are given a question and work in groups to come up with an answer. The group must ensure that all members are able to articulate the answer.

(subscription only)

Theory Notes Task

Students read the theory notes on the mini website and then answer the questions on the sheet.

Task answers are supplied (subscription only)

task

answers

Identify the validation check task

Students are given a number of different pieces of data and asked to identify which validation checks would be appropriate

Task answers are supplied (subscription only)

task

answers

Validation check description task

Students are asked to provide a description and example for each type of validation check

Task answers are supplied (subscription only)

task

answers

Exam question - what is wrong? Validation

Students are given a genuine answer written by another student in response to an exam style question. They have to determine what is wrong with the answer and then write a better one themselves (subscription only)

Exam question - what is wrong? Validation Methods

Students are given a genuine answer written by another student in response to an exam style question. They have to determine what is wrong with the answer and then write a better one themselves (subscription only)

In the style of ....

A fantastic kinaesthetic activity which is bound to produce some amusing results whilst at the same time reinforcing the main concepts of this topic.

(subscription only)

task

Mnemonic

Students often find it hard to remember long lists of items. A mnemonic is a rhyme or acronym that they can create to help them recall such a list.

(subscription only)

task

Construct an answer

Students are given an exam style question to answer. They are also given a set of key words to incorporate into their answer.

(subscription only)

task

100 words

Students have exactly 100 words to summarise the key points about this topic

(subscription only)

task

Podcast

Students are given instructions about creating a revision podcast based on this topic

(subscription only)

task

Word cloud

Students write a set of notes about this topic and then use them as the basis to create a word cloud. Their work can be used to create a classroom display.

(subscription only)

task

You are the teacher

Students work in small groups to prepare a lesson on this topic. They are provided with information and tips about the tasks they need to prepare.

Because all students will be working on this task there is no real need for them to actually teach it the following lesson

(subscription only)

task