We can understand this force or rigorous insisting behavior to follow certain attitudes, beliefs, or ideas as peer pressure. Peer pressure is inevitable and not all such instances are harmful. However, it is important for high schoolers to understand this concept and decode effective ways to deal with it. 

In this case, peer pressure games and activities become a helpful tool to increase students’ awareness of such real-world instances in a fun and light-hearted manner. With such games and activities, students get an opportunity to refine their decision-making skills, enabling them to approach such situations with increased confidence. In this article, you will find thoughtful games and activities drafted to empower students and cultivate a resilient mindset when it comes to handling peer pressure.

Helpful peer pressure games and activities for high schoolers 

Just as empathy activities allow students to understand feelings, peer pressure activities create a sense of awareness in high schoolers. The below-mentioned activities are perfect to instill confidence and social skills that help them face realistic situations with wisdom.

1. Positive or Negative?

Peer pressure seems to be a daunting concept however, it is not just about harmful instances or forceful situations by peers. Hence, it is important for students to understand the types of peer pressure. This game allows them to be quick at guessing and even sharpens their critical thinking skills.

For this game, ask students to make two different paper cutouts titled Positive and Negative. Divide the students into teams of 2 members each. Two teams compete with each other. Now, present the peer pressure scenario and teams need to raise the paper cutout whichever they think fits the situation. For example, if the situation is – your friend is forcing you to read a new book he has purchased then this is categorized as Positive peer pressure. 

2. Peer Pressure Quiz 

A quiz is one of the helpful ways to indulge students in critical thinking. It empowers them to think out of the box and filter their thoughts in the right manner. For this activity, divide the students into teams of 2 members each. Two teams shall compete against each other.

Prepare a quiz and distribute this paper to both teams. The teams are supposed to brainstorm and find solutions for all questions. These questions can include scenarios, multiple choice, or even short answers. The team that completes the quiz first with the maximum number of correct answers wins the game. 

3. What’s your Excuse?

At times, peer pressure could be simple things like sneaking out or bunking a class. While this is not categorized as something very harmful, it still is peer pressure for students who do not want to indulge in it. For this game, students need to be super creative and think of the best excuses.

To begin with the game, read aloud any peer pressure scenario. Now, divide students into teams of 3 members each. Two teams compete with each other. Present the scenario and each team thinks of different yet creative excuses. Let the other students decide which team gives the best excuses. The one with the best excuses wins the game.

4. Role Play

When students understand peer pressure by stepping into such situations, they are more likely to decode the essential steps to be taken in such cases. This activity focuses on teaching students how to handle peer pressure without feeling guilty about not participating in it. For this activity, divide students into teams. 

Now, write such situations that constitute peer pressure like forcing someone to smoke or bullying someone online. Assign a topic to each team and they need to showcase the scene by playing roles. Other students in the class can share their feedback, personal experiences, or solutions after the act. 

5. Observe your actions

In today’s era of pervasive technology and social media, getting influenced by others is very common in teenagers. However, getting influenced by peers is much more evident. Students sometimes find themselves compelled to engage in certain activities just to show off and look superior, regardless of whether these activities align with their best interests.

Another facet of this scenario entails that students might also be aware of the activities that are wrong but feel pressured to partake in them or willingly choose to do so. Now this calls for making them aware of the right actions to take and letting them know that they can talk to their parents, teachers, or guardians in any such situation.

To carry out the activity, ask students to observe their day carefully in terms of what they’re doing in school or anywhere they are. Then they need to carefully think if any such activity they’re enrolling under any kind of pressure. Students have to make a note of it. Instruct them to think of answers to certain questions which can be;

What is the activity? 
What do you think, is it right or wrong from any context/perspective?
Are you doing it under any kind of pressure or is it your own choice?
If you feel you’ve been pressured for the same, are you still interested in doing so?
If you’re interested, then what it is that is stopping you from going ahead?

Students just have to note such instances in slips without mentioning their names. Teachers can then collect them and choose a day to read these anonymous slips in front of students for which other students and teachers can share their insights. This might help that particular child to know more about the same. If he/she still feels confused then they can approach the teacher or counselor for the same.

Often, students may find it difficult to open up and share their thoughts or concerns with others. This activity aims to provide students with a safe space to freely discuss any matter that’s on their minds, without any fear of judgment or hesitation. In doing so, teachers will have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into their students’ lives, enabling them to explore ways to offer comprehensive support and assistance.

6. Poster Making 

Providing creative freedom is one of the ways to empower students to voice their opinions. Sometimes, all it needs is a unique way of expression to let students understand themselves and others better. For this activity, give a large sheet of paper to high schoolers and direct them to make a poster.

In this activity, students can sketch, draw, or paint their ideas related to peer pressure. They may also use different quotes or sayings to highlight their perspectives. Once the posters are made, allow students to explain their concepts to everyone in the class. For example, they may talk about cyberbullying, cultural diversity, or discrimination among students. 

7. The 3 Choices 

Acts of peer pressure are not a thoughtful process. Such situations generally occur all of a sudden and students certainly do not get time to process everything. Hence, this activity helps high schoolers make wise decisions whenever they face different acts of peer pressure from their fellow mates.

For this activity, make three different flashcards – IGNORE, SPEAK UP, and SAY NO. Place these cards on a table and present a situation that involves peer pressure. After this, invite each student to choose any of the choices. They need to explain their choice and let other students learn different ways to tackle peer pressure. Problem-solving activities like this one help high schoolers become better decision-makers. 

8. Impromptu Speech

Peer pressure is a broad concept and high schoolers sure need to discover the various aspects of it. Some acts of peer pressure can be negative while some can also be positive. In this case, this activity helps students express their views in a quick manner thereby enhancing their critical thinking skills. 

For this activity, write different topics that involve peer pressure and put them in the jar. Now, each student selects a topic from the jar and gets 2 minutes of preparation. They may share their experiences, any incidents they might have read about, or even ways to prevent it. Since it is impromptu, there’s no wrong or right. Make sure to involve students in a healthy discussion later. Social skills activities like this enable students to express their views with confidence and clarity. 

Why are peer pressure games and activities important?

High schoolers are likely to come across various situations when they feel pressured to be involved in some activity or do specific tasks. That’s when games and activities help them figure out the right thing. It is evidently important to provide knowledge and let them discover this subject. 

• Peer pressure games and activities prepare students to identify and resolve their concerns. When individuals are aware of situations, only then they can analyze, think, and take the necessary steps.
• Games and activities also create a sense of awareness among students which helps them decide the right course of action. It not only inspires them to stand for the right but also motivates them to spread the word among others.
• Indulging in such games and activities enhances their decision-making skills. It enables them to think, assess the potential solutions, and finally arrive at the most feasible decision.
• They also develop good communication skills and learn to deal with different types of people. It eventually helps develop a problem-solving mindset.
• Peer pressure games and activities promote acceptance and perspective-seeking behavior. It develops empathy and prepares students for real-world situations.

Wrapping up

Peer pressure is indeed an important aspect of growing up. As high schoolers, students need to develop the right skills and confidence to handle different types of circumstances. With the help of the above-mentioned games and activities, teachers can create an effective learning environment where students not only learn but also freely express themselves. Games and activities act as the catalyst for boosting the morale of students as well as creating a safe space for exploring the vital aspect of handling peer pressure.

Shweta Sharma

I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn

The post 8 Peer Pressure Games & Activities For High School Students  appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

However, we all know that getting teenagers out of bed in the morning can be a Herculean task, especially when they would rather binge-watch the latest Netflix series or scroll through social media all night.

The challenges for high school students with learning difficulties can be different and unique, that’s where the Individualized Education Program (IEP) comes in. For high school students with learning difficulties, the IEP is a legally mandated document that outlines their specific needs and accommodations. This includes attendance goals that are tailored to their individual circumstances. No matter what the reason, the attendance goals in the IEP are designed to help students succeed academically while also taking their unique challenges into consideration.

So, let’s dive into the world of IEP attendance goals for high school students and explore how they can help ensure success in the classroom and beyond.

Assessing attendance needs

Much like other IEP goals like Grammar, self-advocacy, and organization, Assessing attendance needs is a crucial step in developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for high school students. It requires a thorough understanding of each student’s individual circumstances, challenges, and needs in order to create effective attendance goals that will help them succeed academically and beyond.

To assess attendance needs, educators and other professionals must gather information from a variety of sources. This may include input from the student, their parents or guardians, medical professionals, and school staff. It’s important to take a holistic approach, considering physical, emotional, and environmental factors that may impact attendance.

For example, a student with a chronic illness may require accommodations such as a flexible attendance policy or homebound instruction. A student with a difficult home life may benefit from counseling services or transportation assistance. Meanwhile, a student who is simply struggling with the transition to high school may need additional support and encouragement to attend regularly.

By assessing attendance needs and developing tailored attendance goals, educators can help ensure that all high school students, regardless of their individual circumstances, have the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

IEP attendance goals for high school students

• The student will attend at least 95% of their scheduled classes in each quarter of the school year, as measured by teacher attendance records.

• The student will participate in at least one school club or activity per semester and attend all scheduled meetings, as measured by attendance records.

• The student will meet with their academic advisor once a month to review their academic progress and discuss post-secondary options, with progress documented in meeting notes.

• The student will complete and turn in all assignments on time for each class, with progress tracked by grading reports in the school’s online portal.

• The student will attend all scheduled IEP meetings and arrive on time, with attendance documented in meeting minutes.

• The student will seek assistance from teachers or peers within two days of feeling behind in their coursework, with progress tracked by assignment submission dates.

• The student will maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher throughout the school year, with progress tracked by quarterly report cards.

• The student will attend all scheduled tutoring or after-school study sessions, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets or teacher reports.

• The student will reduce their number of absences due to illness or personal reasons by 50% from the previous school year, with progress tracked by attendance records.

• The student will participate in a mentoring program and attend all scheduled meetings, with attendance documented in meeting notes.

• The student will demonstrate improved reading comprehension by increasing their reading level by two grade levels by the end of the school year, as measured by a standardized reading assessment.

• The student will attend at least one college information session or career fair per semester, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets.

• The student will complete all college applications and submit them by the specified deadlines, with progress tracked by application submission dates.

• The student will maintain a positive attitude and behavior during IEP meetings, as evidenced by zero disciplinary referrals during meetings.

• The student will collaborate with peers on group projects and complete all assignments on time, with progress tracked by assignment submission dates.

• The student will participate in a community service project for at least 20 hours during the school year, with progress tracked by volunteer hour logs.

• The student will attend at least one school-sponsored event per month to increase engagement and school spirit, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets.

• The student will develop a long-term academic and career plan with their academic advisor by the end of the first semester, with progress documented in meeting notes.

• The student will seek help from a counselor or therapist to address any mental health concerns that may affect attendance or academic performance, with progress tracked by the counselor/therapist meeting notes.

• The student will maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid excessive absences due to oversleeping, with progress tracked by attendance records.

• The student will take breaks when feeling overwhelmed to avoid excessive absences, with progress tracked by attendance records.

• The student will avoid distractions during class to remain engaged and attentive, with progress tracked by teacher reports or self-reflection logs.

• The student will actively participate in class discussions and activities to improve social skills, with progress tracked by teacher reports or self-reflection logs.

• The student will use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of assignments, due dates, and other important events, with progress tracked by the planner/calendar use.

• The student will establish and maintain positive relationships with teachers and staff members, with progress tracked by teacher/staff feedback or self-reflection logs.

• The student will attend at least one extracurricular activity per week to increase social engagement with peers, with attendance

Improving student attendance: Strategies for success

Student attendance is crucial to academic success. When students regularly attend school, they have the opportunity to engage in meaningful learning experiences and develop relationships with their peers and teachers.

However, some students may struggle with attendance for a variety of reasons, including illness, transportation issues, or lack of motivation. This can impact their academic performance and make it difficult to achieve their goals. Hence, here are some strategies that educators and families can use to promote student attendance and improve academic outcomes.

1. Establish a positive school culture: A welcoming and supportive school environment can motivate students to attend school regularly.
2. Communicate attendance expectations: Clear communication of attendance policies and expectations can help students understand the importance of regular attendance.
3. Use attendance incentives: Offering rewards such as extra credit, prizes, or recognition for good attendance can motivate students to attend regularly.
4. Provide transportation options: Lack of transportation can be a barrier to attendance for some students. Schools can provide transportation options such as bus passes, carpooling, or bike-sharing programs.
5. Address health and wellness needs: Chronic health issues, mental health concerns, or lack of sleep can contribute to absenteeism. Schools can provide resources such as school-based health clinics, counseling services, and wellness programs to support students’ overall health and well-being.
6. Use technology: Schools can use technology such as attendance tracking apps or text messaging systems to communicate with students and parents/guardians about attendance.
7. Monitor attendance data: Regular monitoring and analysis of attendance data can help schools identify trends and develop targeted interventions to address attendance issues.
8. Involve parents/guardians: Parents and guardians have important responsibilities in the life of a special needs child. Additionally, they can play a crucial role in promoting attendance. Schools can involve parents and guardians in attendance campaigns, provide regular communication about their child’s attendance, and work collaboratively to identify and address attendance barriers.
9. Provide academic support: Students who are struggling academically may be more likely to miss school. Schools can provide academic support such as tutoring or after-school programs to help students stay on track.
10. Foster positive relationships: Positive relationships with teachers, staff, and peers can motivate students to attend school and feel connected to their school community. Schools can promote positive relationships by creating opportunities for student engagement, such as clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, attendance goals are an essential component of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for high school students with difficulties. Assessing attendance needs requires a holistic approach that takes into consideration the unique circumstances of each student. This may include input from the student, their parents or guardians, medical professionals, IEP Team members, and school staff.

By developing tailored attendance goals with the inclusion of self-regulation goals, educators can help students overcome their attendance challenges and succeed academically and beyond. Whether it’s due to a physical difficulty, mental health issue, difficult home life, or other circumstances, attendance goals can help ensure that students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

So, let’s continue to prioritize attendance needs assessment and tailored attendance goals as a way to support and empower high school students with difficulties. By doing so, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable education system for all.

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

The post IEP Attendance Goals For High School Students appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right tools, resources, and support, students can learn to take charge of their mental health and break free from the chains of stigma and silence. That’s where mental health awareness activities come in.

By providing a safe and non-judgmental space for students to explore their emotions, express themselves creatively, and connect with others, these activities can be a transformative force in promoting mental well-being and breaking down barriers to help-seeking.

So join us on this journey as we explore the power of mental health awareness activities for high school students. Together, we can create a world where mental health is valued, supported, and celebrated.

Engaging mental health activities for high schoolers to promote awareness

1. Art therapy 

Are you looking for a creative way to express your emotions and thoughts? Join us for an art therapy session where you can let your imagination run wild and explore your inner world through various art forms!

Provide a range of art materials such as paper, paint, markers, and clay, and encourage students to create art that represents their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Create a safe and non-judgmental space where students can share their art and their feelings with others.

2. Mindfulness exercises

Do you feel overwhelmed by the constant demands of school and life? Take a break and join us for a mindfulness exercise where you can learn how to focus on the present moment and find inner peace.

Lead students through a guided meditation or breathing exercise that helps them to focus on the present moment and calm their minds. Encourage them to practice mindfulness throughout the day, such as by taking deep breaths or noticing their surroundings. These can also be combined with some mindfulness games for added benefits. 

3. Stress management workshops

Are you tired of feeling stressed and anxious all the time? Join us for a stress management workshop where you can learn practical techniques to manage your stress and improve your mental well-being.

Provide information about different stress management techniques such as time management, healthy habits, and relaxation techniques. Use interactive activities such as role-play exercises, group discussions, and journaling prompts to help students identify their stress triggers and learn how to manage them effectively.

4. Physical activities: 

Looking for a fun way to reduce stress and improve your mental health? Join us for a yoga or dance class or some field day activity where you can move your body, release endorphins, and feel good!

Plan a physical activity such as yoga, dance, or exercise class that helps students to release endorphins, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve their mental well-being. Make it fun and accessible for all students, regardless of their fitness level.

5. Music therapy

Are you a music lover? Join us for a music therapy session where you can listen to soothing music, learn to play an instrument or explore the healing power of music.

Provide calming music or lead a group in a musical activity such as singing or drumming. Encourage students to express themselves through music and discuss how music can be used as a tool for emotional regulation and relaxation. Furthermore, these activities can also be clubbed with some music intelligence activities for added benefits. 

6. Mental health awareness campaigns

Do you want to help break the stigma surrounding mental health issues? Join us for a mental health awareness campaign where you can raise awareness, educate others, and make a difference!

Plan a campaign that raises awareness about mental health issues, such as a poster campaign, social media challenge, or school-wide event. Involve students in the planning process and encourage them to share their own stories and experiences with mental health.

7. Peer support groups 

Do you feel like you’re the only one struggling with mental health issues? Join us for a peer support group where you can connect with others who understand what you’re going through and offer each other support and encouragement. 

Create a safe and supportive space where students can talk openly about their mental health struggles and receive support from their peers. Provide resources such as mental health hotlines and self-care tips, and encourage students to check in with each other regularly. One of the examples is the dyslexia support groups which can be helpful for kids and adults with learning disabilities. 

8. Self-care workshops

Do you want to learn how to take care of yourself both physically and mentally? Join us for a self-care workshop where you can learn practical techniques to practice self-care, reduce stress, and improve your well-being.

 Lead students through a self-care workshop that teaches them practical techniques for reducing stress and improving their mental well-being. Use activities such as mindfulness exercises, yoga, and journaling to help students develop self-care habits that work for them.

9. Community service projects

Do you want to make a positive impact on your community while also improving your own mental well-being? Join us for a community service project where you can give back, make new friends, and feel good about yourself!

Plan a community service project that allows students to give back to their community while also improving their own mental well-being. Choose a project that is meaningful to students and encourages teamwork and collaboration.

10. Role-play exercises 

Do you want to learn how to support someone who is struggling with mental health issues? Join us for a role-play exercise where you can practice different scenarios and learn how to offer empathy, support, and resources to someone in need.

Lead students through a role-play exercise where they practice different scenarios and learn how to support someone who is struggling with mental health issues. Provide resources such as crisis hotlines and mental health services, and encourage students to practice active listening and empathy.

Breaking the stigma: How mental health awareness activities can transform high school students

High school can be a challenging time for students, with academic pressures, social dynamics, and personal struggles all taking a toll on their mental health. Unfortunately, mental health issues are often stigmatized and misunderstood, leading to feelings of shame, isolation, and fear of seeking help.

However, mental health awareness activities can be a transformative tool for breaking down these barriers and empowering high school students to take charge of their mental well-being. By providing a safe and supportive space for students to learn, explore, and connect with others, these activities can help to reduce stigma, promote understanding, and improve overall mental health outcomes.

Art therapy, for example, can provide a creative outlet for students to express their emotions and experiences, helping them to feel seen and heard. Mindfulness exercises can teach students how to manage stress and anxiety, while physical activities such as yoga and dance can release endorphins and boost mood.

Community service projects can give students a sense of purpose and connection to their community, while role-play exercises can help them develop empathy and communication skills for supporting others who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Ultimately, mental health awareness activities can transform high school students by promoting resilience, compassion, and self-awareness. By equipping them with the tools and resources they need to take care of their mental health, these activities can help to break the cycle of stigma and empower students to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Conclusion

Mental health awareness activities can have a profound impact on the lives of high school students. By promoting understanding, reducing stigma, and empowering students to take charge of their mental well-being, these activities can help to create a culture of support and compassion within schools and communities.

Through art therapy, mindfulness exercises, physical activities, and community service projects, students can learn to manage stress, build resilience, and develop the skills and tools they need to navigate the challenges of high school and beyond.

As we continue to prioritize mental health and well-being in our schools and communities, let us not forget the power of awareness and education in breaking down the barriers to help-seeking and promoting a culture of mental health support and advocacy for all.

Dr. Deepak K.

Dr. Deepak Kansal, MBBS MD (Psychiatry) is currently working as Nodal Officer of the District Mental Health program at Civil Hospital Sangrur for the last 3 years. Apart from psychiatry and substance use patients, Dr. Deepak also treats children with neurodevelopment disorders including Intellectual disability, specific learning disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. His research work involved studying psychiatric comorbidities in cancer patients. You can follow him on Linkedin

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A well-designed lesson plan on reading comprehension can help educators successfully execute a learning session and provide students with an opportunity to improve their reading comprehension skills. In this write-up, we bring you a comprehensive reading comprehension lesson plan designed specifically for students in high school. But first, let’s discuss why reading comprehension is essential to education. 

Importance of reading comprehension for high school students

High school is that point in the education curve when students gather deep knowledge of their subjects. The material they read is more complex and requires students to think deeply in order to understand its meaning. At this stage, students are expected to do a lot of reading, understand their study material, and relate to what has been taught in class. To do this successfully, high school students must develop strong reading comprehension so they can understand what the written text in their books means. 

Practicing reading comprehension in high school prepares students to tackle college education efficiently. First, it prepares them to score well on aptitude tests for college admissions. Next, it helps them better understand course material in their field of study. And lastly, it supports them to do well at work and in the future.

Reading comprehension lesson plan for high schoolers

Here is a sample lesson plan you can use in your classroom to help students enhance their reading comprehension abilities. You can identify a short story or an informational passage and use it for the lesson. This lesson plan will require 85 minutes of classroom time and just a few materials to get you started. 

Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan

Challenges students face with reading comprehension

High school students may face different challenges with reading comprehension. Let’s have a look at them: 

1. High school texts are dense and complex compared to the middle school curriculum. Therefore, students may struggle to understand what they are reading.

2. Difficult vocabulary may pose a problem, making it tough for students to comprehend the meaning of the text.

3. Identifying key points in the passage and differentiating the main points from lesser important details can challenge some students, leading to frustration and disinterest in reading. 

4. Focusing, engaging, and understanding study material may be hard with new-age distractions such as social media and technology around. 

Having all these challenges to deal with, it is not surprising that reading comprehension can become a challenging task for many high school students. However, if educators support them well and teach them the right strategies, students can overcome these obstacles and become confident readers.

Strategies for improving reading comprehension

• Activate past knowledge – Provide some background knowledge and activate students’ past knowledge on the subject by showing a related video or having an expert discuss the topic. 

• Take it slow – Let students take their time to read the passage and try to figure out what it means. Rushing through the text merely helps in quick reading but does not help in understanding and integrating given information. 

• Highlight keywords – When students highlight keywords, they note important words or phrases in the text. This helps them focus on the key points and build relevant connections within the information provided. 

• Visualization – This strategy encourages students to create mental images of the setting, characters, and events described in the passage. This leads to better engagement, understanding, and information retention. 

• Rereading – Reading the same text multiple times makes comprehension and recalling the information easier. So, allow students to refer to the text whenever they need to. 

• Questioning – Encourage students to jot down any questions that come to their minds or that they cannot answer. This will help them to look for answers as they move forward in the text. 

• Use of dictionaries – Provide a few dictionaries and allow students to refer to them to find meanings to unfamiliar words in the text. This will strengthen their vocabulary and help them understand the text better.  

• Graphic organizers – These are great tools to support reading comprehension. Students can organize information as they read the text making it easier to refer to later. 

• Use of self-monitoring checklist – Provide students with a self-monitoring reading comprehension checklist to enhance their understanding of the given passage. 

• Summarizing – Ask students to summarize the entire passage or one paragraph at a time using summarizing strategies they have learned before. This helps them in identifying the text’s central idea and key points and helps them understand it better. 

In conclusion

Reading comprehension is an essential element of formal education. It improves a student’s reading skills, writing skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Moreover, it helps build self-confidence as students can understand their academic subjects better.

Therefore, regular exposure to reading comprehension can allow students to practice and improve their reading comprehension skills. We hope this write-up serves as a valuable resource to help you plan and implement an effective reading comprehension lesson that engages your students and turns them into more confident readers.

Priyanka Sonkushre

I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

onelovingmama.com

The post Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan For High School [PDF Included] appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Think about the last time you used F= MxA. Not since you last gave the physics exam that required you to use it right?

But you must have pushed something heavy recently. While doing so, you might have discovered that it was easier to apply more force if you stood with your legs wide open. Here you don’t change the action you were doing to push the object before, just the way you are standing. This in turn made your action much more effective. This is because this change in stance increased your mass and an increase in mass increased the force you were applying to the object. Simple right?

Physics can be much more fun and exciting if related to real-life instances with various games and activities. This blog enlists a variety of them that can be used in the classroom to bring physics to life.

Interactive games & activities to make learning physics fun

Physics is an important subject that has real-life applications for almost all of our daily actions. So, to make the classes more interesting and these applications more apparent, here is a list of activities that can be used in the classroom:

1. Boat race

For this activity, the class will need to break out into discussion groups of 5-8 students. They will be presented with a fictitious situation of a team on a boating expedition, trying to find its way back to the shore.

The task of the students will be to discuss amongst themselves and find out the physical properties that will be working for and against the boating team like the wave speed, wind direction, speed, direction of the boat, the direction of the water, etc. They will then have to give an estimate of all the factors they think would affect the boating team to create optimum conditions so that the boat can make it to the shore in the least amount of time.

In this activity, the students will learn about various physics principles and their real-life applications through and with each other.

2. Light it up

For this activity, the educator will have to arrange student-safe electrical materials. The task of the students would be to build circuits using every single thing that is given to them in the circuit. The material provided should include regular things required to build an electrical circuit like led bulbs, batteries, wires, switches, etc. with the twist being the inclusion of a potato, an orange, a lime, etc.

By inserting electrodes in the potato, orange, and lime, students will learn the citric acid in the orange and lime and the juiciness inside the potatoes work as conductors.

3. Roller Coaster 

For this activity, the educator will have to provide the students with regular classroom crafts materials papers, ice cream sticks, cardboard, glue, tape, etc.

The class will be divided into teams of five to six students each. Their task will be to use these craft materials and design a roller coaster from scratch. The team with the biggest roller coaster structure that marbles can make it out of will win.

This activity will teach the students about various physics concepts like friction, gravity, motion, force, etc.

4. Floaters

For this activity as well, the students should be provided with whatever and as much craft material as they require including things like newspapers, ice cream sticks, plastic sheets, straws, etc. 

The goal of the students would be to design an object that can stay in the air or float as long as possible. Their floaters can range from paper planes to small parachute-like floaters made out of straw and newspaper. This activity can be done in groups or individually. Whichever design is the last one floating from a drop from the second floor will be declared the winner.

Through this activity, the students will learn various principles of air, wind, aerodynamics, flying, and landing.

5. Set the sails 

This is yet another activity that just requires everyday craft supplies like paper, cardboard, pencils, glue, tape, plastic sheet, paper, etc. 

The students would be required to use these materials or whatever else they can find to design their own ship. From the sails to the anchor, the more realistic and majestic looking, the better. But, just looks won’t suffice. To win, the ship will have to brave testing waters. The ship to float the longest in the water will be declared the winner. To make the competition tougher, the educator can even see how much weight the ships can hold by adding pennies to each ship. The last ship sailing will be crowned the winner.

This activity will teach students various properties about water, the reason ships and other objects float, the Archimedes Principle, and so on. They will also learn how this applies to real life, more specifically life on and underwater.

6. Increase the friction

This activity will require a remote control car and a clear path or ramp to drive the car on. 

The task of the students here will be to come up with various materials and fluids that can be laid on the path of the car. This could include water, sand, juice, fruit pulp, etc. The students will also have to guess which material will make it harder for the car to cross the path and which material will facilitate the car’s movement. 

This activity will be instrumental in teaching students about friction and its importance in relation to motion and how it applies to real life like driving a vehicle.

7. Build an arch

For this activity, the educator will have to find 4-5 big and heavy rocks, some thin and bendable steel plates, and a thick board.

The class will be divided into 4 to 5 teams and each team will be given its individual rock to work with. The task of the students here will be to fashion a device using these materials and nothing else that takes their rock at least 5 to 6 inches off the ground. 

This activity will teach the students the importance of arches in lifting weights, how they facilitate the same in cars by making arches over the tires, and how even a person can literally walk on eggs when they are in a tray without breaking a single one of them because of this very principle.

8. Make it stick

For this activity, the educator will have to get balloons and newspapers. 

The newspaper will be torn into tiny little pieces and spread across the room. The task of the students will be to find a quick and efficient way to pick up all the pieces of paper and clean the room. They can fill the balloon with air, rub it on their heads and use the magic of static electricity to make all the pieces stick to the balloon instead of individually picking them up one by one. 

This same principle can be illustrated if they rub their feet on the carpet with socks on and then touch each other’s hand, they will feel a jolt of current. All of this is because of static electricity.

9. Reach for it

For this activity, the educator will have to arrange a wire, a screwdriver, a battery, and an iron or steel ring, earring, bangle, or any other small accessory. 

Here the students will be put in a fictitious situation where they have dropped this very important accessory needed to open the door in a place so small that they can’t reach it with their hands. They will be given a 5 minutes timer in which they have to find a way using the material provided to them to pick the ring up and open the door before they are locked inside, forever. 

To successfully complete this challenge, the students will make an electromagnet out of the screwdriver by wrapping its metallic part with a wire and then connecting the wire to the battery. This activity will teach them about the properties of regular magnets and electromagnets as well as how to make one.

10. Drinking rainbows

For this activity, the educator will have to arrange 7 to 8 different drinks with different colors and densities.

The task of the students will be to make a drink in such a way that all the 7 to 8 colors of the various drinks put together to make one drink are visible. They will have to figure out in which order they need to pour the drinks so that no two colors get mixed with each other.

The way to complete this activity would be to start with the densest drink which is extremely pulpy and even partly solid. Then move to the second densest and so on until the drink with the least density is poured on top. This will teach the students about various properties of liquids, how density plays out in real life, why sand settles at the bottom of the ocean, and so on. 

Conclusion

Physics is the study of what makes up the entire universe. From the smallest of atoms to the biggest of planets and galaxies, all come under the purview of physics. Physics also has applications in our regular lives in almost everything we do which isn’t always apparent from the textbook method of theoretical teaching. This is where including activities and games in the curriculum to teach various concepts and principles can save the day. These activities can include board race, light it up, roller coaster, floaters, setting the sails, increasing the friction, building an arch, making it stick, reaching for it, drinking rainbows, and so on. Furthermore, these activities can also be used for people who have dyscalculia, as they can make the learning process smoother for the students. 

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

The post 10 Fun Physics Games & Activities For High School Students appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

To help students learn idioms and know their significance in their appropriate context, activities, and games related to idioms can be very supportive. These activities can help them learn about various idioms in the class itself and remember these idioms for a longer time. 

Find below the interactive activities that can help teachers offer a diversified learning experience and boost enthusiasm in the learning process.

Do idioms boost language skills?

Idioms do boost language skills as they have the ability to add spice and color to one’s literary creation. They have the power to fill a mundane sentence with humor, emotion, relatability, cultural validity, and wittiness. Idioms have the power to provide a strong punch that can impress the message being conveyed powerfully in the minds of the readers. Literary and language skills can never be considered mighty and resplendent until one has the artillery of idioms and various other figures of speech in his arsenal. 

According to research^[1] conducted among teachers, it was found that teaching idioms are important for students. Most teachers believe that teaching idioms promote fluency in language and communication. The majority of teachers also agree that idioms are an important part of the everyday usage of English. It was also found that the concept of idioms is difficult for foreign learners.

Explore engaging and fun activities to teach idioms 

Idioms are not only confusing but also challenging for students to understand in the first go. Check out relevant activities that help boost knowledge in idioms thereby creating a happy learning experience for students.

1. Match and Catch the Meaning

Match and Catch the Meaning activity aims to enhance the knowledge related to idioms. As students read a few short different stories, they improve their thinking and active learning abilities.

• To conduct this activity, students have to first identify the idioms from a given list of phrases
• After they have identified the idioms, give them a sheet on which these idioms are written on one side and their meanings on the other 
• The challenge here is that the meanings are jumbled up, the students have to read the text in which the idioms were used and try to guess the meaning of the idioms and match it with the correct one 
• Discuss the actual meaning of the idioms

Identification of idioms is extremely crucial because students can be confused between normal phrases and idioms. Such activity also boosts their memory and recall capacity.

2. Idiom of the day!

Idioms are meaningful in various aspects of life. When teachers use it as a part of everyday life, it becomes easier for students to recognize and learn the concept.

• Just like the thought of the day, keep an idiom of the day 
• Now, to make it interesting, write the names of all students in chits
• Place the bowl in the classroom and the teacher shall pick one chit everyday 
• After this, the student whose name is picked is responsible for writing the idiom of the day
• Once written, ask students to explain the meaning in their own words 

Idioms, when included in everyday learning, can benefit students. It only increases their knowledge but they visually get to see the idiom every now and then. 

3. Situation arises, Idiom voices

Idioms have this unique take on language. They fit anywhere and everywhere, no matter the situation. This activity focuses on teaching how certain idioms can be used in different situations to convey the same message. 

• In this activity, give students a set of 2 or three situations that can be simply described by an idiom. For example, Martha is teasing Stuart 
• Give this question to the whole class and ask them to write the answer by using appropriate idioms. One of the answers can be Martha is pulling Stuart’s leg

By giving them certain everyday situations like this, students get an opportunity to learn the correct context in which various idioms are used. They also learn to actively listen and put critical thinking into the process. 

4. Story Time!

Stories are indeed interesting and to engage students in idioms, story writing is one of the effective ways to do so. This activity focuses on teaching students the correct way to incorporate idioms in stories.

• In this literary activity, students have to construct a story ending with a particular idiom
• Write idioms on paper and put the chit in the bowl
• Now, let students pick a chit for the story writing 
• For example, give students an idiom – at the drop of the hat. 
• Explain the meaning in the classroom and challenge them to construct a story revolving that ends with this idiom 

This exercise will boost the analytical, critical thinking, and comprehension skills of the students and make the activity of writing a story more challenging and interesting.

5. The Mega Replacement!

Mega Replacement activity is all about replacing plain sentences with idioms. It actually helps students understand the real application of idioms in everyday communication.

• In this activity, divide the class into small groups of students 
• Each group will be given 3-5 minutes for this activity
• A set of phrases/sentences will be asked one after the other
• The students have to give the correct idioms with reference to the phrases
• For example, if the sentence is – Sharon loves when tea is made with Stevia then the students may reply with the idiom – Stevia is icing on the cake for Sharon’s tea
• The students can pass those phrases whose expression in terms of idioms they are unaware of
• The team which gives the most number of correct answers in the given frame of time wins

Written communication not only helps students improve language skills but also builds fluency in spoken English. With such an activity, it becomes easy to put idioms in the right context.

6. What’s your Sentence?

Learning idioms become even easier when students learn to incorporate them into sentences. Formation of sentences helps them improve written communication in everyday class work.

• In this activity, the students will be given a few sets of idioms
• Now, divide the students into teams of 3 to 4 members each
• Their task is to construct at least five different sentences in which the given idioms will be used appropriately 
• They then have to read out these sentences in front of the class and explain why they wrote what they wrote

Such an activity helps boost reading skills while also polishing comprehension skills. As students get an opportunity to explain their sentences, it creates more interest among others to know the reasons behind them.

7. Idioms for Characters! 

Don’t we all relate an idiom with someone known? That’s exactly what the activity is. Students get an opportunity to learn about famous personalities as well.

• In this activity, make a list of famous characters which can be real-life characters or fictional characters 
• Now, write the names of these characters on flashcards
• Distribute the flashcards among students 
• Now, they are supposed to use an idiom that gives insights into the character’s characteristics 
• Following are the examples
  • Sherlock Holmes can be described as a person having an eagle’s eye
  • Some TV character or a person someone knows who sleeps all day and keeps eating food can be described as being a couch-potato

• After this, invite an open discussion to know students’ thoughts 

When students learn to allot different idioms to other characters, they also understand different personalities. With the knowledge of idioms, they get to know how to relate idioms with people in an appropriate manner.

Wrapping up…

Idiom activities encourage students to expand their vocabularies. They also understand the various relevant cultural contexts under which certain idioms were first used and are implemented henceforth. Having the knowledge regarding this naturally enhances the quality of the language that students use while writing as well as speaking. Moreover, teachers and parents can also use different English applications to furnish language skills.

References

1. Maisa, S. (n.d.). http://ajhss.org/pdfs/Idioms%20and%20Importance%20of%20Teaching. . .pdf. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (AJHSS). http://ajhss.org/pdfs/Idioms%20and%20Importance%20of%20Teaching. . .pdf

Shweta Sharma

I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn

The post 7 Fun Activities For Learning Idioms In Middle School & High School appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Mock interviews and recruitment training can prove to be essential tools in preparing children for their future job interviews and placements. The younger the children start, the more confident they become as they mature into adults. These mock interviews and recruitment training can inculcate the confidence, and experience required for actual interview scenarios. 

This post will discuss a few interview activity ideas for high schoolers that have the potential to help them put their metacognitive skills to work. 

Interview activity ideas for high school students

Below is a detailed list of exciting interview activity ideas that can be conducted within classroom premises. Read on to know more!

1. The ‘tell me about yourself’ activity

One of the commonly asked questions in interviews is ‘tell me about yourself.’ As simple as it sounds, the ‘tell me about yourself’ activity is all about asking students to describe themselves. 

Here is what you will need:

• Sheets of paper for each student

Here is how to conduct the activity

• Give a sheet of paper to each student and ask them to write a paragraph on themselves. They can include a short intro, their background, their strengths, and their weaknesses. 
• The catch here is that their answer needs to be relevant to what a company would look for. 
• To make it challenging, you can set the time for the activity. Students must hand over their sheets to you within that time frame. 
• Next, hand over another sheet of paper to each student and ask them to list out some points that answer the question ‘Why should your dream company hire you?’
• To make it more challenging, you can ask them to draw points from the first paragraph that they have written about themselves.
• Once the handover is done, evaluate all the sheets and read out some of the best ones to the entire class. 

Takeaways from the activity

• ‘Tell me about yourself’ is an activity that can help students understand the different qualities that an individual must possess to land a job. 
• When you read out some of the best paragraphs, you give the rest of the students an idea of what they may or may not have missed. 
• Since the activity is timed, students can use it as an opportunity to improve their writing skills. 

Skills acquired:

Written communication practice, self-expressiveness, self-insightfulness. 

2. Creativity Punch

‘Creativity Punch’ puts the creative side of the brain to work. Students need to come up with unconventional and unusual ways to justify their stand. 

Here is what you will need:

• A list of objects that find use in an office. 

Here is how to conduct the activity

• Assign any one object from the aforementioned list to each student or to a group of students. 
• Then, ask the student or the group to come up with around 15-20 unconventional uses of the object.
• Once done, the student(s) need(s) to present the object and its uses to the entire class. They must also justify how the object is used unconventionally. 
• To make it more challenging, you can time the event. 

Takeaways from the activity

• This activity can be helpful in helping students put the creative side of the brain at play and answer questions that are tricky and a bit unconventional. 
• Moreover, since students have to justify unconventionality, they get a chance to improve their reasoning ability. 

Skills acquired:

Critical reasoning, imaginative skills

3. Listen up

‘Listen Up’ proves to be a good chance for students to work on their listening skills. Interviews require students to listen carefully and respond accordingly. 

Here is how it is played:

• Divide students into pairs. Student A begins by stating any random sentence such as, ‘I like playing Chess.’ Student B needs to begin a sentence with the word that ends with student A’s statement. In this case, student B can say something along the lines of ‘Chess is a great activity that I enjoy playing during my free time.’ Student A needs to speak a sentence that starts with the word ‘time’ The activity proceeds similarly.
• You can limit this activity by setting a time. 

Takeaways from the activity:

• With this activity, students can brush up on their concentration ability.
• It also provides an opportunity to improve listening skills, which are essential to crack interviews. 

Skills acquired:

Active listening, improvised concentration ability

4. Powerpoint Pitch

‘Powerpoint Pitch’ is a fun group-based activity that allows students to come up with ideas for products they would want to develop. The ideas can also include fictional objects because the main motive here is to help students improve their communication skills, and presentation skills, and ensure active participation. 

Here is how it is played:

• Divide students into groups of four or five. Ask them to come up with topics of their choice and make PowerPoint presentations on the same.
• You can set some boundary conditions such as:
  • Must include headings and sub-headings in the PowerPoint presentations.
  • The minimum number of slides.
  • Time limit
  • A Q and A session at the end of each presentation.

Takeaways from the activity:

• With this activity, you can assess the creativity and communication skills of the students, which are likely essential in job roles that require them to address other people. 
• You can also help children overcome stage fear.

Skills acquired:

Self-confidence, presentation skills, interpersonal relationships.

5. Who is your spirit animal?

‘Who is your spirit animal?’ is a fun activity that asks students to reflect on their inner selves. They get a chance to speak of their strengths and other positive qualities. 

Here is how it is played:

• Ask the students to talk about their favorite animal for about 3-4 minutes. 
• The catch here is that they need to speak of the qualities of their favorite animal that they resonate with the most. 
• It is important to ensure that they speak of facts that have a positive impact on the workplace. 

Takeaways from this activity:

• Students will speak of all the positive qualities that their favorite animal possesses and are also relevant in the workspace. Therefore, they can easily answer questions like
  • Tell me your strengths.
  • Why should we hire you?

Skills acquired:

Self-introspection, oratory skills

Summing up

One of the purposes of conducting an interview is to determine if the candidate is suitable for the company. Interviewers ask a wide range of questions – some commonly asked, while the other, unusual questions require students to spend some time thinking. Our list of fun interview activity ideas comprises five games that can help students brush up their skills to face commonly asked questions as well as unusual ones.

Shweta Sharma

I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn

The post 5 Fun Interview Activity Ideas For High School Students appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Each class involves a different learning process with ample information that needs to be stored. Formulas, procedures, and important points are discussed during the class. Here, students tend to remember the core conceptual knowledge when they adapt to the habit of taking notes. 

As note-taking strategies are widely popular, students can also benefit from various note-taking activities. These activities are designed for middle school, high school, and college students. As each level of education requires different strategies and teaching approaches, these activities are likely to engage students in taking notes effectively.

This post will take you through different activities that will help students develop effective note-taking habits.

Note-taking: A powerful method to grasp better?

Reading comprehension is an important part of learning whether it is in middle school, high school, or college. As the level rises, the difficulty level tends to increase with reference to language, word formation, and vocabulary. With note-taking, students can better understand the information and even gain recalling abilities. It focuses on remembering absolute information when exposed to huge comprehensive passages. 

Research^[1] has been conducted to understand the impact of note-taking on the academic performance of students in Jordan. According to this study, it is found that a major number of students face difficulty understanding the information heard in class.

While they understand the lessons, they struggle with recalling different aspects of the language. It was found that when teachers provided notes to students, they could better recall the information. The findings of the research suggest that note-taking dominantly increases productivity. It is also an important strategic method for students to improve their academic performance in the English language.

Important research^[2] is presented on the views of students who used the method of note-taking in class. This research was conducted to analyze the impact of note-taking and which areas are benefited from it. The research suggests that note-taking is an important tool to improve knowledge, retention, and success in examinations. According to this research, out of 100 percent, note-taking is 33% beneficial to remember information, 24% to comprehending the information, 23% to prepare for major examinations, 12% to improve grades, and 8% for other areas of learning. 

Hence, note-taking is an effective method that triggers the recalling ability of the brain thereby increasing productivity and grades in class.

Engaging note-taking activities for Middle school students

Middle school students are exposed to various subject matters in this phase. It can be tricky for students to understand and analyze the information in one go. In such situations, note-taking activities that are perfectly designed for middle school can help them grasp information, recall it, and apply it when needed.

1. Tell A Story

This is an interesting activity to engage students in concentration building and note-taking. Teachers need to look for a middle school-level story and recite it in class. 

• In this activity, teachers should recite a story while emphasizing the important points.
• Ask students to pay attention and let individuals make notes as per their understanding.
• After the story is completed, ask students to go through the notes and comprehend the entire story in mind.
• Now, start asking questions based on the story. You may ask the question in the manner below.
  • What was the moral of the story?
  • Where did the character go in the story?
  • What was the personality of the character?

• After this, let students visit their notes, recall the story, and present their answers.

This is a creative activity that leads to memory building and also focuses on active listening. Teachers may decide on any type of story that can have multiple questions.

2. Did you hear me?

This activity involves brainstorming that enables students to think, listen, and note. In this activity, you need to give them a topic for discussion.

• To conduct it, make a pair of 2 students each.
• Give them a topic, for example – Television Viewing, Mobile Phone Usage, or Rising Pollution. 
• Now, give them 5 minutes to think and draft their points on a sheet of paper.
• Now, ask each one to talk about the topic, important features, data, advantages, or disadvantages.
• Ask the other students to note the pros and cons of the topic. After that, check whether the student was able to comprehend and take notes of important points or not.
• Now, the Same process is repeated for every other group in the class.

This activity enables students to actively listen and understand to differentiate between advantages and disadvantages. Teachers can also ask a random student to discuss the notes taken.

3. Display your Creativity

This is a helpful activity to engage middle school students in comprehending information through pictures, graphics, and connectors. While it is an easy activity, it engages them to follow the visually appealing methods of note-taking. Teachers need to explain a concept that has branches and sub-branches to it. For Example, rainwater harvesting, baking a cake, water cycle, or photosynthesis.

• To conduct this activity, ask students to clearly listen to the entire explanation.
• Now, give them some time to analyze the correct steps of that process.
• Once they are done thinking, ask them to make a note of this process by using pictures, lines, arrows, and connectors.
• For example, show the process of photosynthesis including lines and small drawings.
• Give them the freedom to be creative with their notes.
• Ask them to use different colored pencils, crayons, or sketch pens to make notes visually appealing.

Such activity allows them to understand step-by-step processes for any particular subject matter. They can go as creative as they want with the usage of different stationary materials.

Creative Note-taking activities for High school students

As high school students get ready for college in the coming years, it is important for them to interpret information in a structured manner. Note-taking activities are beneficial to trigger their critical thinking and enhance their focus-building skills.

1. Spot it Different

This is a creative activity where high school students should be taken to any park on the school premises. They should engage in the activities going around through observation.

• To conduct this activity, decide a location and take students to that specific location. If you wish, you can also make them walk around the premises.
• Now, ask students to note the important points in that specific location. 
• The notes are completely based on their perspectives and observations.
• Ask them to use different colored pens to note different observations with living and nonliving elements around.
• After this, let students read aloud their notes and see how their perspectives differ from one another.

This is an engaging activity as students learn to observe. They also learn to categorize between important and unimportant information to be noted. 

2. Fact Check 

This activity involves students in communication as well as note-taking. It is an interactive activity where students learn about each other.

• To conduct this activity, ask each student to talk about themselves. 
• They are free to talk about their hobbies, passions, academics, family life, or favorite movies.
• Now, ask other students to take notes of it.
• You can go with 10 students per day who will be talking about themselves.
• Ask students to be descriptive.
• Now, ask the other students to mention the qualities, likes, or dislikes of any classmate who spoke about himself/herself.
• As they speak through their notes, the classmate can agree or disagree with the facts mentioned by others.

This activity throws light on decoding the information given by the speaker. While students may know each other, the activity enhances their emotional and mental understanding through note-taking. 

3. Read a Biography 

Biographies are interesting as they lay out different aspects of a person’s life. Students can find a plethora of information through a biography.

• To conduct this activity, ask students to read a biography of a famous personality.
• You can either distribute an online book or ask them to buy one from a bookstore.
• Give a week’s time for students to at least complete the first 20 pages of the book.
• Now, ask them to summarize the information through note-taking skills.
• Tell them how they can use different methods and tips for note-taking. 
• After this, ask students to discuss their noted points about the famous personality.

When students read a biography, they learn to compile a large chunk of information into small pieces through note-taking. They also learn to understand the importance of a certain piece of information from the biography.

Interesting note-taking activities for college students

College is a place where students get to interact with various people. They learn about different perspectives and thoughts of others. In this phase, note-taking activities can help them recall information and understand the difference between important and unimportant information.

1. Which Fits me?

This is a time-consuming yet important activity to engage college students in note-taking. It helps them analyze which method of note-taking suits their learning style.

• This activity exposes students to different note-taking strategies that are widely popular.
• Once they have a grasp of these activities, ask them to make a list of the pros and cons of these methods.
• Allow them to be creative and list the features of the methods.
• The interesting part of the activity is to allow them to make their notes based on note-taking strategies thereby involving them in a process of critical thinking.
• After they are done making notes, invite an open discussion to understand the views of all students.

This activity is essentially helpful for college students as they learn to understand their note-taking style, method, and comfort level. This also helps them decide the note-taking approach they would like to continue for their academics.

2. Watch the Show

The world is open to different mediums of grasping information. This activity is unique as it requires college students to watch a similar show for note-taking. 

• To conduct this activity, select a show or a certain episode of an informative talk show. 
• Now, ask students to watch the show and take their notes accordingly.
• The next day, ask students to share their views of how the host welcomed the guest or which critical points led to an argument in the show.
• You can further exceed the communication by asking more questions that help them recall the information.

This is a creative activity as students get an equal opportunity to present their viewpoints on a similar topic. Some students may also note an unusual subject matter in the show, allowing them to discuss their opinions on the same.

3. The Debate 

College students can take advantage of various note-takings through debates between students. The college year is the phase where students develop different perspectives, thoughts, and opinions about the world. This activity helps them understand note-taking while being competitive.

• To conduct this activity, divide them into a group of 3 team members each.
• Now, assign the same topic to 2 different teams. 
• Let one team speak For the topic and the other team should speak Against the topic. 
• The following topics are a good example here.
  • Mobile Phones are Beneficial for Youngsters
  • High-end Gaming affects Mental Health

• Give them 5 minutes to brainstorm and make notes to put forward their points in the debate.
• Let the debate begin and see how students utilize their note-taking skills in presenting their opinions.
• In this activity, also ask the other students to note points that can be of help post-debate. For example, it can include tips, opinions, or appreciation about a certain participant who did well.
• Keep it an open discussion and allow students to reflect on their opinions on the subject matter.

This interesting activity is sure to make students understand how note-taking can be beneficial in verbal communication. They can also learn about debating styles, communication, and ways to effectively take notes.

Summing up,

Note-taking is a vital component in the academic performance and overall development of students. It is not only about the chapters they read but also about the plethora of information exposed to them. Note-taking enables students to clear the clutter and noise of the information by cutting it short and crisp. It also helps them strengthen their vocabulary by paraphrasing content in a straightforward manner.

While note-taking activities help teachers create a fun learning environment, there are various strategies for note-taking that help students. Teachers can also opt for online tools and websites that highlight different ways of taking notes effectively. Students can explore numerous books and applications on note-taking that help them comprehend traditional methods, visual note-taking, and helpful tips for noting information. Note-taking is a crucial element in determining the retention abilities of students.

References

1. Almaagbh, I. F. F. (2020). The Impact of Strategic Notetaking on EFL learners’ Academic Performance in Jordan. International Journal of Higher Education, 9(1), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v9n1p249
2. Salame, I. I., & Thompson, A. (2020). Students’ Views on Strategic Note-taking and its Impact on Performance, Achievement, and Learning. International Journal of Instruction, 13(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2020.1321a

Shweta Sharma

I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn

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It is a fundamental part of math that students must be good at. Students can better grasp the concepts and principles by engaging in geometry activities. Many types of geometry activities can be used in the classroom, including worksheets, puzzles, and projects. 

However, Geometry is a challenging but rewarding subject that high school students should take advantage of. Now imagine teaching it to your students using unique and innovative games. as it is all about forms and how we perceive them.

It is also significant in our daily activities like culinary arts, video games, and products such as medical devices and even vehicles. These are places where we don’t even notice geometry is being used. So, let’s look at some unique activities with an element of fun so that you can deploy them in your next geometry class, which is proven to be equally helpful for students with dyscalculia. 

Geometry activities for high schoolers

Geometry is a subject that both students and teachers look forward to. Shapes, lines, degrees, angles, and more concern geometry and its versatility which is essentially a part of our everyday. Therefore, several enjoyable activities help students understand ideas and allow them to practice fully. But, have you ever noticed the various resources available around us to engage in more fun frolics (example: books). So, let’s dive deep and have a look at these fun activities that can make geometry learning engaging and interesting for you.

1. The 3D shape activity

A fun way of getting started and breaking the ice is by giving students toothpicks, play dough, slime, or marshmallows and encouraging them to create 3D objects such as prisms, circles, and cubes. It’s a helpful approach for children to learn about the qualities of 3D forms in the actual world! A child’s brain is a sponge that soaks up information and learns best through play. Perhaps, playing with 3D shapes using everyday materials that are easily available at home or in the classroom may help children drastically.

You can share a list of shapes on the board and set a timer. Children can make 3D shapes out of toothpicks and playdough while ticking off the shapes from the list. This will help your child learn about angles, volume, surface area, and more. 

2. What shape is your land?

This activity is about finding the area of different lands. This can be turned into a fun classroom activity by asking the students to measure their classroom area. Teachers can provide students with measuring tapes and all necessary items for demarkations and calculations.

For this activity, students can be allocated into 4 teams. The teacher can give different situations to each team. Some of them can be:

Team 1: Find out the area of the entire classroom, and then subtract the area which is the teacher’s area, which constitutes of the teacher’s desk, cupboard, and the area near the blackboard.

Team 2: Calculate the total area of the class, and then subtract the total covered area. The covered area here constitutes an area with benches, cupboard, and a teachers’ table.

Team 3: Calculate the total area of the class, and compare the distance between each row.

Team 4: Calculate the total area of the class, and of how much area a bench takes up. Now calculate how many benches can fit into the empty space of the classroom.

To make this activity more fun and challenging, a rule like “whichever team first finishes wins” can be introduced. This activity helps students understand concepts such as area and perimeter and allows them to practice using these concepts in a real-world setting. This activity also benefits students by allowing them to use their geometry knowledge to solve a problem.

3.  Set up a geometry scavenger hunt.

The geometry scavenger hunt can be fun and engaging to learn geometry. To set up the hunt, start by hiding objects around the room or house that have geometric shapes. Then, give each 5 clues in the form of a riddle. The players need to solve the riddle in order to find the hidden object. As they search for the objects, they will need to identify the shape, name its properties, and explain how it is used in the real world. Once everyone has found all of the shapes on their list, you can discuss the different ways that geometry is used in everyday life.

This activity is not only a great way to learn about geometry, but it is also a fun way to get everyone moving and interacting with each other. The activity is helpful in making them learn more about shapes and figures, recognizing and identifying them while learning more about their properties. With shapes like hexagons and quadrilaterals, that is otherwise confusing, such activities act as a catalyst to lesson learning and resolve confusion at-a-go.

4. Shape-identifying BINGO

Shape-identifying BINGO is a game that can be played in a classroom to help students learn about geometry. Each student is given a card/ BINGO template with different shapes in the game. The object of the game is to identify the shapes using clues and hints given by the teacher. Once determined, student(s) can mark them off their list. The first player to mark off all of the shapes on their card is the winner.

Shape-identifying BINGO can help students learn about various geometry concepts such as identifying shapes, naming shapes, and understanding spatial relationships. The game can also help students develop fine motor and problem-solving skills.

5. Junior Architects

Each one of us has the perfect picture of our dream home in our minds. This thought can be turned into a creative activity for high schoolers. Teachers can ask students to calculate the area of their house as homework, and the next day when they arrive to the class with the measurements, they can modify the exterior and interiors as per their liking.

For example, if the garden is a total of 100 sq. ft, the student if needed, can add a pool right in between, which can be around 70sq.ft. The same can be done with bedrooms. The student can modify the balcony of their room and add that area to their room area to expand it and make it bigger. This will not only teach students volumes about the area and other concepts related to geometry but also push their creative buttons the most. 

6. Let’s talk about Symmetry

Symmetry being a crucial concept of geometry can be inculcated through a fun activity. It is a well-known fact that symmetry can be found in nature, and in all man-made things, which also includes the 7 wonders of the world. Students in this activity can be asked to pick any one of the 7 wonders of the world, and then browse its dimensions on the internet and jot them down on a piece of paper.

Students can also be asked to get printouts of the monument that they chose. Later, these dimensions can be used to mark on the printout, and this will teach the students how the monuments are made in symmetry.

To make this activity even more interesting, students can be asked to perform this activity with natural things like flowers. Students can measure dimensions and notice the symmetry in these objects. 

This activity will encourage students to know more about the concept and will inculcate them to learn and grasp more about symmetry.

7. The Shape Quilt

The shape quilt can be a fun activity to teach high schoolers about complex shapes, rhombuses, and trapezoids. Through this activity, teachers can also ask students to demark various angles. Basically, on a piece of paper, various dots need to be formed to enable the students to join the dots and make shapes and angles. 

Once dots are added, the paper would look something like this:

The students will now connect the dots and mark shapes and angles, and in return get points for the same. The points can be allocated as per:

Rhombus: 1 Point

Trapezium: 2 Points

Parallelogram: 2 Points

Right Angle: 1 point

Obtuse Angle: 2 Points

And so on…

These points and the shapes and angles can be changed by the educator as per their preference. In the end, whoever scores more, wins the game. This game would be best played by 2 people on one sheet. The twist of the activity is that one student can draw one line at a time. As the dots come to an end, there would now be no scope for more shapes or angles, and this is where the game will come to an end.

To make the game even more exciting, teachers can introduce rules like if the other student makes a shape using any previously drawn shape by the opponent, they get double the points. For example, if the student draws any shape made out of the right angle, they will get the sum of the points for the right angle and the shape they made.

Geometry activities: Helping theory turn practical

There is a very strong reason why teachers and parents support the deployment of activities to make sure that the learning does not remain in theory. For example, you can’t just put a baby in the water and trust them to swim. They must see and touch the water and practice, explore, and feel it. Then students gradually learn the more difficult components of swimming, such as floating, moving limbs, retaining your breath underwater, and so on.

This is very similar to geometry. Students who have never had a solid knowledge of the fundamentals of geometry will struggle. Geometry’s barrage of knowledge can easily drown them. Regardless of what level of geometry is taught, a lesson that involves fundamental geometry is not only necessary but also critical. Give your students enough time and space.

When they indulge in these smart yet with a tinge of fun games, they come face to face with many practical applications and an understanding of geometry. Math, in particular, is not just limited to their textbooks, it goes much beyond that, and teachers can help them explore that side of it!

Conclusion

Geometry influences us in even the most fundamental aspects of our lives. It helps us comprehend certain concepts and enhances our life quality in whatever shape it takes. Your geometry lesson has something for every student: hands-on practice, real-world applications, and possibilities for entertaining classroom activities. Games are an engaging approach to engage students in learning and make the experience unforgettable.

Use these exercises to reinforce essential ideas and keep students interested in their studies. If you wish to make it fun on some days, don’t shy away from using these quotes too. They’ll be geometry experts in no time!

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

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In order to practice this skill, Brainstorming activities are considered to be the ideal options to choose from. While carrying out these activities, students are more likely to express their views which enables them to practice and build self-advocacy. 

If you wish to build self-esteem and involve higher participation from students, below are some brainstorming activities that are an ideal combination of creativity, analytical thinking, and accepting individual differences. 

How can brainstorming help high schoolers?

Brainstorming is a simple and innovative mind exercise that can keep the students engaged in coming up with inventiveness and creativity in thinking. In these activities, the mind keeps working and creates an enjoyable environment even in a boring concept. This practice can be of great use to high schoolers and below mentioned points are highlighted on the same.

1. High schoolers have to prepare for their further education and this is the right phase for them to learn the art of brainstorming. 
2. Such activities increase critical thinking abilities as the students learn to put forward their ideas after analyzing solutions.
3. Individual students’ voices can meld with the group’s voice during brainstorming sessions hence, they take risks in expressing their opinions in a group filled with diverse thoughts.
4. As high schoolers are to step into the world and meet different individuals, brainstorming activities teach them the importance of acceptance.
5. Students also learn to respect different perspectives and ideas that might not necessarily interest them.

Engaging activities for brainstorming 

1. Drop Multiple Ideas

This simplistic, easy-to-play game is great for fostering creative thinking skills. When brainstorming, this inventiveness is particularly a crucial talent because it aims to generate multiple ideas in a quick span of time.

• In this game, students are required to come up with different usage of an object or a product. For example, the teacher may show a bucket and students can drop multiple ideas about its usage.
• The students can either play it individually or be paired in teams.
• A timer is an additional element to increase competitiveness as it also checks the innovative thoughts generated within the restricted time frame.

This activity enables raw thinking essential for brainstorming. As there are no right or wrong answers, students can put forth the strangest ideas and never know if that happens to the best, most unique one! 

2. Sell it to Me

You must have seen various commercials and advertisements on television and social media platforms. However, high schoolers can get exposure to the deep analytical thinking that goes behind selling a product. 

• In this game, teachers should make chits of various products that cannot be sold physically. For example, stars, energy, buoyant force, or nebula blast in the universe.
• These products/aspects cannot be touched or felt by anyone.
• That’s the real twist of the game, students shall have to come up with innovative ideas to sell the natural elements of the world. For example, they can sell the feeling of love by advertising stars to the audience.
• The team with the most innovative sales pitch wins the game.

This interesting brainstorming game enables high schoolers to think extraordinarily as these things cannot be sold. Teachers can also take basic products however, students might have some exposure compared to these natural aspects of the earth.

3. Storyboarding

Storyboarding is a broad concept used in the E-learning industry. A storyboard is a unique way to draft ideas, solutions, and courses, and explain concepts to students and learners.

• In this game, the high schoolers will have to prepare a storyboard based on a topic given by the teacher.
• Give them different elements that can be of use in the process of storyboard creation. For example, they can use pictures, quotes, different examples, and infographics.
• Now, give them a topic a day before the activity starts. Each student should be given a different topic and they should bring their required materials accordingly.
• The twist is to make teams on the day of the activity so that students with different topics are now in the same team with multiple unique materials.
• Now, assign them any one topic for storyboard creation. For example – Benefits of Teamwork.
• Students should now create their own storyboard and coordinate with other team members.

This interesting brainstorming activity is a great example of team building, cooperation, and being open to new ideas. As students work with different perspectives, they learn to share and receive knowledge on multiple ideas.

4. Where is the End?

Introducing a fun brainstorming activity for high schoolers to learn coordination and teamwork. This activity is a story-based focus on building and restructuring the story.

• In this game, divide the class in groups of 3 or 4 students each.
• The teacher should begin with a random story or a title. For example, Rachel got late as she was stuck in solving a problem..
• After this, pick a random team number and ask the team to continue the story.
• The team should be given 2 minutes to think and form the plot of the story.
• As the team continues with it, stop them at any given point and pick another team to continue the story.

This game sets a competitive environment to get the best plot for the story. Additionally, all teams start the brainstorming process as they never know which team would be picked next or when the story is supposed to end. Such activity is absolute fun as the story can take turns from being funny, serious, humorous, to mysterious. 

5. Think it Deep

High schoolers study different subjects and are likely to acquire basic knowledge on various topics. This game is particularly good for brainstorming as it involves aspects from different subject matters.

• In this game, make the students sit in a circle.
• Now, give them one instruction for which they should say one word aloud. For example, the names of cities in the USA.
• Students shall now start mentioning the cities one after the other. For example, New York, Boston, etc.
• As the game begins, the teacher should stop any student in between and change the instruction of the game. For example, types of books for studying math.
• Now, students start speaking their answers aloud. 
• It should be fast-paced and they should not be given more than 2 seconds to come up with the answer.

This is a highly challenging game as students are likely to mess up on different topics. The game promotes critical thinking abilities as students start thinking about the answer even before the turn. 

6. Find your answer

This is a simple yet unique brainstorming activity to promote an innovative environment in the classroom. Teachers can equally enjoy listening to varied and strange answers from students and their teams.

• In this game, the teachers should come up with different and strange problems and present them to students.
• Make sure these problems are a bit different than their daily life or the ongoing academic topics.
• The students are then required to state their answers and also state the purpose of their thought behind the problem.
• For example, teachers can ask similar questions as mentioned – Which 5 things will you offer to aliens if they wish to capture the earth? Why? Or If you are stuck in the school library, what 3 things would you like to steal? Why?

• With such questions, students have to think creatively and form their answers based on their intelligence and understanding.

Such an activity promotes a competitive environment where students are bound to think beyond their daily conversations. This also enables students to research more about a problem that might interest them during the gameplay. This activity can be played in teams or with individual students by setting a time limit for each. 

Conclusion 

Brainstorming activities are beneficial to boost knowledge and promote unconventional ways of thinking. Brainstorming techniques allow students to be free from limitations that can minimize new answers, leading to many of the finest ideas. Students also understand the importance of unity in diversity as they are active with team members who have their set of ideas and opinions.

Brainstorming is also crucial when students plan to start their careers in different fields of interest. Whether it is marketing, engineering, or any other work area, brainstorming leads to innovative ideas. Such activities also help broaden the horizon and enhance students’ critical thinking capabilities.

Manpreet Singh

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

The post 6 Fun Brainstorming Activities For High School Students appeared first on Number Dyslexia.