Now more than ever, students need ways to engage with activities beyond the classroom or Zoom meeting. The pandemic has unfortunately contributed to a large amount of learning loss as many schools have been forced to shut down, move online, have shorter class periods, etc. Therefore, using calls to action to further students’ learning is a valuable teaching tactic in this day and age. Outlined below are action-driven activities and projects geared towards middle school students.
1. Historical Interviews
Encourage students to access the experiences and memories of an older relative or friend in order to enhance their understanding of a recent historical period. Perhaps they hear the story of a Vietnam veteran, a Cold War refugee, a survivor of Japanese internment, or someone who can recount the aftermath of more recent events such as 9/11, the Columbine Shooting, or Hurricane Katrina. Hearing someone depict events they themselves lived through livens the narrative far more than a textbook can. Encourage students to share their interview findings with the class.
2. Having Fun While Raising Funds
Have students conduct research on an organization they wish to support that relates to their class curriculum. For example, English students may choose to support their local library or a larger organization that promotes literacy and writing. STEM students may want to work with an organization that donates computers and calculators to underfunded school districts, or one that supports minorities in STEM fields. The potential charities to support are endless and so are the ways to raise money. Children can really get creative here—they could host a walkathon or running race where friends and family pledge money for each mile they complete, they can have a bake sale, offer to mow lawns, etc. The added bonus of this activity is that it can also serve as a great opportunity to teach students about topics such as profit and revenue.
3. Plant Project
If studying plants in your science classroom, this project is a great way to teach students how to conduct a proper scientific experiment. If working remotely, send each of your students a pouch of seeds. Then, design an experiment with your students that attempts to answer a question they generate. For example, they may pose one of the following: “How does sunlight affect our plants? How does water affect our plants? What happens if we grow our plants in different sized pots?” Next, designate a job to each student such that some act as a control group while others are in an experimental group. Instruct students on how they are meant to care for their plant each day, and ask them to take detailed notes and measurements. By the end of a few weeks, your class should not only be able to answer their initial question and grasp the workings of a proper experiment, but also have beautiful plants as a dividend!
4. Journaling Journeys
Students are juggling a lot right now; adjusting to online school, grappling with a major reduction in time spent with friends and extended family, and trying to stay safe from the lethal COVID virus. By journaling and reflecting on their life right now, they gain two benefits. Firstly, they are creating a narrative they can look back on for the rest of their life to remind them of how the world was at this unique time, and secondly they are allowing time to slow down and process their thoughts. Some students may initially struggle with this assignment because they are not used to meditating on their feelings, so it may help to pose a guiding question or provide a prompt they can use to steer their journal entries.
5. Board Game Fun
Use the fact that students love board games to your advantage! Charge students with creating a board game that connects to the class material in some way. Perhaps you have to solve a math problem in order to move ahead on the board, or each player gets a historical character to play. Allow students to get creative and artistic. Not only will they enjoy working on this assignment, but they will be left with an effective study tool when they are done. Have students share their finalized products. If teaching in-person and COVID precautions allow, let students test out their games with their classmates. If class is virtual, have students take a picture of their game board that they can project on their screen and split kids up into breakout rooms to play.
Creativity is the name of the game when it comes to teaching this year. Don’t be afraid to stray away from typical lectures and worksheets and surprise your students with an assignment unlike anything they have had before. Hopefully the suggestions above can serve as a great launchpad for your ideas!
Written by: Lucy Reid
