This display is based on activities suggested in Jim Smith’s The Lazy Teacher. I made it to remind me of the activities we can have in lessons that focus on the students “doing”. (read the

book, it is awesome)

Quick = 10minsChunky = 20-30

Huge = 40+

Arrest me

You have been arrested and charged with being an outstanding learner in

this topic.

What 5 pieces of evidence will the prosecution use to prove this? Is there

enough evidence?

Quick

Choose a letter/number

1 letter A-Z 1 number 1-10

Come up with this many wordsbeginning with this letter that are linked to the lesson topic

Quick

Animal memoriesThink of an animal. Write words linked to this lesson that begin with the lettersof that animal. (Laugh if you like but this is tricky)

For example “Lion” in a forces lesson....LeverImpulsionOrbitNewton

Quick

Just a minuteCan you talk for one whole minuteAbout this lesson topic? The listener should be a timer and listen for any repetition, pauses (of more than 5 seconds) or mistakes.

Don’t want to talk? Try drawing ideas.

Quick

ThunksCan you create a question that has noeasy answer?

Examples: How might we breath if we didn’t have blood?

What would we miss most without electricity?

Quick

Killer QuestionThink you have learned loadstoday? Write your hardest (1,2or 3) questions about thislesson.

The answer must have appearedsomewhere in the lesson today.

Quick

Frustrated by...

There are usually things we haven’t learned yet. What questions remain unanswered about this topic for you and your group?

Decide which one to offer up to theclass.

Quick

What if...Have some fun with a concept and try to make a “what if” question.

Examples:- What if gravity were only half as strong?- What if we could see smells?- What if we could use our own movement

to generate electricity?

Quick

Forrest GumpIn this movie the lead character famously says, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”

What is the topic of this lesson like?

Respiration is like a fire because....?

Quick

Who would win?In an imaginary contest (you can decide

the rules) who would win?

- Respiration or photosynthesis?- Mo Farah or Usain Bolt over 800m?- Insulation or solar panels to reduce energy use?- Chemical pesticides or natural

predators?

Quick

5-3-1Decide on 5 things to write down about a topic i.e. causes, outcomes, problems Etc.Choose the three most important

Justify your thinking about one of these.

Find 2 other people who disagree with you and discuss why.

Chunky

Varied VariablesPlot of a graph of variables chosen by you but linked to the topic.

- How about happiness against time?- Excitement of a carbon molecule in the carbon cycle?- Bank balance against energy saving measures?

Chunky

Multiple mindsWhat is everyone else thinking andis it any good?

Prepare your idea on a topic so youcan explain it inside of 30 seconds.

Go and mingle and gather as many other ideas as you can then returnto your seat and select the qualityideas.

Chunky

Learning profileBased on your own/a friend’s assessment of your learning, make a report about what key ideas you have learned so far, what mistakes you have made and what your next step might be.

Chunky

What happens next?After reading a passage or seeinga picture, predict what might happen next with reasons for your thinking.

Find someone who predicted differently and discuss why.

Chunky

Caption Competition

Write a title, or speech bubbles or thought bubbles that could be added to a picture you have been shown.

Chunky

Odd One OutCome up with three ideas about the lesson but make one of theman odd one out.

Can other people pick the odd one out and figure out your reason for it?

Chunky

Bluff, prove it.You should decide on 5 things that you know about the lesson topic i.e. - why something happens- what effect it has on people- when it can be a problem- how it is used in industry.

Then decide on 2 things you don’t know but will pretend you do. Tell a partner your 7 ideas, they can only ask you to prove you know 2 of them. Can

you bluff your way to genius?

Chunky

5 degrees of separationCan you link two ideas together in just 5 steps?

For example Tuna fish mobile phone.1. Tuna swim in the sea2. Chemicals such as mercury can build up in

big predators like tuna3. We eat tuna4. Mercury can be harmful to us5. We use mobile phones which can contain

mercury

Chunky

Penny for them..

Let’s have a relaxed classroomdiscussion about the lesson topic in your life.

You decide where to take theconversation. What is your vision? What do you think about this idea

Huge

Would it be possible to?

What is the most elaborate way that youcould demonstrate learning on this. Come up with ways to make this happenwith thought given to problems, resources, time and finance.

Samsung could have recently paid a $1bn fine to Apple by delivering 30 truck loads of 5 cent coins to Apple HQ

Huge

Judge and JudgementWe will have a mock trial where

“prosecutors” need to build a case against someone who they think needs bringing to justice for a crime.

The defence may be charged with:- Exceeding their fair share of

electrical usage- An unhealthy lifestyle- Damaging the environment

Huge

Crime Scene

You will have a picture of a crime scene to do with your lesson topic.

What do you think happened?What clues might there be?Can you explain the situation?

Huge

Rewrite HistoryCan you imagine where we would

be if something had not happened?

What if we had never found oil?What if we had never discovered

antibiotics?What if the computer chip never

existed?

Huge

Predict the future

What might happen if.... Can you foresee the outcomes of a particular situation.

- If we don’t find new antibiotics..- We find a cure for all cancer...- We genetically modify our children...

Huge

Jeremy KyleIt could be any game or chat show but do you know enough about a topic to design a TV show or a section of one that is based on our lesson topic?

“He says he has a balanced diet but will a lie detector test say otherwise”

Huge

Textbook challenge!

Timed or speed challenge.

Evidence Hunt.

Question/Task/Diagram to improvethe book.

Huge

I Quit!

Mr Williams’ quits teaching for the lesson and someone with a more original learning idea takes over.

This is a serious suggestion, but you need to propose your learning activity beforehand.

Huge