Motivating the Reluctant Learner Through

Interactive Activities

Presented by:Kim Cole

Ruth KistnerKristen Swanson

Today’s Agenda

Index Card Activity

• Number your card 1-4• Write top four ways to

engage learners• Work independently

Our thinking

• Hands on/interactive• Authentic • Personal interest• Relevant/meaningful

Four Corners• Read the guiding question• Read the cards in each corner• Go to the corner you most

agree with• Talk amongst your group -Why

this is most important?• Pick reporter to share out to

large group• After arguments - Would you

like to switch?

Debrief

• What did you think of our first two activities?

• Why was four corners more engaging?

You do

• List materials needed• Develop a guiding

question• Create four responses• Explain to your class• Play• Create your instructions

Guiding Principles

• Connect/build trust• Build confidence non threatening

ways• Meaningful/relevant• Challenging/supportive• Make learning concrete/

visual/hands on• Decrease extrinsic rewards• Emphasize intrinsic reward• Find student interest

Interactive Activities

• Break from routine• Motivating/challenging• Reinforcing• Encourage interaction and

communication• Authentic

Trace Your Hand

Bag Activity

• Don’t peek in bag• Read the clues• Feel inside the bag

(without looking)• Guess the item/theme• How can you relate it to

your curriculum?

You Do

• Think of your curricula strand

• Think of items to put in bag

• Create your clues• Is this a before, during or

after activity?

Break

Fly Swatter

• Products posted in front of room

• Four volunteers• We will call fact• Student must find fact and

swat

You do

• Create questions• Based on content• Simple answers• Multi step answer

Place Value

Types of Measurement

Types of graphs

Win, Lose or Draw• Divide the class into

teams (3-6 members)• Choose an artist• Set timer • Artist draws, team

guesses• Get through as many

cards as you can within the time limit

You do

• List materials needed• Create 5-10 cards• Create your instructions

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

• Choose X or O • Choose your square• Answer question• Correct get symbol• Incorrect other team can

steal

You do

• Create questions• Determine if this is a pre or

post activity

Break

ABC Board

• Provide curriculum topic• Board with letters A-Z• Come up with word that starts

with each letter• Set timer• Review answers- if any

answers duplicated cross out• Earn points if only one with

answer

ZONK

Revisit Our Corners

Closure

Being able to help someone learn something is a talent