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A Collection of Activities A Collection of Activities for Early Finishersfor Early Finishers

Jacob Bradley, Donnell Cannon, Robin Davis, Kate Jacob Bradley, Donnell Cannon, Robin Davis, Kate Mullen, Mullen,

Johanna Parker, Nate Reisinger, Shanetta PittmanJohanna Parker, Nate Reisinger, Shanetta PittmanWeldon Middle SchoolWeldon Middle School

FOCUS: CHOICE BOARDS

North Carolina Middle School Conference 2015

How to Make This Session a Success

• Relax and have fun. This will be well worth your time.

• This is a wonderful time to network, exchange ideas, and make new friends.

• Participate! Make contributions!

• Take notes.

• Find the big idea.

The Early Finisher

“In this class we are never finished. Learning is a process that never ends.”

~Carol Ann Tomlinson

Turn to a Partner

Discuss: How do you engage

early finishers in yourclassroom?

RATIONALE• High time on task• To allow students to work independently on

ongoing assignments throughout a unit • To keep students challenged after they’ve

completed assignments• To allow the teacher to work with students to

target specific academic skills, modify and enrich curriculum, and better meet the needs of individual students

TIPS BEFORE PLANNING THE ACTIVITIES

Make sure the students have had practice and understand how to work independently.Management procedures should already be in place. The activities should be able to be completed with little to no teacher intervention or assistance.The activities should be meaningful.The activities should be tied to specific content or skills that need to be reinforced. You should have a plan for managing and monitoring the activities.

General Activities for Early Finishers

DEAR Time - Silent Reading Journal Writing or Learning Logs Vocabulary Work Math “Problem of the Day” Learning Centers Vocabulary Practice Portfolio Management Agenda notes

Content Activities for Early FinishersMath

Imagine a trip you'd really like to take. With permission from your teacher, visit a travel website and check on available plane tickets and lodgings. Add up the total amount it would cost you to take the trip. How could you get the best deal?

Science

Come up with a list of new "essential questions" you'd like to have answered about our unit of study.

Social Studies

Create an imaginary continent. Then, draw and name the countries on that continent. Be sure to include borders, capital cities, etc. Then, write about one of the countries. Explain its government, culture, and laws.

Vocabulary

Create categories or groups for your spelling words, then figure out a way

Reading

Write a letter to the author of a book you've enjoyed.

Choice Boards

Definition

Choice boards are organizers that contain a variety of activities. Students can choose one or several activities to complete as they learn a skill or develop a product. Choice boards can be organized so that students are required to choose options that focus on several different skills.

Posting Activities Charts around the room Dry erase board/Bulletin Board Hang from the ceiling Laminate and tape to the desks Learning Centers Colored folders Index cards Shoe box Egg Carton Choice boards

Managing and Monitoring

Early Finisher Activities

• Checklist• Extra Points • Teacher/Student Conference• Rubric• Percentage of Final GradePortfolio Check

THINK-TAC-TOE BOOK REPORTDraw a picture of the main character

Perform a play that shows the conclusion of a story

Write a song about one of the main events

Write a poem about two main events in the story

Make a poster that shows the order of events in the story

Dress up as your favorite character and perform a speech telling who you are

Create a Venn diagram comparing and contracting the introduction to the closing

Write two paragraphs about the main character

Write two paragraphs about the setting

Exploring Weather with Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy

RememberingCompile a glossary of the weather-related terms covered in this unit

UnderstandingUsing your own words, explain the weather concepts

ApplyingConstruct four different cloud formations from construction paper, felt pens and cotton balls. Be sure to label and describe each one.

AnalyzingCompare and contrast the weather instruments used by meteorologists to make weather predictions

EvaluatingDetermine which geographic region of the world has the best weather or climate conditions on a regular basis. Which areas will you consider. What criteria will you consider. Be able to defend your position.

CreatingIn ancient time, people invented stories to explain natural phenomena such as weather conditions. Pretend you live in an ancient land. Compose a story that explains the falling of hail. Illustrate your tale.

WHO WINS?

REFERENCETomlinson, C. A. (2001). How to differentiate in mixed-ability classrooms. Alexandria, VA: Association for the Supervision of Curriculum Development.

Thank you very Thank you very much!!!much!!!

Thank you very Thank you very much!!!much!!!

Enjoy the rest of Enjoy the rest of your conference!your conference!