Starter Activities


 


Starter activities serve two main purposes:

  1. A starter activity sets a professional tone for the day.
  2. A starter activity gets students actively engaged in a learning activity immediately, which helps discourage inappropriate behavior.
A starter activity for second grade to eighth grade students might be the following:

Activity takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

Title: Writing and leaving a thank you note to their permanent teacher

Write on the board:
  1. Take out a blank sheet of paper and write a thank you note to your teacher.
  2. Include three things that you like about him or her and write your reasons why.
  3. The letter should be at least three paragraphs long.
  4. Letters will be collected and left for your permanent teacher.
A starter activity for a group of high school students, 9th grade to 12th grade might be the following:

Activity takes 10 to 20 minutes

Title: Write about your favorite song or lyrics in your favorite song or a favorite quote

Write on the board:
  1. What is your favorite song or quote that you have heard? Write down the reason why this is your favorite song or quote.
  2. Write about what experiences you have had in your life to cause you to connect with the song or quote.
  3. Please write at least two paragraphs.
  4. We will be sharing your essay with one other student in the class.
After students finish the starter activity, tell them the schedule of activities for the rest of the day or class period, which ideally now should be from the permanent teacher's lesson plans. Write the permanent teacher's lesson plan on the board.

If the permanent teacher has left expectations, consequences or any other information for students, such as time of next test, etc., write these things on the board as well.

You, as the substitute teacher, may now also have an early finisher activity you can share with them and introduce any incentives or rewards you may have for finishing early.


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