Incorporating meaningful movement into a language arts lesson can be challenging, but these activities get kids up and out of their seats while keeping them fully engaged in the objectives.
Write the parts of sentences on colored paper with a marker. Students work in groups to demonstrate the structure of a sentence such as simple sentence, compound subject, compound predicate, compound sentence, and complex sentence. Then, groups show their formations to the class.
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Tape task cards in twelve different locations around the room in clusters. The thirteenth station is an Answer Key station. Early finishers walk around the room, stopping at each station to work the problem on one set of task cards. They record their answers on the answer recording document on a clipboard. Then they check their answers at the Answer Key station. It’s important that students go back to the cards where they have the wrong answer to figure out the correct answer. I like to use task cards with different colors and graphics. That way, kids can easily find the cards they are assigned as they walk from card to card.
Have students read a passage with a partner, then do a “Gallery Walk” around the room to answer the questions. Students must justify to each other why they chose a particular answer. Then, we check our answers and discuss questions as a class or in small group.
My students always look forward to our spiral Daily Language Review. When a student answers a question correctly using a complete sentence with justification for the answer, he or she is allowed to sit on their desk if they so choose. Your class will be super engaged. Kids beg to answer questions! I also allow students who don’t know an answer to call on a “coach,” who goes to the student and whispers the answer and justification in his ear. Everyone feels successful!
Do your students like revising and editing their work? They will love it when they can travel to revising and editing stations around the room. Use file folders that have been stapled together. Stand them up to create a work station. Tape reminders in each station as to revising or editing techniques that students have learned. The reminders I use are Sentences, Vivid Verbs, Similes, Metaphors, Dialogue, Transitions, Spelling, Thoughts, and Feelings. Students take their drafts as they stop at each station. They review their drafts to see what revisions or edits they need, then travel to the next station. I’ve made these signs available for free download at Rosie’s Resources on TpT. Just click the link below.
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