Active Learning Activities

Put Your Theory on Trial

Scaffolded debate that explores the nuances of a belief that the teacher has introduced.

Past, Present & Future: A Belize Timeline

Students collaborate to create a historical timeline for a country they will soon be travelling to.

Running on Water: Activating Prior Knowledge of Static Equilibrium

Students watch, discuss, then analyze the veracity of a video in which hydrophobic shoes allow people to run on water.

Silent Discussion

Conduct a discussion in your class without students ever speaking a word!

Reimagining the Reading Quiz: Peer Instruction in English

Students do a reading quiz in class and revise their answers after developing and sharing a rationale for their choice.

Sensation and Perception Lab

The lab explores the senses of taste, smell, touch, proprioception and vision.

More Than One Way to Cook an Egg: Exploring Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Teams explore Gardner's Theory, present one component, summarize presentation content, and conduct a self-assessment.

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

A first class ice-breaker activity introducing the nature of science.

Card Sorting Activities for Mechanics

Can I Use the Internet?

Connotation Exercise: Interview and Presentation

Let’s Role Play the French Revolution!

Cercles de Lecture (Reading Circles)

Bringing Context to Life: Annotating Research for Reading Novels

Rhetorical Strategies

Forget the Math! Draw pictures to learn the wave theory of light

Kinematics Concept Mapping

Circus Launch Clicker Questions

Forces Scavenger Hunt

Momentum Photoproject

Home Wiring

Problem Sorting

Problem Sorting Review