Active Learning Activities

Active learning activities are tailored to specific learning outcomes and content. They incorporate one or more of the evidence-based strategies. Structured to expose their theoretical underpinnings, the activities can be used by practitioners and researchers alike.

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30 Activities

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Social sciences Humanities

Put Your Theory on Trial

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

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Languages and Literature

Taskmaster: Diction Icebreakers

These gamified activities will help sensitize students to the nuances of diction and allow them to work together.

Mathematics

Crossing Dimensions: A Math Odyssey into Cross Products

In groups, students learn about orthogonality and cross products by creating geometrical shapes.

Elementary school science teacher in biology class
Interdisciplinary

Snowball Starter: Goals of Science Education

In this activity, the snowball strategy links students' prior beliefs to a deeper inquiry of science education goals.

Social sciences Psychology

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.

Health science

The Heart of the Matter: Exploring Exercise in Cardiac Disease

Before class, students read an article and gather 5 elements. In class, they "pool" findings and sort into categories.

Interdisciplinary Health science

Cross-Disciplinary Synergy 101: Uniting Expertise for Success

In teams, students interact, share information on their profession, and create cases where each discipline is needed

Chemistry

Crash Course: Collision Theory

Students use PhET simulation to learn how factors affect reaction rate (collision theory) through hands-on activities

Health science

Rough Draft Workshop: Group Peer Assessment Jigsaw Activity for Case Study or Procedural Writing

Students bring a rough draft of a written group project for peer evaluation and feedback

STEM Biology

Don’t go NUTS: A Case Study on the Physiology of Stress

STEM Biology

Feeling Feverish: Homeostasis of Pyrexia

Social sciences Humanities

Can I Use the Internet?

Mathematics STEM

An Abundance of Bells

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Crystallization of Borax

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Organic Chemistry Introduction to Solubility

Social sciences

Gender Socialization throughout the Life Course

Students complete a grid that illustrates different life periods that reinforce gender narratives.

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Spectrophotometry Using Gatorade

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Volumetric Analysis of Household Acid with Cabbage Juice

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Paper Chromatography of Food Dyes and Ink

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Colligative Properties

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Activation Energy in Chemical Kinetics

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: The Rate Law in Chemical Kinetics Using Blue Dye

History

Let’s Role Play the French Revolution!

Biology STEM

The Sailing Iguanas: A Mini Case in Speciation