Download - Plenary Activities
Plenary Activities
Blockbusters
ICT interactive game
Verbal Football Students/teacher use
previously devised questions. Split class in half and sit facing each other. Three questions in a row
correct scores a ‘goal’. If fail, other team still have to get ‘three in a row’. Team with the most ‘goals’ wins.
Self Assessment/ Target Setting:
Choose from a list of suggestions on
whiteboard or devise own.
Newspaper Headlines
Challenge small groups to invent a newspaper
headline about the topic studies. Present like newspaper sellers!
Write a short ‘blurb’ (advert style) for a
piece of work.
Exit Jeopardy Give the answers to key points from the
lesson. Students have to raise their hands to give the question. If correct, they get to
leave.
Choose from five statements on the board. Which three
best reflect…?
Diamond Ranking Set question. Students
have nine ideas to prioritise. Ideas on Post-It notes and
arrange in diamond shape of importance.
Teacher shows relevant extract from
previous student’s work: students identify
three strengths and three pieces of advice
for improvement.
Bingo
4 x 4 grid
Feedback to whole class by one or two
groups only, according to rota, roll of dice or
teacher selection.
Pictionary Students work in
teams on whiteboard to draw knowledge/
skills/facts, etc. 2 minutes max.
‘Ask It’ Basket Write a question about
the LO on a Post-It and put in a basket for answering next lesson.
Football Commentary or Match Report Give students
reminders about a topic over a few lessons. On a
subsequent lesson ask them to feed back in the style of a football commentator (a la John Motson). They
could record these and play back to class.
Show work to peer– Work in pairs to set
targets for each other.
Answer teacher or student questions
without saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
True or False Hold up card/
whiteboard to show whether statement on whiteboard is true or
false.
Pictures/Cartoons Which would you put with today’s learning
and why?
Take one minute to compose two
statements in your head to explain what has been learnt and how. Report to class.
‘Phone a friend’.
Toss the Beanbag/Ball
Students ask questions of each other based on
learning.
Use ‘text–speak’ to review learning on
Post-It.
Feelings Silhouette Draw a person wearing a
hat and carrying a toolbox. Annotate what has been learnt near the hat, write skills and ideas near the toolbox. Draw a heart on the person and write down the feelings about the topic and a
rubbish bin to show what did not work or wasn’t
understood in the lesson.
Elimination Put up a list of
numbers/facts, etc. on whiteboard. Give clues to eliminate to leave
one answer.
Dominoes Statements that
connect together, e.g. Calcium > He Helium > Na Sodium > K
Odd One Out Pictures or words put
on whiteboard for students to compare
and contrast.
Traffic Lights Students use Red, Orange and Green
cards to indicate their level of understanding
on a topic.
In one minute draw what you’ve learnt
today. Partner has 20 seconds to guess.
Prediction What will happen next?
Justify your point of view.
Post-It you’re out of order. Sequencing
activity.
Loop Students answer
questions on 2-sided cards. Green Side: Question, Red Side: Answer to another question. Teacher
starts and activity goes on until all questions have been asked and answered, ending with the teacher’s answer.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Students set question with four possible
answers on learning.
Continuum Students stand in line according to how they feel about a topic. Can also be used to explore
statements and opinions.
Stand Up – Sit Down Q & A which forces students to stand
up/sit down according to whether they agree/
disagree, true/false, higher/lower, etc.
Who/What Am I? Single question like ‘What’s My Line?’
Smiley/Sad Faces Reflect on part of the learning and discuss
positive/negative aspects. Draw chart and respond with
appropriate ‘faces’ and points for
improvement.
Splat Put up key words on
whiteboard. Two students as ‘splatters’. Class questions the 2 at the front. Students answer by ‘splatting’ the correct word on the board. Winner
stays up, questioner replaces loser.
Freeze Frame Summary
Students take up a pose that would
represent a concept, fact or subject. Rest of
class have to guess what they are representing.
Where can you apply this skill/knowledge in
your homework or other subjects? Give 3
examples.
Identify the key points of the lessons from
anagrams.
Brainstorm or mind map of what has been learnt during lesson.
Write 5 top tips/golden rules for….
Groups of 3, numbered 1 to 3. Put up 3 statements on
whiteboard which individuals must explain to rest of
group.
List 3 things your neighbour has learnt
today.
Graphic summary of lesson, e.g. steps,
flowchart.
60-Second Challenge
Sum up knowledge of text or write down all
the words you can think of to describe…
Quick-fire oral quiz to review learning.
Gimme 3 List three things you
found out/learnt today.
In pairs, answer the question set at the
start on a Post-It note. Stick on board and
review.
Identify missing words in a cloze summary of
learning.
Label a diagram or illustration, one word
in each box.
Create a mnemonic which reflects the meaning of a new
word or term you have learnt today.
Change role—student becomes teacher.
What questions would you ask the class and
why?
Summarise this piece/topic in 5 bullet
points.
‘In Role Answering’ Hot-seating activity.
Students
Design your own ‘writing mat’ to give
advice to other students about…