How to Make a Worksheet Not a Worksheet

Haley Johnston and Morgan Pruitt

​

What to expect!

• In 2-5 minutes at a time, we will take turns explaining 15+ different ways to take a simple worksheet, and make it into something way more engaging…

​

• Please, stop us at anytime! If you have a question ask right away, no need to save until the end.

Brown Bags

Prior to Lesson:

• Post problems/task cards around the room
• Get a brown bag out for each question and number the bags
• Cut up white paper strips for students to answer their questions on

​

Student Directions:

• Get a strip of paper from the bucket.
• Write your name on the paper (otherwise, no prize!)
• Answer the posted question and write your answer on the paper.
• Put the paper in the appropriate bag (check question number!! Wrong bag means no chance for a prize!)
• Get another piece of paper from the bucket.
• Go to the next problem (#1→#2, #2→#3, etc. #15 goes back to #1)
• Repeat until all problems are solved!

End of Lesson:

• Go over each question one at a time.
• After each question, draw a paper from the brown bag for that problem and if the answer is correct, person wins a prize!

​

#1

People Search

• “The only thing you write on your own paper is your name…”

​

​

​

​

Task Card Trio

• Uses Vertical White Board Spaces
• Groups of 3
• Writer
• Coach
• Independent Seat
• Rotate after each round.
• Task Cards
• Could level task cards with colors and increase in difficulty as needed.

​

​

​

​

“You make it !”

• What do students always ask us for? The answer key. So let’s give it to them!
• Give the students a copy of only the answer key, and they create the worksheet.
• You can pick the content you are currently on, or leave the answers open to interpretation.

Scavenger Hunt

• This activity incorporates movement and allows students to self-check as they move from station to station, solving problems. The answer to each problem tells them what station to move onto next. Successful students will complete a full station loop by the end.
• Set up 10-20 stations around the classroom that each consist of one paper. The bottom half of the paper has one problem on it. The top half of the paper has the answer from another station on it. That's all!
• Example

Whiteboard activity to Brain Break

• Take any worksheet and turn it into a whiteboard activity
• This makes students show their work
• “Keep score in the corner of your board” for every correct answer.
• “7 Second Drawings”
• Best drawing each round gets a bonus point.

Basket

of Points

​

• Put students into groups and assign each group a color (ball, cube, construction paper, etc.)
• Number of groups depends on how many different color options you have
• OR could use paper and they write their team name
• If the team gets the problem correct, they get to put their ball in any basket or cup (point value is hidden under the basket)
• After all problems have been answered, turn the basket over to reveal how many points each ball is worth
• Could use 0, negatives, or rational numbers as values as well

​

​

Lottery

• Students write their name in a box each time they answer a question correctly
• At the end, spin a spinner and whatever number(s) it lands on gets a prize!

Number Picker Wheel

Grudgeball

• Each team gets 10 "X's". (Can do 15 if you want the game to last longer.
• Split your class into 5 or 6 teams, depending on how fast you want the game to go.
• Each group gets a question. If they get it right they automatically get to erase two X's from the board. They can take it from one team or split it. They can not commit suicide (take X's from themselves).
• Before they take off these X's, though, they have a chance to increase their ability to get the other teams to hate them. They get to shoot the Nerf ball. I set up two lines with masking tape. One is a two point line while the other is a three pointer.
• If they shoot from the two point line and get it in, they can take four X's off the board. If they go from the three point line, and make it in, they can take five off the board. If they don't make it they still get to take the original two off the board.

Levels

• Split a worksheet up into 4+ separate handouts
• Students work in pairs or small groups
• Complete one level (worksheet) at a time, teacher check, advance character, continue with next worksheet (new worksheet for each level)
• However many levels you want; example-can take a study guide and split it up
• Levels can increase in difficulty

Post Chart on Board:

All seperate handouts...

Horse Racing or Football

• Students work in pairs or small groups
• Complete each problem one at a time.
• After each problem is complete, one member of the group comes up and gets it checked.
• If it is correct, they move their horse or player one spot.
• If it is incorrect, they go back to their team and try again.
• Groups need to rotate which player comes up each round.

​

Connect Four

• Work in groups
• Give each group packet with questions
• Teacher check after each problem
• Sticky note given for correct answer
• Groups race to finish first and connect four in a row

Scoot/Sidewalk Scoot

• Place a question on each desk or on sidewalk squares
• Provide students with an paper to record answers
• Students move from desk to desk answering questions
• Individually, pairs or groups

​

Partner Back to Back

• White boards/clipboards
• Project question
• No talking-work for set amount of time
• Turn and compare answers
• Find a new partner

​

Speed Friending

• Project questions
• Provide students with paper to record answers
• Friends sits on either side of desk.
• Best if room arranged in a u-shape or rows
• After question is answered
• Friends on one side of the desk move one seat over to a new friend
• The “outside” friend stays stationary

​

My Mistake

• Kids love finding mistakes in my work. It brings them so much joy…
• Complete the worksheet, but make common mistakes your students make.
• They point out the mistake, and then correctly do the problem.

​

​

​

​

Points Competitions

• Cards
• Answer problems as a team, each team with correct answer comes up to pick a card
• The group with the highest card gets 500 points, the second highest gets 300, the third highest gets 100, and the lowest cards get no points.
• Suction Ball
• Answer a problem correct, throw the ball at the board for points/prize (has to stick)
• ​
• Superhero Matching
• Answer a problem correct, match superheros for points