Snowball Fight

1. Everyone in the class gets a blank piece of paper and writes 3-5 facts about themselves. 
2. Next they wad them up in a ball and the whole class has a snowball fight. 
3. After 30 seconds have students freeze and pick up one snowball.
4. Students  will read the facts.
5. Finally, students need to figure out whose snowball they have by walking around and asking each other.

Who Did it??

Who did it is a great activity to get students out of their seats and talking with each other.  With the Who Did it? sheet in hand, students seek out classmates with the qualifications listed and have them initial the sheet until it is full.

Attached you will find a Google Doc for the option to edit with different options and a PDF ready to print.

Google Doc - Please make a copy for your own use.

PDF

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a fun way to formatively assess your students learning styles in the first few days of school. If you would like a copy of this to edit on your own, please contact Dena or Claire.

Use a Planner (Paper or Digital)

One of the easiest ways to keep organized is using a planner or calendar.  Whether you use digital tools or paper to organize your activities and assignments, use them consistently and update immediately.

Keeping a calendar is one of the easiest ways to stay on track and be productive with your time.

Below you will find a list of digital planners.

Digital Planners

1. Google Calendar- Add all your school assignments and activities and color code classes to easily identify.  Google calendar allows you to set up reminders via text or email to assure you don't forget anything.
2. My Study Life- My Study Life allows you to store your classes, homework and exams in the cloud making it available on any device, wherever you are.Unlike a paper planner or school diary, My Study Life integrates all areas of your academic life - see homework due and overdue for classes, classes which conflict with your exams and even add revision tasks for a specific exam - all in a free, easy to use application.

Paper Planner
Can be purchased at any local department store or click here to download a weekly planner.

Twenty-One

Twenty-one

Objective
problem-solve and communication

Group size

6 to 27 ideal

Materials

None

Directions
1. Divide students into two/three teams of 3-9 members.
2. Each team needs a person to serve as a "counter."
3. There is no talking by group members except for the "counter."
     Note: the "counter" may participate or watch.

4. Each team stands in a circle, facing each other, with their hands behind their backs.
5. The "counter" counts one, two, three, and on three each person holds up 0-10 fingers.
6. The counter adds them up and if all fingers equal 21 that team wins.
7. If no winner keep playing the game until students lose interest.
8. Remember : Only the counter may TALK.

Helium Stick Activity

The Helium Stick game is a great team building, collaboration, problem solving activity.

Helium Stick

Materials

• Large group of 8-12
• 1 long lightweight metal rod

Set-up

• Line up in two rows which face each other.
• Introduce the Helium Stick- a long, thin, lightweight rod
• Ask participants to point their index fingers and hold their arms out.
• Lay the Helium Stick down on their fingers.  Get the group to adjust their finger heights until the Helium Stick is horizontal and everyone's index fingers are touching the stick.
• Explain that the challenge is to lower the Helium Stick to the ground as fast possible

Procedure

• Each person's fingers must be in contact with the Helium Stick at all times. Pinching or grabbing the pole in not allowed - it must rest on top of fingers.
• If anyone's finger is caught not touching the Helium Stick, the task will be restarted.
• Particularly in the early stages, the Helium Stick has a habit of mysteriously 'floating' up rather than coming down, causing much laughter.
• A bit of clever humoring can help - act surprised and ask what are they doing raising the Helium Stick instead of lowering it!  
• Some groups or individuals after 5 to 10 minutes of trying may be inclined to give up, believing it not to be possible or that it is too hard.
• Offer suggestions or suggest the group stop the task, discusses their strategy, and then has another go.
• Less often, a group may appear to be succeeding too fast - Be particularly vigilant about fingers not touching the pole.
• Eventually the group will calm down, concentrate, and very slowly, patiently lower the Helium Stick - easier said than done.

Reflection

• Once the group is successful, discuss with the group…
• What worked and what didn’t work?
• What was it like to work under pressure?
• How does this activity simulate a real-world scenario?
• What did you learn about relying on other people?