4 Stretch & Challenge ideas tested
Welcome to my latest 1/2 termly post!
This time a quick run down of 4 stretch and challenge activities I tested last term in my classrooms. That’s in my Yr7 Computing classes, my Yr7 Design and Technology classes and in my Primary Computing classes.
Read on and enjoy!
1. Level up
Side bar on worksheet featuring levels of challenge.
What it is:
Having levelled expectations on worksheets. ie 1 star = minimum expectation, 2 = more and 3 stars is highest expectation from the same work.
Impact:
Learners responded well to this, checking the side of the worksheets they were using (in particular design work) and ticking off what they did from each star level.
Why do it:
Add to this targeting your learners eg ‘David you need to be working from the 2 stars level’ and you’ve a great way to target your stretch and challenge in class.
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- Student working against challenge criteria
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- Full design page with levelled challenge
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- Close up on the challenge levels
2. Recall Questions…now on stickers!
What it is:
Lessons now start with 10 questions on a sticker at the top of a new page in my learners books. These are ‘recall’ questions – they cover content from pervious terms. Each question is more challenging then its predecessor.
Impact:
Focused and silent 5-10 minutes at the start of every lesson as learners come in and face the challenge.
Why do it:
It’s a brilliant way to develop recall skills of every learner, and create a quiet calm start to each lesson.
Printed recall stickers
3. In your words
What it is:
I gave learners a list of vocabulary that they could use to explain something from the previous lesson,
Impact:
Learners liked this, some really enjoyed creating their own competitive edge by trying to use more correct words than their partner.
Why do it:
It’s a great way to engage learners at the start of lesson to use subject specific and non-specific vocabulary.
Vocabulary slips were used alongside this activity.
4. Less is more
What it is:
I gave my students a paragraph of text that I had written describing a computing concept. The challenge was to cut down the text to just what was needed.
Impact:
Students liked cutting down text, rewording & adding more appropriate key vocabulary to explain concepts succinctly and the ‘do better than the teacher’ aspect.
Why do it:
Another way to build vocabulary use, improve written work and to develop exam question answering writing skills. There are lots of examples of this activity available online from teachers around the world!
{Image coming as soon as I take one}
You can download all PDFs from this range in our new section here!
