Drawing a Blank

1. Drawing a Blank Learning Activities with a Blank Sheet of Paper RTC Instructional Improvement

2. Madeline Huntersays: “The most creative think you can hand your learners is a blank piece of paper.”

3. Put another way A blank piece of paper is an unlimited, open-ended, learner-centered information generator.

4. A blank piece of paper makes learners work with new information in ways that personally connect them with what they are learning.

5. A blank piece of paper can be: Left-Brain (analyze, evaluate) Right-Brain (synthesize, create) Or both

6. With a blank piece of paper you and your learners can find out: • what they know • what the they learned • what they are still puzzled about • what they plan to do with what they learned

7. With a blank piece of paper You can: • check for understanding • correct misconceptions • better modify your training to meet your learners’ needs

8. Besides: Activities with paper take very little preparation time No complicated worksheets No trips to the copy room

9. Let’s try some! Just grab a piece of paper

10. Bingo • Fold the paper into 8 boxes • Write a word, phrase, concept in each box--from notes or overhead slide • Walk around to upbeat music • Collect signatures of people who can define the terms

11. Variation • In teams play at selecting and defining terms • As a review have students generate the list of terms

12. Pass the Paper • Each student takes a piece of blank paper and writes her name and something she’s learned so far. • Pass the paper to a person sitting next to her • He adds what he has learned. • Students keep passing and writing for at least 5 or 6 turns.

13. Play Music • When the music stops students find their original papers and read the comments written on it for review

14. Variation With each pass tell them what to write: • Write one fact you remember from the lecture • Write a question about something you’ve learned • Write the answerto the question written on the paper you’re holding • Write one thing you can do with the information you learned • Write this person a compliment

15. Another Variation--right after lunch • Participants stand and trade papers to write on as they move around the room to upbeat music. • When the music stops, or when you give a signal, they find their own papers and sit

16. Or line them up! • Have the students stand in a line. After writing, they pass their papers down the line. • The person at the end of the line runs to the other end to pass the paper. • Keep writing and passing until they get their papers back!

17. Four Square --good before break or lunch Fold papers into four squares. Copy the following sentences, one per square: • My feelings about this topic are: • The most important thing I’ve learned so far is: • One thing I plan to do with the info is: • A question, idea, or comment I still have is:

18. Ticket out • Have students write three things they’ve learned so far • Questions they want answered • What they plan to do with what they’ve learned And pass them in at the end of the class or session

19. People Hunt-An ice-breaker Fold Paper into 8 squares Write something about themselves in each square--favorite foods, movies, books, vacation places, car. Walk around and get signatures of people who have the same favorites

20. Map It Show the students how to Mind-Map and have them take notes in a mind mapping or clustering form. Central ideas in the middle of the paper, related ideas fanning out and connecting.

21. On the Wall • Write an idea, comment, question, “aha,” suggestion. • Have students post each type of feedback on a different wall

22. Advanced Organizers • Have students divide paper into columns or squares • Label each division with a heading related to the subject matter • Use the paper as a note taking tool

23. Musical Questions • Each student writes a question about the information just covered on a card. • While music plays pass the cards to the right and keep passing until the music stops. • Each answers the questions on the cards they ended up with, using resources. • They share their questions and answers with the whole group

24. Coin Toss • Divide paper into squares • In each square write a term from the material. • Take turns tossing a coin onto the paper. • The tosser has to define/explain verbally the term the coin landed on.

25. Snowball Fight • Each student writes an action plan--what he plans to do with what she’s learned--on the blank piece of paper • All students crumple up their action plans into “snowballs.” • When you say “snowball fight” they throw them. • Each person readsthe one they pick up • If the group is really large form smaller standing groups of 4-6 to read the snowballs

26. Snowball Variation Introductory Review Activity Students write facts they know or questions about the material. Catchers read the facts or answer the questions they get.

27. Blizzard Balls • Groups make up a question or statement on the blank paper. • Participants wad up paper and teacher collects them. • She turns her back to the participants and tosses the “blizzard balls” over her shoulder all at once. • Small groups or triads catch the balls and proceed to discuss and agree on answers to the question they caught. • Present to the group.

28. A blank piece of paper How ordinary!

29. What a simple thing to use to make your lesson extraordinary!