read it and decide whether it is true
or false. The statement can then be
placed in a corresponding hoop –
true/false or agree/disagree, etc. This
can help reinforce prior knowledge
by providing questions they SHOULD
know, or introduce new concepts
that begin to rev their critical thinking
engines.
Graphic Organizers
Most teachers are familiar with the
KWL Chart (three circles in which to
write what we know, what we want to
know and what we have learned) but
there are a number of other graphic
organizers that can also be effective
starters. For instance, you could start
with a letter writing graphic organizer,
which could lead to a writing lesson or
perhaps a history lesson, as you write
a letter to an historic figure. Another
innovative graphics organizer could
be one that shows procedures to
follow which lends itself well to science
lessons.
The Answer Is
What Is the Question: In this starter,
the students see the answer on the
board, perhaps a picture as well. For
example, the answer is water. There is
a picture of water on the board. The
students must come up with questions
in which the answer would be water.
Perhaps they will ask, ‘What fills the
ocean?’ or ‘What is 60 per cent of our
body made up of?’
Odd One Out
The student will look at, for example,
four pictures or four numbers. Three of
which have something in common and
one is the odd one out. This exercise
could work as low as the KG objectives
(i.e. three capital letters and one lower
case) all the way up to cycles 2 and 3
(i.e. which one is not a prime number?)
The Memory Game
The students are shown a picture with
many things in it or a list of several
words. The catch is they are shown it
for just a few seconds. The students
are then asked to recall what they saw
and write it down.
Game Shows
Nearly every game show that has
appeared on TV can be converted into
a classroom starter. Imagine using key
vocabulary words for a game of Wheel
of Fortune, draw something related
to the lesson (Pictionary), answer
questions about previously learned
material (Jeopardy, Who Wants To Be
A Millionaire), try to move things with
different types of force in just one
minute (Minute To Win It), or teaching
money, math or estimation (The Price
Is Right). The options are numerous.
Give some of these a try, modify them
for your grade level and keep those
young, agile minds engaged.