Using Different Types of Worksheets in the Elementary Classroom
Let’s face it, giving students only traditional worksheets for guided practice, independent practice, review, and assessments can get BORING — both for the students and you! And while technology in the classroom is important and needed, you may not want every activity to be on the computer. So, what do you do? You think of ways to incorporate some fun activities that will keep students engaged and learning all year!
FRAMES
My coworkers and I first started using frames when adding depth and complexity to activities for our gifted students. We quickly realized that these frames could be incorporated in so many ways that benefit ALL learners!
Frames make GREAT graphic organizers! Want to teach students how to research a topic? Frames are beneficial in helping them gather information. Struggling students can turn in their frame as the final product, while other students could use it to build on something more (ex: writing paragraphs).
Let’s go a little more in depth! The four sides of the frame can be used to help explain math problems. This bundle includes frame activities for basic multiplication and fractions. By dissecting it, students learn the ‘why’ behind the math problem. This will help them understand the concept and not just force them to memorize certain facts.
Just for FUN… or is it? My year long memory book keepsake has students use the frames for fun activities, such as the All About Me and My Summer pages. Others, however, delve into character traits and building a positive classroom environment. Pages like A Good Classmate and I’m a Bucket Filler help students understand the importance of being polite and working together.
If you’d like to see more FRAMES activities, CLICK HERE!
MAZES
Mazes are fun and engaging activities. Now, add in some math review, and you’ll have students showing patience and focus as they complete them! You might be wondering how math review can be incorporated into a maze. I’ve found some great templates that helped me put together some AMAZING mazes for 3rd grade math review.
These would work great for math centers or early finishers! What’s included?
- 60 pages
- 17 different types of mazes where students solve math problems as they go from START to END – 51 total
- 3 matching worksheets – 9 total
- ANSWER KEYS!
To see all of my resources with mazes included, CLICK HERE!
COLOR BY NUMBERS/CODES
Years ago in my district we had an administrator who complained about her children coming home with color by number activities. They were in upper elementary school, and she just viewed them as busy work. I completely disagreed with her.
Do you ever struggle with lesson planning near a holiday or school break? Those days are so hectic, and it can be hard coming up with meaningful activities that are still educational. Color by number/code activities are a perfect solution!
Students in 3rd-6th grade have to learn SO MANY new math skills each year. And we always expect them to retain what they’ve already learned. Anyone who has spent time in a classroom knows that’s easier said than done. Plus, math is a subject where some students finish quickly while others require extra support. Color by number activities are perfect for spiral review and keeping early finishers engaged.
Grammar — the subject that always seems to get left behind. Who has the time, right? These color by code activities keep students reviewing grammar and parts of speech all year! These would be great at a center or for your early finishers!
Have you ever used color by code activities to boost students’ comprehension? Again, just reading and answering a few questions only gets students so far. What if they had to reread a nonfiction text several times to complete the activities? That’s sure to make them better readers! Here are some great options:
I have A LOT of these types of activities. CLICK HERE to see more!
TASK CARDS
Task cards can be used in so many ways. They can be something early finishers use to review concepts. They can be used whole group when reading a story and boosting comprehension. Another fun way to use them… review games!
Students work individually, with a partner, or small group. They answer questions from the task cards. They color in the gem on their answer sheet. Once all gems are colored in, students reveal the secret 4-digit code.
- Use as an ESCAPE ROOM/BREAKOUT game.
- Add a SCAVENGER HUNT! – You could hang the task cards up or place them on tables/desks around the room. OR… you could make students hunt for the task cards first!
To see ALL of my task cards, CLICK HERE!
PENNANTS/BANNERS
I’ve seen both words used to describe the shape of these activities, so I thought I’d just use both.
These types of activities are great for researching a topic or a simple writing assignment. What I love most about them is they look great displayed in your classroom or the hallway. These really are a fun way to show off your students’ wonderful work!
Want to see more like this? CLICK HERE!
Collaborative Coloring Posters
I’ve discovered these recently and they are so much fun to make! A lot of these resources out there have students just color. I like to put some educational value into them, so each student page is a review of math or grammar.
With these activities, each student fills out one small section of the poster. When you put all the sections together, you get a large poster that would look great on your wall. Here’s an example of one where each student page has students answering multiplication problems and following the color code provided.
CLICK HERE to see my posters for winter, New Year’s, and St. Patrick’s Day!
ESCAPE ROOMS
Escape rooms in the classroom can be both educational and fun! Depending on the type of escape rooms you’re using, they can be used as a reward or for a party, or they can be used as part of your curriculum.
There are two types of escape rooms I’ve been creating.
- Educational – students are given a nonfiction reading passage
- Just for fun
Educational
After reading the passage, students go through FOUR challenges, referring back to the passage to find their answers.
This Abraham Lincoln/Presidents’ Day escape room is a great reading comprehension activity where students solve to find clues and end up with a 4-digit code that will allow them to finally ‘escape!’
What are the Challenges?
- Mystery Word — Students match words & definitions/statements to unscramble a mystery word.
- True or False — There are statements given, and students must figure out if they are true or false. Once they’ve determined which statements are true, there is some math (addition) involved to give them the clue they need.
- Multiple Choice — Each question has three answer choices. Students refer back to the passage to make sure they find the correct answers.
- Which Paragraph? — Students find sentences in the reading passage and write down the paragraph number where they’re found.
Just for Fun!
Sometimes students need to have a fun activity. Maybe it’s part of a reward or class party. These are all fictional with a short passage that ‘hooks’ the students before they solve the puzzles. These work great as team building exercises!
What are the 8 puzzles?
- Word Scramble
- Rebus Puzzles
- Grid Code
- Reverse the Alphabet
- Word Ladders
- Typo Trap (have to look for misspelled words)
- What’s the Code (simple addition, subtraction, multiplication & division)
- Word Search
Great for ~
- Collaborating with Peers
- Team Building
- Problem Solving Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Classroom Reward
CLICK HERE to see all my escape rooms!
🌟 Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes a classic worksheet works best. Sometimes we just want students to answer a question so we can see if they have basic understanding. Here are a few examples:
MATH
These types of worksheets are good for repetition and helping students grasp the concept. They also can be helpful when trying to differentiate for students.
GRAMMAR
These are perfect for a quick review or even added in a substitute folder. They are basic and to the point, and they’ll give you a quick glance at who’s still struggling with a concept.
If you enjoyed this post, take a look at these:
Using Escape Rooms and Scavenger Hunts in the Classroom
~Jennifer Cook
