Characters: Starters and Plenaries (Teacher downloads only)
Starters
RecapA task recapping this lesson, meant to be used as a starter in the following lesson. (subscription only) |
task |
Chinese whispersStarter task using the theme of the old childhood game, Chinese whispers. (subscription only) |
task answers |
Ten QuestionsA starter activity. A volunteer is given a slip of paper so they know 'what they are'. The rest of the class can ask up to a maximum of 10 questions to guess the correct answer. (subscription only) |
task answers |
Split the wordsA starter activity. Students are presented with a condensed paragraph of theory and are asked to make it legible. (subscription only) |
task answers |
Post-itsA fun kinaesthetic starter task where students work in teams to solve a puzzle. (subscription only) |
task |
Questions to askA starter task. Students are given a list of categories and asked to write down the questions they would like answered from today's lesson (subscription only) |
task |
Find and sortStarter. A fun kinaesthetic activity encouraging students to correctly arrange a sentence preparing them for the lesson ahead. (subscription only) |
task |
Thirty secondsLesson starter. Students are shown a number of terms for exactly 30 seconds. They need to memorise as many as possible. After 30 seconds, the terms are hidden and they need to write down as many terms as they can remember along with at least one fact about that term. (subscription only) |
task |
Compare and contrastA starter activity in which students are given two items and asked to consider the differences and similarities between them (subscription only) |
task |
CountdownStarter task. Students are given a set of jumbled up words related to this topic. They have to unscramble each of the words within 30 seconds. (subscription only) |
task |
Starters or Plenaries
Sort and answerStudents work to reconstruct a scrambled question about this topic, and then provide an answer. (subscription only) |
task answers |
What why howStarter or plenary task. Students are asked three questions framed as What, Why and How (subscription only) |
task |
Three factsA starter or plenary task in which students are asked to write down three facts that they can remember off the top of their heads about the topic. (subscription only) |
task |
Turn it downStarter or plenary task. This follows the traditional game of writing a statement, folding or turning the paper down to hide what has been written and then passing it to the next student. (subscription only) |
task |
One two threeCan be used either as a starter or a plenary task. Students are given a sheet to complete firstly on their own, then with a partner and then joining up with another pair (subscription only) |
task |
Pass it aroundAn excellent starter or plenary for involving all students and getting them to identify a large number of facts about the current topic (subscription only) |
task |
Post it key termsStarter or plenary. A good activity to encourage teamwork. Students compete in groups to identify as many key terms as possible. (subscription only) |
task |
Give me 10A starter or plenary task. Students work in pairs before joining up with another pair to expand their list. (subscription only) |
task |
HaikuStarter or plenary task. Students are asked to write a description in the form of a haiku poem for one of a handful of key terms. (subscription only) |
task |
Just a minuteStarter or plenary task. Students are asked to talk to a partner about this topic for 60 seconds whilst abiding by a set of rules (subscription only) |
task |
Pick meThis provides a differentiated starter or plenary activity. Students are given a question and work in groups to come up with an answer. (subscription only) |
task |
Teacher talkaboutStarter or plenary task. The class 'test' the teacher on their knowledge of key words related to this topic (subscription only) |
task |
Whats your opinionStarter and plenary task. Students are given a statement about this topic and asked to discuss their opinion in pairs. At the end of the lesson they can reassess whether their original opinion has changed (subscription only) |
task |
Plenaries
Pass the boxAn excellent starter or plenary for involving all students and getting them to identify a large number of facts about the current topic (subscription only) |
task |
New wordsA plenary task in which students have to identify three new words/terms that they learned during this lesson and then explain their meaning (subscription only) |
task |
I predictThis task acts as the plenary from one lesson and the starter for the next lesson (subscription only) |
task |
Golden envelopesPlenary task. An engaging task that has an element of surprise (subscription only) |
task |
Tweet itA plenary activity. Students write a Tweet message to sum up what they have learned during the lesson (subscription only) |
task |
Four four twoA plenary activity where students are asked to summarise the lesson and pick out the main key words related to the topic. (subscription only) |
task |
Lesson summaryThis plenary provides students with an opportunity to evaluate the lesson and their learning and an AFL opportunity for the teacher. (subscription only) |
task |
Lucky dip questionsStarter or plenary task. Every student is given a number at the start of the activity. This is used to help pick who will ask and answer questions about what has been learned during the lesson. (subscription only) |
task |
Text meA plenary activity where students are asked to write a text message to explain what they have learned during the lesson (subscription only) |
task |
MastermindA plenary activity which is loosely based on the game show 'Mastermind' (subscription only) |
task |
One wordA plenary task. Students have to sum up today's lesson in just one sentence. They must include a given word within that sentence. (subscription only) |
task |
Teach me aboutLesson plenary. Students become the teacher! One student is tasked with preparing a five minute revision starter about this topic for the beginning of the following lesson. (subscription only) |
task |
Are they rightTesting the class's knowledge on the topic by asking them to judge whether a single student's answers are right or wrong (subscription only) |
task answers |