Every year, teachers ask how they can make school more fun. There’s a reason teachers desperately want their students to have fun at school. Laughing and having a good time means that the brain is actively involved. When the brain is working, sparking and working, learning occurs. You don’t need a circus to create a fun atmosphere at school. Here are some easy ways to incorporate fun into your elementary school day.
activate
Children love to run and play. They like to move their bodies and put tons of energy into everything they do. When elementary school students mention that their favorite parts of the school day are recess and physical education, there’s a reason. This is usually the only time of day that they are allowed to move around and be active. Teachers can change this. You could incorporate movement into your lessons. Choose a CD with music from a studied time period and have students dance. Play games that allow children to stand up and answer questions. Movement doesn’t always have to be crazy. Just standing can get the blood flowing.
Involve all the senses
Engaging all 5 senses in your elementary school days can create a lot of fun. School can be made fun by fully immersing your students in the material. For example, if your students are learning about a certain country, let them taste the food and smell the unique aromas. Play music and let them dance. Let them feel the material used in each culture. This will not only improve the fun meter in your class, but it will also increase learning. Some students learn best by listening. Others learn best by watching. However, some students learn by touching, feeling, and actively participating in the lessons.
change routine
Some teachers begin to get into an instructional routine after they have been teaching for a certain number of years. The day begins with the previous day’s homework, is followed by a lecture, and ends with a worksheet. This becomes extremely monotonous and not fun at all. Changing the routine of the school day can be a big help. Play learning games, watch videos, do group projects, or have guest speakers. A change of pace makes classes so much more fun.
clear expectations
Fun is inhibited by many factors. Lack of fun can come from a lack of stimulating activity. However, it also comes from an abundance of anxiety. Creating clear classroom and performance expectations can minimize school anxiety. If your students know what you will be doing the next day, they will know what to expect. Let your class know what will happen if homework is incomplete or if they are late. Just being able to relax will improve the fun factor at school.
If kids saw school as a fun place to learn, there wouldn’t be as many dropouts and low grades. You don’t have to act silly to make school fun. Just incorporate some fun changes into the school day to improve elementary learning ability.