Sponge activities

Disciplines > Teaching > Classroom management > Sponge activities

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

A sponge activity is one which soaks up a few minutes at a time at the start or end of the lesson or where you attending to some whilst others have finished.

Keep a basket full of sponges ready to dish out. It can be one-page puzzles, snap quizzes, 60-second translation lists, etc.

Example

Right, as you come in the room, please pick up a quiz paper from my desk. We'll be talking about it during the lesson and those who have done the most will earn more points.

Discussion

Many lessons have dead periods when you do not have the time to complete full activities or when students are waiting for you. Sponge activities fill these gaps.

When children have nothing to do, some will sit quietly and wait. Most, however, will fill the time and some will do so mischievously. Sponge activities occupy them and so prevent problems.