Do you have a great bunch of students that WILL NOT participate during online learning? Are you struggling to come up with ideas to keep your students engaged virtually because you are bogged down with report cards, lesson planning and your regular responsibilities? Here are five online student engagement ideas that are low-prep and interactive!
1. Trivia Games
First of all, have you used sites like Kahoot, Blooket, or Gimkit before?
Many teachers have used these for content-area subjects but middle schoolers, especially, just want some random trivia.
My students love Blooket and yours will, too. The best part is that you can search for pre-made activities. We’ve used “Name that Animal” and “Guess the Logo.” Activities that don’t require much background knowledge will boost online student engagement for sure since everyone can participate.
2. Art activities
Even if you don’t teach Art, you have to incorporate some art into your day.
Try a directed drawing from Art for Kids Hub or give them a found art challenge. What can they create from objects around their house in 10 minutes? Have your students take pictures of their creations and add them to a Padlet or Jamboard.
3. Scavenger Hunt-Style Games
Want instant energy? Send your students on a scavenger hunt or try this Pick 3 game.
- First, have your students find 3 random items from their house.
- Then, get each student to share their items. If they don’t want to have their cameras on tell them to take a pic and add it to a shared Google Slide or Jamboard.
- Tell them that you will be sharing a few different scenarios and they have to pick one of the items to use for that scenario.
- Read a scenario like the one in the picture below and have them share the item they would use and why.
4. Classroom Community Check-ins
Classroom Community Check-ins are one of my go-to online student engagement ideas. Not only are they a great tool to promote a positive classroom community (even online) but it gives your students opportunities to get to know each other better.
Use the Would You Rather or Random Questions as attendance questions for your students to answer as they join your Google Meet or Zoom lesson.
Post the “Insert a Picture” and “Have You Ever?” Slides to use as a class community activity in the morning or whenever they need a brain break.
5. Google Arts and Culture
Sometimes the best ideas can come straight from Google. Let your students explore the Google Arts and Culture site.
Try doing a puzzle party as a class. You can share the link in your chat.
Blob Opera is always a hit. Give your student a chance to experiment and create their own opera. Have them share their operas on Padlet or a Jamboard.
Did you find these online student engagement ideas helpful? Join the Middle School Mashup Club by signing up below and get classroom community tips sent straight to your inbox each week.
Looking for more ways to build relationships with your middle school students? Check out this post.
