We don’t typically consider mind breaks for the secondary classroom. However the reality is, they want them simply as a lot as elementary college students, particularly when you train on a block schedule with a 90- or 120-minute block. We’re all on the lookout for methods to refresh our college students’ brains, and @strategicclassroom’s TikTok gives us with one that’s quick, simple, and, most significantly, enjoyable.
What’s Wikiracing?
This mind break is just not solely enjoyable, however it’s additionally a stimulating method to get up college students’ brains. Wikiracing is a aggressive and academic sport that leverages Wikipedia’s huge community of linked articles to create a race that’s each thrilling and informative. The sport begins with two fully unrelated matters, equivalent to ladies’s suffrage and apricots. College students begin on the Wikipedia web page for the primary subject and should navigate to the second utilizing solely the hyperlinked articles inside Wikipedia. The catch? They’ll’t use the again button or the search operate, including a layer of technique to the sport.
Right here’s arrange this mind break:
- Choose matters. You possibly can select matters related to your present curriculum or fully random topics so as to add a component of shock (e.g., ladies’s suffrage and apricots). Encourage college students to recommend matters and draw them from a hat to spice up participation.
- Clarify the principles. Emphasize that college students should click on solely blue hyperlinks and can’t use the again or search capabilities.
- Observe progress. Determine to crown the winner based mostly on pace (first to the second subject) or effectivity (fewest clicks).
To get began, all you want is a projector or smartboard to show the preliminary subject and observe progress. Wikiracing is usually a fast five-minute break or a extra prolonged exercise, relying on the way you construction the competitors. Personally, my mind breaks solely lasted max 5 minutes, however I do know some lecturers (like my husband!) make the most of Bluey seven-minute episodes as their mind breaks.
Take heed to this instructor describe how she makes use of Wikiracing:
Suggestions from lecturers
Academics in @strategicclassroom’s remark part have supplied suggestions:
- Academic worth: Many educators recognize Wikiracing for its capacity to mix enjoyable with studying. They acknowledge its potential to reinforce normal data and analysis abilities, as college students navigate by means of numerous linked matters.
- Implementation challenges: Some lecturers face obstacles like restricted Wikipedia entry of their districts, hampering their capacity to make use of this software. Others expressed the necessity for steerage on successfully implementing and monitoring the sport to make sure equity and academic relevance. Once I was in center faculty, we performed “Google Whacking” and all of us liked it!
- Pupil engagement: Academics famous excessive ranges of scholar engagement when taking part in Wikiracing. They worth the exercise’s aggressive nature and mental stimulation, typically seen as a refreshing change from typical classroom duties.
- Recommendations for enchancment: There’s curiosity in creating clearer guidelines and techniques to reinforce the academic outcomes of Wikiracing. Concepts embody aligning the exercise with curriculum requirements and verifying college students’ navigation paths to keep up the sport’s integrity.
Able to attempt?
Prepared to provide your college students a mind break that they’ll really look ahead to? Attempt Wikiracing in your subsequent class and watch their engagement for the second half of sophistication skyrocket.
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