Help to refocus your class 3 Minute Motivators Help to refocus your class

Objectives To discuss how 3 minute motivators can help motivate or refocus a group. To try out some 3 minute motivators and discuss how they could be used in lessons.

3 minute motivators These games are used to great effect by teachers who notice that the class needs a short but positive break from current routine in order to refocus and get remotivated. They are also an excellent technique to help students review their learning. 3 minute motivators have a number of advantages. They show pupils that the teacher is good at recognising when students are not engaged, they help to create a playful classroom environment and they tend to be memorable. They can also act as anchors that help students to recall what they have learned, as well refocussing individuals within a group.

How to introduce a 3 minute motivator to a class Cue to gain attention. Explain why the motivator is being used e.g. “Thank you class. You seem a little distracted today so lets use a 3 minute motivator to get you more focussed.” Explain the rules of the 3 minute motivator. Stop or change the motivator. Conclude and refocus by summarising what was done and why e.g. “Great. We just played Questions only. You seem a bit more focussed now. Let’s get back to our learning.”

Examples of 3 minute motivators The uninvited guest A student is asked to step outside the classroom. The teacher gives them a secret task on a folded piece of paper e.g. you are magnetic. When the student returns they have to behave as if they are attracted to metal objects in the room. The rest of the class have to guess what they are trying to demonstrate. 2. Pictionary The teacher passes a card with a key learning idea written on it. Students come up and try and draw what is on the card, the rest of the class have to guess what it is. 3. Guess who (or what) A sticky note with a word is stuck onto a students head. The student has to guess what the word is by asking questions to the rest of the class that only have either yes or no as an answer.

Examples of 3 minute motivators 4. Articulate Write a list of key terms and concepts on the board. Students then form pairs and are given a topic. Each partner now takes turns to talk about the topic for 60 seconds whilst the other has their back to the board. They then swap seats. Each time they mention one of the key terms from the board they score a point. 5. Snowballs Each student is given a piece of paper and asked to write a question they have about the topic on it. They then screw it up and throw it in the air. They pick up another ‘snow ball’ open it and add a question. This can continue several times and then the snowballs should be returned to the original owner and opened. Each student should now have several questions about the topic. 6. The questioning scarf Have a scarf tied up into a ball. Throw it around the room. Each time someone catches it they have to answer a question or ask a question.

Points for discussion Could you use any of these activities to motivate your students? Can you think of any other short activities that you could use?