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30+ READING ACTIVITIES

OPTION 1: Flickr/Pixlr Image CreationIdea: This activity visualizes the reading. Students will find animage that connects to the quote/statement they find mostinteresting. Using the Creative Commons area of Flickr, they savethe image and add text (or a quote) by using Pixlr.com. From there,they could upload the image to a LMS or Insert it into a documentto be handed in.

OPTION 2: Facebook Status(es)Idea: Students will create a Facebook status of the topic or personin the reading. Perhaps there will be comments to that status byother people in the reading. {http://www.myfakewall.com}

OPTION 3: Self-Exam & T/FIdea: The instructor will create a small self-exam for the studentsto take pre-reading. This will prepare students for the reading aswell as see where they stand before they read. True/Falsequestions are best, but the self-exam could include short-answer.

OPTION 4: Top TenIdea: Students would rank something in the reading for class.Maybe the instructor wants them to rank their top ten quotes andexplain why, etc.

OPTION 5: Tweet from Your SeatIdea: Bring the crazy brevity of Twitter into the classroom byhaving students, in 140 characters or less, sum up what they read.This activity would be conducted after theyve read or, maybe,

while they are reading (?).

OPTION 6: Text Type-UpIdea: Some students learn through repetition, and some also dont

like to mark up their textbooks. So, this activity asks students totype (or write) up a piece of the reading theyd like to respond to.

After typing or writing up the piece, they can then circle thingsthey dont get or really find interesting. Instructors should specifyword count and amount of questions to circle, etc.

OPTION 7: Animoto Video TrailerIdea: Just like how movies have previews, maybe discussionsshould too? This activity asks students to create a trailer orpreview of the upcoming discussion by reading and then puttingrelated images and text into Animoto.com. Their 30-second videosare free and easy to use. From there, they could upload the URL toa LMS to be viewed in class. {Animoto.com}

OPTION 8: Prezi/PPTIdea: In order for the students to prep for the upcoming discussionof the reading, have them create parts of the possible discussion byputting together a piece such as a PowerPoint slide (or slides) orPrezi presentation. They could upload those Prezis/PPTs to aspecific area in the LMS in order for the instructor to pop them upon the big screen in class.

OPTION 9: Visual DefinitionIdea: Students naturally increase their vocabulary by reading, sothis activity asks them to pick a specific amount of words to createvisual definitions of. Each slide = new word made visual withimages, stories, quotes from the reading, definitions, etc.

OPTION 10: Create a QuizIdea: In order to create a quality quiz, you need to know thematerial. Students will create the quiz, in this case, and createmultiple-choice questions, T/F, and even short answer questions.The quizzes, then, could be exchanged with other students duringclass time.

OPTION 11:Speed Dating

Idea: This activity needs to be completed in a computer lab.Essentially, on each computer screen, a question would bedisplayed. Each student would type in their response. Each studentwould be asked to respond differently than the student beforehim/her. This activity would be timed as well usinghttp://www.online-stopwatch.com/.

OPTION 12: The Crossword Puzzle

Idea: Students use an online crossword puzzle-making site tocreate a crossword related to the reading material. These can thenbe exchanged with classmates during class time. { http://puzzle-maker.com/}

OPTION 13: How To GuideIdea: After students have read, ask them to become an expert onsomething in the reading material. From there, they would create astep-by-step guide on the topic. I f they read something aboutBuddhism, perhaps they would have to write a guide on how to bea good follower of Buddhism, for example.

OPTION 14: (Fake) InterviewIdea: Students could either be required to interview someoneabout what theyve read or they could create a document which

shows a fake interview with the author about the piece.

OPTION 15: Survey the MassesIdea: After students read, they would conduct a survey of thosearound them (f2f or email or Facebook) about the topic(s) covered

in the piece. They would report their findings at the next classtime.

OPTION 16: Weird PoetryIdea: After reading, have the students reconstruct parts of the textinto chunks. Slices of the text, fragments, put into poetic bite size

bits.

OPTION 17: Dear AuthorIdea: Have the students write a letter to the author of the piece.

OPTION 18: Scavenger HuntIdea: If the instructor wants students to find certain ideas or topicsin the piece, ask them to do so before they read. Have them keep alist of quotes, perhaps, that give details of the topic, etc.

OPTION 19: JeopardyIdea: While reading, have students create Jeopardy questions ormaybe a whole game with points assigned (200 level questionsversus 400 level questions). What would be the question that

OPTION 20: Do you know your ABCs?Idea: Students will create a table in MS Word and place all 26letters down the far left column. From there, they have to findthings in the reading that pertain to each letter. For instance, while

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players would bet $$$ on? These could be placed on the board inclass & used for discussion?

reading about Buddhism, they would talk about the Afterlife in thecorresponding A row.

OPTION 21: The 5x5Idea: Whatever the students are reading, have them find 5 quotes(or whatever) and then 5 terms (for example) and create a storyout of them.

OPTION 22: Mad LibsIdea: Students will create a mad lib, or a few, (tell them to Googlethat term if theyve never used a Mad Lib before) based on thereading. Then, in class, the students could get into small groups

and take/complete each others mad lib(s).

OPTION 23: Email/Discussion BoardIdea: If instructors really want to know what students are thinking(or what problems they are having) when it comes to the reading,they could be required to read and email the instructor beforeclass time. This way, the instructor can print off the problems andquestions and use them in class. Same goes for discussion boards.

OPTION 24: Vanna WhiteIdea: While students are reading, they will take outquotes/statements they like. In class, they will get into groups andpresent 1-2 statements on the board, using the Wheel of Fortuneas their format. The group who wins the most could get a treat orbonus points. This takes up more class time than Diet Vanna.

OPTION 25: The Kevin Bacon-atorIdea: Have students connect two unlike things (topics, authors,etc.) with the 6 (or is it 7) Steps to Kevin Bacon idea.

OPTION 26: Fake Book CitationsIdea: While students are reading, instructors could have themcreate fake book citations for books that would relate to thematerial in a serious or fun way.

OPTION 27: Factoid/Something CoolIdea: Ask the students to search the text for someone orsomething. From there, they should find something cool or somefactoid about that topic. Ex: If they are reading about World War II,they could look online for something interesting to them about thefashions of the time or what people drove (if they are intofashion/cars, for example).

OPTION 28: Artistic Summary/PictionaryIdea: This activity would ask students to draw out what happenedin the reading. It could lead into a game of Pictionary lead by thestudents in class as well?

OPTION 29: Multi-GenreIdea: This activity asks students to find multiple genres thatconnect to the topic(s)/theme(s) in the reading. Ex: Finding acartoon, a non-Wikipedia article, and a chart based onBuddhism/WWII/STDs, etc.

OPTION 30: The Comic StripIdea: Using www.makebeliefscomix.com (or paper & pen/MSWord?) have students create a comic strip based on a theme orsome dialogue that occurs in the reading. This could add a bit ofhumor to any subject.

OPTION 31: Dear Abby AdviceIdea: Mimic a Dear Abby column that is related to the piece thatwas read for class.

OPTION 32: Translation NationIdea: Take a paragraph from the reading. Translate it into how apolitician would say it. THEN translate it into how a stereotypicalCalifornian ditzy girl would say it.

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