Bring a story to life

Whether it’s a beloved storybook that your first-grade students can’t get
enough of or a classic novel or short story about a social issue that
appeals to your high school students, taking the action from the page to a
production can be a memorable, fun assignment. Students will develop
mini-plays (or lengthier ones, depending on your time constraints) based
on a certain book.

You can assign a specific part of the book to small groups to re-enact, or
student groups can choose their favorite part to act out. No need to worry
about repetitiveness here — students are naturally creative and will likely
put their own flair on their sections of the story.

This assignment gets students thinking about a book or story from

different angles, promotes teamwork, and provides a low-pressure way to
practice speaking and presentation skills. It’s definitely easier to speak up
in front of the class while playing a role. The best part is that students will
remember this activity for years to come because it’ll be a creative break
from the ordinary routines that they’re used to.

You could also try out this idea for a reenactment of a historical event or a
famous scientific discovery — again, the options are plentiful for this
think-outside-the-box idea.