End the year with a positive feeling about learning. A useful and active way to have students think about what they have studied during the year is to use “60-second flashback.” Students give a brief, creative presentation on a character, creature, country, or concept as a way to review.
Steps*
Practical Ideas to Wrap Up the Year for Grades 4-8
- Introduce students to an activity called “60-second flashback.” We say: “To help you recall key ideas you have learned this year, you are going to choose different ways to show what you remember about a character, creature, country, or concept you’ve studied.”
- Make, and post, a list of some of the characters, creatures, countries, and concepts studied during the year. Ask students to suggest other ideas, and add these to the list.
- Talk with students about possible ways to present a “60-second flashback” (e.g., put on a skit, role-play characters, make collages or posters, make videos). Record ideas on a piece of chart paper.
- Have students choose an idea to review and to determine a way to present their “60-second flashback.” We give students the choice of working on their own, with a partner, or with a small group.
- Ask volunteers to demonstrate what a “60-second flashback” can look like, so everyone can see what they are expected to do in a very short period of time.
- Make a schedule, and invite students to sign-up.
- Give time for students to prepare and present their “60-second flashback.” We start each day with five presentations.
- After their presentations, talk with students about their favourite parts of the “60-second flashback.” Ask them how their presentations helped them remember ideas they learned during the year.
*Adapted from Inspiring Active Learning by Merrill Harmin, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 1994
“60-second flashback” and more great ideas for the classroom can be found in the Voices of Experience set for Grades 4-8 and the Voices of Experience set for Grades K-3.
