Paperless Lessons

ist2_86270_notebook_paper1.jpgMost teachers have regular access to paper, copiers, computers and office supplies. But what about when all that stuff breaks down or you forget something? Or if you are a volunteer teaching in a developing community and can’t make copies?

A few paperless activities and other ways to adapt:

  • Alibi can be nearly paperless (brainstorm questions before, together, on the whiteboard).
  • The Age of Man: write four or five age categories (0-10, 10-20…) and students work in groups to think of five things that people generally do in each (go to school, get married, retire, etc.). Together you come up with a list of five for each as a group on the board. You can do different ranking activities with these: overall, which five are the most difficult/stressful? Which five do people enjoy the most? Which can be done at any age and which would actually be ideal at some other age? Which have the students done – and they can interview each other about one or two.

  • Instead of handing out copies, you can dictate your sentences/questions for each student to write down. Or if there really is no paper at all, you can dictate and have students take turns writing on the board – maybe two teams and the one with the “more correct” version at the end “wins” – then the group works with those questions.
  • You can do tongue twister pronunciation races where students race to the board and write…in fact board races of any kind are usually winners with both kids and fun-loving adults.
  • And last but not least: you can conserve paper by making double-sided copies or two smaller copies on one page and cutting it in half.