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The Stand-Up Game by Sarah Wessling: "Sarah Brown Wessling uses the stand-up game to encourage active participation. She asks all the students in her classroom to stand up. They are only allowed to sit down once they have participated in the discussion or share out. Sarah says this game is great for engaging tired students." -- The Teaching Channel

This lesson is very effective with early morning classes, students coming back from break, and helping students focus with the crazy winter weather and snows days we've been having.  It can be used across many areas!

Purpose-Driver Discussions (Sarah Brown Wessling)  -- from the GWAEA Summer Literacy Symposium 2018

Character in a Bag: Students draw their character randomly. They then had to determine three traits their character demonstrated throughout the book, and find articles that symbolized these traits. They were also given three quotes from that character, and had to find articles that symbolized these as well. Students got VERY creative! 

An example of this is from Orwell's Animal Farm and the character of Napoleon. In one student's bag for Napoleon, the student had the following:

• Leader: gavel
• Bossiness: Whip
• Cruelty: Glue  (symbolized that Napoleon had Boxer sent away and killed -- and made into glue)
• "Impossible!" cried Napoleon. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. They could not knock it down in a week. Courage, comrades!"  -- a brick to symbolize the walls -- and his stubbornness. 
• "Gentlemen," concluded Napoleon, "I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! " -- A dollar bill for GREED
• "Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington."  -- a child's toy of a Jacob's ladder -- this shows how foolish Napoleon is, and tries to make the other animals believe his foolishnes.  Much like a child thinks the Jacob's ladder should go on and on until it reaches the grounds. 

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