The Power of Movement
Over the course of my teaching career, one of the best ways to increase student engagement is to keep them moving. When students are actively involved, they retain more information and develop deeper connections to the material. I’ve found that incorporating movement has made my lessons more enjoyable and memorable while also increasing student stamina for learning. Here are ten of my favorite active options that encourage movement across all subjects.
1. Hexagonal Tiles
In this activity, groups of students receive a set of hexagonal tiles with key terms, concepts, or events written on each. The tiles are spread out on a large table with the students standing around it. The hexagon shape means there are six possible connections to each tile. Students collaborate, debate and reason while arranging the tiles based on relationships. This activity deepens understanding and sparks critical thinking. For example, in my U.S. History class, students use hexagonal tiles to map out connections between key events in the American Revolution, leading to deeper discussions on cause and effect.
2. Gallery Walk
Transform your classroom into an interactive exhibit by placing key questions, images, or problems around the room. Students move in small groups, stopping at each station to analyze and discuss the content. I especially love this active option to analyze political cartoons. Responses are left on the wall next to the political cartoons, allowing students to read other interpretations before making their own as the activity progresses.
3. Scavenger Hunt
Take learning beyond the four walls of the classroom! In a scavenger hunt, students follow a series of clues that lead them to different locations, each containing a question, problem, or document to analyze. This strategy works well for reinforcing key concepts in science, history, math, and even language arts. When reviewing the Constitution, I’ve created clues sending kids from the cafeteria to the media center, to the football field, to the auditorium, and back. It turns review time into an adventure!
4. Pinwheel Discussion
Encourage dynamic group conversations with this variation of the pinwheel method. Start with 4-5 groups around the outside of the room. Pose an open-ended, thought-provoking question for each group to discuss. After one minute of discussion, pinwheel in one student from each group to the center to discuss while the rest of the class listens. After another minute, the inner group pinwheels back out to new groups and a new question is posed and the process repeats. Encourage different students to pinwheel each time, allowing everyone to contribute and move. This method ensures that all voices are heard and deepens student engagement. It also allows students to generate ideas in a smaller group to gain confidence before pinwheeling to the middle.
5. Retell in Rhyme
Although this lesson doesn’t require quite as much movement as some others, it’s still an engaging and fun way for students to synthesize new information. Developed by Dr. Scott Petri, this activity challenges students to summarize a lesson or concept by turning it into a short poem or rap. Whether it’s a scientific process, a historical event, or a mathematical theorem, putting information into rhyme reinforces comprehension. I have students perform their creations for extra credit, and it makes for a memorable, albeit painful on the ears, experience!
6. Speed DebATING
Modeled after speed dating, this activity gets students rapidly engaging with different peers. Students pair up and discuss a prompt for a short, timed period before rotating to a new partner. This method works well for reviewing key concepts, brainstorming new ideas, or practicing debate skills in a fast-paced, energetic setting. Students will benefit from lots of movement and the chance to discuss with every member of the class.
7. Four-Corners Discussion
A classic! Pose a thought-provoking question with four possible responses, labeling each corner of the room accordingly (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree). Students move to the corner that matches their opinion and discuss their reasoning with others in their group before sharing with the class. This method sparks debate and promotes critical thinking. I’ve also used this as an icebreaker to kick off the beginning of the school year.
8. Simulations
Bring lessons to life with simulations. Whether it’s an environmental crisis for a science class, a budgeting challenge for a math class, or a reenactment of a historical event, simulations allow students to immerse themselves in learning. My students have experienced the frustrations of poor, former indentured servants on the eve of Bacon’s Rebellion and reenacted the Election of 1828. By putting students in the event or idea, they gain a stronger grasp on the information. Immersing students in real-world scenarios makes abstract concepts tangible and memorable.
9. Act It Out
Skits are a great way for students to show their comprehension of material. Ask students to create and perform skits that illustrate concepts, whether it’s a scientific process, a historical moment, or a literary theme. Movement-based storytelling makes learning more interactive and engaging. The beauty of this method is that it encourages creativity and collaboration while forcing students to apply information to a realistic scenario with dialogue and action.
10. Inside-Outside Debate
This strategy is perfect for discussion-based learning. Students are separated into four groups and form two circles: group one and two in the inner circle and groups three and four in the outer circle. Group one and two debate each other verbally while groups three and four complete a written debate on an online platform. After a period of time, the inner and outer circles switch, allowing for students to prove their knowledge in both verbal and written form.
How NGL Can Help
At National Geographic Learning, we believe in the power of active learning. Our resources provide interactive content, inquiry-based activities, and real-world applications that get students moving, thinking, and engaging with their learning in meaningful ways. From hands-on projects to digital simulations, our materials support educators in bringing dynamic, movement-based learning to life. To learn more about National Geographic Learning social studies resources, visit NGL.Cengage.com/K12SocialStudies.
Conclusion
Integrating movement into your classroom doesn’t require a complete curriculum overhaul, it just takes small shifts to make learning more interactive and engaging. These active learning strategies have transformed my classroom, making my students more engaged, collaborative, and excited about learning. Try one of these techniques in your classroom today and experience the power of movement!
More About the Author
David Forster is a veteran high school educator in Massachusetts with a passion for hands-on, project-based learning. He has taught a variety of Social Studies courses and recently expanded into EdTech marketing, where he helps connect educators with innovative learning tools. Through his work in product marketing, he has created teacher-focused content and resources to support meaningful classroom engagement.
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