What are examples of extension activities?

Extension tasks can provide more, or different, forms of practice. They can also make classroom learning more meaningful, as they give learners a chance to personalise language and content. The learners have been reading about extreme sports and as an extension task they research other examples, choose one to explore further, and present their findings to the group. Extension tasks can be a useful strategy to deal with mixed ability classes, as they can be given to early finishers or set as extra, more demanding work for higher level learners.

Choice boards are my ultimate favorite extension activity. They allow your students to choose activities that fit their unique learning styles. Even though they are doing different activities, all the students are still practicing the same concept. For example, if you’re studying weather, one student could pretend to be a meteorologist and design a weather map while another student researches clouds and makes a book about the different types. If your students are 1:1 with devices, technology can provide some great extension activities. There are lots of websites for every subject. I like to create a Google Doc with a list of links the students can do if they finish early. Reading is always a good activity for your students to do. You can go to the library and gather a collection of books, magazines, and articles about the topic you’re studying. As your students are learning more about a subject with books and technology, they can make a list of interesting facts. Then, they can use those facts to create a project to share with the class. When students finish activities early, they usually have a good understanding of the material. If you have other students who are struggling with the concept, you can pair them up with your early finishers. One of the best ways to learn is to teach someone else, so your early finishers benefit from this extension activity.