The Best American Essays Activities & Classroom Projects

Fun Classroom Activities

The 20 enjoyable, interactive classroom activities that are included will help your students understand the text in amusing ways. Fun Classroom Activities include group projects, games, critical thinking activities, brainstorming sessions, writing poems, drawing or sketching, and more that will allow your students to interact with each other, be creative, and ultimately grasp key concepts from the text by "doing" rather than simply studying.

1. Home Video (Silent Dancing by Judith Ortiz Cofer)

Write a poem about a memory from one of your home videos. If you do not have any old videos, simply write about a memory you have as a child.

2. Show your Do (Hair by Marcia Aldrich)

Have each student come to class with their favorite hairstyle. Tell them in advance so they can prepare and start planning for their hairstyle. Discuss the meaning of the hair styles.

3. Newspaper Clippings (Merced by...
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