When your students enter your room, do they ask what to do? Do they look for distractions and goof off? Do they mosey around the room or dive into their cell phones?
Or do they know exactly what to expect and come in ready to complete the task?
Our brains love clean beginnings and endings, so having consistency at the beginning of class is key to setting the tone and getting the most out of our time with students. Consider a procedure as they walk in the door or a 2-5 minute review or preview activity at their desk.
Some ideas for starting a psychology class:
Question of the Day
Have students answer a question related to the lesson from last class. Turn it in daily or all together at the end of the week (I prefer the end of the week, so there's less paperwork!)
Inquiry Pair-Share
Put the topic of the day on the board and have students pair-share a question that they have about it. This is great for getting students to practice their inquiry skills and find what's interesting to them in our curriculum.
Today in Psychology
Put an interesting thing that happened on this day in psychology up on the board. Students can write a response, discuss the event with each other, or look up more information about the event or people involved. Check out slides for every day in September.
Mind Teasers
Give your students' brains a mini workout with some mind teasers. Post a riddle or a lateral thinking puzzle on the board. It's like a mental jumpstart that gets everyone's gears turning right from the get-go. These are especially suited for the cognition unit as you can related them to the types of thinking and problem-solving involved.
Quote of the Day
Sprinkle a dose of inspiration with a psychology-related quote of the day. It could be from a famous psychologist, a thought-provoking author, or even a movie character. Discuss its relevance to the day's topic or let your students interpret its meaning. Quotes are like mini thought starters!
"Real-Life Psychology" Stories
Tap into the power of storytelling by sharing a "real-life psychology" anecdote. It could be a news story, a personal experience, or even a scenario from a movie. Connect it to the lesson or topic you're about to cover to show psychology in action.
Would You Rather: Psych Edition
Put a psychological twist on the classic "Would You Rather?" game. Present students with two scenarios related to psychological concepts and ask them to choose. For example, "Would you rather have an exceptional memory but be unable to forget anything or have average memory with a selective forget button?" It's a fun way to get them thinking and laughing.
Quick Polls or Surveys
Get students' opinions flowing with quick polls or surveys. Use platforms like Kahoot, Mentimeter, or even simple hand raising to gauge their thoughts on a topic related to psychology. It's a fantastic way to spark discussion and show that their opinions matter.
Brain Teasers or Optical Illusions
Challenge your students' perceptions with brain teasers or optical illusions. Project an image on the screen that plays tricks on their minds and let them figure it out together. It's not just fun—it's also a way to introduce cognitive psychology concepts like perception and attention.
"What's in the News?"
Connect psychology to current events by discussing a psychology-related news story. It could be something about a new study, a breakthrough in understanding behavior, or even a societal issue related to mental health. This sparks curiosity and shows that psychology is everywhere.
Plan it out:
Having a warm-up to start a psychology class that's consistent in form but shifts in content to match the day works well, so students know what to expect and can follow an established routine. If you're craving more variety, consider rotating through a handful of different types of warm-ups. For example, do a Mind-teaser Monday, "Today in Psychology" Tuesday, "What's in the News?" Wednesday, etc.
These warm-ups not only create an awesome classroom vibe but also set the stage for some seriously memorable learning. You're setting your students up to expect an engaging start to class each day, so pick a few that resonate with you, and watch your students light up with excitement as they walk through your classroom door.
Share in the comments, have you started class with any of these types of warm-ups? Are there other bell-ringers you love to use?
