As the ringing bell draws near and class comes to a close, why not make those last few minutes count? Consider some engaging ways to end psychology class each day and leave students feeling inspired and looking forward to the next lesson.
If we can end our classes with closure, our students can walk away from class with a mental bookend that feels tidy and complete. The alternative is the chaos of being cut off by the bell ringing as you're mid-sentence into something that your students will assume can't be that important or you would have said it sooner.
So how do you create a clean ending? Consider a 2-5 minute review activity or a procedure as they walk out of the door.
Some ideas for ending psychology class:
What Stuck With You?
Have students write what “stuck with them” from the day's lesson on a sticky note and stick it on a board as they exit the room. This may be a personal connection they made, a big idea from the lesson, or something they want to explore further.
Above are a couple different formats this activity has taken in my classroom.
Daily Activity
The black poster board version was a consistent activity, so each student had a number and they stuck their sticky note on their assigned number's spot. It's hard to see in this picture, but each box has a number written in the middle. This set up makes it easy to quickly check who didn't complete the activity, because their numbered box is visible.
One-time Activity
Exit Tickets
Have students answer a question related to the lesson on an exit ticket. Turn it in daily or all together at the end of the week. This not only gives you valuable feedback but also helps them process and summarize what they've learned. 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!)
Pair-Share
Have students pair-share their biggest takeaway from the lesson or a question that they have. This not only promotes active engagement but also helps them consolidate their understanding. Explaining concepts to someone else is a powerful way to solidify knowledge. A perk of this option is that it doesn't create any paperwork! Just walk around the room and observe conversations in the moment.
Reflection Journals
Wrap up the day with a reflection journal activity. Have students jot down a few sentences about what they learned, a question they still have, or a real-world application of the day's topic. It's a great way to encourage critical thinking and self-assessment. This can also be turned in daily or all together at the end of the week, month, or unit.
Three Key Takeaways
Challenge students to distill the day's lesson into three key takeaways. Whether they write them down or discuss them in pairs, this activity helps them identify and internalize the most important concepts.
Quick Quiz
End class with a quick quiz on the day's material. You can make it competitive by using a platform like Kahoot, where students can answer questions in a game-like format. It's a lighthearted way to review and reinforce concepts. This does take a bit more prep work, but can be used over and over again each year.
One Big Question
Ask students to formulate one big question they still have after the day's lesson. This can be a question they're curious about or a point they'd like to explore further. Collect these questions and use them to guide future lessons and engage students in the process of their own learning.
Plan it out:
Having a closer to end 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 closing activities. For example, do an "Exit Ticket" Tuesday, "I Wonder" Wednesday (one big question), "Three Takeaways" Thursday, etc.
These activities not only make those last few minutes count but also leave students feeling excited and motivated to delve deeper into the world of psychology. Choose a few that resonate with you and watch those clock-staring, slyly-packing-up last few minutes of class turn into eager anticipation for the next day's lesson.
Share in the comments, have you ended class with any of these types of activities? Are there other ones you love to use?
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