Let’s talk Expert Days, Teach the Teacher Days, Demonstration Days—whatever you want to call them.
This can be a quick one-day, one-lesson thing, or you can really go all out and turn this into a thing. Let’s explore several options:
Option #1: One-Day Only
Students are randomly chosen to teach the class about their chosen skill. In a classroom setting, this is ideally how to do something, how to make something, how to draw something, etc. Students who are chosen come to the front of the class to teach their skill. Pretty straightforward.
Pros: Quick + easy
Cons: Less prep time for students; not everyone gets a turn
Option #2: Get Extra + Make It a Thing
Students can be assigned demonstration days. They choose an expert skill prior to their demonstration day; this can be a skill chosen from their how-to journal or a brand new one of their choosing. Ideally, you’ll tie a writing assignment to this project. Students will have to create a how-to procedure manual or list that they will use to plan and present on their demonstration day.
Some of the more popular topics students have done in the past include: how to tie your shoe, how to get ready for a soccer game, and how to spell your name using LEGO.
Pros: Super meaningful + authentic, highly engaging
Cons: Takes a lot of time