This document provides examples of creative starters that teachers can use at the beginning of lessons to engage students and focus their attention. Some examples described include word games like bingo, scrabble, and word creators using vocabulary from the lesson topic. Another type of starter discussed is examining images or scenarios and having students make observations or inferences to introduce the lesson concept. The purpose of starters is to get students actively involved early in the lesson and provide early success and variety to support learning.

1. Creative Starters
HALEY HAMILTON
TEACHER OF HISTORY & MODERN STUDIES

2. Why use them?
Research shows that more learning is likely to take
place in lessons containing more than one activity,
or broken into sections, sometimes called
‘chunking’.
Including starters and plenaries in lesson structures
allows for this variety of approach.

3. Why use them?
Starters, appropriately used, mean that learning
can begin as soon as pupils enter the classroom.
They can be used to introduce new ideas or a new
topic, or to re-cap / consolidate / reinforce prior
learning.
Many teachers have a task displayed on the board
or arranged on desks for pupils to get on with
straight away (a problem on big school sites &
when you are in many different classrooms).

4. Features of a starter task
Short – probably no more than ten minutes
Has lots of pace – mostly oral – very interactive
Designed to engage and to focus attention
Inclusive – designed to get everyone involved
Motivational – designed to offer early success in
the lesson.

6. Starter Tasks in History & Modern
Studies

7. Matching / Sequencing
Exercises
These types of starter tasks can
include include:
1.Bingo
2.Scrabble
3.Word Creator

8. Trench Life Bingo
TASK
Choose 5
words from
the box write
them in your
jotter. Cross
the word off
when you
hear the
correct
definition
Bully Beef
SoldiersRats
Sleepless
Petrol Cans
Shellshock
Fleas
Boredom
Trench Foot
Disease

10. You are now going to have a game
of Scrabble with the person sitting
next to you or in rows.
In S1 Modern Studies our topic is
Terrorism.
How many words can you make up
that relate to our current topic?
Make up a word and calculate the
value…can you get the highest
value in the class?

11. Go For Gold
Your challenge today is to make as many words from our key word today
which is:
Mary Queen of Scots
How did you do?
Gold - 10 or more words
Silver - between 5-10 words
Bronze - 5 or under
Extension – Why is Mary Queen of Scots the
keyword for today’s lesson?

12. Examining an image with a
related question
These type of starter tasks can include:
1.Snapchat
2.Breaking News Generator
3.Word Foto (I Phone) & Word Cam
(Android)
4.Emojis

13. Snapchat
Quick & simple way to engage students & make it
relevant.

14. Using the Snapchat we have received
from the Western Front think about:
What would a soldier see?
What would he be thinking?
What would soldier’s hear?
What do you think is happening?

16. Should the taxpayer have to pay for
renovations at Buckingham Palace?

19. What do you think the lesson will be about
today?
Provide one reason to explain your
thinking.

20. Today we will be looking at inequalities in
America.
Using the Emoji's what inequalities exist?

21. Thank you 