What Are School Activities?

The term "school activities" applies to a wide range of skill-based games, strategies and interactive activities that support students' educational development. The goal of all activities is to enhance students' understanding, skill or effectiveness in a specific area by engaging multiple styles of learning. The school activity also serves to infuse fun into learning as well as bolster student confidence and the ability to think critically.

There are many methods of teaching all K-12 subjects. Each discrete subject has a series of topics that can be taught or reinforced through activities in which students directly apply knowledge and information to discover meaning. For example, educators may use role play in a social studies class. Students participate by acting out opposing sides of an issue to better understand the content. For fun lessons for middle school students in earth science, a teacher might initiate a search and discovery activity in which students identify real world phenomenon they have studied. Teachers wanting to include first day of school icebreakers for kids can integrate fun games related to the scope and sequence of the grade level.

Technology-based activities are used to enhance subject-based learning as well as to increase students' information communication and technology (ICT) literacy. There are numerous Internet and computer-based activities that allow students to experience multimedia learning of subjects such as math and science. ICT activities are designed to increase a student's 21st century skills and better prepare them for success in today's economy. These kind of activities include media literacy and software and hardware design projects.

Often used in secondary education, career skills activities function as a method to prepare students for the world of work. Typically, there is little time for activities focusing on career skills within the normal school day. Out-of-school time and after-school programs can provide this additional level of learning through courses and clubs that focus on options like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. For example, an after school activity might include robotics or science club activities. High school level options for a school activity might include photography or academic club events.

Learning through a school activity in K-12 is based on the individual achievements and excellence of each student as assessed through a series of exams, reports and other metrics. Post high school, an individual's success relies largely on her ability to work with others through assignments and activities. Collaboration activities cultivate skills like team work, communication and tolerance. These activities are non-academic in nature and be interactive and enjoyable for students.