ELA class in middle school is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore their creativity, engage in imaginative stories, and share their thoughts with their peers. With the right tools and resources, teachers can inspire every student in class to excel in English Language Arts. Here are some easy and effective ELA activities for middle school that will keep students engaged and help them develop valuable skills.
### 4 Engaging ELA Warm-Ups for Middle Schoolers
Bell ringers, writing prompts, and creative activities are all great ways to help students transition into an ELA class. These short activities get students thinking and writing quickly.
#### Set up a journal writing schedule
Encourage students to write in a journal daily about their experiences, thoughts, and feelings. This practice helps them express themselves and improve their writing skills.
#### Pen a letter to a character
Have students write a letter to a character from a book, short story, movie, or TV show. This activity helps them connect with the literature they are studying and develop empathy for fictional characters.
#### Write a review for yesterday’s lesson
Challenge students to write a review of the previous day’s lesson. This activity reinforces their understanding of the material and encourages critical thinking.
#### Analyze the song of the day
Start each class with a song and ask students to analyze the lyrics for figurative language. This activity is especially beneficial during a poetry unit.
### 4 Refreshing ELA Activities for Middle School Reading
Make reading assignments as creative and engaging as the books themselves to keep students interested and motivated.
#### Assign creative book reports
Encourage students to think outside the box with creative book reports. They can create comic strip summaries, write short-story sequels, or create scrapbooks for their favorite characters.
#### Set up a book escape room
Design a book-themed escape room where students have to solve puzzles and clues related to the novel they are reading. This activity promotes teamwork and critical thinking skills.
#### Make a trailer for a book
Have students create a book trailer using video-making techniques. This activity taps into their technological skills and allows them to showcase their understanding of the book in a creative way.
#### Let students act it out
Transform a novel unit into a play unit and have students act out scenes from the book. This hands-on activity helps students engage with the text in a new and exciting way.
### 4 Entertaining ELA Games for Middle School
Make learning fun with engaging ELA games that cater to different reading levels and learning styles.
#### Play a game of vocabulary bingo
Enhance vocabulary review with a game of Vocabulary Bingo. This activity helps students reinforce their understanding of new words in a fun and interactive way.
#### Write your own definitions
Challenge students to create definitions for made-up words to practice their understanding of language and creativity.
#### Host a literary game show
Bring popular game shows like Jeopardy! into the classroom with literary-themed questions. This activity is a fun way to review concepts and engage students in friendly competition.
#### Craft one big class story
Collaboratively write a story as a class by letting students contribute to the narrative. This activity fosters creativity and teamwork among students.
### Support Reluctant Readers With 4 ELA Activities for Middle School
Help struggling readers build literacy skills and stay engaged in ELA class with these supportive projects.
#### Create a comic strip
Encourage visual storytelling by having students create a comic strip based on a story they read or wrote. This activity helps students visualize and sequence narratives.
#### Complete Mad Libs together
Use Mad Libs to reinforce parts of speech and language concepts in a fun and entertaining way. This activity is great for practicing grammar skills.
#### Pass a question Hot Potato
Engage reluctant learners in class discussions with a game of Hot Potato. This activity encourages active participation and helps students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.
#### Pack a character traits bag
Have students demonstrate their understanding of characters by collecting items that represent them. This activity promotes critical thinking and comprehension skills.
### Tips for Keeping Middle Schoolers Engaged
To ensure a successful ELA lesson, follow these tips for keeping middle school students engaged and motivated.
– Balance routine and new activities to keep students interested.
– Differentiate activities based on students’ reading levels.
– Make lessons interesting by incorporating fun and interactive activities.
– Assess student understanding regularly through various formative assessment techniques.
### Enjoy Easy, Low-Prep ELA Activities from TPT
Discover a variety of middle school ELA resources on Teachers Pay Teachers that will enhance student participation and improve grades. With these resources, students will feel more engaged and motivated in ELA class than ever before.
