So, what can children do
with a partner? Here are just a
few ideas that can be adapted for preschool through elementary...middle school...high school...college!
Read together.
Look at books or magazines
together.
Retell a story. They can also discuss who, what, where,
when, why, the problem, resolution, what might happen next, etc.
Whisper a prediction in each
other’s ear.
Review information after a
science lesson, social studies, etc.
Clean up a center or each
other’s desks.
Read around the room. Give them pointers and empty
glasses frames for more fun.
Write the room. Give them clipboards and ask them to
write words that would reinforce a skill you are working on. For example, they could write compound
words, words with the “th” diagraph, two syllable words, etc.
Sing a song or say nursery
rhymes together.
Help with dressing, such a zipping
coats and tying shoes.
Draw a picture
together. They could draw their
favorite part of a story, illustrate a poem, draw a picture of their teacher,
and so forth.
Build together with blocks,
Legos, etc.
Play with play dough or clay
together. They make objects that
begin with a certain sound, shapes, sets, etc.
Play a computer game.
Review flashcards.
Guess who I am? Children dramatize or pantomime
favorite books, rhymes, animals, etc. while their partner tries to guess.
Make shapes and letters with
their fingers or bodies.
Do puzzles together.
Check each other’s work.
Edit each other’s writing.
Work on vocabulary. One child calls out a word while the
other child gives the definition.
Practice spelling
words. One friend calls out a word
for their partner to spell.
Play “Mirror.” One child is the leader and the other
child is the “mirror” and must mimic what the leader does. Switch roles after a minute.
Do a graphic organizer (Venn
diagram, web, T-chart, time line, etc.).
Write on each other’s backs.
Do exercises together.
I bet you can add to the list. Shoot me an email with your ideas and I'll share them.