As teachers, we understand the challenge of keeping students silent during standardized testing while we wait for the “all clear.” With the entire school expected to maintain a hushed environment, it’s important to have independent tasks on hand. This post will provide you with a range of quiet activities for after testing for 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade students.
1. Rest
Testing takes a toll on everyone; both physically and mentally. You can take this opportunity to offer your students the chance to rest. Have them put their heads down and take a nap or just relax. If you feel confident that your students can move around quietly, allow them to grab a pillow or take a rest in cozy areas of your classroom.
2. Independent Reading
One of the easiest activities to implement is independent reading. Have students choose two or three books to place in their desks before you administer the test. Once the test is over, have students pull out their books and read.
With 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders, I like to suggest a novel and two picture books. This gives them variety of options without having the need for them to get up and move around. This is especially important if your classroom is on the second floor and you have testing going on in the classroom under you.
3. Drawing
Another quiet and creative activity for after testing is drawing. Students can express themselves through free drawing. Just provide them with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil and crayons.
For those seeking a structured challenge, consider introducing a “Finish the Picture Drawing” activity.
This critical thinking exercise provides students with two or three shapes and prompts them to transform these shapes into different but related objects. After drawing and coloring the images, students label them and write a sentence or two explaining the relationship between the items.
It’s a fantastic way to engage early finishers and promote critical thinking skills while maintaining a peaceful classroom environment.
4. Puzzles
Engage your students’ minds with printable puzzles to work on after testing. From crossword puzzles to word searches, sudoku, and unscramble activities, there’s something for everyone.
Puzzles provide a quiet and stimulating challenge, perfect for maintaining a peaceful classroom environment. Plus, they help reinforce vocabulary and critical thinking skills.
Simply print out the puzzles and distribute them to your students, allowing them to work independently while you attend to administrative tasks. It’s a win-win for keeping students engaged and quiet post-testing.
5. Coloring
One of my personal favorite activities to encourage is coloring. Coloring has been proven to reduce stress, making coloring sheets an ideal activity. They help calm nerves or help unwind after testing.
Give your students a boost of encouragement before testing with motivational coloring sheets and have them complete it after testing. They provide a quiet and relaxing task as you return tests to administration while your proctor stays with your students.
6. Boggle
Lastly, consider introducing Boggle as a fun and quiet word game after testing. Students absolutely love this one!
I used to create these Boggle boards on the dry erase board before heading out to turn in the tests to my administrators. Then, I started to create a printable version of Boggle to keep on hand. This also made them easy to display quickly on the projection board.
If you are not familiar with Boggle, it is a 4 x 4 grid of letters. The player has to come up with as many words as possible using the letters on the grid. To create the words, letters must be touching. The longer the word, the more points the player gets.
Conclusion
In summary, incorporating quiet activities after testing is crucial for maintaining a peaceful classroom atmosphere. Whether it’s resting, reading independently, or engaging in creative tasks like drawing or puzzles, these activities provide students with a chance to unwind and recharge. By offering a variety of options, you can ensure that students have a productive and calming experience after testing.
