Toss that Test Aside!
As we all know, students already get plenty of tests, so why not let your elementary students show what they learned creatively? Whether your students are reading independent books or your class has just finished a history of anything project, such as a unit on space or pioneers, a culminating project can really cement that learning. Whether you’re focused on building academics or building character, we have some great ideas!
Here are 72+ fun and creative activities for elementary students to show what they know, including presentation ideas, simple service projects for schools, and community service projects. These ideas are perfect for making learning more engaging and fun for younger students.
Innovation Presentation Ideas (projects for elementary students)
- Create a poster
- Make a PowerPoint presentation
- Design a model
- Make a shoebox diorama
- Use a 3-panel display board
- Make a timeline
- Create a board game incorporating key elements
- Write a poem
- Write and perform a skit
- Make a TV or radio commercial
- Make a collage
- Make a mobile
- Create a test about the topic
- Make a word search
- Make a crossword puzzle
- Write a report
- Create a flow chart or diagram
- Write an interview of a relevant person
- Create questions and an answer key
- Write journal/diary entries
- Write a postcard or letter exchange
- Create a scrapbook
- Create a photo album
- Make an instructional video
- Give a presentation
- Create an interactive notebook
- Create a set of task cards
- Make a pamphlet or brochure
- Write a newspaper article
- Perform a puppet show
- Hold a debate
- Hold a mock court case
- Create an episode of a reality show
- Create a game show
- Have a panel discussion of “experts”
- Compose a rap or other song
- Use a Venn diagram to compare two aspects of the topic
- Design a comic strip about the topic
- Create a children’s story about the topic
- Create a map
- Write a fable or myth about the topic
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- Create a help wanted ad and a letter/resume to answer it
- Write a text message dialogue relevant to the topic
- Write a series of tweets relevant to the topic
- Create a Facebook wall relative to the topic
- Create a Pinterest board relative to the topic
- Start a blog
- Decorate a box and fill with relevant objects
- Create a foldable
- Create a flip book
- Create a Cootie Catcher
- Create a cereal based on the topic (cover a cereal box)
- Assemble a time capsule
- Create several bookmarks about different aspects of the topic
- Write a recipe relevant to the topic (good for showing causes of an event)
- Do a newscast
- Write an acrostic poem
- Create an Internet scavenger hunt
- Write an advice column with several problems related to the topic
- Create flash cards or trivia cards
- Create a cheer relevant to the topic
- Make a short documentary film
- Create a museum exhibit
- Create a top 10 list relevant to the topic
- Create a simple video game
- Make a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story
- Create a mini book with one fact/idea per page
- Create a glossary of relevant terms
- Make a paper chain with a different fact for each link
- Make a flower with a different fact for each petal
- Write a handbook or instruction book
- Create a newsletter
- Design a mural related to the topic
- Create a quiz show-style game for classmates to participate in
- Build a diorama using LEGO bricks or other building materials
- Develop a trivia board game related to the topic, like historical events
- Create an infographic to illustrate key concepts
- Design a 3D model or sculpture using clay, cardboard, or other materials
- Create a short animation or stop-motion video about the topic
- Organize a class art gallery featuring artwork inspired by the topic
- Make a digital storybook or eBook on the topic
- Write a series of short stories or a novella related to the topic
- Create a virtual reality experience or simulation about the topic
- Implement a Genius Hour where students can discuss their passions!
For High School and College Students
While the ideas above are mainly geared towards elementary students, middle school, high school, and college students can also benefit from exploring creative presentations and projects.
The following sections provide additional suggestions for older students looking for unique ways to showcase their knowledge.
Creative Presentation Ideas for High School and College Students
- Develop a multimedia presentation slides or PowerPoint) using video, audio, and visual elements. The entire presentation can be recorded and the video presentation can be shared with the appropriate audience.
- Create an interactive website or blog to present the research or project
- Design an engaging infographic to illustrate key concepts
- Host a podcast episode or series related to the topic
- Collaborate with other students to create a short film or documentary
Creative Study Guide Ideas for High School and College Students
- Develop a mind map to connect and visualize key concepts
- Create flashcards with illustrations or mnemonics to aid memory
- Design a flowchart to outline the steps or stages of a process
- Develop an interactive quiz or game to test knowledge
- Collaborate with classmates to create a shared study guide or resource
Online Projects for Students
- Create a virtual museum or gallery showcasing a specific topic or theme
- Develop a web-based learning module or tutorial
- Collaborate with other students to create a virtual event or conference
- Design a digital escape room focused on a particular subject. Read more about how you can make your own escape room!
- Play around with augmented reality! Read about Quiver.
- Create an online community or forum for discussing and sharing ideas related to a specific area of study
As you can see, there are numerous creative presentation ideas without PowerPoint that can help students of all ages engage with their learning and showcase their knowledge. From elementary students to high school and college project ideas, these innovative activities provide a fun and engaging way to demonstrate learning and foster a deeper understanding of the material.
10 Simple Service Projects for Schools
- Organize a school supplies drive for a local school in need
- Set up a creative activities workshop for students at a nearby preschool or kindergarten
- Create a community service project focused on environmental conservation
- Partner with a local food bank to organize a food drive
- Volunteer at a local food pantry to help distribute goods to those in need
- Plan a school-wide clean-up day to beautify the campus
- Organize a clothing or toy drive for a local children’s shelter
- Develop a tutoring program for younger students in need of academic assistance
- Coordinate a school-wide recycling initiative to promote sustainability
- Host a charity fundraiser event to support a cause important to your school community
Further Reading and Related Blog Posts:
If you enjoyed this post and are looking for more ideas and inspiration, be sure to check out these other related posts on our blog:
- Summer Projects for Teachers and Their Kids – Discover fun and educational summer projects that teachers can enjoy with their own children, making the most of the break while still engaging in learning.
- Parents: Please Don’t Do Your Kids’ Projects! – This post discusses the importance of allowing children to complete their own projects, fostering independence, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
- Awesome Hands-On End of Year Projects – Explore a variety of hands-on projects perfect for wrapping up the school year, keeping students engaged and motivated as the summer break approaches.
- Hands-On Projects for Creative and Critical Thinking – Dive into a selection of hands-on projects that promote creative and critical thinking skills, making learning an interactive and enjoyable experience for students.
- Make Project-Based Learning Fit Your Students’ Needs – Learn how to adapt project-based learning to suit the unique needs of your students, ensuring they get the most out of these engaging and educational experiences.
By exploring these additional resources, you’ll find even more creative ideas and strategies to enhance your students’ learning experiences and promote their growth in and out of the classroom.
You can get 15 of these ideas with student instruction sheets and grading rubrics with Ready-to-Use Creative Book Reports.
This is a great list to honor different learning styles! I recently blogged about how we used a jeopardy game to enhance learning the school code of conduct, and I'm always a fan of making class books to reinforce concepts!
I'll be trying more of these – thanks, Rachel!
Susanna
Whimsy Workshop Teaching
Cool list guys! Really intrigued…cant wait to try some of them out…
I already have the slogan for the cereal brand. It’s about The great fire of London btw.
The slogan is “This will burn your mouth like it burned down 1300 homes”
NICE!!!!😂😂😂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Wonderful ideas here! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
yes! very great ideas keep them coming thanks for sharing.😊
Brilliant list! Wow! To answer your question; #8 yes #9 yes #24 – do that video one lot. LOVE these and will try many more. Feeling inspired 🙂
btw on #33? Well.. actually.. I created and produced an SBTV show called "Enlightenment Stew". 3 minute hodge podge of monologues every week full of humor/wisdom. Put my students on it a lot. We had a blast and report back was "We learn to much!"
This list is really cool.
Love this list! I find it's best to give kids 3-5 choices. Otherwise they get overwhelmed! This list is great because it will help me change it up so the choices I offer aren't always the same ones.
Funny…don't see take a state test…take a quarterly benchmark…take a unit pre/post test…sure wish we had time for these!
I don’t think tests are a way to show information, they’re more of a way to see if students understand what they’re doing.
Yes I agree
Love this list! Thanks! I do assign a lot of these types of assignments already, but do find myself resorting to tests sometimes (although I like to use different, more "FUN" or in depth versions of tests) simply because our assessment policies indicate that we ought to only assess work that is done in class, i.e. that we can observe being completed so that we can assess the process & have conversations about the learning as well as to assess the final product. I have trouble, even when I tell students that work has to be done in class, and have routines to remind them to leave work in an assigned location each period, ensuring that no one takes it home. Then accusations about fairness begin. I'd love any suggestions! I teach middle school.
Tammy @ Teaching FSL
I used the wanted poster idea. My grade 2/3 students created wanted posters for 3-D shapes. They were able to use the attributes of the shapes to describe the wanted shape and had to find an example of that shape to add an image for the poster. We used it for an artwork piece by ripping the edges and staining them with tea to look old. Great media literacy(posters) activity as well as math. The whole school got involved when we posted them around the school. We had students dropping by the room all day long to show us the shapes they had captured for us. My students even made these students bringing us shapes count the vertices and faces to prove that they had captured the right shape. It really engaged everyone. I look forward to using some of your other great ideas.
I love this!! I’m a pre-service teacher in 1st grade and may actually use this tomorrow in class! The art idea is very fun and I think this a great way to make math engaging.
I’m excited to try this wanted poster idea!
List is very useful.
So helpful! Many thanks!
I love this. I used many of them when I was in school and teaching. They are all very helpful.
thanks for the info.
Thank you for compiling such a thorough, and thoroughly useful, list.
Thank you
It is awesome and very creative
Cool list. I’ll try these out.
Wow! I really love this list! I’m a teacher in an elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico and my students absolutely love these ideas. They enjoy writing fun little acrostic poems and what not and constantly say “Mrs Garcia, can we please do more!” It’s so great watching their eyes fill with understanding when they do these little tasks! My personal favourite is making a reality TV show. It really makes me laugh when I see a bunch of 9-year-olds acting in such a funny way! It really expresses their knowledge in a fun way that keeps them interested and keeps me happy! Thanks so much for this list.
María Garcia
Great list–I would never have thought of some of these!
Very nice Ideas regarding classroom projects. I think such projects if applied in classroom will make a big difference in teaching and learning.
This is a great list
AMAZING!!
I like them all but I don’t have any supplies 😂
Great List
Good information.
Thank you.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this!
I actually enrolled my kids in the enrichment programs of http://www.georgia.edu.ph, an International School in the Philippines, so they can enhance their skills in the field of Arts and Music. Since you’ve mentioned that these creative ways can help me see the improvements i my child, we will definitely try them at home. Hope you can share more articles like soon, it really is very helpful for parents. More power to your blog!