A task card is a LIFESAVER for you in your classroom. Okay, I may be a little dramatic, but seriously! Task cards were game-changers for engagement in my room. There were days that my students walked into the room and I could already tell I would need to pull out every trick I had to keep them engaged and learning. š§āāļø This was definitely a common trick I would use. I used task cards in every subject that I taught, but today Iām going to focus on how I used them in my social studies classroom. These lend themselves to being pretty hands-off for the teacher, which is an added bonus!
What is a Task Card?
A task card is an engagement tool used to help students review concepts they have already learned! There are a TON of ways to use these in the classroom in any subject. I especially loved using them during math class to get some additional practice without assigning a worksheet.Ā
Task cards for Social Studies
You can find all the task cards you need to teach social studies in my store! Iāve created task cards with a digital component for days when the copier just isnāt your friend. I mean, are we even a teacher if we donāt have a love-hate relationship with that copy machine in the workroom?? š Anyways, check out my store for affordable task cards, or save even more with my year-long bundle.Ā
How to use task cards in the classroom
Place task cards in a station or center
This one is pretty simple! Place the task cards on a binder ring and put them in your station area. I often used my stations as early finishers as well, so it was pretty natural to place task cards we already used in the stations at a choice for students. If you are running short on time to review, this is a great way to squeeze them in!
Hang task cards around the room to create movement
You might have heard of this activity referred to as a SCOOT. You donāt have to buy Scoot games on TpT to do this though. Simply hang the cards around the room and let kids find all the answers themselves. You can even make this more student-led by giving them choices like āonly pick 10ā or āgo in any orderā. Students love to feel in control.Ā
Place task cards on a loose-leaf ring for review
I use binder rings for everything! After we have used these cards once as a class, I hook all the cards onto one binder ring and label them with the unit. Then, throughout the year students will use them to quiz each other on concepts we have covered all year!Ā
Display one task card per day as a warm-up
Again, I know we are always short on time, so I always look for ways to save some time when I can. Thatās why sometimes I use these cards as daily warm-ups! They get shuffled in a pile and then I simply pull one to review each day. If I know we need to review a specific concept, Iāll be sure to throw more of those in!Ā
Play a review game with students
Allow students to quiz each other for points, compete in jeopardy, or play a quiz showdown with the cards. Students LOVE playing games.
*BONUS TIP: If you print these on cardstock and laminate them you will get even more use out of them. I find myself using the same sets each year, and Iām able to use them a different way each time!Ā
How to make task cards fun
Use task cards as a reward game
Did your students do well on an assignment or just need to earn some game time? I loved turning these cards into different games to give students a fun opportunity to review content. Games are always more engaging too!Ā
Give students an incentive for completing them
I set up monthly challenges in the classroom for students to complete their station work or ābonus workā. If students finish their work, they earn their way into lunch with the teacher, extra technology time, or other incentives depending on what the students are into at the moment. Have these cards displayed somewhere for students to access and then give them time to complete them for a small prize! A little motivation goes a long way!
Allow students to create their own task cards
Once students get the hang of working with task cards, they will be able to make their own sets! Have each student write one question for the set you are building, and then put them together to quiz the class. Students will love having ownership over their review and it will take some of the work off of your plate! Be sure to review how to ask good questions before sending them on their way with this project!Ā
Related Articles
Are you looking for planning resources that are easy to use, minimal prep, and ready at your fingertips? I have created a planning document for upper-elementary social studies teachers, and you are definitely going to want to go check it out! š I have linked resource ideas, vocabulary, and essential questions ready to go for you. If you teach in the upper elementary classroom, there is something for you in that document. What are you waiting for? Go check it out NOW!
When thinking about activities to use with task cards, try to pick an activity that engages students in their learning. Task cards are meant to make reviewing content fun! Enjoy using task cards in the classroom with your students!
