Working digitally doesn’t mean you can’t have class parties! You just need to get creative and host a digital classroom party! Even though we’re supposed to have adjusted to our “new normal” 🙄 and most classrooms have gone back to in-person setups, there are still plenty of students who are attending school digitally at least part-time. Read on to see how you can use digital parties in your classroom, even if you’re meeting in person.
I enjoy a good party day just like most teachers and students, but MAN OH MAN it wears me out. I don’t think I can remember a class party day that didn’t leave me exhausted (and totally fulfilled) at the end of the day. Between coming up with fun things for students to do, organizing snacks and parent visits, and then cleaning it all up when you are finished. It is a whirlwind of fun and stress. One thing I loved about having digital party games is that they are engaging without any prep work needed on my end. My students loved the games just as much, if not more, than any of the games I would have played that required prep work. So I decided to work smarter not harder! 💪
What’s a digital classroom party?
It’s simply a way to have the fun of class parties while also maintaining social distancing. There’s no reason digital classrooms can’t celebrate holidays and achievements. The easiest way, in my opinion, is to use slides that are pre-created to encourage fun and excitement. Even if you are in the classroom, these are great brain breaks to add to all of your other themed fun for the day or week surrounding your class party!
Why host a digital classroom party?
For starters, it’s a potentially safer way to have parties. I know different districts have different regulations they are following. A digital classroom party allows for distancing and inclusion for students who may have to be away from their class temporarily. It also allows students to have direct computer time (and I haven’t had any students who weren’t excited to use the computers). If you use my resources for digital parties, I also include games that encourage whole-class participation, and activity books so you can get started on any party clean-up while students stay occupied. Even if you’re still meeting in person, these are a great way to guide the fun so you don’t end up with a hectic holiday party that leaves you stressed.
How do you use the digital party resources?
My parties are so easy to use! Assign individual slides online through Google slides. Then, display the teacher slides for whole-class games. You can then assign the activity book to students to work on independently to help them wind down from the fun. My resources include invitations to share with students digitally who may not be meeting you in person, teacher slides for whole group games, student slides to complete independently, read aloud bookshelf full of videos, and instructions.
Digital classroom parties really became a lifesaver over the past couple of years. Not only were they great for incorporating into the ebb and flow of meeting in person or digitally, but I’ve continued to use them simply for the great structure they provide when my stud ents want to do anything except focus. If you’d like to see the full bundle of digital class parties, I have several themed parties ready to go here in my TPT shop. Be sure to check back, more party ideas are in the works!
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! 👀 I have pacing, linked resource ideas, 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 HERE!
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