A Special Activity: "Following Directions"

A Special "Following Directions" activity!

Students loved the special activity about following directions.  I chose this activity as an introduction to the instructions that would be given for a special "All About Me" project that the students will be working on.

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This is what happened:  I gave a 10 minute discussion about the importance of following directions or instructions....whether on a test or given orally. I used the word "explicit" several times.  Students provided feedback about WHY it is so important to follow directions.  

 THEN!!!!

All students were given a sheet of paper with 20 questions on it.  The instructions at the top of the page were:  Read all of the questions on this sheet before you begin to answer! 

 At the end of the page, the last instructions were: Now that you have read all of the questions, write your name on the top of the paper and turn it over on your desk. 

(In other words, NO question should have been answered)

Well, this is what happened!! All 37 students in the fourth grade Quest Class began answering the questions immediately. 

Some of the questions were:

1. Write the Whippet Pride Motto.

2. Say your name out loud.

3. Look at the person on your right and say, "I am glad you are my friend."



4. Who was buried in George Washington's grave?   (This one really threw the students!)

 5.  Stand up, turn around, and bounce up and down three times.

 6. What is Mrs. Land's signal for getting her class quiet!

The students were so glad to hear that when I was in college I took the same test, and did the same thing that my students did.  They loved the fact that a JUDGE visiting my classroom last year watched the students taking the test and asked for a copy to use in his office with his workers.

We all had a good laugh at this silly test, but the students realized the relevance of following directions carefully. After that activity,  I gave the students directions for making yummy "mud rocks"!  They were told that if one person could retell the directions exactly the way I said them, that they would all get some.  In all classes, the students were able to have a little cup of these delicious treats because they listened very carefully.

The recipe is written below......BE SURE to ASK YOUR CHILD what the word EXPLICIT means!

 Ingredients: 3 cups of chocolate chips, 2/3 of a medium size jar of peanut butter, 1 stick of butter, 1 large box of Crispix or Rice Chex, 1 bag of confectioner's sugar. ( I did not use the whole bag of confectioner's sugar), a large, brown paper bag.

Melt the first three ingredients in the microwave for about three minutes.  Pour the cereal into the melted mixture and gently stir until sugar is covered. (Don't spend too much time or the melted mixture will harden)  Pour all of the above into the paper bag and pour the sugar in also.  Close the bag and shake, shake, shake.  Pour the mixture on a cookie sheet and separate the pieces.  Store in air-tight container.  ENJOY!!!