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24 EdTech Fueled Lesson Openers

GotTechED the Podcast 

Episode #116: 24 EdTech Fueled Lesson Openers

Welcome back to GotTechED the podcast this is Episode 116 called “24 Edtech-Fueled Lesson Openers” In this episode, we’ll share 24 ideas for lesson hooks that will be sure to capture your students’ attention. We’ll also recommend some edtech tools that will bring these ideas to the next level. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

Segment 1: Updates

Segment 2: Lesson Openers 5:00

  1. EdTech Show and Tell 5:30 cough
  2. Chemistry example
  3. Start with motion
  4. The Standup Game from Sarah Wessling – everyone stands up, you get to sit if you chose to share something
  5. Find the mistake and mark it on Edji
  6. Show a video
  7. Movie trailers
  8. Classhook
  9. Provoke opinions, make it topical
  10. PBS News Hour Classroom
  11. The Juice – Daily news matches reading level, supports diving into current events
  12. https://idebate.org/
  13. Google Earth Field Trip
  14. 50 Amazing Finds on Google Earth
  15. Explain the graph
  16. Turners Graph of the Week
  17. Nytimes whats going on in this graph?
  18. Survey using Google Forms and show the results
  19. Try a real-life version by having students use colored sticky-notes to create a bar graph on the board
  20. Poll everywhere
  21. Feely Bags and Feely Boxes (not just for elementary students!)
  22. Pineapple, jello, etc
  23. Have students write about what they feel
  24. For a high school twist, use complex objects like molecule model kits, asking them to ID the substance, make a molecule based on what you know (size of molecules)
  25. Edtech version: Google slides, have on image in the background, 75% covered by a shape. Slowly move the shape away to reveal more and more of the image. Students chat in what they think the image shows
  26. QR code scavenger hunt
  27. I-Spy (from home, around the school, find an image online that represents a topic)
  28. Play a game (Worlde, heardle, etc)
  29. Tech-guided meditation session
  30. 60-second video challenge with a ridiculous debate (pencils versus crayons, is a hot dog a sandwich, is water wet?, theme it towards your content)
  31. Jamboard – Make a Meme with GifIt from a youtube vid
  32. Dress-up like a historical figure from your content area, take a picture, edit it using Canva to look like a the original photo
  33. Provide a weird stat from https://www.statisticbrain.com/fun-facts/
  34. An alternate universe scenario: “What if Elon Musk owned Mars?”
  35. A minute to win it
  36. https://www.survivingateacherssalary.com/minute-to-win-it-games-classroom/
  37. 2 truths and a farce
  38. Brackets 11:14 throat clear
  39. Flippity
  40. https://www.onthisday.com/science/biology
  41. Mote
  42. Baseketball
  43. Leaderboards: Flippity
  44. Whiteboard tic tac toe
  45. Project the tic-tac-toe boards
  46. Google Docs, Slides, Jamboard
  47. Olympic Games 1 event at a time
  48. Different changes throughout the year that earn groups of students point
  49. Leaderboard on Flippity

Segment 3: Where to Find GotTechED

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Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, GotTechED is best known for sessions on:

  • 1:1 Chromebook Integration
  • EdTech Throwdown
  • TargetED Learning
  • Gamification (Badge Systems)
  • Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
  • Google apps and extensions
  • Personalized learning and Choice Boards
  • Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
  • Digital content creation
  • Student Podcasting
  • Screencasting
  • Flipped Classroom
  • Student-Centered Learning
In this episode, we’ll share 24 ideas for lesson hooks that will be sure to capture your students’ attention.

About the author, Eric

Eric Guise is a media specialist and technology coach with more than a decade of experience as a teacher.

Eric was named the 2016 Biology Teacher of Year by the New Jersey Biology Teachers Association and is currently pursuing an EdD in Leadership in Digital Transformation in Educational Technology.

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