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83 Best Classroom Reward Party Ideas!

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Looking for classroom reward party ideas? This is the best list you’ll find. Your student will have so much fun partying with you!

I love class parties! Who doesn’t love a good party, right?!

During my seven years teaching second and third grade, I threw parties for my whole class rewards system. I LOVED to throw parties for my class! I have so many great memories about the fun parties I had with my students.

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Benefits of Classroom Parties

There are SO many benefits of having class parties! They create a positive environment, they help your students work together for the same thing, they improve student behavior, and they give you a chance to just have fun with your students.

Setting Up A Class Party

The first thing I did when setting up a class party is I had the class list suggestions for party they wanted to earn. Then, we voted and the idea with the most votes won!

Next, I wrote CLASS PARTY on the far left side of my whiteboard. Underneath that I would draw a tally marks. Each time the entire class was doing a great job and had good behavior, I would give them a tally mark.

Whenever the class got too noisy, I walked over and silently erased a point.

One student always noticed! They would tell the others to be quiet because we were losing points. My favorite part about that was I wouldn’t have to say anything. Talk about a teacher win!

When we reached 50 points, we’d have a party. I made sure the party was at the end of the day. No one wants to get back to work after a party!

We’d usually end up having a party about every month or a month and a half. Here are my favorite reward party ideas!

Classroom Reward Party Ideas

1. movie day.

This is one of my favorite parties! All you need to do is bring some G rated movies, popcorn, and paper towels and you’ve got yourself an amazing party. You can have the kids bring a stuffed animal or pillow or wear their pajamas too!

2. Dance Party

Move all of the desks to the sides of the classroom, put on a dance playlist, and let the party begin! The kids will love to see you bust a move. So, you might want to practice your moves before the party, just in case. Make sure to bring a fun treat for the kids!

3. Pajama Day

Easiest party ever! Just have the kids wear their pajamas. It’s really that simple. The kids will love it!

4. Show And Tell

Have everyone bring something they want to share with the class. Have the kids come up one by one and tell the class about their item. It’s so fun to see what the kids bring!

5. Game Time

I love game parties! Bring a bunch of different board and card games. Tell the students all of the different games there are. Let the students come up with their own small groups and pick a game to play. Go around the room and jump in different games so you can play with lots of the students!

6. Lunch Outside Or In The Classroom

This is also a super easy party idea. Instead of having the students eat lunch in the cafeteria, have them eat as a class outside if the weather is nice. If it isn’t, eat in the classroom.

7. Cooking Class

Bring an electric skillet and you can make pancakes for everyone! You could make a bunch of different things if you don’t want to do pancakes.

8. Story Time

Instead of just reading only one story at story time, you read book after book after book! The kids will be in heaven. You can also take brain breaks or an extra recess if you need a break from all of the reading.

9. Special Visitors

This is so fun! You can invite the guests to talk about their jobs or what they love about their student. It’s totally up to you and your students what they’d like the guests to do once their arrive. Both the kids and the guests will have a great time!

10. Music Time

This party can be really open ended. You can play lots of different kinds of music. The kids can stay in their seats or everyone can dance. You can play music inside or outside. There are so many things you can do at a music party!

11. Paper Airplane Competition

This is a unique party idea! Spend the beginning of the party making paper airplanes. The students can decorate the planes if they’d like. Then, go outside and throw the paper airplanes. For example, you can have all the kids that are 6 throw together and then the 7 year olds. You could have all girls or all boys throw theirs together. Then, you could have everyone throw their airplanes. Have a bunch of different groups go together.

12. Student Choice Project

This is a great party! Let the students choice which project they want to do. Let them work on it during the party.

13. Change The Class Layout

Decide as a class how you want the desks to be arranged. Then have everyone help arrange them. It’s always fun to switch things up!

14. Science Experiments

Bring a whole bunch of fun science experiments to do with your class during the party. There are so many fun experiments you can do. This party is always a huge hit! The kids would beg me for more science parties! It’s a fun way to do more science in your classroom.

15. New Class Pet

I haven’t done this as a class party, but it would be so fun! I had two geckos that I got from another teacher who was retiring. My students loved taking care of the geckos, holding them, and feeding them. Getting a new class pet as a party would be so much fun!

16. Flashlight Fun

Have everyone bring flashlights, turn out the lights, and pretend your super explorers. You could even hide things around the classroom for the students to find.

17. Book Swap Party

This is a super easy party idea! Have the students all bring books they no longer want from home. Take turns going around the room having everyone trade books. The best part about this party is that it encourages reading!

18. Field Trip

This would be a very convent party to have if earning all the class points for a party timed up with a field trip. I absolutely love field trips! It’s so fun getting out of the classroom with your students to explore and learn. You could even go on a virtual field trip. So much fun!

19. Art Party

Look up a few new art ideas, bring the supplies, and have an art party! Encourage your students to be creative and have fun. If there’s time, each student could show the class what they made!

20. Redecorate The Classroom

It would be so fun as a class to pick a new theme and decorate the class. This would help the students feel involved and excited to be in the classroom.

21. Crazy Hair Day

Have the students have crazy hair day for the day!

22. Water Fight

If it’s warm enough, have a water party! Get a slip ‘n slide, water guns, water balloons, or turn on the sprinklers if you can. There are so many options and it’s all so fun!

23. Dress The Teacher

For one day, let the students choose what you have to wear-the crazier the better!

24. Teacher In The Hot Seat

Sit in a chair facing your students. They get to ask you lots of questions. They love learning about their teacher. Then, have different students come up and take turns sitting in the chair and asking them questions. I love watching my students sit in the hot seat.

25. Free Seating

For one day, let the students sit wherever they’d like to. You can even have the students choose a different place to sit and mix it up during the day. Kids love having flexible seating options!

26. Free Time Or Indoor Recess

More recess!! Who wouldn’t want that??

27. Glow Sticks Dance Party

Bring glow sticks, give one to each student, turn out the lights, and let the kids wave the glow sticks. Dance and have the best time!

28. Fun Food Party

Bring tons of different snacks, treats, and food for the kids to eat!

29. Play Time

Have the students each bring their favorite toy from home and just let them PLAY!

30. Dress Up Day

Let the students bring a princess dress or Spiderman costume or whatever they want. Let them dress up for the day! It’s like Halloween without the trick-or-treating.

31. Outdoor Lesson

Take some of your lessons outside for the day! The kids will love being outside and getting some fresh air.

32. Computer Time

Check to see if the computer lab is available. If it is, take your class in there and let them play games for your class party.

33. Library Visit

Go to the library for your class party! See if the librarian would be willing to read books to them. Let them read their favorite book on their own. Relax and have fun! It’s so great to have extra reading time. You could even bring your own book too. It’s a great way to encourage reading!

Take the class outside and play t-ball!

35. Geocache Hunt

Take your class on a hunt to look for geocaches. You could burry some before hand if you don’t naturally have many where you live.

36. Joke Time

Have students recite their favorite jokes to the class. Bring a joke book and share some jokes with your class too!

37. Homework Free Week

Your students would be soooo excited to have no homework for a whole week. Best party ever!!

38. Grab Bag

Get little dollar store trinkets or see if parents can donate some. Make bags of toys and treats for each of the students to have. Kids love this special reward!

39. Stickers For Everyone

Bring tons of stickers to class and give them to your students! My kids love stickers.

40. Invite The Principal To Class

Have the principal come to your classroom for the party. They could play games with you, ask them questions, go for a walk, read stories, have a dance party, or whatever you’d like to do. It will be great having them there with you to party.

41. Forts Day

Bring a bunch of big blankets, take the desks and chairs, and make a bunch of forts! Then, let the kids then read or play games in them.

42. Bookmarks

Get a bunch or card stock, let them decorate it, and have a bookmark party!

43. Homework Passes

Give each student a free homework pass!

44. Desk Pets

Give each student their own toy desk pet. There are tons of posts about desk pets if you need some more iideas!

45. Picnic Day

Bring a huge blanket or a bunch of blankets and have your students eat lunch or snacks outside!

46. Teddy Bear Friend

Have your students bring their favorite stuffed animal to school for the day.

47. Make Slime

Bring all of the ingredients and made slime as a class.

48. Coloring Pages

Print a whole bunch of coloring pages and let the kids color for your party!

49. Musical Chairs

This is an great class party! Have everyone put their chairs in a circle with the seat of the chair on the outside of the circle. Take one chair away, so there’s one less chair than people playing. Play some music and stop the music after about fifteen seconds (you can stop it earlier or later if you’d prefer). The person who doesn’t sit in a chair when the music stops is out. Keep going until one student wins.

50. Teacher VS Student Game

You can play any game you’d like against your students. They love this and feel like they have to beat you!

51. Silent Ball

Silent ball is a fun ball game, but you could also play any ball game you’d like.

52. Origami Day

Learn a few origami designs you like. Bring a lot of paper and teach your students how to make the origami.

53. Team Building Day

Spend the party doing lots of teach building activities. This game is perfect, especially when you’ve had some fighting between your students.

54. Trivia Game

Split the class into four teams, bring buzzers, and have one member of each teach sit by the buzzers. Ask the four students trivia questions. The first student who gets the right answer first, gets a point for their team!

55. Create A Time Capsule

Make a time capsule as a class for your party!!

56. Parents Day

Have the students invite their parents, or a special guest, to come to class for the party. Once the guests arrive, you can have them do whatever you and your class want.

57. Volleyball Or Kickball

Play volleyball or kickball as a class!

58. Visit Another Class

Take your class to another class in the same grade level. Do something fun together!

59. Class Spirit Week

Instead of having a school spirit week, have your own class spirit week! Decide what you want to do each day, and have a great time.

60. Online Jeopardy

Play Jeopardy online as a class.

61. Puzzles

Bring a bunch of puzzles and do them for your party.

62. Community Service

Find someone in the community to serve. Serving someone feels amazing!

63. Blowing Bubbles

Bring bubbles and have a bubble party!

64. Colored Chalk At Recess

Bring a bunch of chalk to class and let the kids draw up a storm.

65. Duck Duck Goose

Play Duck Duck Goose for your party.

66. Soccer With The Teacher

Go outside and play soccer!

67. Chew Gum

Give everyone gum to chew for the day.

68. Kahoot Party

Play the online game Kahoot, or any other online game, with your class!

69. Karaoke

Get a microphone, a bunch of songs, and have a karaoke party!

70. Crazy Hats

Have everyone wear a crazy hat for the day!

71. Piñata Party

Get a piñata and have a piñata party! Who doesn’t like candy right?!

72. Egg Racing Contest

Get a bunch of eggs and spoons and have an egg racing contest.

73. Potato Sack Race

Get potato sacks and have a bunch of races with your class.

74. Scavenger Hunt

Do a scavenger hunt with your class. All of your students will love this!

75. Crazy Sock Day

Have everyone wear crazy socks for the day.

76. Fun Erasers

Give everyone a fun eraser!

77. Write A Letter To Santa

Have everyone to write a letter to Santa, or someone else if it’s not close to Christmas.

78. A Nice Note

Have the students write a positive note about each of the other students. When everyone is done, hand them to the right person. Then, they can read all the nice things the other students wrote about them!

79. Minute To Win It

Get a whole bunch of Minute To Win It games and play them with your class!

80. Relay Races

Set up some obstacles, split your class into teams, and have relay races!

81. Extra Gym Time

Go to the gym and let the kids have extra gym time!

82. Ice Cream Party

Bring ice cream, sprinkles, and other toppings and have an ice cream party!

83. Popcorn Party

Bring lots of different kinds of popcorn to share with your class and have a popcorn party!

The Bottom Line

I love rewarding my students’ hard work with class parties! They’re a chance for you to bond with your class and just have fun. Have your students work to earn a class party and you won’t regret it!

What are some good classroom rewards?

My favorites are movie, karaoke, dance, game, art, science, and extra recess parties!

What do you do in a classroom party?

You can do whatever you want- extra recess, dance party, karaoke, movie party, etc! My favorite thing to do is have the class vote on what party they want to work for and then earn points towards it.

How do you earn rewards in the classroom?

For my classroom reward system, I gave or took away points. I wrote CLASS PARTY on the far left side of my whiteboard. Underneath that I would draw a tally mark each time everyone was doing what they should be doing.

Whenever the class was getting too noisy, I would walk over and silently erase a point. At least one student would notice and they would tell the others to be quiet because we were losing points.

How do you reward individual students?

You can give them a free homework pass, extra computer or coloring time, chew gum, sit where they want, etc.

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Final Thoughts On Classroom Reward Party Ideas:

I hope you like these party ideas as much as I do! Let me know what you think in the comments.

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Published: Aug 5, 2021 · Modified: Aug 28, 2021 by Rachel

30+ Homework Station Ideas for Kids and Teens

Ready to make your family’s after-school or home school routine a bit less stressful? An organized homework station is the answer! I’ve included easy tips for small spaces and multiple kids so everyone can have a quiet, supervised space to study.

Table of Contents

It’s back to school time again and along with that comes a flood of emotion. While its sad to see our babies growing up, my inner organizing dork gets a boost of excitement. Create a cheerful space with these homework station ideas to inspire learning, even if you’re short on space!

A homework station is an inviting area that is dedicated to learning, homework, and informal learning like arts and crafts project. Although the kitchen table will suffice for a quick review or a worksheet, we’ve found it’s nice to have a homework zone where school supplies, books, and school calendars can have a dedicated place of their own. This cuts back on clutter and distractions.

I was inspired to write this post because of what I’ve learned from our frustrations with my son’s severe ADHD. At first, homework hour was a stressful experience full of tears (mine), yelling and every possible distraction under the sun. No exaggeration – 20 minutes of homework regularly took almost 2 hours. The material was never the issue. Home school moms, you have my admiration!

That’s where a dedicated space and equitable ground rules saved the day (and my sanity!)

How To Setup a Homework Station

I’ve learned a lot over several incarnations of our homework space. Creating a basic homework station area is simple and effective with these tips below:

• Choose a quiet area. The biggest chance of success is to limit distractions. Preferably with a handy outlet for a laptop, or charging accessories like headphones. For my son, I find that headphones with music (on loop) works wonders.
• Stock it with necessities. My son is the king of wasting time looking for misplaced items. Before official homework time, I ask if he has everything he needs to minimize the chances of him getting up from the desk.
• Set a routine. Same time + Same space = Success. I personally give my son a short break after school before we get down to business.
• Keep ’em close. While we must balance distractions, young children especially need supervision and usually help.
• Minimize your own distractions. When my son was in elementary school, I couldn’t continue working from home during homework time. It wasn’t fair to ask him to stay focused, when I myself wasn’t focused on his questions. So I placed a tiny desk in our kitchen. That way I had both eyes on him while I washed dishes or prepped dinner. I was available, yet still productive.

Homework Station Supplies

Below is a handy list of supplies that are sometimes useful.

• Pens and pencils
• Loose leaf paper for scratch paper or notes
• A timer or clock
• A folder with pockets
• 1 box of color pencils or crayons
• Computer and charger
• A planner (checklists are the lifeblood of this house!)
• Craft supplies as necessary – glue sticks and scissors are examples
• A comfy chair

Homework Station Setup Ideas

Finding the right space is often the most challenging part! I’ve included some inspirational ideas below to get focused. You don’t need to have an elaborate space, but these are great jumping off points to inspire your creativity.

Nooks & Crannies

While most of us don’t have room for a dedicated office, there’s usually space to spare like under the staircase, an unused closet, or an awkward alcove . These centrally located spaces are often quiet and can be quite magical.

A small closet can be transformed into a useful desk space. Source: This Old House.

The unused space underneath a staircase like this desk is also perfect for using as a small homework station. This design utilizes fun lines and strokes to make it visually interesting.

Homework Stations that Foster Creativity

I honestly believe that adding a little creativity to the space fosters the desire to learn and leads to great ideas. Classrooms are full of stimulating decorations for a reason.

Here’s a few creative concepts to enhance your learning environment:

Inspirational quotes on a paintable chalkboard from Dawn Nicole add a touch of whimsy and keep students motivated during tough assignments.

A simple wall Children’s art display like the desk above allows kids to hang their accomplishments and past artwork.

Add a splash of color or maybe some wall flash cards.

While these beautiful spaces are awesome, sometimes we just need a simple option like this portable homework station .

More portable homework station ideas :

• Use a bath caddy to hold supplies so you can grab and go.
• A tiny desk and rolling cart makes it easy to move supplies where you need them, when you need them.
• I love my car seat organizer for homework on-the-go. It’s a lifesaver when I have to run errands.
• This fold away desk vault in a box is brilliant!

Room for Two (or more)

If you have more than one child, figure out how they learn best. Do they prefer to  study  together? Try setting up the desk so it can accommodate everyone. A collaborative study area is less isolating.

I’m a big fan of this option . Everyone has dedicated space and no one is encroaching on the other’s turf.

This desk utilizes a stacking bookshelf to create two separate work areas and provide ample storage for each user. To save space, you could also have the desks face each other with the bookshelf between them.

This study zone melds learning and fun. It’s an especially fantastic space for large families. The multi-functional area can accommodate everything from homework, to art projects, and amazing Lego builds.

During my own work hours, I share a space with my son. Our craft room makeover project had to include key elements like tandem workspaces, ample organization elements and creative ways to display our greatest hits!

PRO TIP: Peg Boards are excellent additions to any Homework Station. They allow you to customize your storage and wall display without limits. Here’s how we built a DIY pegboard organizer.

Space Saving Solutions

House a homework nook in even the tiniest space. These space saving desks are brilliant!

Do you have a dedicated studying area in your home? What’s your top tip for handling the daily homework assignments?

More Ideas You May Enjoy

PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag  #cravingcreative  on Instagram ! You can also  stay in touch with me through following me on  Instagram ,  Pinterest , and subscribing to the newsletter!

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August 31, 2015 at 11:36 pm

Meredith @ The Palette Muse says

August 31, 2015 at 10:42 pm

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15 Homework Organization and Art Display Ideas

By Becky Mansfield

Aug 18, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy .

School may be different this year, and if we’re not ready or organized, things can quickly become chaotic. Papers, homework, and artwork everywhere!    Luckily, we’ve put together some clever homework organization ideas as well as a cute homework station and ways to display your kids’ artwork.

1). If you have space, a designated homework station is a lifesaver. You don’t have to worry about papers and school supplies getting scattered all throughout the house because everything is right where you and your kids need it.

2). Keep a homework box handy with the supplies your child needs to complete homework without distractions.

4). I love this backpack and homework center . No backpacks littering the floor, and each child has cubbies for shoes or books.  Paperwork can go in baskets up top, too! 

5 ). Use a curtain wire to hang your children’s art and craft projects. Check out the vertical and horizontal pockets on her walls, too, for managing incoming papers and homework!

9).   You don’t have to get fancy with homework organization. One practical tip is to use magnetic clips for each child to keep their homework on the fridge . Simple, but effective. 

• Print it out.
• Hang it up with a clip.
• Take it off to work on it.
• Complete it. Submit it.  

10).  If you homeschool (or if your kids just need extra practice) individual work binders can be a huge help. Brilliant!

Parent Organization (for checking homework):

1). What’s missing from many homework stations? A parent basket! What a great way to keep up with papers that you have to hang on to for a while.

2). You’re a busy mom, so you may not have time to process those papers right away. An organizing basket works well!  Have a 2 or 3 spot hanging file: 1). “Please check”    2). “Working on it”   3). “Done” hanging caddy may be just what you need.  

3). Individual cork boards are a smart idea, too.  Process the papers right away when the kids get home from school, and homework, spelling words, etc. are pinned to the child’s corkboard. 

4). My favorite one is more of a keepsake idea.  Every year you’ll have a handful of things that you want to save for each child. Start a file storage system now with a folder for each grade .

Other Helpful Homework Ideas

Categorized as: Organize your Kid’s things! , The Home

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet coke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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Hi Becky! Thank you for featuring the backpack and paper organizer, but that originally came from Pneumatic Addict’s blog. She did a guest post on my blog, but it originally appeared on her blog. Thanks!

Thanks for letting me know!! 🙂

What great organizational ideas. I love the printable homework sheet. That should help my son stay more organized. I am pinning it now. Thanks!

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10 Ways to Make Homework Fun

• By Rachel Pinn Updated On March 23, 2020

As adults, we often think of homework as a bad thing; tasks we are required to do after school that take precious free time away from our home life. But for kids, that's not the case! Starting in pre-K, kids are taught that homework can be fun, and it seems like the processes that adults find daunting are seen as play for little kids. So how do we capture that interest, spark and joy that our littlest students come home with, and keep it for as long as possible into our children's elementary and even teen years? Let's make homework fun again!

Designate a homework workspace for each student. This can be an area at the kitchen table, a spot in your home office or their own lap desk. It's not always possible to have a dedicated space for work 24/7, so it's perfectly fine to have a desk caddy with the tools your student needs ready to go when homework time comes.

Calming jazz, symphonies or upbeat rhythms can do a lot for productivity. Lyrics can often get in the way of certain types of homework, so it's best to consider the type of work before selecting. Spotify and Pandora have a lot of free options for listening while working.

As kids get older, homework can become more and more intense. Make sure to build in check-ins and breaks to make sure they're giving their eyes and brains a rest. Perhaps a snack, drink or short dance party is just the thing to refresh them for the rest of their work. 

Color and light are important to a workspace. If your child's favorite color is green, snag some green contact paper or construction paper and put it on their workspace. Make sure the space is well-lit as well, because squinting is no good for homework effectiveness.

Colorful pens, paper, pencils and other tools make doing homework more fun. These can even be a reward themselves, as getting to head to the dollar store or shop online for desk accessories can be just as fun as using them.

When you're working with your student, give them your full attention. Put away your work, your cell phone and other distractions while you help them prepare for some dedicated homework time. If you have to make dinner or get back to work, make sure to at least bookend the time with a few minutes before and after the homework period, which shows you're invested in their success.

Communication

Homework often requires a bit of communication with your child's teacher in order to squeeze the full learning out of it. There may be parts of a lesson that your child doesn't understand, in which case it's a good idea to make sure you communicate with teachers so you can assist where needed.

It can be hard to teach kids to filter out distractions and get to work, but sometimes a reward can help get them there. Maybe it's dinner at a restaurant they've been wanting to visit, "points" toward a new toy or even something as simple as an extra book at bedtime. Find what motivates your student, and let that motivate them toward homework success!

The best way to learn is to teach, so once your student completes their task, have him or her explain it to you. Let them tell you how he or she thought about the problem, how they came up with the solution and how they got there. That act of explaining will cement those learnings in their mind.

The key here is that if tasks ever become too challenging for your student, stay positive. Don't bring up thoughts of your own childhood; rather, move on to something else and come back to that challenge later. Remind them that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning. and if everything was easy for us, it wouldn't be fun at all.

READ THIS NEXT: 11 Painfully Hilarious Homework Tweets from Parents

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Making School Fun at Home

This article was previously published on 7/30/2019.

12 Ways to Make School Fun at Home for Students of All Ages

Back to school will look different this year as families and schools continue to navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19. Getting kids to enjoy (or even accept) doing their homework can be a struggle at any age, especially in the fall when students adjust to smaller classes, alternate schedules and a continuation of virtual learning that began in the spring.

For some families, new ways of learning are further complicated by parents’ work schedules and a lack of technology access. According to the Afterschool Alliance, 1 in 5 kids are unsupervised after the school day ends. And millions of families don’t have internet access at home.

During challenging times and busy parenting schedules, there are still ways to make learning at home fun, safe and constructive for students. Over the years, our trained youth mentors and program facilitators have developed lots of strategies and ideas to make homework more fun. Get tips on how to make virtual learning and homework fun in high school, middle school and elementary school so you can help your kid succeed at every age.

Ideas to Make Homework Fun for Elementary, Middle and High Schoolers

Many kids find homework assignments boring or simply get restless when asked to sit down and study – but that doesn’t mean they all need the same kind of motivation. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to homework help by using these age-appropriate tips.

Elementary School Homework Tips

Little kids frequently have trouble focusing on virtual learning and homework, especially when there are so many distractions and fun things to play with at home. The solution? Make learning more like playtime.   

• Create fun focus spaces. Kids often work on homework in their rooms or wherever there’s a little spare table space – but kids’ rooms and common areas are usually filled with distractions. Before this school year starts, create a special “homework zone” in part of the home that’s more peaceful. (A “homework fort” is always a hit with young kids, as long as it’s well lit.) Stock this area with lots of colorful school supplies so there’s no reason to leave until their homework is all done.
• Beat the clock. Young kids love racing to the finish. Make homework more like a race by setting up timed challenges. For example, count how many words they can spell correctly or math problems they can solve in the span of 5 minutes. The next day, challenge your kid to beat their own record. (A little competition can work great with siblings, too.)
• Try learning apps. Support the subjects your kid studies in school with apps that make learning about it more fun. This tip is especially helpful for subjects that you or your kid struggle with. Some of our favorite educational apps include DragonBox for math, Spelling Stage for spelling, and DuoLingo , which offers learning-based games in Spanish, French and many other languages.
• Team up with tunes. Just like the Alphabet Song teaches kids their ABCs, there are plenty of songs out there to help specific subjects stick. Search YouTube to find songs covering a range of subjects, including the planets in our solar system, the days of the week and months of the year, U.S. states and capitals, how to add or subtract, and pretty much any other educational topic you can imagine. If you can’t find a song on a given subject, try making one up together.

Middle School Homework Tips

In middle school, students gain more independence to work alone or with peers. Encourage their developing maturity with a little structure and loads of support.

• Use power hours. Power hours challenge kids to focus for a certain amount of time. Once the timer goes off, they can take a quick break before diving in again. Offering little rewards after productive power hour sessions is a great incentive at this age, too.
• Plan study dates. If your kid struggles in a certain subject or has trouble focusing in a quiet, empty room, let them invite a friend or two over to study. Just remember to follow current safety and social distancing guidelines. If another kid is too much of a distraction, set the tone by working alongside your child. While they do homework, you can pay bills, make dinner, reply to emails, or even work on a crossword puzzle or another brain game. Doing “adult homework” creates a sense of companionship without being too overbearing – and it can help kids learn that work is a part of life, not just a part of school.
• Make a routine. Lack of routine can be stressful for kids. Setting a regular schedule for homework, or the school day for kids learning at home, can help reduce resistance and improve consistency. Beyond planning time for homework, come up with other little rituals that can help your kid focus, from putting on their current favorite album in the background to using prizes and other incentives to reward good work, like a small treat for every complete assignment.
• Stay positive. Your attitude has a huge impact on how your kid sees the world, especially in the formative middle school years. Keep tabs on your own attitude toward your kid’s homework. If you see helping your kid with homework as a chore, your kid will probably feel that way about it, too. Instead, try to see homework help as a fun, productive time when you both can learn and hang out together.

High School Homework Tips

When students reach high school, having parents hanging around to nag them about homework doesn’t always help. Instead of implementing these homework strategies for high schoolers yourself, show this list to your teenager and help them come up with a plan they can stick to. Then, take a step back. Check in with your teen every week or so to see if their plan needs tweaking.

• Get organized . High school is the perfect time to start preparing for the life you want to lead after you leave home. To achieve your goals, you have to make plans and stick to them. It’s the same with homework. When you get your assignments for the week, month or semester, take some time before jumping in to sort through the deadlines and requirements. Then, come up with a schedule and a realistic plan of attack. Use a day planner, calendar app, or time management app like Asana to make to-do lists for yourself – trust us, it feels great to cross stuff off your list.
• Reward yourself . It’s easier to work hard when you know there’s a reward at the end of it. Set a study timer, and if you’ve focused on homework until the timer goes off, reward yourself with a favorite snack, a funny video, an epic solo dance party or a little social media time.
• Upgrade your workspace. Spruce up the place you do virtual learning and homework to fuel your productivity, imagination and problem-solving skills. Keep tools and supplies on hand to help you work through challenging assignments, like colorful pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and cool notepads or notebooks. Decorate with art and other objects that inspire you, and use calendars, whiteboards, chalkboards, corkboards, or even just paper and tape to help visualize and keep track of everything you have to do.
• Turn up the beats. Spotify has tons of playlists dedicated to productivity, from ambient noise to instrumental hip-hop. Find a few go-to playlists that help keep you focused and put one on whenever you have to zone in. Explore movie soundtracks and other kinds of instrumental music to avoid distracting lyrics.

Homework Help from BGCA

Every day, thousands of kids and parents rely on Boys & Girls Clubs of America for homework help and out-of-school support, especially in the crucial hours after school lets out and during the summer months. Explore our website to learn more about our programs , find your nearest club or support BGCA today.

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10 Great Tips to Make Homework Fun for 4th Graders

• Post author: Marie
• Post published: September 9, 2020
• Post category: Uncategorized
• Post comments: 24 Comments

Every teacher and parent knows that after students have spent the day at school, the last thing they want is to go home and do a bunch of homework.

Over the years, I came up with tons of ideas to get my kids to be enthusiastic and motivated to finish their homework (and do a good job!).  Some of those ideas worked really well.  And others fell pretty flat.

So, how do we engage our kids in a way that will make homework bearable for them?  I came up with this list of 10 great tips to make homework not just bearable but fun for 4th graders.  These are the ones that worked the best in our home.  Of course, it will work for other ages too, but this article will focus on the things that 4th graders in particular will appreciate.

Here is the list:

1.  Sit down with them to help them get started.

2.  Start with a snack.

3.  Change up the scenery.

4.  Host a “homework party.”

5.  Recognize when it’s break time.

6.  Appeal to their senses and favorite things.

7.  Make sure the area is free of distraction.

8.  Give them a checklist.

9.  Make it a race to the finish.

10.  Make homework a game.

Let’s go ahead and take a closer look at each of these.

Table of Contents

1.  Sit Down With Them to Help Them Get Started

I remember as a child that sometimes the hardest thing for me to do was to start something.  I would freeze up because I didn’t know where to begin.  While I wasn’t necessarily frozen with indecision with my homework, I wasn’t always motivated to pull out a book and get started.

In the same way, if we sit down with our kids to help get them started, we are actually accomplishing several things.  First, we are able to see what they are doing in school and how well or poorly they are doing it.  And that will allow us to help them get up to par in the areas we see them struggling in.

Second, we are showing them that we are support for them.  They will know that we have their back, even if they don’t necessarily want to be sitting there with you instead of out playing with their friends or on their phone or computer.  Note:  make sure to verbalize that you are their advocate and support–sometimes kids don’t pick up on those cues as well as adults and it is good for kids to hear from you that you are on their side and fighting for them and not against them!

Third, you are helping them get directly to it and allowing them to block out all of the other distractions that are competing for their attention.  Having someone get busy with them is a great way to get down to business!

2.  Start With a Snack

Just make sure the snack isn’t their least favorite food!

Having a healthy (and sometimes not-so-healthy) snack ready for them when they are sitting down for homework is a great way to instantly put your kids in a better mood about getting their homework done.

The icing on the cake for both of you is to serve your child’s favorite healthy snack and include a small piece of candy or chocolate or a mini scoop of ice cream.

Some of my kids’ favorite snacks were snow peas, sliced bell peppers, cucumbers, baked potato bar (baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onion, bacon), broccoli salad, or really any kind of salad.  I was always super lucky that my kids would almost always prefer fruits and veggies to sweets.  And when they did eat sweets, they would follow them up with the fruits and veggies.

So for some of the not-so-healthy faves, my kids loved german chocolate cake, peach torte peaches, almond extract, and sugar in the blender, then folded in whipped cream and poured over graham cracker crumbs and frozen), carrot cake loaded with pineapple, raisins, and pecans, no bake cookies, M&M’s and Skittles.

Do We Need Rules?

Honestly, I was never very strict about how they ate before dinner because they always ate well at dinner time and didn’t overdo on the sweets and junk foods.

On special days or for an occasional surprise, I would order pizza to arrive just when they were sitting down with their work.  That was a win-win for all of us because once their homework was done, we were all free to have fun and relax because there was no dinner or dishes to worry about.

3.  Change Up the Scenery

This was one of my favorite things to do when we were homeschooling.  I would pick random days and random places to pack us all up and do school.  One of our favorite places was the mall food court.  We would get breakfast or lunch, depending on the time we were there.  And then we would study and eat.  One of the malls near us even had a giant fireplace and sofas so we could be comfy and enjoy the ambience while studying.

Some other places we studied at were the park (with picnic tables and a playground nearby), fast food places, and when I was working as a server, my older high school kids would go to a closed section of the restaurant and do school while I delivered drinks and food to them.   That was one of their favorites!  (Can’t say I’m not glad to no longer be working outside of the home though!)

It didn’t have to be so elaborate as the above examples.  The back patio or back yard, the master bedroom, just about anywhere that is not the normal homework spot is a great place to change it up.  And the fresh atmosphere almost always breathes life into you as well as your kids.

4.  Host a “Homework Party”

You could plan this once every couple of weeks.  Schedule a time that a few of your kids’ friends can come over for a couple of hours after school to get their homework done.  Having a snack, and a great space for them to spread out works well.  The dining room table, all over the living room or den, or even the yard in good weather make good places that give them plenty of space.

Supervision helps keep them on task.  And then having dinner and games after rewards them for a job well done and motivates them to get their homework done quickly next time to get to the fun faster.

Having fellow classmates there also helps them to get their work done faster, especially when they are working together on projects or assignments.

This is also a great way to reinforce what they are learning because they will tend to remember facts better when they are doing something more memorable than the norm.

5.  Recognize When it’s Break Time

How many times have you been driven to finish something to the point that you literally couldn’t function anymore?

After your kids have been at school all day, coming home to do hours worth of homework is not on their fun list.  And some days they will be so burned out that the thought of doing more will be more than they can stand.

For those times, it would be good to just cut them a break.  Do something relaxing and fun that doesn’t exert much brain power.  Then have some dinner or go out for dinner.  When you get home, knock out that homework knowing that they had a chance to get some R&R and can now focus on finishing the work of the day!

Not only will they be grateful for the break, they will know that you were looking out for them when it counted!

There may be times when your kids are not going to be able to finish their homework because it is just too much for where they are at mentally or physically.  And that has to be okay.  Speak with their teacher to make other arrangements to make up that assignment on the weekend or another better time.  And maybe you could also talk to the teacher if you find the homework is too burdensome than the normal amount of homework.

Most teachers want to hear feedback.  They could be under the impression that the work they assigned was less involved than it turned out to be.  Teachers cannot adjust the homework assignments if they don’t hear back from the parents when things are not optimal.

6.  Appeal to Their Senses and  Favorite Things.

Studies have shown that everybody learns much better and retains that knowledge when certain senses are used in conjunction with the learning.  For more on this, see my article on  How to Hook Your Students Instantly:  The Anticipatory Set.

If you know what their homework is ahead of time and know of a certain food that is related, you have a great way to reinforce the lesson they are learning, plus give them a treat.

If you connect their homework time to soft classical music playing in the background that inspires and encourages them to study, you are also appealing to their senses in a beneficial way.

Watching a quick Youtube video that is related to what they are learning will help to reinforce their homework, change up the routine, and, if you can find an educational video that is also entertaining you have won the jackpot!

Burning a candle in the vicinity of their homework space that is a favorite scent is another great way to help them remember what they are learning over time.

The sense of smell is one of the strongest senses with the most correlation, sometimes even back to early childhood memories.  Combining several senses at a time just cements the brain power even more.  But even more than that, you are showing your child that you know and appreciate their favorite things.  And that reinforces not just their homework, but your love for them as well!

7.  Make Sure the Area is Free of Distraction

If you put your fourth grader in a room full of toys or electronic devices, they aren’t going to do even the tiniest bit of homework the minute you walk out the door.

Even if you put your fourth grader in a  room with nothing in it but a desk, chair, and their homework, you are still going to have a hard time getting most of them to study.  That is just a very difficult age to keep kids on task.  (I am at this very moment trying to get my fourth grader to watch his history video while he crawls around the carpet!)

So finding a spot in your home to put a dedicated study area is a great idea if you have the space.  Keeping it in the living area where he/she can be gently reminded to stay on task is absolutely necessary.  And maybe even using the time yourself to catch up on paperwork, email, or some other job that allows you to sit next to them is even better!  You are getting your work done, you are there to help your child with anything they may need, and you are encouraging him/her to keep on task.  Motherhood multitasking at its best!

8.  Give Your Kids a Homework Checklist

This is a great idea because it allows your fourth grader to take command of his/her own homework.  And it also allows him/her to feel accomplished every time an item is checked off.  Rather than looking at the big picture, they are able to see each step along the way.  This realization will allow them to be able to keep on going, knowing how far they’ve gone and how much is left.  And the end will be in sight!

Some great suggestions for making a checklist for your student are as follows:

• Break it up with balance:  don’t make the list too long or they will feel like it’s impossible to get through.  But don’t make the list too short or it will take too long to check off the items and they will feel, once again, like they can’t get through it.
• Decorate the checklist with their favorite things.  This can be done with stickers, or you can design a simple checklist with their favorite items in clip art in a Word document.
• Have encouraging notes on it.  This can be just an I love you, an inspirational quote, or any work of encouragement.
• I’m sure all you other moms and teachers can think of even better things to make the checklist a hit!

9.  Make it a Race to the Finish

Sometimes it just seems like they are never going to get their homework done.  Distractions abound.  They are tired and don’t feel like moving on it.  And at the end of the day, you can’t make them do it!

So how do  you motivate the “unmotivatable?”  Yes, I just totally made up that word.  But anyway, one thing that worked really well for me was having them race against the clock.  I got this super adorable timer (it is lost at the moment because we just moved and it hasn’t shown up in the unpacked boxes):

Besides being amazingly cute, he doesn’t plug in or run on batteries.  He is purely mechanical, which means once you buy him, he doesn’t cost anything to maintain!  And your kids will love him.

Every Race Needs a Prize!

You can set it for up to an hour.  And upon your kids beating the timer, you can offer them whatever reward/privilege works for that particular child.  It can be online time with friends, extra tv time, or go out and get an ice cream after dinner.  Or it can be a small prize you keep on hand.  I keep a small basket of prizes they can pick every once in a while when they have done a great job on something or I just need to give them a pick-me-up.

And the best reward of all is that they got the work done!

For those that don’t finish within the timer’s limit, you can sit with them and help them to finish up.  You can also offer a lesser prize upon them finishing with you so that they don’t feel as defeated and give up.   You definitely don’t want to play up the disadvantage of not beating the timer.  I had a few meltdowns over them not getting their work done before the bell went off.  It was not a good night after that.

10.  Make Homework a Game

There are so many ways that you can do this.  I definitely don’t have all the original ideas.  But here are a couple of things I did:

• Have your fourth grader read his assignment as though it is a news report.  Just make sure he doesn’t get so silly that he forgets what he is reading.
• Have her make a poster with the main points of what she is learning.  I definitely wouldn’t do this one if the homework for the night was long.  You don’t want to add to the already large pile.  But if it’s a light homework night and your fourth grader loves arts and crafts, it would be a great option.
• If you are doing the homework party suggestion above, you could turn the review questions into a game of Jeopardy or Family Feud.  Or you could make up your own competition.  It could just be two teams trying to answer the most questions.  This would depend on how much time you have for prep.
• If it is review for a spelling test, have your homework party do a spelling bee.

There are so many things you could do with this category.  But the point is to make the game reinforce the review without adding more homework to your fourth graders’ assignments.  Even fun homework isn’t fun when it’s all night!

So this is 10 of my tips to make homework fun for 4th graders.  I hope that it has inspired you and will help you to make homework nights a bit easier on family life.  And a bit easier for the teacher when he/she sees the next day that your child did their homework!

If you liked this article, I think you will also love the following articles:

9 Fun Games to Teach Long Vowel Sounds

How to Teach Students to Summarize the Right Way

When Should a Child Be Able to Read in Their Head?

Does Listening to Music Help Students Focus?

Does Chewing Gum Help Students Focus?

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This post has 24 comments.

Okay, GREAT blog post because man oh man, trying to encourage kids to want to do homework – HARDDDDD!! VERY HARD!!

Even I, albeit autonomously on myself, have always tried to make homework fun or at least a complete moment in which to learn more easily what I had to study.

These are excellent tips. I think one of the most important ones is knowing when to take breaks. Parents often forget that kids have a hard time focusing at times. That’s just how they’re wired.

Oh m y gosh these are awesome tips. And breaks are a must, even for us adults. As usual you are so helpful my friend, especially during these hard times.

Those are all great ideas to make homemade more fun! I love starting out with a snack. I mean who doesn’t like a good snack, and why not the promise of an even better snack once the homework is done? haha. Get the kids started early by learning the value of food.

This post is such good timing! I’m loving the tips to make homework into a race or a game since kids can get pretty competitive. I’ve also heard before that the brain can only learn in like 20 or 40 min intervals (can’t remember exactly) so taking breaks is necessary for learning. Thanks for the tips!

This was and will be incredibly useful! Starting with a snack and keep the area free of distractions can be extremely helpful. I’m going to put these into practice.

Kileen cute & little

Great tips! Kids love competition,race to first could be effective.

Great ideas to make homework fun! I loved holding homework parties. Kids need to stay connected with other kids even if it is online.

That snack time though. It really makes all the difference to their ability to sit and learn.

Hhhhmmmm….hosting a “home-work party” is a new idea to me. Never heard of it before. I would love to host one or two of those.

These are all really great ideas! It can be hard to get a younger child into completing their homework and making a good time of it, but these are great tips!

I agree with these tips! It’s actually fun teaching toddlers, because the kid learns and at the same time having fun. Also, you’re creating a bond with the child.

That’s really helpful when it comes to kids that are absolutely bored while doing school work. Thanks for sharing!

never heard of a homework party. interesting. usually kids gather for a playdate between school and dinner time (and homework) to work off the energy.

These are great suggestions! Although when I was a kid I’m not sure anything would have gotten me excited about homework!

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for this awesome advice! This is sure to help me with my middle kiddo!

I love the idea of a homework party. It’s amazing how a little re-framing can influence so much!

First you would of got me in 4th grade with start off with a snack. That sounds smart and make it easier to concentration.

Glad you shared such valuable tips with us these are so definitely helpful and useful for every of parents..great work though…

HONESTLY, this is great for my 2nd grader too!!

These are fantastic ways! Will surely help with tackling homework a lot easier.

Making the assignment a game and giving a small price really motivates the 4th graders. I really do believe that it helps a lot that they are interested and motivated.

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Your Career• 3 Min read

6th September 2020

Creative Homework Ideas

How can you create homework assignments that build on the day’s lessons and encourage creative, student-led learning? It’s a challenge for most teachers, especially as motivating pupils to complete homework can add a whole extra layer to your lesson plans. But it’s essential to bridge the gap between teacher and student learning –  the skills gained through independent study reinforces knowledge from your class, as well as a host of other benefits:

• Extended learning time – outside of the constraints of the school day, students are free to learn at their own pace and in their own environment.
• Independent learning – vital skills for exam preparation and higher education
• Teaches students to be resourceful and to overcome challenges independently.
• Gives students the freedom to be creative in their learning, gain valuable problem-solving skills and confidence in their own abilities.

Tips For Setting Creative Homework

• Plan independent learning both in and out of the classroom – you can monitor students effectiveness and address issues that may arise in the classroom before they become problematic for pupils at home.
• Don’t leave homework assignment to the end of the lesson, rushing through the task might leave some students confused which inevitably leads to a lower homework completion rate. Write plenty of time for explaining homework assignments into your lesson planning – read our Beginner’s Guide To Lesson Planning here
• Homework should to not too easy nor not too hard, offering pupils a challenge that reinforced the topics learnt during the day
• Give room for creative expression – allowing students to add their own diagrams, decorations or chose their own project topics from a selection. 
• Try using peer or self-assessment to mark homework – a double whammy of reducing your workload and allowing pupils to take control of their own learning.
• Include timings and explicit steps for completing more complicated assignments, especially for pupils that you anticipate might struggle. Comprehension of the task is the biggest hurdle in getting pupils to work on an independent basis.
• Self-driven projects, posters, creative tasks and research are more exciting than standard comprehension tasks and might encourage pupils that find sitting and writing dull or hard to complete the homework set – give students the freedom to learn and be creative in their home study.
• Provide specific instructions and internet safety reminders for research-led assignments. It’s very easy for children to find research overwhelming with a vast amount of information available online. Provide suggested websites and links in your homework to keep things on track!
• Don’t introduce a new topic for homework – keep it to topics that you’ve already covered in class
• Taking note of the subjects that excite and engage your class and set homework accordingly – try keeping dryer topics and  for the classroom so that you can monitor engagement
• Mark work promptly – essential to keep students motivated to complete work in their own time!
• Offering students the opportunity to select the homework that they would like to do from a selection guarantees a higher rate of completion. We’ve seen some teachers create grids or sheets of homework assignments for the pupils to select, or offer baskets of activities for younger children to take home and complete with an adult.

Creative Homework Ideas For All Ages

Coming up with innovative ways for students to reinforce their knowledge at home can be difficult – many of these ideas would be suitable for lots of subjects with a little tweaking!

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13 Fun Homework Ideas: The Best Ways To Make Homework Fun For Kids Quickly & Easily

Sophie bartlett.

Figuring out how to make homework fun can be a tricky task for parents.

Does it feel like you’re constantly nagging your kids to do their homework? If your answer is yes, know that we’ve all been there! It’s natural for parents to want their children to progress and do well in school, but after an entire day of paper, pencils, and books many youngsters will resist getting on with their homework – and that’s putting it mildly!

Top Tips To Make Homework Fun:

1. work together, 2. use rewards and incentives, 3. make them a snack, 4. make it visual, 5. try different learning apps, 6. set up a homework play date, 7. go outside, 8. turn it into a game, 9. let them play teacher, 10. use a timer, 11. create a special homework space, 12. remember to be positive, 13. get help if you need it.

Thankfully, there are ways of making homework less boring and that are a little bit more fun for your child. Whether they need to practice spelling, learn their times tables or revise for an important exam, our top fun homework ideas will help you magically take the ‘work’ out of homework.

Adults often work best in the company of others, and the same can be said of kids, so why not sit with your child while they’re studying and get on with some of your own work or life admin?

Whether you’re returning emails or doing your online banking, creating a shared workspace and modeling focused work is a great way to spend quality time together while they complete their homework. Win-win!

Quick win : While your child is tackling their fractions homework, you could sit down with them and take a look through your finances.

Rewards and incentives are great when it comes to getting your children to follow your household rules and routines, and homework is no different. Things like stickers or the promise of time on their iPad or games console for slightly older children can all work wonders in getting them to do their homework without a battle.

Quick win: For every few questions they answer they could get a minute of screen time!

Let’s face it: A hungry child is an unfocused, unmotivated and unhappy child.

Most children come out of school ravenous, so let them nibble on a nutritious after-school snack while they get on with homework; things like popcorn, apple slices, grapes, or crackers and cheese are all great snack options.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, Active for Life has a list of healthy after-school snack ideas and recipes to try.

Quick win: One of the best brain foods for kids is a nice and crispy apple! So when your child is craving something sweet just cut up an apple and let them munch away.

Help to eliminate the late night ‘Oh, I forgot to do that’, and create a weekly homework chart so your child can see what they have to do each day and check off each ‘to do’ task as it’s been completed.

Again, Pinterest has some great free printables to help keep kids organized. Get them involved by letting them color it, or decorate it with their favorite stickers, and pin it up somewhere at their height, where they will see it easily every day as a reminder. Some exciting new stationery and colorful pens might help too.

Quick win: An easy way to make homework fun is to grab a piece of paper and get your child to draw out and decorate a ‘homework chart’ consisting of 5 days. Stick it on the fridge and add a sticker to each day after they’ve done their homework, when they’ve collected 5 stickers they get a treat!

If your child prefers to be online, there are some great online apps around that children will have fun using, yet encourage learning too. Here are our favorite free math websites for example. Speak to your child’s teacher too and see which apps the children use in school so you can support what they’re doing at home.

Quick win: One of our favorite websites that makes homework fun is Tang Math !

Holding a homework playdate where your child can invite one of their best school buddies over to do homework together can be a great way for them to learn and make sure the work gets done, especially older children in elementary school.

Plus, it’s likely that their parents will be delighted!

Younger children may need a bit more support and guidance but can still gain a lot from the experience of learning together with a friend – think of this as a mini-educational play date for them.

Quick win: Let your child and their friend play for a while, and then get them to work through their homework with the incentive of a yummy ‘ice cream party’ when they’ve completed all of their homework.

If the weather allows, create a comfortable outside study space and allow your child to do their homework outdoors.

The fresh air can help kids with their concentration if they’ve been stuck in a classroom all day, and studies also show that being outside, closer to nature, can increase productivity. The reward of a quick game of Frisbee or a kick-around of a soccer ball between tasks will help them stay motivated too.

Who said home learning had to be boring? If children enjoy what they’re learning, they’re more likely to remember what they’re being taught, so turn their learning into a fun game. Using sweets like Smarties to help with math and number work can turn the experience from a chore into a treat. If they get the right answer, they get to eat some!

Another trick that you can use when your child is learning spellings is to write them in shaving cream or in magnetic letters. It sounds simple but we can guarantee that it will make homework a lot more fun for your child.

These math games for kids and times tables games are a great place to start.

Quick win: If you’re looking for some fun homework ideas then check out this simple multiplication activity you can do at home, it’ll even get in one of your child’s five a day!

Make another fun homework game by creating your own mini-classroom and letting your child step into the role of teacher.

Have your child explain a concept to you as a teacher, as you, or their sibling, play the role of the student. This game works particularly well with subjects that require theory, like Science for example, as it will improve their understanding of the concept and build logic and reasoning skills.

Quick win: Make homework fun by getting your child to choose their favorite teddies and toys and setting them up in their own mini- classroom. Start off with registration, ‘mom’ ‘present’, ‘mr teddy’ ‘here’ etc. You’ll soon notice that your child is growing in confidence regardless of the topic as children love playing teacher!

Some children may have difficulty working for prolonged periods of time without a break, so using a timer can be great for getting them to complete homework without whining. For example, if your child is given 20 math problems for homework, you can say “Complete the first 10 questions, then we’ll take a 5-minute break, then complete the next 10 questions”.

Many children will need a mental break and will work more effectively when given the opportunity to take one. At the end of the task, they get to pick an activity of their choice. If your child gets easily distracted, a timer game can work well to keep them focused on the task in hand.

Quick win: Put the timer on your phone so that your child can see the countdown while they’re working.

A special study space can make homework more fun and help motivate your child to get it done! Choose a space in your house that’s least likely to distract your child, and create simple, organized, and kid-friendly homework.

You could hang up some of their artwork above the desk, and have all their school essentials nearby so everything is close to hand.

Quick win: Make sure that they aren’t surrounded by things that will distract them. Televisions and iPads are a no go at homework time!

Remember to always be upbeat and positive about school and the importance of their homework. Give your child lots of praise and encouragement about how well they’re doing to help them stay motivated and on track.

Quick win: After every homework session, spend five minutes talking through what your child has accomplished. If you’re running out of activities to do, have a look at our list of home learning packs – all free to download.

Homework can be frustrating if your child doesn’t understand the material or gets bored easily. If your child is struggling, get them some expert help!

Quick win: Third Space Learning has plenty of advice on learning math for kids and parents but if you need more support, our primary school math tutors are easy to organize and very affordable.

Do you have students who need extra support in math? Give your students more opportunities to consolidate learning and practice skills through personalized math tutoring with their own dedicated online math tutor. Each student receives differentiated instruction designed to close their individual learning gaps, and scaffolded learning ensures every student learns at the right pace. Lessons are aligned with your state’s standards and assessments, plus you’ll receive regular reports every step of the way. Personalized one-on-one math tutoring programs are available for: – 2nd grade tutoring – 3rd grade tutoring – 4th grade tutoring – 5th grade tutoring – 6th grade tutoring – 7th grade tutoring – 8th grade tutoring Why not learn more about how it works ?

The content in this article was originally written by primary school teacher Sophie Bartlett and has since been revised and adapted for US schools by elementary math teacher Christi Kulesza.

PEMDAS Math Poster (Spanish Version) [FREE]

Trying to help remember what the mnemonic PEMDAS stands for? Display this poster to engage young learners with answering questions on the order of operations.

Check out more English and Spanish posters available in our US resource library!

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15 Innovative School Homework Ideas to Make Learning Fun

Aashita Pillai

Aashita is a writer here at Suraasa and has formerly worked as a Teacher Mentor for a couple of years. She wields words like weapons to help readers get clear and concise information.

Introduction

General tips to keep students hooked to school homework, 15 innovative school homework ideas to engage your students, theme a: arts and crafts, theme b: physical and outside activities, theme c: digital activities, theme d: games, theme e: entrepreneurship.

“Hi teachers! I am your old friend, School Homework. Over time as education changed, so have I— thanks to the endless innovations that happened to me.  Let me take you through my life and the various innovations that made me your best friend- I was born in the 1920s to help students reinforce what they learned in class. Until the 1980s, I was basically just pen-and-paper-based assignments.  The Internet was born in 1983. From there onwards, I made my stride into the ‘digital era’.

Until the beginning of 2020, I was slowly being integrated within online platforms and technology to help students learn better. Then at the onset of 2020, the world plunged into the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools shifted to a ‘remote learning’ mode of education. During this pandemic, you and I became very crucial in ensuring the continuity of our students’ learning. You all embraced creative approaches to keep the students engaged. You leveraged interactive games, virtual simulations, & more to make me engaging. Gone are the days when you, my dear teachers, would limit your homework to worksheets, textbook questions, literature reviews, and reports. Today as we stand here in 2023, there is no limit to innovative and exciting homework formats! Well, that’s from me. See you in the classrooms!”

So teachers, we heard from homework about how it has evolved over time. As it said, many innovative ways have come up to reinforce our students' learning. So, are you ready to make your students fall in love with these new school homework ideas? Let’s begin with understanding some general tips to keep your students engaged with their school homework.

1. Make it Relevant and Meaningful 

Connect the school homework to their lives, interests, or current events to make it more meaningful and relatable. For example, if it’s Christmas time, you can ask your students to explore the themes of charity, storytelling, etc.

2. Give Them a Choice

Allow students to have some choice and autonomy in their assignments. Ask them to select the format (e.g. written format in the online medium, oral format in the offline medium) in which they want to submit their homework. When they feel a sense of ownership, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged. This is how you become a 21st-century teacher who uses differentiated learning. 

3. Celebrate Their Achievements

When children get appreciated for their achievements or good behaviour, it boosts their self-confidence. It encourages them to repeat those actions. This creates a positive learning environment. They are more likely to deliver results when appreciated for their actions. Hence, you can celebrate their achievements via small rewards, recognition or a display of their work in class.

Let's move to the next part of this blog, where we will share innovative school homework ideas that will turn mundane homework into engaging learning sessions!  After assigning any of these innovative homework ideas, you might never hear students’ innovative excuses to avoid homework! To give you a quick run-through, these ideas have been grouped under some common themes. Under each theme, you will learn how to use 3 ideas listed alongside relevant examples to comprehend it completely. Come along as we give the ratty old homework a MAKEOVER!

By infusing the joy of arts and crafts into school homework, you can tap into the innate curiosity and imagination of your students. And you never know, you might end up being the person that shaped the next Da Vinci! So, let’s get right into it:

1. Create Your Storybook

We all have heard stories. We have loved them and adored them. So why not give our students a chance to write one?  After the students submit their storybooks, you can review their stories and give personalised feedback. Such feedback addresses each student’s individual needs, strengths, and areas for improvement. This fosters a student-centric learning environment.  Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

2. Make Your Own Board Game

Do you remember the joy of gathering around a table, rolling a dice, and playing Snakes & Ladders? As kids and even as adults, many of us love spending our time playing board games.  Now, picture becoming the teacher that integrates school homework with a board game! Students can design board games and incorporate artistic elements into their theme, board layout, cards, etc. They can become architects of fun and learning!

Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

3. Construct a Birdhouse

Now, let’s tap into the sweet nostalgia of DIY(Do it Yourself) Projects. It could be something as simple as bedsheet forts or something a little more complex like a birdhouse 🙂 Won’t it be wonderful to watch your students feel a sense of accomplishment when they build their own handmade creations?  Let’s focus on the idea of constructing a birdhouse. By assigning students this homework, you’ll additionally be encouraging kinesthetic learning . 

Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely: 

Students love spending their time outdoors. Assigning school homework that requires them to be outside is a big plus! It will also help them apply what’s taught in class in real-life situations and promote active learning.

4. Participate in a Scavenger Hunt

Everyone loves a good old mystery! Give your students the chance to be modern-day ‘Sherlock Holmes’ as they set out on scavenger hunts.  Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

5. Maintain a Physical Activity Journal

In this digital age, where mobile and laptop screens often dominate, the majority of the students lead sedentary lifestyles. School homework which encourages physical activity, can be a game-changer! And what better than maintaining a physical activity journal that helps with it? Additionally, it will also promote the healthy habit of having an active lifestyle among students.  Getting students to journal can seem tough, but with the right motivation & incentives, it can be done. Additionally, this can also be a fun summer holiday homework, where students can keep track of their activities all summer! Encourage them to document their daily exercise triumphs. Push them to go beyond their own records! Ask them to explore science concepts- BMI, heart and pulse rates, diet, and nutrition! Once you do this, exercise will not just be about breaking a sweat anymore. It will also be something that incorporates learning! Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

6. Conduct a Survey at a Local Supermarket

This outdoor activity is an extremely fun option for school homework. Most kids love running through the different aisles in a supermarket. Introducing a concept like surveys here gives them a chance to do some ‘real-life’ work and also provides much-needed relief to their parents!  Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely: 

In the age of tech-savvy students, we often find parents complaining about the excess screen time with their kids. But what if you could harness the untapped potential in technology? Today's kids are already immersed in the digital world, so why not tap into their enthusiasm and merge it with learning?  Let’s look at some innovative methods of assigning digital activities for school homework:

7. Record a Virtual Job Application

This can be a fun homework assignment for students of all grades. One thing that we often forget as teachers is that school is not just about the present; it's also about the future. But often, we don’t discuss the future. This results in students being almost lost when it comes to their future career opportunities.  This is exactly where this school homework activity helps. Assigning school homework related to professions is a great chance for students to explore their career options. This, in turn, will help them be better prepared for life after school.  Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

8. Participate in Online Collaborative Projects

Online projects are a catalyst for active learning and student engagement. They can be a tool for you to create a dynamic learning environment that goes beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Additionally, these activities enhance digital literacy and empower students to leverage technology for learning. Working on online collaborative projects will also help students learn how to function together as a team. This is something that also prepares them for life beyond school, where it’s crucial to learn to work together.

9. Virtual Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange events open doors to new horizons, offering students a unique chance to explore diverse cultures. By immersing them in new traditions, you develop acceptance, and empathy in your students. You give them a chance to have a broad and more inclusive perspective of the world. Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

Game-based school homework is one of the best ways to engage your students. Integrating learning within games creates a powerful synergy where education and entertainment merge seamlessly.  It’s time to tap into your students’ natural love for games and leverage it!

10. Use Minecraft as a Learning Tool

Ah, Minecraft! A name that brings back memories of endless adventures in pixelated landscapes. It’s a game that is a nostalgic reminder of our childhood.  But did you know that Minecraft can be more than just a game? It can be a powerful learning tool to level up the educational experience of your students.  💡Learn how to leverage Minecraft to make your classrooms more engaging! Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

11. Encourage Role-Playing Games

Lights, camera, action! Role-playing games(RPGs) let students step into the shoes of a character and bring lessons to life. Even though RPGs are not typically classified as games, their unique blend of learning and fun makes them ideal for educational purposes.  You can assign students to act out roleplays based on a historical event, scientific concept or work of literature. They can develop characters, write dialogues, and present this to the class. Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

12. Online Challenges

You can introduce online challenges like coding of varying difficulties for different grade levels. Platforms like Scratch or Code.org can be helpful for this purpose. Coding challenges offer hands-on experience to students. It allows them to practice coding concepts and algorithms in a practical and engaging manner.  Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

In today's competitive world, students who embrace innovative thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset stand out. As a teacher, you can nurture these qualities in your students via thought-provoking school homework. Such assignments can ignite students' passion for problem-solving, creative thinking, and strategic planning. Let’s look at some of the ideas below.

13. Pitch Your Business Idea

Have you watched shows like Shark Tank or Billion Dollar Buyer? Have you been completely captivated by the business pitches on these shows? Now, imagine doing the same for your students— unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit. It’s time to bring the hustle of the business world into your classrooms! Encourage students to develop a business idea and create a persuasive pitch. They should research their target market, competitors, and unique selling points. In fact, students can present their pitch using multimedia tools, such as slides or videos, highlighting the problem they're solving and the value their business brings. Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

14. Design a Mobile App

Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. Think about the countless hours that you spend on your smartphone, exploring different apps that make your life easier. This is a practice growing like fire amongst kids as well and is cause for serious concern! What if they spend time on their phone and learn at the same time? This homework assignment encourages students to apply their creativity and technical skills to develop a concept for a mobile application. Additionally, you can also assign this as a holiday homework assignment and let students go wild with learning during summer! Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely:

*Technologies like designing mobile applications can be too complex for the primary school. Hence, we focus on this idea only for middle and high school students.

15. Set up a Stall at the School Fair

This homework acts as an Introduction to Business 101 class for students of all grade levels. Students get to decide what stall to put up, then work on the logistics and finally manage the stall and finances on D-Day. This will teach students real-world skills and give them a feeling of ownership. Let's look at a few examples to understand this school homework approach more closely: 

Grade-Specific Tips to follow while Preparing School Homework ‍

1. primary school students ‍.

• Keep it Interactive and Hands-on Younger children thrive on tactile and interactive experiences. Incorporate more of arts and crafts, storytelling, etc., to make homework enjoyable for them.
• Use Visuals Vibrant colours will capture their attention and make tasks visually appealing.
• Keep it Short Primary school students have limited attention spans. Give them small tasks that they can accomplish in a limited timeframe. ‍

2. Middle School students ‍

• Offer More Choices Middle schoolers are often teenagers already on the precipice of changes beyond their control. They will appreciate having some control over their learning. Allow them to choose topics or formats that align with their interests.
• Incorporate Technology Middle school students are often technologically savvy. Utilise online resources, interactive platforms, and digital tools to make homework more engaging and relevant to their interests.
• Encourage Independent Research Foster their curiosity by assigning research-based projects. Encourage them to explore various sources and present their findings in creative ways. ‍

3. High School Students ‍

• Encourage Critical Thinking and Analysis High schoolers are capable of higher-order thinking skills. Assign tasks that require critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Encourage Self-expression Offer creative assignments that allow them to express their thoughts, opinions and ideas. Remember that they are young adults finding their voice in a loud world. Encourage them to write essays, create multimedia presentations, or engage in spirited debates.
• Push for Practical Application Assign tasks that connect to real-world situations, allowing them to see the relevance and importance of their learning. ‍

How to Improve Your Homework and Other Teaching Strategies?

Do you want to learn about more strategies to improve school homework? What if you could upskill and improve all your teaching strategies- classroom management, assessment, and lesson planning, among many others? Book a call with a mentor to get dedicated teacher counselling on upskilling and improving your teaching strategies.

In a world where school homework is generally met with students’ whining, you can use these approaches to turn it into a gateway for innovation! By infusing ideas such as game-based learning, digital activities, and arts and crafts, you can help students engage with school homework meaningfully. This will foster a lifelong love for learning among your students, ultimately helping them succeed in and beyond the classroom. Want a short compilation of all the amazing school homework ideas? Click the button below

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20+ creative alternative homework ideas for teachers

When giving homework, it must always be based on learning goals your students have to reach, just like in your lessons. But it’s sad to see that lots of teachers are using homework as extra lesson time. Of course, as a teacher, you’re on a clock. But that doesn’t mean your students have to suffer from it and keep working on those boring textbooks and worksheets at home.

Consider goals like attitudes, real-life experiences, and practice, physical exercise, social encounters, creative solutions, and philanthropy as crucial as your lesson goals. These are things students don’t just pick up in your classroom. These are things they pick up in life.

In this blog post, I’ll give you some innovative homework ideas that will engage your students more. These alternatives to traditional homework will thereby also teach your students new things that can’t be taught in the classroom. You will find a variety of homework ideas: online and offline.

I will mention homework alternatives for primary school and high school. Some of these ideas can be changed a little bit, so they are the perfect fit for the right audience.

20 Creative homework ideas

You can divide homework tasks into the following themes or categories:

• Crafts & arts
• Outdoor activities & outings
• Games and activities
• Physical activities
• Digital or computer activities
• Philanthropy & social work

💡 Good to know : all the ready-to-use homework activities are created with BookWidgets . You can easily create activities like these yourself or duplicate an activity below for free, edit it if needed, and share it with your students. You can do so in the examples separately, or you can find all the homework examples in the BookWidgets Blog group folder .

Crafts and arts homework

1. prepare a dish from a recipe book.

2. Make a board game

3. Create a birdhouse

4. Transform a fictional book character into a hand puppet

Outdoor homework activities and outings

5. coupon game.

Students can also go grocery shopping with their parents. Here, they have to read the ingredients of the products and help their parents choose the healthiest products for the best prices, figure out the best deal between the sizes of items, …

6. Visit the zoo

7. Visit the local dumping ground or container park

8. Build a tree house

Games and activities as homework

9. bookwidgets games.

10. Minecraft

11. Play Cards

12. Play Zoo Tycoon or Rollercoaster Tycoon

Physical homework activities

13. rope skipping.

Many rope-skipping songs let your students do different tricks while rope-skipping. This is an excellent opportunity for homework as well. Ask your students to transform a rope skipping song into a song with lesson content. Let them count or spell or even sum up the different states or capitals. To engage their lifestyles even harder, you can additionally give them the assignment to create a TikTok in which they are jumping and singing.

Click here to see how you can get Tiktok more involved in the classroom.

14. Walking quest

If there aren’t any walking quests in the neighborhood, you could ask your students to create a walking quest like this for their fellow students. What a fun day it will be!

15. Obstacle Quiz

In order for students to answer the questions, they have to run and pass a challenging parkour. This is a fun homework exercise, and in the end, it’s a great lesson starter or lesson end.

16. Swimming games

After the activity, they can fill out an Exit Slip:

Digital or computer homework activities

17. create a picture album.

This teaches them to handle the online software, add pictures and write without spelling mistakes. And of course, creating memories is so much fun!

18. Video job application

19. Your life in 10 minutes - video

20. Email pen-pals

Is it still too complicated? Read the messages from your students, before they send them, and provide them with some feedback.

Philanthropy and social homework

21. grow a community garden.

22. Help in a retirement home

23. Help at a homeless shelter

24. Collect litter

Here’s another homework tip: Don’t call homework “homework”. Call it a challenge. Homework has become a negative word for students, and I bet they start rolling their eyes as you even mention the word.

Still looking for more inspiration? Check out the blog on short films and lesson activities that spice up your Google Classroom . Tip: even if you don’t use Google Classroom, there is a lot of inspiration back here.

Above you have read single assignments. But, you also have the option to involve your homework in a project. Find out more here .

So, as I mentioned earlier, there are many fun alternatives to traditional homework. Now it’s up to you to apply this in the classroom as well. In this folder , you will find all the examples you have come across.

Which idea do you or perhaps your students like the most? Let us know on Twitter . Of course, there are many more alternatives. If you have other ideas, you are always welcome to share it with other teachers in our Facebook group .

One more thing: don’t forget to say hi👋 on LikedIn .

Join hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and get the best content on technology in education.

BookWidgets enables teachers to create fun and interactive lessons for tablets, smartphones, and computers.

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Let’s get together: 11 party ideas for adults.

I believe that the little moments are what really make life special. Don’t get me wrong—I love celebrating the “big” moments, like a friend’s wedding or the holiday season with family. But life isn’t only “big” moments. It’s also made up of everyday moments that I’d like to think are equally special. It’s happy hours that turn into dinners with co-workers who are also friends and inside jokes made with friends during coffee catchups and movie nights. Those are the moments I love the most.  

Any time I can create one of these memorable everyday moments, I’m in. That’s why I came up with this list of 11 party ideas for adults—to inspire you to make your next hangtime something extra special. The best part? You don’t have to have a reason to get together beyond wanting to have a good time. And these affordable, easy-to-pull-off party ideas will make sure of that.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores .

Scroll through all 11 party ideas for adults, or jump straight to an idea by clicking any of the links below.

• Craft party
• PowerPoint party
• Famous couples party
• Oscar party
• Puppy party
• Spring fling
• Book club party
• Celebrity eras
• Thrift store picnic
• Indoor tailgate party
• Around the world party

Craft party  

Crafting with your besties is meditation and hangtime all in one. A craft party is an easy get-together to host, even on a weeknight. Here’s how:

• Pick a project even your non-crafty friends can handle. How about these DIY keychains or a flower crown ?  
• Dress up a table with these blue watercolor dot plates and stripe napkins . Mix and match these yellow grid plates and napkins for a custom look.  
• Because you’re putting your energy into crafting, keep snacks easy. Find your favorite after-school snacks from when you were a kid—maybe a guilty pleasure or two—and dig in.  
• Turn on some lo-fi tunes and zen out while you and your friends get creative.  

Feelin’ extra crafty? Browse all sorts of crafting and DIY ideas for adults and kids alike here.

PowerPoint party  

It’s like homework, but fun. Make some memories, give hot takes and share laughs as each of you gives short presentations on topics of your choice: which TV sitcom character each of your friends are, favorite vacation spots, why Bagel Bites are better than Pizza Rolls—it’s all up for grabs. Setting up this shindig on the cheap is easy :  

• Place cozy blankets on the couch—here’s one for your diehard Friends fan—and make pillows plentiful so your pals can settle in to listen to your three-minute speech about your celebrity childhood crushes.  
• Don’t forget to have a laptop and phone charger (or two) on hand to make sure every presentation runs smoothly.
• These funky patterned mod square dessert plates are perfect for snack time, and if you and your friends have a competitive streak, they can double-duty as scorecards.  
• At the end of everyone’s presentation, let your pals know just how sharp their presentation skills really are with a one-to-ten rating scale.  
• You can also hand out awards at the end of the party, such as Most Persuasive Preso, Funniest, Weirdest or Most Predictable.

Looking for more DIY party ideas? We’ve got plenty. Here are six more cute and creative DIY party decoration ideas for your next celebration .  

Famous couples party  

Are your friends dead ringers for Victoria and David Beckham? First of all, congrats to them. Secondly, a famous couples party is the perfect excuse to get your doppelganger buddies together. Invite your group to dress as famous couples and put together a lowkey soiree with a few simple tips:

• Don’t sweat it if your hors d’oeuvres are just Cheez-Its and veggies and dip. They’ll look sophisticated served on these classy forest green palm leaf plates with these gold geometric napkins .  
• Champagne on ice is the only beverage that’ll do for Beyonce and Jay-Z and J.Lo and Ben.  
• When it comes to famous duos, the music industry has plenty of them, so make a playlist of legendary duets with the likes of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill or Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for group sing-alongs.
• Play your favorite romantic comedies on the TV in the background for everyone’s viewing pleasure.
• For an easy and fun activity, play a famous couples matching game! You can find a template for this online or make your own. Whoever gets the most correct matches wins.  

Is a “famous” couple in your life celebrating a big milestone? Find unique ways to make their big day special in this article .

Oscar party  

One thing you have to know about awards shows: They’re long. So why not throw an Oscar watch party with friends and keep the entertainment going during the commercial breaks? Here are some ideas to help you win the award for best Oscar party ever:

• Set the scene for your friends by rolling out a red carpet at the door or create a bright red centerpiece with some tulle or fabric on your table.  
• Hand each friend an award show ballot to see whose taste in cinema really is award-winning.  
• An obvious snack is popcorn , but you can kick it up a notch with a popcorn bar. Offer unexpected flavors and toppings, like chocolate chips, coconut flakes, barbecue spices or whatever your heart desires.
• Serve snacks on these bold “eat” plates with these black and white animal print , “mingle” and multicolor mod cocktail napkins .  
• For your listening pleasure, turn on a playlist of your favorite soundtracks…but don’t blame us when you get “Let It Go” stuck in your head.  
• When it’s time for the show, snuggle into the couch with some on-theme Better Together plush .  

Did someone say Sixteen Candles ? Get inspired to celebrate your teen’s upcoming milestone moments with this article .

Puppy party  

Looking for new party ideas for adults …and their dogs? Bingo. The only thing more fun than bringing your friends together is bringing your friends’ dogs together. Host an outdoor pup party in your backyard with a few of these ideas:

• Kick the party off with none other than “Who Let the Dogs Out?” blasting on the speakers (sorry, not sorry).
• Invite your friends and their pups to play in their best attire and fill up a kiddie pool for hoomans and doggos to wade and splash in.  
• The dogs may not care about the décor, but your friends will appreciate these colorful ombre stripe plates and napkins .  
• You can build an inexpensive snack buffet by asking friends to contribute both their and their dog’s favorite snack (dirty socks don’t count).  
• Grill up some burgers and franks, but make sure every pawrent is OK with their pet sneaking a bite.

Parties aren’t just for pups. Find more fun ways to celebrate every kind of party animal here .

Spring fling  

Good friends, sunshine and the start of a new season—what more do you need? A spring party is inexpensive and easy to decorate. Just lean on Mother Nature to do the heavy lifting for you! As for how to put it together, we’ve got options:

• Host an outdoor party at a public park (or in your backyard ) when everything’s in bloom and complement the blue sky with these lily bouquet plates and floral “enjoy” dinner napkins .  
• Or, if springtime allergies are your nemesis, just host the party inside your house and decorate with butterfly napkins and coordinating plates and cute DIY mushroom garland .  
• These paper vases make great party favors for your pals! They even come with water vials to keep fresh flowers happy.
• Keep the nosh light and fresh, like sliced strawberries and melon, a bright veggie plate and a festive treat, like cake topped with the prettiest springtime decorations.  
• Queue up “Walkin’ on Sunshine,” and bask in the bliss that is a spring day spent with your besties.  

Book club party  

Word nerds, rejoice! A book club party is the best of both worlds—good books and good times—and is one of the easiest party ideas for adults to pull off. It’s as simple as choosing a book for you and your pals to read, then invite them over to discuss what they loved together. To make things extra cozy and inviting, try these ideas:  

• \Wine and cheese isn’t a novel idea—pun intended—but when it’s presented on this adorable charcuterie tray, it’s special.  
• Don’t forget to set out these adorable jade green “gather” napkins paired with coordinating aqua and green dots square plates for your munchies.  
• Use stacks of books you already own topped with a small vase of flowers and light a few candles for affordable decor with a chill vibe.  
• Let the conversation flow with some soft instrumental music in the background.   

Celebrity eras  

Whether you’re in your early 20s or late 30s , you probably have favorite celebrities who’ve lived through some iconic eras. Think Jennifer Aniston in the ‘90s, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in his WWE days or Beyonce in her Lemonade years. Throw a celebrity era party where friends come fully dressed as their fave celeb circa their most memorable era with a few of these mixed in for extra fun:  

• Mix and match patterns and colors to create a one-of-a-kind look for your party snacks. The butterfly hexagonal plates and black and white animal print napkins scream Y2K when paired together!  
• Maybe you’re hosting this party during brunch? Hand each celebrity a mimosa and announce them as they come through the door—these glasses are fun.
• Hand out prizes for the best-dressed celebrity and reward your friends for their commitment.
• Depending on the celebrities at your party, play a game of trivia (or bingo) from the 90s, early 2000s or 2010s!  
• And of course, you must relive the moments with a playlist that spans the years of your celeb’s best era. Britney’s “Oops!…I Did It Again!” era? Legendary. Pass around a karaoke mic if you’re feeling brave.

Thrift store picnic  

Those of us in our 20s and 30s aren’t afraid to admit that Macklemore kinda had the right idea. Get thrifty with your friends and put together a picnic with secondhand items—from the blanket you sprawl out on to the sweet grandpa sweater you scored! Here’s how we’d recommend putting it together:

• Pair your fresh finds with these pink lily plates and butterfly hexagonal dessert plates to really make your picnic pop.
• Finger foods and snackable bites are where it’s at when it comes to picnic fare. Fresh fruit, spiced nuts , cookies and veggies make the perfect spread.  
• Quench your thirst with some home-brewed iced tea stored in vintage mason jars.  
• No need for a playlist—let the sights and sounds of the outdoors be the backdrop and soundtrack of your picnic.

Indoor tailgate party  

TBH, outdoor tailgating is only fun if the weather is nice and your team is winning. But since you can’t control the weather or the quarterback, you might want to try throwing a perfect tailgate…indoors! It’s easy and cheap—no parking fee required. Here’s how:

• Just like at a typical tailgate, everyone wears their team colors.  
• And since there are no littering fines to worry about, now’s the time for you to go the longest yard with coordinating streamers, balloons and confetti.
• Set up a place to shoot hoops or toss a football during commercial breaks.  
• Create the tailgate spread of your dreams by asking pals to bring their fave snack—think buffalo chicken dip, chocolate chip cookies and something very cheesy.  
• Complete your smorgasbord with fun plates and cocktail napkins that encourage your friends to do what they really came to do: eat. With this football-shaped ice mold , your cocktails will be a touchdown every time.
• Turn up the Jock Jams and cheers to a good game, no matter who wins.  

Around the world party  

If a specific country has been at the top of your travel list for a while but you don’t have the budget to go globe-trotting, now’s the time to bring the destination to you. It may not be the same as lounging on a beach on the coast of Italy, but with your friends, you’ll likely have just as much fun.    

• Tell your friends to pick a country and whip up its local delicacy or a popular drink to share with the group. Whether it’s by making Argentinian empanadas or French crepes, they’ll learn about a new place and its culture by trying a new recipe.  
• Make sure your playlist features music from all over the world.
• Let each country’s flag inspire your color palette. These stacked geometric dinner plates , simple “celebrate” dessert plates and black and white grid dinner napkins will complement any flag’s colors.  
• Dress up the walls with colorful paper medallions , hang a banner and toss confetti to match each country’s colors.  
• Challenge each other to learn the national anthem of a different country—winner gets a card with a crisp $5 inside.  

We hope these 11 party ideas for adults inspire you to do something special next time you and your friends hang out! Save this article and keep it handy, and tag us on social @Hallmark if you bring these ideas to life.

Want more ideas for a good party? We’ve got ‘em:

• Worth the wait: Milestone party ideas for life’s biggest moments
• From parallel parking to prom: Celebrating your teen’s biggest moments
• Our 3 best party decoration ideas to make entertaining easy
• 10 colorful, trendy party decorations and themes
• 50+ perfectly good reasons to have a party  
• Celebrate partyware

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Creative Homework Ideas For Your Students

Setting appropriate homework tasks is a big part of your teaching role. Setting homework is an opportunity to ensure that your students have absorbed the lesson and can apply what they've learnt to individual study. Homework allows students to reflect on your teachings and broaden their understanding of a particular subject or topic.

However, motivating your class to view homework this way might be something of a challenge! Most young people find settling down to complete homework outside of school hours challenging. If the task feels overwhelming or difficult or seems monotonous, they might just go through the motions of getting it done rather than giving it their full energy and attention and completing it the best they can.

So how can you ensure students' love of learning continues outside the classroom and that they not only give their all to completing homework but actually enjoy it too?

By getting creative with the work you set and thinking about how you can engage and motivate students to complete their homework, you will undoubtedly see better results.

Here are some excellent homework ideas to help encourage creative, student-led learning.

Exciting, engaging homework ideas to keep your students paying attention

Write their own lesson plan.

If you want to give your students a chance to step into your shoes for the day, why don't you ask them to create their own lesson plan around a topic they've learnt about or are about to learn? This will give them a chance to showcase their knowledge, do research and think creatively. You'll also learn more about how your students like to work and what would make a good lesson from their perspective, which could help inform how you shape your lessons in the future.

Write a speech or story from a different perspective

If your students are learning about a famous historical figure or studying a classic text, why not get them to think about different perspectives? You could ask them to embody someone influential from a particular period or a character from a play or story and write a speech or story from that person's point of view.

Create a board game

Gamification is always a fun idea to try to inject energy into the classroom, and getting your students to create their very own board game is a fantastic way to keep things fun while also getting them engaged in their learning. Games could centre around a particular topic; they could be quiz-based, matching games, or number games - let them get as creative as they like. You can then have fun in class playing the best ones too.

Go on a treasure hunt

As a fun homework task that will get your students out and about, ask them to go on a treasure or scavenger hunt, finding certain things that are related to your topic. For younger children, this could be as simple as collecting leaves, flowers, or twigs they might find in their local park, or particular shapes or colours, but older children can benefit from this kind of task too by setting more complicated challenges.

Create a collage

Creating collages can be a fun and interesting way for students to demonstrate their learning, improve their research skills and use their creativity and imagination and can be based on a variety of different topics so they work well across lots of subjects. Encourage them to stick cutouts, fabrics, tickets, photographs, and any other relevant materials to make up their collages, and then they can take turns presenting these in class.

Film a video

If your students are older and have mobile phones, you could set a video-making task for them to do at home. This could involve interviewing friends and relatives about a topic or filming themselves talking about a specific subject, or answering a particular question. Students could share their videos in class and will love being able to use their phones in school for once!

Create a crossword

Get your students to think creatively about questions and answers by asking them to create their very own crossword puzzle, using the material you've taught them in class as a basis. You can ask them to bring all their crossword puzzles into class and then swap them with each other to see if other students can fit the answers in correctly.

Find fun facts

Almost every subject has weird and wonderful facts surrounding it. Did you know, for example, that the word 'hundred' derives from an old Norse term 'hundrath,' which actually means 120?! Or that water can both boil and freeze simultaneously? Encourage your students to find the most obscure or interesting facts about the subjects you are teaching them, and then you can all share your findings in class.

Looking for your next job in teaching?

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- See more at: https://www.horizonteachers.com/blog/2023/01/creative-homework-ideas-for-your-students/279#sthash.x9SGIBTc.dpuf

41 Best Whole Class Reward Ideas for Teachers

Whole class rewards can be great for motivating your students. They are rewards that you provide for your students for collectively doing a great job as a team of students.

Whole class rewards have some amazing benefits, such as:

• Creating Positive Interdependence and Shared Purpose: Positive interdependence occurs when students share common goals. With the common goal of the whole group reward, students see that they’re all in it together. They have to work together to achieve their goals, helping them to build a sense of community, commonality and shared purpose.  
• Improved Student Behavior: Students who have a common goal will regulate one another. By creating a whole class reward, every student in the class acts as your personal policeman.
• Better Rapport with your Students: You can have a lot of fun with a whole class behavior management strategy, helping to create a great relationship between you and your students.

Whole Class Reward Ideas for Teachers

1. class party.

Ages: All Ages

When all your students achieve their common goal, throw a class party for them! The party can involve games, snacks and movies. Don’t forget to crank some great child-friendly movie soundtracks (Sherk is my go-to choice – it’s an oldie but a goodie!) Consider doing games like pin the tail on the donkey and duck-duck-goose. Games can be differentiated for older age groups.

2. Glow Sticks Dance Party

Not just any dance party – a glow sticks party! Get a pack of glow sticks , turn down the lights, close the blinds, and let your students dance up a storm! Kids love to make multicolored light trails, bracelets and necklaces from the glow of the glow sticks. Here is a 100 pack of glow sticks from Amazon.

Food is of course the most obvious but also a really effective reward. Bring in a cake or candies that you bought from the store. Beware of allergies and ensure you have some healthy food options. I like to canvas my students’ parents before using food in the class to make sure they’re all on board. One crowd sourcing strategy for your food option is for every student to bring a plate of food to share with the class.

4. Field Trip

A field trip can be as simple as a trip to a free local museum, a walk through a local wooded area, or a trek to the local pool. Students don’t care where they’re going – the fun is that they’re going somewhere new! The field trip can even have educational value. Consider finding a field trip location where you can tick off some important learning outcomes in your curriculum.

5. Play Time

Ages: 2 – 12 

Play-based learning is great for the development of skills such as creativity, imagination, teamwork and risk management. But … students love it! Offer students free unstructured play time in exchange for their hard work. While they think they’re getting a reward, in reality you are encouraging great skills. Consider outdoor play time (such as the sort of play time encouraged by the Forest Schools Movement ).

6. Movie and Popcorn

Movies and popcorn is a classic, but this is another activity that students love. To perk this activity up a little, consider letting the students choose a movie to watch. Get them to contribute their own ideas into a ‘group vote’ for their choice of movie. Another option is to get one student who particularly excelled to make the movie choice themselves.

7. Dress Up Day

Dress-ups is a day where all the students come into class dressed in a theme. My favorite theme is to dress as your favorite book or movie character. Or, if you have been reading a book with your class, ask them all to dress up as a character from a specific book. You can pair this day with a range of fun activities linked to the dress-up theme, including art activities and movies. Check out this police, fire and hospital dress ups kit from Amazon.

8. Outdoor Lesson

An outdoor lesson is an incredibly simple but effective way of exciting your students. Use this option on a warm day where the class can sit under a tree and paint a landscape, learn about Indigenous history, or simply lie around and listen to a story. Outdoor play can help students become more familiar with the seasons and their local ecosystem while also making learning more fun.

9. Computer Time

Ages: 7 – 18

Students (and, especially boys) love computer time! Computer time doesn’t have to be just idle time. Digital game-based learning such as learning using sandbox games like Minecraft has huge benefits for digital literacy and creativity. One option I often use is to ask students to create their on phenomenon-based learning activity where they use computers to explore a phenomenon like “asteroids”, “moon landings”, “pirate ships” or “the Jurassic era”.

10. Music Time

Simply allowing the occasional music-based activity can excite students. Next time you have an active learning lesson like painting, science experiments, or a game-based learning situation, offer music in exchange for positive on-task good behavior. Ensure the music is age-appropriate, or allow students to choose their favorite soundtrack. YouTube will be your best friend for finding any song under the sun.

11. Paper Airplane Comeptition

Ages: 7 – 15

Teachers often hate paper airplanes. But you can turn this into a structured learning activity by teaching your students how to make a range of airplane designs. Get them to pick their design and color in their plane. Then, the whole class stands on a line and throws their plane to see who wins! Make sure you don’t let the students throw the plane until it is race time. Here’s a whole-class kit from Amazon.

12. Story Time

Never underestimate the power of a good story. Children of all ages (and yes, I’m including adults here)  love to be read to. Use story time as leverage: “We’ll read a whole chapter of Harry Potter if you finish this task in time!” The students don’t need to know that you  have to  finish that book by the end of term: all that matters is that this is an activity that gives you a great deal of leverage over your students!

13. Student Choice Project

A student choice project is a project where the students get a vote on what they want to do. For example, you can offer students a choice of researching castles, self-driving cars, the Amazon rain forest and … pirates! Let students have a vote on their project of choice. But remember, you need to let them know that they only get to research this project if they complete their core curriculum work first.

14. Change the Class Layout

How often do you change up your classroom layout? I personally shift between a table desk layout and a rows layout regularly (depending on the age of my students). A good option is to introduce your students to a range of classroom layouts and let them make a choice about which one they would prefer. Of course, this is a reward for good behavior – so your students will hopefully be at a stage where they’ll behave no matter the layout. Here is a list of the 12 best classroom layout arrangements for you to get some inspiration.

15. Crazy Science Experiment

As a reward for their hard work, offer your students the opportunity to conduct a fun science experiment. A great one is a volcano erupting – the more dramatic, the better! Another simple but fun science experiment that causes eruptions is the mentos in coke can experiment.

16. A New Pet

Ages: 3 – 12

A class pet can have huge positive benefits for your students – so hang the idea out there as an incentive for your students! It will teach them how to care for nature, and help them learn about things like life cycles and ecosystems. Examples of class pets include fish, axolotls, bearded dragons, mice and turtles. I like to stick with fish because they’re low-key, low-maintenance animals for the class.

17. Library Visit

Offer your students the chance to spend 30 minutes at the end of the day in the school library, or even better – your local community library! You might also be able to line this library visit up with book reading sessions from guest authors coming to town, or other children’s activities that the library is operating.

The classic game of T-Ball is a love for all generations. A quick game of T-ball at the end of the day isn’t just an incentive to have fun, it might also be ideal for helping kids to let off some steam. I like using this strategy if it’s been a long boring day in the classroom.

19. Geocache Hunt

A geocache hunt involves getting students into small teams to search for a hidden goodie via GPS. Geocaching has great benefits as it supports team building, orienteering and geography skills. If you don’t have geocache technology available (there are a ton of free geocache phone apps), simply create a clue hunt for students to do a similar search around the school.

20. Joke Time

This is a fun and easy end-of-day activity. Get yourself a cheap joke book and spend 10 minutes at the end of the day (if the students have done well!) to tell some jokes. Add a twist to this by getting students to come to class with jokes they found at home, and let them tell the joke themselves! Low on books? Here’s a book with over 800 jokes from Amazon.

21. Homework Free Week

If you have had a long, tough term at school, consider letting the students choose one week of the term to be homework-free. Alternatively, you can set a reward such as: “If I get 100% of students completing their homework this week, you get next week off!” This will incentivize students to all complete their homework on time.

22. Grab Bag

A grab bag is simply a bag full of cheap goodies. They can be as simple as tennis balls, candy, toy figurines, or anything else you have lying around (or anything you can find at the dollar store!). Invite each student up to get one item out of the grab bag. Consider blindfolding them so they can’t see what’s in the grab bag! (They’ll inevitably start trading items at the end, anyway).

23. Stickers for All!

Ages: 2 – 6

This is a great whole class reward for Preschool and Kindergarten aged students. It’s incredible how much kids at that age love stickers! If you have a sticker chart on the wall, consider offering to give every student in the class three more stickers if they all do a good job that day. Or, stick a sticker on their shirt on the way out the door.

24. Invite the Principal to Class

Ages: 5 – 12

School principals often love to come into a classroom and see how things are going. To line up a principal visit with good behavior incentives , tell the class you’ll invite a special guest into the classroom if they behave for a whole week. Some things the principal could do include: reading a book to the class, running a painting class, or telling some jokes!

25. Forts Day

Ages: 3 – 7

Classroom tables are great foundations for forts. To add to this foundation, bring in some old sheets and towels to help the students to build some amazing forts. You could get the students into small groups to build the forts, or build an enormous whole-class fort. Once the forts are built, consider allowing some unstructured play time or getting them all to lie in the forts and rest while you read a book.

26. Make Slime!

Everyone loves a bit of slime on a Friday afternoon! Slime can be a fun tactile activity all on its own. You can make your lessons about following recipes, testing viscosity, or simply building things. Another slime idea might be to create letters and words out of slime to help during literacy class. Try this slime kit from Amazon.

27. Cooking Class

The best thing about a cooking class is that it ends with something yummy! It’s a lesson that students absolutely love, so leveraging it to encourage hard work and positive behavior can be powerful. Set high expectations and follow-up with a class where students learn to bake a cake or some cookies.

28. 15 Minutes Extra Recess

It’s a simple teaching tool, but it works. Simply encourage hard work and focus in return for more play time during recess and lunch breaks. To add to the fun of this, consider offering to spend that 15 minutes playing with your students – set up a fun game of hopscotch or tag!

29. Board Game Afternoon

Ages: 4 and up

I love a board game afternoon – especially on a rainy day! Let your students choose from a range of board games such as Guess Who, Clue, and Snakes and Ladders. To further leverage this reward, let students who excelled to get their first pick of board game. You can buy Guess Who on Amazon.

30. Art Class

Art classes can get messy, but they’re great for helping your students with their creativity and self-expression skills. Consider getting an easel, paint brushes, and paints … and letting your students express themselves! Extensions to this task could include asking students to paint a scene from a book, their idea for a book cover, or perhaps a self-portrait.

31. Musical Chairs or Duck-Duck-Goose

Ages: 3 – 6

Musical chairs is a simple game, but young kids absolutely love it! It can also be done in a quick 30-minute end-of-day session. Similar options (especially for preschool ages) include duck-duck-goose and pass the parcel. I’m a fan of duck-duck-goose because all students are included throughout the game (rather than the ‘knockout’ nature of musical chairs).

32. Teacher vs. Student Game

I’ve noticed that my students love playing a game that’s student vs. teachers. They love to work together as a team to try to beat their teacher! One way I do this is run a quiz. If they get the answer, they get a point. If they don’t get the answer, I get a point.

33. Silent Ball

Ages: 7 – 12

Silent ball is a game where students have to pass a ball around the class in complete silence. It sounds simple (too simple!) but it’s unbelievably effective. It also gives you a few moments of silence! Here are the rules of this game that somehow mesmerizes boys and girls between ages 9 and 14. I’ll often use it as an incentive for students to focus and complete their tasks efficiently … “If you do a great job in this lesson, we’ll have 15 minutes of silent ball before home time!”

34. Origami Day

Set aside a whole reward day for doing origami! Origami is a bit like paper airplanes … but you can do so many more designs! You can start with simple ones for younger children or extra complicated ones for your more advanced students with better dexterity. I like to read my students the inspiring book of 1000 paper cranes ( check the price on Amazon) to set the mood. Then I jump over to YouTube videos for students to follow along when creating their own origami.

35. Team Building Day

A team building day is a day you can spend doing team building activities like guiding your peers who are blindfolded, falling backward (trust exercise), and other team building activities for students. Ensure it is pitched as a fun day to get to know each other some more, have fun, and make great experiences as a class – all as a reward for their hard work!

Ages: 7 and up

Promise a trivia game at the end of the day (or week) for good behavior. You could even let the students choose the trivia theme (e.g. Harry Potter) or alternatively link the trivia lesson to course content that you have recently taught. Make sure you prepare this in advance, because it takes some time to come up with some good trivia question ideas!

37. Create a Time Capsule

Ages: 8 and up

Time capsules are packets of trinkets that represent your current year. Get your students to select objects from around the classroom or write letters to put in the time capsule. Take the class outside and bury your time capsule somewhere in the school. Put up a stake showing where it was buried and who buried it. Dig it up in 20 years’ time!

38. Parents Day

A parents day is simply a day where students can invite their parents into the class to show-off what they have been doing. Dangle parents day as a reward for good work – and remind students: “If you do a good enough job, I’ll invite all of your parents in to see your hard work!” This tends to work well in elementary school, but older students may not want their parents to come to school.

39. Indoor Volleyball

Indoor volleyball is really fun because it’s a little bit of a rule-breaking activity: you get to pull apart the class, free up space in the middle, and hit a ball around the classroom! I use balloons or other soft, squishy balls to prevent damage to the windows.

40. Visit another Class

Ages: All ages

A visit to another classroom can be really exciting – especially for younger students. Ask around to other teachers. There is usually a class somewhere in the school who wants to practice a presentation. Get your students to sit in as the ‘practice’ audience. It’ll be a win-win for both classes.

41. Write a Letter to Santa

Ages: 3 – 10

A letter to Santa will work great for younger kids, but with older ones you might need to differentiate this (for obvious reasons). Consider with older students the option to write a wish list or even a fantasy list of ideas you’d want for an upcoming trip. For younger students, ensure you provide writing support. Consider also actually putting the letters in envelopes and addressing them to the ‘North Pole’.

Read Also: A List of 101 Classroom Consequences

Final Thoughts: Behavior Management Benefits

Whole class rewards can also be an excellent addition to your classroom management strategy. They are central to the following two strategies:

• Positive Behavioral and Intervention Supports: PBIS is a strategy that has its roots in the behaviorist theory of learning. It involves focusing on and rewarding positive behaviors while downplaying and ‘ignoring’ negative behaviors.
• Preferred Activity Time Strategy: The preferred activity time strategy offers students a reward in the form of doing an activity they prefer. However, students have control over how much time they spend on this preferred activity. The more efficiently and harder students work, the more time they get. e.g. Tell students they will have 15 minutes at the end of the day for a special activity. If they work hard and get all their work done, maybe that will become 30 minutes or even an hour!

Read Also: 13 Behavior Management Strategies for your Classroom

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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25 Office Holiday Party Ideas to Mingle and Jingle

Lauren Miolene

Is it just us or is the end of year office holiday party one of the best parties of all time? If this isn’t the case for you, you’ll want to check out these office holiday party ideas that will get your coworkers excited for this year's celebration. The holidays are all about spending time with one another celebrating, and the office is no exception.

When planning any type of big event, you’ll want to start by choosing a theme , entertainment , food and drinks , and decor to set the tone. If this seems overwhelming to you, keep reading for our fun office holiday party ideas that are sure to be a hit. We put together the ultimate list of ideas to make your office holiday party planning as enjoyable as possible.

Here are 25 unique office holiday party ideas for this year:

For a classy office party soirée, a masquerade theme is sure to get the party started. Your coworkers will enjoy seeing one another dressed up in ball gowns or suits and ties, dancing the night away to a jazz band , with a glamorous mask upon their faces. You’ll also want to serve a seated dinner (maybe by a caterer ), decorate with deep reds and golds, and book a juggler for one of a kind entertainment.

Photo Booth

Nothing captures the fun and excitement of a holiday office party quite like a photo booth. Invite a professional photo booth vendor to your office or party venue and they’ll bring backdrops, props, the camera, everything you’ll need! Photo booths also provide the perfect keepsake once the party’s over.

Find a Photo Booth

Cookie Swap

A good old fashioned cookie swap is a classic office holiday party idea, because it’s practical! Each person will bring a batch or two of their favorite holiday cookies with copies of recipes. Then coworkers will be able to build their holiday cookie trays and gather recipes for them to try this season.

Silent Disco

If you’ve never been to a silent disco, it makes a unique office holiday party idea that all your coworkers will love. While on the dance floor, guests wear wireless headphones that glow different colors and sync to the beat of their chosen music channel. Watch your colleagues dance in their own little world while ringing in the holiday spirit.

Prosecco Pong

Prosecco pong is beer pong’s more mature, more sophisticated cousin, but just as fun! For this party game you’ll want to fill plastic prosecco glasses with water or your favorite bubbly. Then, take turns throwing plastic ping pong balls into your opponent’s cups. This game is sure to get competitive, but who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?

Comedians are party professionals that know how to break the ice at an event. While you and coworkers arrive or are seated eating dinner, a comedian will crack jokes to put a smile on everyone’s face. If there will be kiddos in attendance, you can even book a clean comedian for an age appropriate comedy show that everyone will enjoy.

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Virtual Happy Hour

If your coworkers are remote, consider some virtual office holiday party ideas to get everyone involved. Organize a virtual happy hour so everyone can join in on the festive fun, whether they work in the office or at home. Set up a Zoom call , book virtual entertainment , and don’t forget the holiday Zoom backgrounds !

Volunteer Activity

The holidays are all about giving back, so if you and coworkers are feeling extra generous, consider volunteering at a local charity near your office. Whether you’re sorting toys for a holiday toy drive or cans in a food pantry, this will bring everyone together while helping a good cause. This isn’t a traditional holiday office party idea, but it will sure feel good afterwards.

If you want spirits to be bright at this holiday office party, consider booking a bartender to whip up festive cocktails. A professional bartending team will be able to mix up all the classic cocktails and mocktails, while also creating a custom menu with special drinks. Choose from White Russians, Moscow Mules, espresso martinis, and much more!

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Holiday Murder Mystery

The same old holiday party activities can get old really fast. Change things up this year by hosting a murder mystery party , holiday style. You’ll want to appoint roles like suspects and a detective but with a merry twist. Get Christmas characters involved in the plot like Santa, his naughty elves, and Jack Frost that is sure to entertain guests.

Ugly Sweaters

It’s that time of year to pull out your most atrocious holiday sweater and wear it to as many parties as you can. If you and your coworker’s styles aren’t dressy, use an ugly sweater party as the office holiday party dress code instead. Bonus points if yours has lights, feathers, or tinsel!

Nothing gets a party going like live music. Choose between acoustic , country , a tribute band , you name it! The Bash has a variety of talented musicians that will bring the energy to your office holiday party.

If live music isn’t the vibe of the office holiday party, you can book a local DJ to play everyone’s favorite hits. Maybe even a few rounds of holiday karaoke , too!

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas Theme

Roast Beast, Who Pudding, and the Grinch sounds like a fun time to us! Host the ultimate holiday Whobilation that is not your ordinary office party. This nontraditional How the Grinch Stole Christmas theme will surprise coworkers and leave a ton of room for creativity, especially entertainment. Book carolers to perform your favorite songs, play some Who Games, and book an appearance from the Grinch himself!

You’ve probably paired different wine with food before, but have you ever been led by  a sommelier? These professionals know how to match wine with particular foods to enhance the overall experience. Afterwards. Your coworkers will be able to put these skills to use while organizing their own holiday parties.

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Every holiday party needs a gift swap of some sort. Choose from Secret Santa, White Elephant, or your own festive version so everyone can go home with a gift. Giving is one of the best parts of the holidays, and it’ll be fun to watch your coworkers' faces when they open their gift.

Santa Claus

Is it even the holiday season without a visit from Saint Nick? Browse The Bash to find a local Santa character to complete the office holiday party. Inviting this special guest will provide perfect photo opportunities while allowing everyone to share what’s on their wish list, because you can never be too old to tell Santa what you want!

Pro tip: Make sure to book a photographer to capture the visit from Santa Claus!

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Retro Theme

You can never go wrong with a decades theme to get the holiday party started. Choose any era like the roaring 20s , groovy’ 70s , or an all out 2000s throwback bash. If you want to make the festivities even more interesting, have each guest choose their own decade and enjoy all the nostalgic outfits.

Gingerbread Houses

This holiday craft is a festive activity that also promotes team building! As an office holiday party idea, create teams to assemble the strongest or most creative gingerbread house. No matter who wins, everyone will enjoy snacking on all the sweet building materials.

Casino Night

An exciting office holiday party idea your coworkers will love is casino night ! Bring the excitement of the casino to you with rentable casino games and card handlers. Browse and book rentals including slot machines, poker tables, and roulette wheels for a fun night of friendly gambling.

Recipe Swap

Similar to a cookie swap, you’ll love a recipe swap for an office holiday party idea. Each coworker will bring their favorite side dish to make for the holidays as well as copies of the recipe. Then guests will taste samples to put together a new holiday cookbook for the season.

If you want coworkers to be entertained and engaged, a hypnotist is the way to go for an office holiday party idea. These professionals use their talents to safely put people in a trance for an unforgettable show. Do you want to see your boss walk around like a chicken? Maybe see someone in sales sing their heart out? A hypnotist can easily make this happen.

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Nothing gets excitement going quite like a raffle, so boost office morale with a giveaway. Each employee’s name will be entered into the drawing upon arrival. If there are different games and activities, the winners can have extra entries added. Choose between gift cards, the latest electronics, or maybe a few extra vacation days as a grand prize.

Pajama Party

Get comfy and cozy with an office holiday party this year! Don your favorite matching Christmas PJ set or your new snowman onesie that will get everyone in the holiday spirit. Plus, this saves the time and stress of finding a new outfit!

Food Trucks

The typical catering menu can get repetitive quickly, especially during the holidays. Rather than serving the classic ziti and meatballs, surprise guests with a variety of food trucks for a unique holiday office party food idea! Choose between Mexican favorites, Italian classics, or even a coffee cart for an after dinner treat.

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For a more laid-back office holiday party idea, grab the games to go head-to-head with your coworkers. From Scrabble and charades, to Mario Kart and Fortnight, a game night is sure to bring the whole office together.

Find more holiday party ideas here on The Bash.

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