Follow-up activities may originate with the teacher or the students. These are ideas for future lessons or projects that reinforce, motivate, or continue interest in the topic. Some ideas are given here.
1. Read related literature.
2. Make materials related to the topic.
3. Talk with others concerning the subject.
4. Work to solve a related problem at home, in school, or society in general.
5. Visit places studied.
6. View or listen to related television or radio programs.
7. Attend a related community event.
8. Share learning with others.
9. Design a related research study.
10. Learn to do something new related to the topic.
11. Create something in the area of music, art, drama, or dance to express what has been learned.
12. Write a related piece of literature.
13. Continue to add materials to the class museum or the vertical file for "next year's classes."
14. Replay some of the favorite games or self-instructional materials developed for the unit.
15. Reread class diaries, stories, plays, newspapers, or other written records that have been bound and put in the library.
Follow-up activities may also be part of homework. Homework can help bridge the gap between the school and the community. Keep the following in mind.
1. Try to encourage social participation in the community.
2. Choose activities which build self concepts and help family members who may assist.
3. Remember that children need quality free time as well as work time.
4. Give clear, specific directions.
5. Do not expect children to bring or use items which may not be possible on limited family budgets.
6. Identify activities which tie into positive existing community structures and provide options which help eliminate negative involvement with conflict, inappropriate models, drugs, or gangs. Make students aware of quality television programs and community events which can provide positive experiences. Homework need not be paperwork.
7. Encourage problem solving activities.
8. Relate new learning in the home or community to the school.
9. Provide meaningful memory work. Model the use of silent practice, flash cards, self checking devices, or the use of charts or note cards.
10. Give guidance for how to study. If reading is involved, advance organizers may give guidance to students. Provide clear directions.
11. Try not to have homework conflict with special events or important special nights in a community.
12. Ask if the homework meets individual needs.
School learning experiences for students are enhanced or hindered by activities outside of schools. At each age level young people are involved in a great number of events outside of the classroom. It is helpful to know what opportunities exist in your area so that positive relationships can be built between the school and community. Homework assigned is affected by these outside activities. The following list provides both outside activities common at all age levels and some for which typical beginning age levels are given. Add to the lists any significant experiences of which you are aware.
Activities Engaged in at Many Age Levels
o Walking to school, riding in a car pool, or riding the bus
o Activities at recreation centers
o YWCA or YMCA
o Play activities in general
o Hobbies in general
o Watching television or videos
o Visits to the library
o Attending sports events
o Attending concerts and dramatic events
o Gangs
o Obtaining, consuming, or using, and selling illegal substances or items
o Unhealthy consumption or use of food or legal substances
o Shop lifting
o Pranks and destruction of rights or property
o Evading responsibilities in the family or community
o Inability to plan use of time and appearing late or not at all for scheduled events
o Loitering, bullying, sitting and doing nothing, and complaining
(Ages may vary depending on community resources and facilities)
Sports
Riding Toys Pre-school and up
General playground activities Pre-school and up
Swimming, Pre-school and up
Playing ball Pre-school and up
Skating Pre-school and up
Skiing Pre-school and up
Dancing Pre-school and up
Snow mobiling (Riding- pre-school and up; driving - junior high and up)
Bike riding Five and up
Softball Six and up
Baseball Six and up
Volleyball, Eight and up
Soccer Eight and up
Basketball Eight and up
Tennis Eight and up
Go-cart racing Eight and up
Boxing Ten and up
Football Ten and up
Golf Ten and up
Hockey Ten and up
Track Twelve and up
Cheerleading Fourteen and on
Stock car racing Sixteen and up
Doing jobs around the house, yard, or farm Pre-school and up
Neighborhood yard work and paper routes Ten and up
Babysitting Eleven and up
Detassling and general farm work Fifteen and up
Work at local places of business and industry Sixteen and up
Flight instruction Fourteen and up
Learning to drive (prior to age 16)
and obtaining a license Sixteen and up
Some communities set aside a "church night" which schools respect when planning special events and homework. Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship respond by scheduling most of their weekday events in that time slot.
Hearing or reading religious stories Pre-school and up
Worship with the family Pre-school and up
Hearing children's sermons Pre-school through age eleven
Attending religious classes Varies with religious group
Preparation for a one-time event such as
first communion, confirmation,
Bar or Bas Mitzvah Varies with religious group
Preparation for special celebrations or rituals
(Hmong and Chinese New Year
celebrations, pow-wows, or other cultural
events; Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim,
or other holy days; Christian observations
such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter Pre-school and up
services, etc.)
Being part of choirs Pre-school and up
Taking part in programs Pre-school and up
Being part of special age-level youth groups Grade school and up
Helping with worship services Intermediate and up (Varies with group)
Being teaching assistants Junior high and up
(Note)
Restrictions by some religious groups
exist for in-school participation for
certain holidays.
Scouts - Daisy Kindergarten
Brownies 6 to 8 year-olds
Junior Girl Scouts 9 to 11-year-olds
Girl Scouts - Cadet 12 - 14-year-olds
Girl Scouts - Explorers or Cadets 15 - 17-year-olds
Tiger Cubs - One boy and adult
work together 6 year-olds
Cub Scouts 7 to 10-year-olds
Boy Scouts 11 to 14-year olds
Boy Scouts - Varsity Scouting or
Explorers 15 to 17-year-olds
4-H 9 and up
Boys/Girls Club - Cadets 6 - 8-year-olds
Boys/Girls Club - Junior 9 - 12-year-olds
Boys/Girls Club - Intermediates 13 - 15-year-olds
Boys/Girls Club - Seniors 16 - 17-year-olds
Campfire - Bluebirds 6 - 8-year-olds
Campfire - Adventure 9 - 11-year-olds
Campfire - Discovery 12 - 14-year-olds
Campfire - Horizon 15 - 17-year-olds
Civil Air Patrol
Hobby clubs
Forensics
Debate
Journalism club
Junior historical societies
Environmental groups
Junior members of fraternal or service organizations
Piano , organ, violin, or instrumental lessons Usually age six and up
Voice lessons Varies with talent, interests of organizations and communities
Community band and orchestra groups and choirs Varies with talent and interests of community.
Dance lessons Pre-school and up. May require ntensive time demands at times of recitals and performances. Age levels depend on kinds of programs available. (Ballet, tap, social, etc.)
Out of School Activities Affecting Students of Only Certain Age or Ability Groups or Segments of Society
o Dating and marriage
o Volunteer Activities (Assisting at libraries,
hospitals, day care centers, with sports programs,
as junior leaders of various organizations)
o Seasonal or one time events (Parts in community
theater, parts in seasonal music events or holiday
programs. May require intensive evening or
after-school practice.
o Big brother - Big sister activities (Time spent
with a volunteer for single parent families)
o Visitation for divorced and separated families
(Children sometimes have weekends or certain days
spent with absent parent in another community.
Travel time is involved.)
o Language classes (Special language classes for
multi-lingual children. Language classes for
students preparing for religious rites.)
o Family crises (Times of illness, separation or
bereavement may require fairly young children to
assume adult responsibilities.)
o Latch-key children or children of working parents
may be home alone, or away from home with a sitter or
after-school program where attention to homework
is not feasible.
o Special programs for gifted children
o Special community programs for children with
disabilities (Special olympics, telethons for fund
raising, etc.)