Don't let the rut become a ditch!!

I am in my third year of teaching and I am here to tell you that it is VERY easy to do the same thing day in and day out. It is easier for me to take items out of my folder that I have already done or to work out of the workbooks than to try and find something "new" for the students to complete. It is especially hard for those of us without a lab!! I have had to try and be creative or work around other's schedules to do something more hands on. I also have had a hard time finding something new for the students to do that are third level and need to be challenged more or need a new worksheet that they haven't seen before. So far, this is what has worked for me: GOOGLE!!! You can google anything, and if you have time, look through pages of ideas and activities. We have heard Dr. B say it before: "Why recreate the wheel!!" Borrow, change, and make it your own. So far, this has worked for me. I have several activities now in my "folders" to choose from. It depends on your class.... some classes learn better with hands on materials and some may do just fine with the 'book way'. Don't let your wheels turn in the same little rut and make it into a ditch!! ;)