A to Z
While waiting in line, each student in turn names something from a specified category. The first student in line begins with A, and the others follow in turn. Allow 3 seconds for each answer. Categories could include:

• cities in their home state
• countries
• characters from stories and books
• proper nouns
• musical instruments
• action verbs
• feeling verbs
• animals
• foods
• famous people in a given category

Angle Practice
As students leave your classroom instruct them to take one step into the hallway and make an angle (right, 45 degree, 90 degree)

Classroom Connect Monthly Calendar — Daily activities and quick facts.

Inspiring Teachers Publishing — Games, activities, art suggestions for those in-between times.

Math Facts Line Up
Students count the number of letters in their first names. Teacher calls for one of the following and students whose number fits the criteria may line up:

• prime numbers
• multiples of 3,4,5,6 (in random order)
• factors of 21, 15, 16, etc.

Practice Directions
While waiting in line, instruct students to silently turn while you call the directions (north, south, east, west, northeast, southwest, etc.)

Silent Arranging
Without any talking, students arrange themselves according to birthdate. Show where January 1st would be. Allow a time limit, then discuss to see how successful they were.

Standing in Line
As quickly as you can, name:

• Kinds of flowers
• Gems
• Teachers at this school
• Things made of cloth
• Uses for a brick
• Things you can do with your feet
• Characters in a given book, story or fairy tale
• Brainstorm lists of words for themes---ex: spring, space, inventors, holidays, characteristics of a hero, adjectives for a good athlete

Syllable Countdown
Students count the syllables in their first, last, or both names. Teacher calls a number, and those students with that number of syllables line up.

Vowel/Consonant Countdown
Students count the number of vowels or consonants in their first, last, or entire name. Teachers calls a number and students who have that number of vowels may line up.

Who Has It? Who Doesn't? from Cathy Jimenez, a bilingual teacher in the Escondido,California Union School District.
Teacher chooses an observable object such as hair ribbons, watch, white shirt, and says, "Ann has it, James doesn't." When someone thinks they know, they raise their hand and guess. Each student may make only one guess per object until everyone has had a chance, or until a given time limit has passed.

With younger students, the students who "have it" line up on one wall and the ones who don't "have it" line up on the other wall, so they can have visual clues to the criteria or concept.