5 Reasons Why Classroom Transformations are so Effective

I love a good classroom theme or transformation. I have been doing them long before I knew they were a thing. Transformations in the classroom are powerful learning tools that can be highly engaging to students and they don't cost you a fortune either. Keep reading to see why classroom transformations are such an effective learning activity.

Classroom Transformations Equal Instant Engagement

When you change the environment in your classroom, there are a few things that happen. First, you can play to the novelty of it. Novel things are always more exciting. Shaking things up and throwing out something that is out of the ordinary gets kids' attention right away. They want to try something new. 

A classroom transformation also sparks their imagination. Let's face it. Most kids have wild imaginations. I don't care what you throw their way, give them a story line and a few details and they can run with it. Crinkle some paper and tack it to the wall, add some pool noodle dynamite, turn off the lights, and give them a tap light and they instantly buy into the idea they are geologists in an underground cave exploring for gemstones. Throw up a few vines, add some colorful paper to the desks and a couple of disposable pie pans, and play some jungle sounds and they will be excited about going on a dinosaur adventure through Jurassic Park. It doesn't even take a lot to transform a kid through their imagination. A colorful table cloth and a few hands-on activities will be enough to convince them they are chefs in a fraction bakery.

If you are excited, they will be too. So I say, play the part. Get them into it by being into it yourself. If you believe it, so will they. It takes part stage acting, part passion, and lots of imagination. 

It's all About the Content

The content behind a transformation is key. You want to take advantage of their excitement by going more in-depth than they would normally go. You can pull more out of the students when they are highly engaged. There's something about it that opens up the pathways to learning. They will give 110% because they are so excited about everything around them. You have to channel that energy into their work and you will be sure to get more effort than you ever have before. 

Content needs to be rigorous. We don't just do classroom transformations for the fun (yes, they are that), but we do them for the learning experiences they create. Whenever you have a topic that kids particularly struggle with or find boring, try finding a way to bring it to life in a transformation. It will help the kids get more excited about the topic and they will be ready to learn.

Memories

Classroom transformations create lasting memories for the students. Seriously, students remember these moments. They do not talk about their favorite worksheet moment. They probably won't remember those worksheets a month from now, but engaging the senses through a classroom transformation causes lasting memories that students remember years from now. I have had many students say to me (years after they have left my classroom), "remember when we..." They remember. They enjoyed it then and they enjoy remembering back to their experiences. 

Excitement

Classroom transformations excite not only your class, but those around the entire school.   Show up in a costume and random students will want to know what you are up to. Students will hear, through the school grapevine, about your transformation. I have had younger students in my school see all the things we do and come up to me to tell me, "I can't wait until I am in your class and we can go to Jurassic Park, or have a glow day, etc." It matters to kids. Don't we want them to have a love for learning? If we can create experiences that get them excited them about being in school, we have won. Parents tell me that when their kid knows there is a special transformation the next day, they come home excited and talking about it and ready to get to school the next morning...even reluctant learners.

Our school has about six or seven half days throughout the year...with teacher trainings in the afternoons. One thing that always bothered me was that parents seem to think half days don't matter. To combat that, I decided to go after the children. I wanted to create these fun classroom transformation days on half days to increase student attendance. It worked. Students that normally skipped those days were more likely to show up. We had fewer absences. And you can bet that if a student missed a transformation, they were not happy and tried to convince their parent to bring them next time. I call that a win!

Classroom Transformations Help me Fall in Love with Teaching Again

We all know teaching is hard...really hard, and getting harder, especially since Covid hit. Classroom transformations bring me back to the love of my career. I can have fun creating an experience for my students. Seeing them love what they are learning helps me love teaching even more. 

So why not try a transformation for yourself. You can start very small, or go big right away...it doesn't even matter. What matters is building a love a learning in your students. If you can do that, who knows how far they will go.