Task Cards Aren’t Just for Elementary Classrooms.

So I know I’m a little late to the show, but I’ve been messing around with task cards and I think I love them. They are a great way to add in some assessment without it feeling pressured, but they aren’t just an assessment tool or worksheets on a card.

Let’s start at the beginning, what are task cards?

Task cards are basically individual questions or tasks that are assigned to a single card (typically an index card) and are used in a variety of ways: as quizzes, learning centers, exit tickets, etc. There are also digital task cards that can be used in similar ways but are self-correcting.

Elementary teachers have embraced task cards, but it has been an easy transition because of centers and built in time to work with students, But task cards aren’t just for elementary classroom use. In fact, I think task cards (or digital task cards) are great for learners in the secondary classroom, homeschool, tutoring, or just studying on their own.

12 ways to use task cards with older students.

To make it easier I’m going to divide it up into large groups, small group (including tutoring) and individual study. Each of these could apply to a homeschool setting (including co-ops). Want ideas to use in each one? See below

Large group use:

If you are working with larger groups of kids, you know it can be a real struggle This can mean that getting the kids to move around the room can be quite a challenge. Task cards are a great way to get kids moving in a semi-controlled manner because moving is gonna help keep the kids focused (although that can be counter-intuitive).

Tape a card to each desk and have students rotate through the seats for a quick assessment.
Don’t have enough lab equipment to go around? Task cards make great learning centers between or while waiting to use shared lab equipment. Put a small bundle together at a station with a binder clip or ring.
Use STEM challenge cards or content task cards as a lab around the room where students move from station to station attempting different lab protocols.
Exit tickets. Give each student a different card to answer OR put one card on the projector and have each student answer the one card. Collect as students exit.
Review Games. Use these cards as a quick way to review at the beginning of the class. Like a lightning round. Use it in conjunction with technology like Kahoot , simple whiteboards, or repurpose an old game board. In this review game, each topic has been printed on different color paper.

Really the options are endless. I love them because they are such a great tactile alternative to the traditional quiz or worksheet and they help eliminate wasted downtime.

Small Groups

All of the things that you use in the classroom you can use in small groups.

Small groups meaning less than 10. I think most ideally small groups are between 2-5.

A quick way to determine group captains – a lightning round to see who answers the most questions correctly (written or app).
Game cards for a game board.
5-minute review at the beginning of each small group session. Quick review to help show where there might be a need for a little tune up of a topic (or two).
Formative assessment for small group tutoring for either the tutor or student to see where they need extra help.

Individual Study

Students quiz themselves using cards like traditional flashcards.
Create multiple choice or short answer questions from the cards.
Create 3 piles of cards: know, need more information, don’t understand. This helps them know how to divide their time.
Rewrite the cards into statements and create notes.