Classroom Transformations - (Operation Room Edition)

Classroom transformations have become more prevalent in education as technology has become more accessible to educators. Classrooms around the world have been converted into restaurants, operation room, construction sites, rain forests, and so much more. When some teachers hear about classroom transformations, they automatically think, "That will be too expensive" or "That's going to take too long to make." In my opinion, the ultimate goal for these transformations is to provide students with a meaningful learning experience that fosters academic growth and mastery.

It's important to remember that a classroom transformation should not be done "just for fun". As an educator, you must be both intentional in what you want your students to accomplish and take away from the lesson. To illustrate, you wouldn't want to get so caught up in decorations that your classroom is impeccable but the delivery of the content falls flat. The lesson would then be rendered pointless if students are not learning.



Below, you will see how a classroom transformation can be both simple, yet effective.



There are numerous benefits to transforming your classrooms which include: high engagement, meaningful experience, and more.



Tips for Classroom Transformations

• Keep the students in my mind at all times. 
• Less is more. 
• Think simple. 
• Use objects that can be reused.
• Be explicit and explain what you want students to get from the lesson. 
• Give each student a role, so everyone can be accountable for something. 
• Laminate and save so you can use it again.

Now, for turning your classroom into and operation room.



Things you'll need: 

• Gloves
• Surgical Masks
• Table Clothes (from Walmart)
• Blood Bags (bought from Amazon)
• Task Cards 
• PowerPoint
• Celebrity Puzzle (made in PowerPoint)
• Recording Sheet  (made in PowerPoint) 
• Hospital Signs  (made in PowerPoint)
• X-Ray Pictures (made in PowerPoint)

Directions:

Students scrubbed in and were excited as they walked in the classroom. They had so many questions. 

They were given the following information:

"There was a five car pile up this morning at 6:52 am. All five people left the scene badly injured . It was so bad that you could barely even recognize them. They had broken bones, fractured ribs, and punctured arteries. As a result of the crash, they were all ejected out of their cars."



Students were in their groups and were given their tasks and instructions, in order for them to have a successful surgery. 

üEach room has 12 green cards.

üEach card has a problem you must complete.

üYou have 2 minutes and 30 seconds. 

üOnce you complete a question. The reporter will bring the answer to the head doctor, and you will get a body

part (puzzle).

üIn order to have a successful surgery, you must have all pieces of the body, and correctly identify your patient.

üRemember all doctors must show their work/ proof of answers.


When each group completes each task, they should have all their puzzle pieces and correctly identify their patients. Patients included celebrities which included musicians such as Cardi B, Beyonce, Meek Mill, Drake, and Kodak Black. 

At the end of the lesson, many students said, "This was fun!" "Can we do this every day?" By adding a theme to the lesson, I was able to turn a simple lesson with task cards into a meaningful experience that my students would never forget! Next time, you see an opportunity to transform your classroom, don't think twice about it. the end i