I’ll never forget the moment I realized I needed a better plan for early finishers.
It was 7th period, and we’d just wrapped up a lab. Half the class was still testing, measuring, and debating results. The other half? Already done—and starting to test my patience instead.
“Can I help clean up?”
“Can I work on something else?”
One was quietly doodling mitochondria with sunglasses. Another had somehow started organizing the class petri dishes alphabetically.
That’s when it hit me: I needed something ready to go—something meaningful that didn’t require extra prep, supervision, or lab supplies.
So I built it: choice boards that actually work in a real classroom.
Why Choice Boards Work So Well
Choice boards give students ownership of their learning. Instead of waiting for the next direction, they dive into something purposeful—exploring, analyzing, and creating independently.
Each board is a 3×3 “menu” of hands-on, creative, and thought-provoking activities that mix research, critical thinking, and creativity. Students might:
- Investigate a real-world process or phenomenon
- Analyze data, relationships, or systems
- Create something that demonstrates understanding—like an infographic, comic, or model
Whether you use them for early finishers, enrichment, sub plans, or unit review, they make it easy to keep students engaged and learning meaningfully.
How I Use Them (And Why It’s a Total Game-Changer)
Here’s my favorite classroom tip:
Print and stick them in student binders at the start of the unit — it’s a total game-changer for managing early finishers.
Students always know where to look when they’re done early or need an extension. Some even start planning ahead, picking which activities they want to complete before the unit ends.
A few more teacher-tested tips that make choice boards a classroom staple:
- Introduce them early: Do a quick walkthrough of how to pick tasks and set goals.
- Use them flexibly: Students can complete one square, a full row, or the entire board.
- Differentiate easily: Assign specific rows for enrichment or support.
- Use them digitally or on paper: They work beautifully either way.
Ready-to-Use Across Every Science Course
After seeing how effective they were, I created complete Choice Board Bundles for all three of my middle and high school science curriculums:
Earth & Space Science Choice Board Bundle
Students explore every unit—from the rock cycle to geologic history to the solar system—through hands-on, investigative, and creative tasks.
Environmental Science Choice Board Bundle
Students tackle sustainability, climate change, and policy through real-world, student-centered activities that combine research, analysis, and creativity.
Biology Choice Board Bundle
From cells to genetics to human body systems, students engage in meaningful, no-lab activities that make biology tangible and memorable.
Each set—bundles and individual unit boards—comes with teacher guides that provide:
- Step-by-step tips for introducing, assigning, and managing boards
- Quick-check grading and assessment strategies
- Differentiation and enrichment ideas for all learners
- Optional swap-out activities to refresh content or add challenge
Each set includes four full 3×3 “tic-tac-toe” choice boards per unit, giving students flexibility to complete one square, a row, or the full board for review or project-based learning.
Why Teachers Love Them
Teachers who use these boards tell me things like:
“My students actually ask to do more.”
“They’re perfect for early finishers—zero prep for me.”
“I use them for sub plans, and the class still learns something meaningful.”
When students have choice, structure, and purpose all at once, engagement skyrockets—and your classroom runs smoother.
Grab Your Free Science Choice Board Sampler Pack!
Want to see how it works?
You can grab my Free Science Choice Board Sampler Pack, featuring a complete 3×3 board from each of my three science curriculums:
- Earth’s Surface Processes (Earth & Space Science)
- Humans and the Environment (Environmental Science)
- Energy in Living Systems (Biology)
Each board is packed with hands-on, creative, and thought-provoking activities that students can start right away.
👉 Click here to grab your Free Science Choice Board Sampler Pack!
It’s an easy, no-prep way to bring more flexibility, engagement, and independence into your science classroom.
Bringing It All Together
Keeping early finishers engaged doesn’t have to mean more work for you. With the right structure, students can explore, analyze, and create independently—deepening their understanding while freeing you to support the rest of the class.
When students have the freedom to investigate real-world questions, design creative projects, or make connections between systems, they aren’t just filling time—they’re building curiosity, ownership, and confidence as scientists.
Whether you start with one free sample board or dive into a full-year bundle, these activities create the kind of spark that reminds us why we teach science in the first place.
My challenge for you: print one board, try it this week, and watch how your classroom energy shifts. Choice is powerful—and when students are truly engaged, learning feels meaningful and effortless.
