Having a name chart and a list of age-appropriate responsibilities can help students transition into another activity. For example, if it is time to start cleaning up, one of the students can signal that it's time to change or a group of students can check the play area and put away any items that may have gotten left out or put away in the wrong area. In an older classroom, a student can be assigned to hand out rulers or scissors for an art project or pass out papers for a quiz or test.
Verbal cues such as "1...2...3...eyes on me" can signal students to stop what they are doing and to pay attention to what is going on. A schedule posted in an area where all children can see it can help students visualize what is next on the schedule. The verbal cue can be different depending on the activity. For example, if the schedule states that the next activity is lunchtime, having all the students follow along in a song about food will hold the students' attention and let them know the next activity planned.
Visual cues such as flashing the lights or holding some sort of prop such as a clock or simply a hand in the air can quietly let students know that it is time to move on to the next activity. If possible, have different visual cues for different activities. For example, holding up an equation can signal to students that it is time for math.
Giving students a challenge by counting off the number of seconds they have left to complete a task gives them a chance to actively work toward finishing the job at hand. You should give a warning first so that students can start wrapping up their activities. After the first warning, state that the countdown is going to begin. Encourage students to walk during the countdown to ensure the safety of themselves and the safety of others.