Seeing a classroom movie could be interpreted by your students as a free day, but it can be appropriate when it is related to the subject they are learning. For instance, if your students are learning about the Roman Empire, you can show them a documentary on the subject. This will keep the kids focused and engaged without causing a ruckus in the classroom.
Group discussions are a useful instructional tool that teachers use for lesson reinforcement and to determine what needs clarifying. If you are familiar with the subject, start a group discussion on the topic your students are learning. Ask your students open-ended questions and gauge their responses. Consider writing some questions on the board that identify points of weakness in your students' learning.
If the students are reading a text in class, tell them to create a journal as a way to interact with what they are learning. Do a couple examples to make sure students understand what you are talking about. Draw a vertical line on a sheet of paper and label one side "text" and the other "reaction." While they are reading, the students should write key points on the text side, like an important quote or event. On the reaction side, they can write their responses to what they read.
Writing assignments are a good way to get students engaged in their learning because it requires them to formulate, analyze and articulate ideas. Depending on what your students are doing in class, instruct them to write a page that looks at one aspect of what they are learning. For example, English students learning about Shakespeare's Julius Caesar can be asked to write about Cassius' motives in murdering Caesar and whether they believe he was justified. Make sure the students explain the reasons behind their answers.