Review the entire activity; read all instructions to determine the feasibility.
Extract the purpose of the activity. Ask yourself what information it conveys to students. List the specific standards and state subject guidelines that are fulfilled by the activity.
Determine the primary teaching style of the activity; for example, will it be visual, spatial, kinetic?
Calculate the time required to complete the activity by trying the activity on your own. Divide time into two categories: teacher prep and instructional time. Decrease instructional time required by placing more of the activity in your prep time. For example, if an activity requires making diagrams, prepare blank diagram templates for students so that they can focus on filling in the correct information rather than the visual aspect of the project.
Judge the complexity of the activity based on your students' current ability to read and follow directions. Questions to explore: How much effort will it take for them to learn the rules? Will their level of literacy hinder their ability to complete the lesson?
Estimate the amount of frustration and mental fatigue that will result from the activity. Ask yourself: Will students give up on the exercise or lose focus on the rest of the day's lessons? When considering activities that take several days, consult with other teachers to ensure students are not being overworked with multiple projects in different classes.
Find the inherent entertainment value in the lesson. How engaging is the activity? Consider the inclusion of incentives such as prizes such as candy or "Get Out of Homework" passes.
Repeat Steps 1 to Step 7 for two or more lessons. Weigh the merits of each lesson against its faults. For example, if an activity has high entertainment value but takes up a disproportionate amount of class time for the content, it should be discarded for a more time-efficient activity.