4 interactive whiteboard ideas to engage your classroom

Unique ways of presenting your lessons can do wonders for student engagement and social-emotional learning. Promethean’s ActivPanel Classroom Essential apps and ActivInspire interactive whiteboard software give educators everything they need to create dynamic, collaborative lessons that inspire curiosity and keep students actively involved.

Explore ActivPanel Classroom Essential apps for more engaging lessons

Once you’re familiar with the power of Promethean’s ActivPanel and ActivInspire, the next step is discovering the built-in Promethean Classroom Essential apps that help teachers adapt lessons on the fly. These intuitive tools make it easy to annotate content, add interactive activities, and keep students focused through collaboration and play.

Annotate app

The Annotate app makes it easy to mark up anything displayed on your ActivPanel screen. Teachers can highlight key concepts, circle examples, or jot quick reminders directly on lesson materials to keep students focused.

Whiteboard app

With the Spinner and Timer apps, you can instantly add gamification and structure to classroom activities. Use them for quick reviews, random selections, or timed challenges. Both apps are also available as Promethean Web apps for use with Chromebox or OPS-M, offering flexibility across devices.

Spinner and Timer apps

The Promethean Whiteboard app turns your panel into an interactive workspace. Capture worksheets using the Screen Capture tool, open .jpg or .png files, and share saved .pwb whiteboard lessons through cloud connect or a USB drive for easy collaboration.

ActivInspire software: the core of classroom interactivity

ActivInspire is Promethean’s award-winning software for creating and delivering engaging and interactive lessons. With ActivInspire, students can explore your material in new ways.

Quickly create interactivity using Rub and Reveal or Drag Copy actions, or upload files to add to any lesson. 

Visit the Promethean Resource Library to find already created ActivInspire flipcharts to quickly save, download, and present.  

4 quick interactive whiteboard ideas for the classroom

Bring energy and variety to your lessons with these interactive whiteboard ideas. Each activity helps boost engagement, collaboration, and creativity, all while making the most of Promethean tools

1. Use ActivInspire flipchart templates to start the day

Kick off your day with ActivInspire flipchart templates that create structure and excitement from the moment students walk in:

• Begin each morning with a “Good News” activity, inviting students to share something positive with the class.
• Follow with an interactive attendance flipchart to help everyone settle in and feel included.
• Then transition smoothly into learning with a classroom game template that reviews previous lessons or introduces new topics in a fun way.

2. Add music to your teaching

Incorporating music into your classroom is an easy way to build energy, focus, and engagement. From transition songs to creative learning activities, music can make lessons more memorable and enjoyable.

Here are a few trusted resources with ideas you can explore:

• We Are Teachers offers school-appropriate songs that bring a sense of fun or calm to your day.
• Scratch Garden’s “Laughing and Learning for Young Minds” channel on YouTube features songs that teach subjects like phonics, science, English, and math.
• Edutopia shares smart strategies for using music to enhance student participation.
• Waterford.org provides dozens of classroom-ready music ideas, from brain breaks and games to book-based activities that connect rhythm and reading.

3. Play games with your students

Interactive games are a simple and effective way to boost engagement and reinforce classroom learning. Whether you’re reviewing material or introducing new concepts, a little competition keeps students motivated.

Explore these educator-approved resources for classroom-friendly game ideas:

• TeachHub.com shares fun review activities and quick classroom games you can use right away.
• Teaching Expertise offers 23 creative review activities ideal for older students.
• Edutopia provides insights on using gameplay to enhance learning outcomes and collaboration.

Incorporating these ideas alongside your Promethean tools can make lessons more dynamic and help students retain key concepts through play.

4. Enhance your curriculum

Keep your lessons fresh by integrating creative, interactive content from trusted education resources. These sites offer quick ways to enrich your classroom and connect students with real-world learning experiences:

• Ditch That Textbook lists 25 virtual field trips with ready-to-use links your class can explore.
• Discovery Education features interactive virtual field trips across science, history, and culture.
• We Are Teachers provides fascinating history facts to spark curiosity and class discussions.
• We Are Teachers also shares 50 hands-on STEM activities to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Berkeley.edu highlight alternatives to traditional tests, helping you assess learning in more flexible, creative ways.

These ideas work seamlessly alongside Promethean tools, letting educators enhance existing lesson plans with engaging, multimedia experiences.

Explore more classroom whiteboard ideas and other ways to innovate with Promethean

Once you’ve tried these quick classroom ideas, take the next step by exploring Promethean’s professional learning resources.

Use Promethean Solutions to jump-start your lessons by taking the Creating Activities course.
You can also browse ProTips, Promethean’s weekly collection of bite-sized ideas designed to help educators teach creatively and get inspired year-round.