Differentiated Instruction Activities: 8 Practical Examples
Your classroom is full of students who learn differently. Some grasp concepts instantly while others need extra time. Some thrive with visual aids while others prefer hands-on activities. Some need structured guidance while others flourish with independence. You know differentiated instruction activities can help reach every learner, but finding practical strategies that actually work in a real classroom feels overwhelming. You’ve read the theory about meeting diverse needs, but you need concrete examples that fit your schedule, your resources, and your teaching reality.
This article breaks down eight proven differentiation techniques you can implement right away. Each strategy includes clear setup instructions, the research behind why it works, and a detailed classroom example. You’ll find both high-tech and low-tech options that fit different teaching styles and grade levels. No complicated jargon or unrealistic suggestions. Just straightforward methods that help your students succeed regardless of their starting point or learning style.
1. AI-powered lesson tailoring
AI tools have transformed how you can adapt lessons for different learners without spending hours creating multiple versions manually. These platforms analyze your core content and automatically generate differentiated materials that match various reading levels, learning styles, and skill levels. You input your lesson objectives and materials once, and the technology creates customized versions for struggling students, grade-level learners, and advanced students in minutes.
How to set it up
Start by identifying your lesson objectives and gathering your primary instructional materials such as readings, worksheets, or assignment prompts. Choose an AI tool designed for educational differentiation that allows you to specify student needs like reading level, language support requirements, or complexity preferences. Input your standard lesson content and specify how many versions you need with details about each student group’s characteristics.
The AI generates tailored versions that you review for accuracy and appropriateness. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the differentiated materials align with your teaching style and curriculum standards. Save these versions in an organized digital folder system labeled by skill level or student need so you can quickly access them during instruction.
Why it works
AI differentiation addresses the fundamental challenge of meeting diverse student needs without overwhelming your planning time. Research shows students learn better when materials match their current skill level, but creating three to five versions of every lesson manually is unsustainable.
Technology handles the time-consuming adaptation work, freeing you to focus on instruction and student relationships.
The consistent availability of appropriately leveled materials means you can implement differentiated instruction activities daily rather than only when you have extra prep time.
Classroom example
A high school history teacher needed to teach the Constitutional Convention to students reading from fifth-grade to college level. She entered her standard textbook passage and discussion questions into an AI differentiation tool. Within five minutes, she received three versions: a simplified text with shorter sentences and basic vocabulary, the original passage, and an enriched version with primary source excerpts and analytical questions. Each version covered the same key concepts but matched different reading abilities, letting every student access the content successfully.
2. Choice boards
Choice boards give students structured options for demonstrating their learning while meeting the same learning objectives. You create a grid of activities that cover the same content through different approaches, letting students select tasks that match their interests and strengths. This strategy turns differentiated instruction activities into student-driven decisions rather than teacher-assigned groupings.
How to set it up
Design a grid with nine squares containing different activity options related to your lesson topic. Include a mix of visual, kinesthetic, auditory, and written tasks so students with different learning preferences find appealing choices. Make sure each option addresses the same core standards and learning goals but through varied methods. You can require students to complete a certain number of squares, select one from each row, or choose tasks that form a tic-tac-toe pattern.
Why it works
Student choice increases engagement and motivation because learners feel ownership over their work. When students select activities that align with their strengths and interests, they invest more effort and produce higher quality work. The variety of options also accommodates different learning styles and readiness levels without labeling students publicly.
Choice boards let struggling students pick accessible entry points while advanced learners select more challenging tasks, all within the same framework.
Classroom example
An elementary teacher created a fraction choice board for her math unit. Options included building fraction models with manipulatives, creating a fraction recipe, writing fraction word problems, drawing fraction illustrations, making a fraction video tutorial, solving fraction puzzles, playing a fraction game, organizing fraction cards by size, and completing traditional worksheet problems. Students selected three activities throughout the week, each targeting the same fraction concepts through different methods.
3. Tiered assignments
Tiered assignments let you teach the same core concept to all students while adjusting the complexity level to match different readiness levels. You create multiple versions of an assignment based on the same learning goal, with each tier offering appropriate challenge without overwhelming or boring any learner. This approach ensures every student works within their zone of proximal development where growth happens most effectively.
How to set it up
Begin by identifying your lesson objective and the essential skills or knowledge all students must master. Create three versions of the assignment targeting below-grade, at-grade, and above-grade learners while keeping the core concept consistent across all tiers. Adjust factors like text complexity, scaffolding amount, problem difficulty, or product expectations rather than changing the actual content being taught.
You can assign tiers based on pre-assessment results, student choice, or ongoing formative data to ensure appropriate placement. Avoid labeling tiers with obvious ability markers like "basic" or "advanced" to prevent stigmatizing students. Instead, use neutral names like colors, levels, or letters that don’t broadcast skill differences to the class.
Why it works
Tiered assignments prevent the frustration and disengagement that happens when work is too difficult or too easy. Students build confidence when assignments match their current abilities while still requiring effort and growth. The consistent focus on identical learning goals means your whole class moves through the same curriculum together despite different entry points.
This strategy maintains high expectations for all learners while providing the appropriate support or challenge each student needs to succeed.
Classroom example
A middle school science teacher designed tiered lab reports for a chemistry experiment. Tier one students received a structured template with sentence starters and specific sections to complete. Tier two students got a basic outline with required components but created their own organization. Tier three students received only the hypothesis question and designed their complete lab report independently, including data tables and analysis frameworks.
4. Learning stations
Learning stations transform your classroom into multiple learning zones where students rotate through different activities focused on the same topic. Each station offers a distinct approach to the content, such as hands-on practice, technology integration, collaborative work, or independent study. This setup lets you incorporate differentiated instruction activities naturally since students experience varied methods within a single lesson period.
How to set it up
Create four to six stations around your classroom, each with clear instructions and necessary materials. Design each station to target the same learning objective through different modalities or skill levels. Set up a rotation schedule with specific time limits, usually 10 to 15 minutes per station depending on your class period length. You can differentiate by allowing struggling students extra time at certain stations or requiring advanced learners to complete additional stations.
Why it works
Stations break learning into manageable chunks that prevent cognitive overload while maintaining engagement through movement and variety. Students process information better when they encounter concepts multiple times through different formats within the same lesson. The structure supports kinesthetic learners who need movement while providing visual, auditory, and tactile options at different stations.
Rotating through stations keeps energy high and attention focused because students know each activity has a defined endpoint.
Classroom example
A sixth-grade English teacher set up grammar stations for teaching sentence structure. Station one had manipulative word cards for building sentences physically. Station two featured a computer with interactive grammar games. Station three provided peer editing exercises. Station four offered independent practice worksheets. Students rotated through all stations in one class period, experiencing the same grammar rules through four distinct methods.
5. The jigsaw method
The jigsaw method divides your class into expert groups where each student becomes responsible for teaching specific content to their peers. You assign different topics or sections to small groups, students master their assigned material, then regroup to share their expertise with classmates. This collaborative approach transforms differentiated instruction activities from teacher-led modifications to student-driven learning where every learner contributes essential knowledge.
How to set it up
Divide your lesson content into distinct segments that fit together like puzzle pieces to form the complete concept. Create home groups of four to five students with mixed abilities, then assign each member a different topic number. Students leave their home groups to join expert groups with others studying the same topic, where they read, discuss, and master their assigned content together. After expert groups finish, students return to their home groups and take turns teaching their section to teammates who need that information to understand the full lesson.
Why it works
Jigsaw methodology builds individual accountability because each student holds knowledge their teammates need, eliminating the possibility of passive participation. Students process information more deeply when they must explain concepts to others rather than simply absorbing teacher-presented material.
The peer teaching component creates multiple entry points for struggling learners who often understand explanations better from classmates than from adults.
Classroom example
A history teacher divided a Civil War unit into four topics: causes, major battles, key figures, and consequences. Students formed expert groups to study their assigned aspect using textbooks and primary sources. Expert groups created teaching notes, then students returned to home groups where each member presented their topic. By the end of class, every student had learned all four components through peer instruction rather than traditional lecture.
6. Think-pair-share
Think-pair-share structures collaborative learning through a simple three-step process where students first consider a question independently, then discuss their ideas with a partner, and finally share conclusions with the larger class. This technique builds differentiated instruction activities into your daily routine because students process information at their own pace during individual thinking time while gaining support through peer discussion before facing whole-class participation pressure.
How to set it up
Pose a specific question or problem related to your lesson content and give students one to two minutes of silent individual thinking time to formulate their response. Ask students to turn to a designated partner and spend two to three minutes discussing their ideas, comparing answers, or working through the problem together. Call on random pairs to share their conclusions with the whole class, ensuring you hear from various groups rather than only volunteers.
Why it works
Individual thinking time supports students who need processing time before speaking, while the partner discussion provides a low-stakes rehearsal for sharing ideas publicly. Struggling students benefit from hearing a peer’s perspective before contributing to class discussion, and advanced learners refine their thinking by explaining concepts to others.
The three-step structure accommodates different confidence levels and processing speeds within a single activity that takes only five to eight minutes.
Classroom example
A biology teacher asked students to predict what would happen if one organism was removed from an ecosystem diagram. Students spent one minute thinking independently, then paired up to discuss their predictions and reasoning. During whole-class sharing, the teacher discovered that partners had helped each other identify both direct and indirect effects, producing more sophisticated responses than students typically offered when called on individually without discussion time.
7. Flexible grouping
Flexible grouping means you regularly change student groups based on current learning needs, interests, or task requirements rather than keeping students in fixed ability groups all year. You might group students by readiness level for one lesson, by learning style for another, and randomly for collaborative projects. This dynamic approach prevents the negative effects of permanent tracking while allowing you to match grouping strategies to specific differentiated instruction activities and instructional goals.
How to set it up
Use formative assessment data to determine how you will group students for each activity. Create groups based on the specific purpose of the lesson, such as skill-based groups for targeted practice, mixed-ability groups for peer learning, interest groups for project work, or random groups for building community. Keep groups small, typically three to four students, to ensure active participation from everyone. Change groupings every few days or weeks depending on assessment results and lesson objectives, making sure students experience working with different classmates regularly.
Why it works
Flexible grouping prevents students from being labeled or locked into low expectations that come with permanent ability groups. Students benefit from varied peer interactions because they learn from different classmates and see themselves as capable in multiple contexts. The strategy lets you provide targeted instruction to students with similar needs without creating a stigmatizing tracking system.
Regularly changing groups keeps expectations fluid and growth-focused rather than fixed and limiting.
Classroom example
An elementary teacher grouped students differently throughout a reading unit. Monday featured skill groups for targeted phonics instruction based on recent assessments. Wednesday used mixed-ability groups where stronger readers supported struggling peers during comprehension discussions. Friday created interest groups where students chose books by topic preference and discussed themes together regardless of reading level.
8. Flipped classroom model
The flipped classroom reverses traditional instruction by having students learn new content at home through videos or readings, then using class time for practice, discussion, and application. You move direct instruction outside the classroom and transform face-to-face time into active learning experiences where you can provide individualized support. This model creates natural opportunities for differentiated instruction activities because students work at their own pace during initial content exposure while you support varied learning needs during class application time.
How to set it up
Record or select instructional videos that teach new concepts, keeping them under 10 minutes to maintain attention. Post these videos along with any readings or interactive content on your learning management system for students to complete before class. Include a brief check-for-understanding activity like a quiz or reflection question so you know who grasped the material and who needs additional support. During class time, design hands-on activities, collaborative projects, or problem-solving tasks that apply the content students learned at home, allowing you to circulate and provide targeted help.
Why it works
Flipped classrooms let students control the pace of initial learning by pausing, rewinding, or rewatching instructional content as needed. Struggling learners benefit from extra time with new concepts without feeling rushed, while advanced students move through material quickly and access enrichment resources.
Class time becomes flexible and responsive because you can address individual questions and misconceptions immediately rather than following a fixed lecture schedule.
Classroom example
A math teacher created short video lessons explaining algebraic equations. Students watched videos at home, taking notes and completing practice problems. In class, students worked on challenging applications while the teacher rotated between groups, spending extra time with students who struggled during the video lessons and providing extension problems to those who mastered the basics quickly.
Final thoughts on differentiation
These eight differentiated instruction activities give you practical tools to reach every learner in your classroom without creating an overwhelming workload. You don’t need to implement all strategies at once. Start with one or two methods that match your teaching style and student needs, then gradually add more as you build confidence and see results. The key is consistency rather than perfection.
Your students deserve instruction that meets them where they are and pushes them forward from that starting point. Each strategy you’ve read addresses the fundamental challenge of diverse classrooms through proven, actionable methods you can start using tomorrow. Whether you choose AI-powered tools for efficiency or low-tech options like think-pair-share, you’re creating better learning experiences for students who previously struggled or felt bored.
Ready to explore more teaching resources and tools that make your classroom work better? Visit The Cautiously Optimistic Teacher for additional strategies, lesson plans, and AI-powered helpers designed specifically for educators facing real classroom challenges.
