The idea of activity-based learning is rooted in the common notion that children are active learners rather than passive recipients of information. If the child is provided the opportunity to explore on their own and provided an optimum learning environment then the learning becomes joyful and long-lasting. Supporting social development – Whilst activity-based learning encourages kids to take responsibility for their own learning experience, group-based activity work also helps students develop teamwork and social skills. These skills will later prove essential to their work and social life. 

What is meant by activity?

An activity is something you do or just the state of doing. You might plan some indoor activities for a rainy day, or you might just rely on watching your gerbils' activity in their cage. Usually, when you use an article like an or the in front of activity, you are referring to a specific event.

Active learning activities to energize your class

In this twist on think-pair-share, pose an open-ended question to your class and ask students to come up with their best answer.

1. Discover new things together. 
2. Incorporate mystery into your lessons.
3. 3.Be goofy; show you care.
4. 4.Participate in projects.
5. Avoid “going through the motions.” –

 Meaning, think only saying or doing something because it is expected without being interested, enthusiastic, or sympathetic. eg. "You really don't care, do you?" she said quietly. "You're just going through the motions."

6. Flip your lessons.
7. Review–but don't repeat–material.
8. Share your passions.

Brainwriting (sometimes called "individual brainstorming") is a method for quickly generating ideas by asking participants to write their ideas on paper (or online) rather than announcing them in traditional group brainstorming sessions. Brainwriting has the advantage of parallel idea generation.

In its simplest form, brainwriting has the participants quietly reflect upon an open-ended prompt of appropriate scope, for example, “how could we improve our design process,” and write down their ideas.

A jigsaw or jigsaw puzzle is a picture on cardboard or wood that has been cut up into odd shapes. You have to make the picture again by putting the pieces together correctly The jigsaw technique is a method of organizing classroom activity that makes students dependent on each other to succeed. It breaks classes into groups and breaks assignments into pieces that the group assembles to complete the (jigsaw) puzzle. ... Students are then split into groups with one member assigned to each topic.

A concept map is a diagram that illustrates the relationship between concepts. It is a graphical tool that is often used by graphic designers, engineers, and architects to structure and organize knowledge. ... Concept map refers to a visual organizer that can enrich students' understanding of a new concept.

Concept maps are visual representations of information. They can take the form of charts, graphic organizers, tables, flowcharts, Venn Diagrams, timelines, or T-charts. Concept maps are especially useful for students who learn better visually, although they can benefit any type of learner.

Advantages. Concept maps help students see the “big-picture” and visualize relationships. Concept maps are good for processing and storing large amounts of information. Concept maps help students develop metacognitive skills.

The Minute Paper is a very commonly used classroom assessment technique. It really does take about a minute and, while usually used at the end of class, it can be used at the end of any topic discussion. Its major advantage is that it provides rapid feedback on whether the professor's main idea and what the students perceived as the main idea is the same. Additionally, by asking students to add a question at the end, this assessment becomes an integrative task. Students must first organize their thinking to rank the major points and then decide upon a significant question. Sometimes, instead of asking for the main point, a professor may wish to probe for the most disturbing or most surprising item. It is thus a very adaptable tool.

Students in a lecture course respond to a question written by the instructor on a large envelope that is passed around the class. The purpose is to provide feedback about what he or she notices about the teaching and learning, engagement, and involvement occurring at a given moment during a class session.

What is the role of the teacher in active learning?

The role of the teacher in this method is the role of the leader who leads an orchestra that plays a nice and regular tune that wins the admiration of the audience in a theatre because of its harmony. He starts his presentation with a warm-up, then he does his presentation. The teacher's presentation process must address the 5 senses and the inner feelings of the learner. The teacher uses his mouth, gestures, motion, smiles, miming, acting, classroom management, pointing, and signals.

In many small group teaching situations, the role of the teacher is that of a facilitator of learning, leading discussions, asking open-ended questions, guiding process and task, and enabling active participation of learners and engagement with ideas.

Anyone can be a teacher, but a good teacher displays certain characteristics that are found both in and outside the classroom. The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.  Activity-based learning helps us to become good teachers by one of the best teaching techniques.  You must have several traits to be called a good teacher.