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21st Century Skills Activities

Access Hundreds of Free 21st Century Skills Activities for Your Afterschool Program Today!

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Free 21st Century Skill Resources for Youth In Your Out-of-School-Time Program

Preparing young people for the future requires more than just academic subjects.

Teaching essential 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital literacy is vital, but challenging.

Many out-of-school-time practitioners struggle with limited access to engaging resources, the complexity of explaining abstract concepts across multiple age groups, and, of course, time and budget constraints.

That’s where Mizzen Education comes in.

Our free digital platform provides ready-to-use resources designed to make teaching 21st century skills easier and more impactful. With engaging activities focused on problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, our materials are tailored for all ages and abilities.

Join Mizzen Education today to access free, high-quality 21st century skills activities!

Explore Our Most Popular 21st Century Skills Activities

21st CS 1

Ask the Expert

Grades: 3-5
Duration: 1 hour
Learning Standards: Common Core (ELA)

In this group activity, students team up to become experts, and a panel of their peers will ask questions to learn more about their expertise.

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21st CS 2

Rules of Discussion

Grades: 6-8
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: Common Core (ELA)

Students work together in teams to come up with rules for discussion and then test out the rules as they discuss a topic that may generate differing opinions.

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21st CS 3

Picture Me

Grades: K-2
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: CASEL: Self-awareness

There are many ways for us to share information about our lives and what makes us who we are. This activity asks children to think about their lives and what makes them who they are today. They take these ideas and find pictures to create a collage that represents who they are and share these stories with their peers.

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21st CS 4

Kneedy People (Team Building) Game

Grades: 3-12
Duration: N/A
Learning Standards: CASEL: Self-awareness, CASEL: Relationship Skills, CASEL: Problem Solving

For this relay race, you will "kneed" to work closely with your team to successfully pass items for this "leg" of the race!

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21st CS 5

Planning a Group Presentation

Grades: 6-8
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: Common Core (ELA)

Students learn steps to follow when planning a presentation, and then they practice those steps for a group presentation on a topic of their choice. This activity builds organizational skills, as well as skills in collaboration, speaking, and listening.

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21st CS 6

Create A Cardboard Self-Portrait

Grades: K-12
Duration: 45 mins
Learning Standards: N/A

In this activity, students will use creative reuse materials to create self-portraits.

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Access All Our Free 21st Century Skills Activities Today!

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What Are the Benefits of Teaching 21st Century Skills In Your Afterschool Program?

Teaching 21st-century skills helps students grow, learn, and prepare for the future. By building life skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, students gain the tools they need to succeed in school, work, and life.

Here are some key benefits of teaching 21st-century skills in your out-of-school-time program:

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (1)

Improves critical thinking and problem-solving

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (4)

Encourages creativity and new ideas

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (6)

Develops teamwork and collaboration

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (3)

Strengthens communication skills

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (2)

Teaches responsible digital use

21rst Century Skills Activities Benefits (5)

Builds confidence for the future

With countless free and fun resources, Mizzen's digital platform helps you teach these skills with engaging, ready-to-use activities that make a lasting impact on the students enrolled in your afterschool program. 

Voices from Out-of-School Time

"Through play, they find out how much they have in common, and get to know people they might not have hung out with before … and they develop communication and relationship-building skills they’ll need as leaders, at work, and throughout life."

- Katie Schiefelbein

Site Director, 21st CCLC

"We cannot be more excited about this chance to bring such a rich array of fun learning opportunities to a national audience; the level of engagement Mizzen offers here is without peer."

- Seton Hawkins 

Director of Public Programs, Jazz at Lincoln Center

"Their team builders were very active, very fun, and kept everyone on their toes. It’s something I’m definitely going to incorporate into my class as an icebreaker. Mizzen … they rock!"

- Errol Boyland 

Relationship Educator, More Than Conquerors, Inc.

Teaching 21st Century Skills FAQs

What Are 21st Century Skills, and Why Are They Important?

21st-century skills refer to critical competencies like creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy.

These skills prepare students for modern challenges by fostering problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and teamwork.

Teaching them helps young people become innovative thinkers, responsible digital citizens, and effective communicators.

How Can Practitioners Effectively Teach 21st Century Skills in Afterschool Programs?

Educators can teach 21st-century skills through project-based learning, group discussions, and hands-on activities that encourage collaboration and critical thinking.

STEM activities, team-building exercises, and digital storytelling promote creativity and real-world problem-solving. Mizzen offers free, expertly curated lesson plans and activities that make it easy to integrate 21st-century skills into any afterschool program.

What Are Some Engaging Activities for Teaching 21st Century Skills?

Engaging activities include team-based STEM challenges, multimedia projects, debate workshops, and digital research tasks.

Group problem-solving games and collaborative projects also help students develop essential skills like communication and critical thinking.

Why Should 21st-Century Skills Be Taught in Out-Of-School-Time Programs?

Out-of-school-time programs offer a flexible, supportive environment where students can explore skills beyond traditional academics.

Teaching 21st-century skills in these settings prepares youth for lifelong success by building confidence, leadership, and digital competency.

Mizzen equips educators with the tools and resources to easily incorporate these skills into afterschool programs.

Get Started with Mizzen Education Today!

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