Inside outside circles
This activity is an excellent ice breaker. Inside-Outside Circle (Kagan, 1994) is a summarization technique that gets students up and moving. It provides a way to get students who normally would not talk to interact with others. After students read a section of text, the teacher divides the group. Half of the students stand up and form a circle with their backs to the inside of the circle. They are partner A. The other half of the students forms a circle facing a partner from the first circle These students are partner B. Partner A will speak first, quickly summarizing what they read. This takes about a minute. Then partner B speaks for the same length of time, adding to the summary. If the teacher stands in the center of the circle, he/she can easily monitor studentr esponses.
Placemat Activity
This strategy provides an opportunity for each student in a group to record individual responses and ideas regarding an issue, topic or question for consideration. The strategy can be used to brainstorm ideas, record researched information or analyze documents. Individual responses are shared with the group. After sharing and discussion, the group records agreed-upon responses in the center of the placemat.
MIND MAPS
A mind map is a diagram used to visually outline information. Mind maps are often created around a single word or text, placed in the center, to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added. Major categories radiate from a central node, an lesser categories are sub-branches of larger branches. Categories can represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items related to a
central key word or idea. This tool is very useful to get students started on writing assignments.
think, Pair , Share
This is a great co-operative strategy for getting students to access prior knowledge, think out loud, and work collaboratively with a partner to brainstorm ideas. This works well as a follow up to a lecture or activity, or as an opening activity that tests student attitudes and prior knowledge. The teacher gives students a time limit for each step and watches the clock to ensure that the activity goes quickly and stays focused.
Think: Students brainstorm ideas based off any prompt you would like to
give them. Like, What are maps used for? What is the purpose of maps?
Pair: Students take a minute or two to compare their list with their neighbor.
Share: Each pair contributes one idea to the class discussion.
Teacher makes a list of all the ideas the class generates. Then
you see if this leads to even more brainstorming as students
respond to their peers' ideas.
Jigsaw
This is a cooperative learning strategy that
enables each student of a “home” group to specialize
in oneaspect of a learning unit. Students meet with members from their groups who are assigned the same aspect, and after mastering the material, return to the “home” group and teach the material to their group members.
What is the Purpose of Jigsaw?
The purpose of Jigsaw is to develop teamwork and cooperative earning skills within all students. In addition
it helps develop a depthof knowledge not possible if the student
were to try and learn all of the material on their own. Finally,
because students are required to present their findings to the
home group, Jigsaw earning will often disclose a student’s own
understanding of a concept as well as reveal any misunderstandings.
This is a cooperative learning strategy that
enables each student of a “home” group to specialize
in oneaspect of a learning unit. Students meet with members from their groups who are assigned the same aspect, and after mastering the material, return to the “home” group and teach the material to their group members.
What is the Purpose of Jigsaw?
The purpose of Jigsaw is to develop teamwork and cooperative earning skills within all students. In addition
it helps develop a depthof knowledge not possible if the student
were to try and learn all of the material on their own. Finally,
because students are required to present their findings to the
home group, Jigsaw earning will often disclose a student’s own
understanding of a concept as well as reveal any misunderstandings.