Click here to read an article about active participation

Active Participation Activities

Active Participation Strategies
(compiled by Juli Kendall for the MiddleWeb Reading/Writing Workshop discussion group: www.middleweb.com)

Use these strategies to get kids engaged with reading and writing. You might want to write each strategy on a separate card for convenience and ease of use.

1. 12 word Summary

In 12 words or less, summarize the most important aspects from today’s lesson.

2. Evidence Bag

Your ticket out the door is to write down two ideas you learned from today’s lesson.

3. Numbered Heads

–Students number off in teams, one through four.
–Teacher asks a series of questions, one at a time
–Students discuss possible answers to each question, for a set amount of time (30-90 seconds).
–Teacher calls a number (1-4) and all students with that number raise their hand, ready to respond.
–Teacher randomly calls on students with the specified number to answer on behalf of their team.
–Teacher continues asking questions until the brainstorming or review session is finished.

4. Spectrum

Use a spectrum when asking for student opinion on a topic or question.
–Place a line on the chalkboard or masking tape on the floor in front of the room.
–Label one end of the line “Strongly Agree” and the other end “Strongly Disagree.”
–Students line up according to their opinion on the topic.
–Other label ideas: Most Important/Least Important, Greatest Effect/Least Effect

5. A-B Partner Teach

Partner A turn to Partner B.
Tell your partner the two most important things you have learned so far about…

6. Idea Wave

–Each student lists 3 to 5 ideas about the assigned topic.
–A volunteer begins the “idea wave” by sharing one idea.
–The student to the right of the volunteer shares one idea; the next student to the right shares one idea.
–The teacher directs the flow of the “idea wave” until several different ideas have been shared.
–At the end of the formal “idea wave,” a few volunteers who were not included can contribute an idea.

7. Think-Pair-Share

–Take a minute to first silently and independently think about your own answer to the question(s).
–At the signal, turn and face your partner so you can discuss your answers face to face.
–Explain clearly to your partner your own answer and your reasons for making this decision.
–Listen carefully to your partner’s answers, and pay attention to similarities and differences in your answers.
–Ask your partner to explain more if you don’t understand or agree with his or her answer.
–At the signal, be prepared to share your opinions with the class.

8. Learning from A to Z

–The objective of this activity is to provide words, phrases, or sentences that are related to the topic that is being studied.
–The teacher gives the student the topic they need to brainstorm.
–The teacher establishes a timeframe to complete the activity.
–Students work individually or together in pairs or groups, to brainstorm words related to the topic that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
–When the time limit expires, the teacher guides the students through discussion of their entries for each letter. Answers can be recorded on an overhead transparency.
–Students use Learning From A to Z as a study guide.

9. Quick write

Use a quick write to activate background knowledge, clarify issues, facilitate making connections, and allow for reflection.
–Students write for a short, specific amount of time, perhaps several minutes, about a designated topic related to…

10. Socratic Seminar

Use a Socratic Seminar to help students facilitate their own discussion and arrive at a new understanding in which they learn to formulate questions and address issues in lieu of just stating their opinions.
–Students engage in a focused discussion in which they ask questions of each other on a selected topic; questions initiate the conversation, which continues with a series of responses and further questions.

11 – Graphic Organizers

This strategy provides an alternate system for organizing and beginning a piece of writing. These are visual tools that help students to organize their thoughts and ideas.
–Circle Map
–Venn Diagram
–Flow Chart
–Tree Map
–Multi-Flow Map
–Double Bubble
–Cause/Effect
–Compare/Contrast
–Cluster Map, etc.

12 – S O A P S

Speaker – Occasion – Audience – Purpose – Subject
–SOAPS helps students use the analytical process to understand the author’s craft.
–SOAPS describes a process for analyzing text by discussing and identifying the SOAPS!

13 – Exit Slip

1. What made learning easy for you today?
2. What made learning difficult for you today?
3. What do you still need to know before we move on?
4. What did you learn today?
5. What should our next steps be?
Students can answer self-selected questions/s or teacher selected questions/s.

14. Fishbowl

This strategy provides students an opportunity to engage in formal discussion and to experience roles both as participant and as active listener; students also have the responsibility of supporting their opinions and response using specific textual evidence.
–Students are asked to engage in a group discussion about a specific topic – there will be two circles:
–Inner circle students will model appropriate discussion techniques…while the
–Outer circle students will listen, respond and evaluate.

15. K-W-W-L chart

What I Know – Where I learned It – What I Want to Know – What I Learned
This strategy helps students organize, access, and reflect on learning which increases comprehension and engagement.
–To activate prior knowledge ask, “What do I know?”
–To acknowledge source ask, “Where did I find the information?”
–To set purpose ask, “What do I want to know?”
–To reflect on a new learning ask, “What did I learn?”

16. Talking Chips

Pose a question for students to discuss.
–Each member is given a “chip” (small square of construction paper or a “real chip”)
–Each student takes turns “talking” by placing their CHIP into the center of the table.
–The first person to talk may only talk at that time – and may not speak again until all in the group members have placed their “chip” in the middle.
–Repeat process…

17. Four Corners

The teacher posts questions, quotations, photos, etc, in each of the corners of the room. The teacher assigns each student to a corner…or students choose.
–Once in the corner, the students discuss the focus of the lesson in relation to the question, quote, etc.
–At this time, students may report out or move to another corner and repeat the process.
–After students have moved, as a writing assignment, they should be encouraged to reflect on changes in opinion or new learning.

18. Jigsaw

–Students read different passages from the same text or selection from several texts.
–After reading the passage, they take on the role of an expert with the specified text.
–The “experts” then share the information from their specific reading with a specific group or the entire class.
–Students can read different sections of a chapter, short story, newspaper article, diary/journal, biography, etc.

19. Gallery Walk

–Select several “quotable quotes,” important passages, or concepts from a text.
–Place each quote or passage on a separate piece of butcher or chart paper and hang them throughout the room.
–Ask students to quietly take a “gallery walk” reading each poster carefully and talking to no one.
–Have each student select one that interests or intrigues them – one that they would like to talk more about.
–Ask the students to return to their seats and free-write about the selected quote or passage for five minutes.
–Then ask students to take their free writing and to stand by the quote or passage they have selected.

20. Give One and Get One

–Write your name legibly at the top of a piece of paper. List 3 to 5 ideas about the assigned topic.
–Draw a line after your last idea to separate your ideas from those you select from your classmates’ lists.
–Get up and interact with one classmate at a time. Exchange papers, read your partner’s list, and then ask questions about new or confusing ideas.