Inside Outside Circles
This strategy is engaging and therefore highly motivating! It gives
students the opportunity to share opinions with other students in a non
threatening setting. The students get the chance to share their opinions, and
have discussions about topics of interest. The teacher gets the chance to make
formative observations on each students understanding or
progress.
Step 1: Create 2 circles of students, one in the center and one
around the outside of the first. Students on the inside circle face out, and
students on the outside circle face in.
Step 2: Match student with their first partner. “The person you are facing is your first
partner” help students identify partner as
needed.
Step 3: Give students 1-2 minutes to discuss their opinions on a topic of high interest. (Or
can be a topic from a lesson you are about to teach) For classrooms that need
more structure, separate time into 1 minute of talk time for the inside circle
partner, and then 1 minute talk time for the outside circle partner. For
students who are able to manage themselves, allow them to discuss freely for the
two minutes, however give a thirty second
warning.
Step 4: When the timer runs out have students rotate. (Rotation
can happen in any format, for example- the inside circle rotate one place
counter clock wise)After rotation students discuss the topic, and may include
thoughts from first conversation.
Note: To make sure the activity is engaging- Keep this activity brief, and provide well structured questions.
students the opportunity to share opinions with other students in a non
threatening setting. The students get the chance to share their opinions, and
have discussions about topics of interest. The teacher gets the chance to make
formative observations on each students understanding or
progress.
Step 1: Create 2 circles of students, one in the center and one
around the outside of the first. Students on the inside circle face out, and
students on the outside circle face in.
Step 2: Match student with their first partner. “The person you are facing is your first
partner” help students identify partner as
needed.
Step 3: Give students 1-2 minutes to discuss their opinions on a topic of high interest. (Or
can be a topic from a lesson you are about to teach) For classrooms that need
more structure, separate time into 1 minute of talk time for the inside circle
partner, and then 1 minute talk time for the outside circle partner. For
students who are able to manage themselves, allow them to discuss freely for the
two minutes, however give a thirty second
warning.
Step 4: When the timer runs out have students rotate. (Rotation
can happen in any format, for example- the inside circle rotate one place
counter clock wise)After rotation students discuss the topic, and may include
thoughts from first conversation.
Note: To make sure the activity is engaging- Keep this activity brief, and provide well structured questions.