Grouping Activities

The following are a few group activities that encourage collaborative work and peer
interaction.
Activity

Description

Numbered
heads together

Each student in the group is given a number. The teacher gives

students a question to discuss or a problem to work on
together. The students put their heads together to work out an
answer. At the end of the time, the teacher calls on students
with a certain number to share their groups thoughts or
solutions.

Collaborative
poster

A collaborative poster can be used to create a group

representation of a text or concept. Each group member is first
given time to think and plan individually before beginning the
group discussion. The group discusses and reaches consensus
on some items chosen by the teacher (these items could
include an image, a quote, or an original phrase). Once the
group has planned its image, the team members each receive
one color with which they can contribute to the poster and sign
their names.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw engages students in two types of groups, one base

group and one expert group. In the expert groups, students
read and talk about a given topic. They then take their
expertise back to their base groups, where each member is an
expert on a different, but related topic. In the base groups,
each expert reports to the group. The other group members
can record each experts report on a matrix, semantic map, or
other organizer. This exercise works best when each expert
group (about three to four groups) works on texts that are
related to the same theme.

Novel ideas only

In this activity, the students brainstorm predictions about the

topic of a novel, the theme of the next unit, etc. When the
teacher calls time, she asks everyone to stand. She calls on
one student in each group who reads the predictions aloud. As
that student reads, the other teams record ideas that were not
on their own lists and note ideas that are similar to those they
have as well. The teacher asks the next team to present novel
ideas only. Ideas that have already been presented cannot be
repeated.

2012 Teachscape

Grouping Activities
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Activity
Carousel

2012 Teachscape

Description
The carousel activity can be used for a wide variety of purposes
to generate student talk. It can be used to explore prior
knowledge of a topic, to review classroom learning, to study for
a test, etc. Write questions or topics on poster paper and post
them around the room. Divide the participants into
heterogeneous groups. Assign each group one poster location.
Give each group two to three minutes to read the poster,
discuss the question or topic, and list ideas. Give the signal to
rotate to the next poster. When the groups have visited each
poster, you could:
Have them return to their first poster, circle an idea that
is new to them, and present it to the class.
Consolidate the information on the posters and make it
available as a reference for the students.
Ask students to write about one of the topics using the
information on the sheet.