By:Gyneranette M. Trinidad

It is a kinesthetic activity that involves all students in the class and that facilitates short exchanges between students.

Description:

a cooperative grouping strategy that allows movement and is an excellent way to have the students summarize and review information or extend thinking.

*When To Use:

Use Inside/Outside Circle at any point in the lesson to structure meaningful conversation: Before introducing new material to begin a

discussion or highlight key issues in the presentation to come

During a lesson to process important concepts before applying them in group or independent work

After a reading to discuss key concepts

Before an assessment to review information

*Benefits:

engages all students simultaneously;

pairs students briefly with classmates with whom they may rarely work;

allows the teacher to spontaneously increase or decrease the number of different student pairings that occur

No specific materials are needed for the strategy, so it can be easily incorporated into lessons.

*Method:

1. Students pair up, then the class forms two concentric circles with Partner A on the inside and Partner B on the outside. Partners face each other.

2. Pose a question and Partner A shares his/her answer with Partner B. Then Partner B shares his/her answer.

3. Direct either the inside circle or the outside circle to rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise.

4. Once the students have rotated they have a new partner and steps 2-3 are repeated.

Sources:http://www.theteachertoolkit.comBennett, B. and C. Rolheiser. Beyond Monet: The Artful Science of Instructional

Integration. Toronto, Ontario: Bookation, 2001 Kagan Structures