Starters, Mini-Plenaries & Plenaries Toolkit Resources Please look at the following key for the slides opposite: Starters and Plenaries = S and P Starters = S Plenaries = P Mini-plenaries = MP
Question Catch The teacher throws a bean bag when asking questions. This makes questioning a kinaesthetic activity and can engage pupils who don t normally volunteer to answer. You can give the pupil the option of throwing the ball to someone else if they don t know the answer. It can also be played in teams. The teacher throws the bean bag to each team in turn. If the person who catches it can answer the question, they score 3 points for their team. If they can t, they throw it to another team to score 2 points, if they can t it is thrown again for 1 point.
Think, Pair, Share Pupils write down as many answers or ideas they can think of on their own (Think). They then pool their ideas with a partner (Pair), and finally the teacher opens up the discussion for contributions from the class as a whole (Share).
Heads Together This is an excellent way of promoting discussion and dialogue (strategy 2) in your classroom, and moving away from the Hands Up / Relying on 1 Person approach. 1. Put pupils into groups of 4 with each pupil numbered 1 to 4. 2. You then ask a question which the pupils discuss in their groups. Once they have been given sufficient thinking time, they write their answer on a mini-whiteboard and share with the class. You can use points to increase the sense of competition. You then repeat the process with increasingly difficult questions.
1. Divide into groups. Each group numbers its members from 1-4 or 1-5, depending on group size. 2. Teacher poses a question, think time is given, teacher then says 'Heads together.' 3. Pupils stand up and lean into the centre of the table to decide upon the answer verbally. 4. When they all know the answer they sit down. When all teams are sat down you can tell that the whole class is ready. 5. Spin your spinner to choose a number (or merely say any number from 1-4 or 1-5. The pupil from each team must pick up the whiteboard and pen on their table and write the answer and stand up. This must be done in silence. 6. Give a signal and each team shows you their answer at the same time. A team point can be awarded for each right answer. Classtools Fruitmachine random number picker
1. Divide into pairs. 2. Write three statements, one of which is false. 3. Give your 2 true and 1 false statement to another pair. 4. Second pair reads and discusses the statements, guessing which statement is false.
Students work together in groups of three: The SPEAKER explains the topic (or expresses their opinion on an issue) as directed by the teacher. The QUESTIONER listens carefully and asks for clarification or further detail. The NOTE-TAKER observes this process and provides feedback to both "speaker" and "questioner". (A "numbered heads" approach can be used to allocate roles - and these roles can be rotated (either now or subsequently).)
Information Gap Student 1 has half the information on a piece of paper. Student 2 has the other half on a piece of paper. Pairs come together to teach each other their half (without showing it on the paper) Pairs feed back to the class.
Question Envelopes Qu Write 2-3 questions (related to the learning objectives) on envelopes. Do multiple copies of each so that each student will have one to work on. Distribute, so that each student has one. Give 2 minutes per envelope: student records name and answer on a post-it note; students pass envelope on after 2 minutes until all 2-3 questions are answered by all. Collect in and read some responses (anonymously); class responds to accuracy of answer.
Diamond 9 Participants are given a list of issues and asked to discuss and agree which are the most important items. Each item is placed on a large, diamond-shaped grid. The most important item is usually placed in the top of the diamond and the least important at the bottom of the diamond. Items in each row are of equal importance. (Some groups prefer to put the most important card in the centre - either approach is fine, as it's the discussion surrounding the group's decisions that is important.) The diamond shape enables the group to encompass a range of priorities and perspectives.
Question Box The classroom could have a question box where students drop questions at the end of a lesson. These are then addressed at the start of the next lesson.
Students write Questions For example About what you would like to know on a new topic To ask the teacher or other students in order to assess their learning To demonstrate learning/misconceptions/areas you would like to further explore Lower ability students can be encouraged to ask "What" questions and higher ability to ask "What would happen if..." questions)
Wait Time Wait time allows students time to think and therefore to produce answers. Also, not everyone in the class thinks at the same speed or in the same way waiting allows students to build their thoughts and explore what has been asked. 2 types of wait time: Teacher speaks and then waits before taking student responses. Student response ends and then teacher waits before responding. This gives the student space to elaborate or continue or for another student to respond.
Traffic Lights Use traffic lights as a visual means of showing understanding. e.g. Students have red, amber and green cards which they show on their desks or in the air. (red = don t understand, green = totally get it etc.) Students self-assess using traffic lights. The teacher could then record these visually in their mark book. Peer assess presentations etc. with traffic lights
Articulate then Answer Give students the opportunity to articulate their thinking before answering 30 seconds silent thinking before any answers Brainstorm in pairs first for 2-3 minutes Write some thoughts down before answering Discuss with your neighbour first
Tell your neighbour Students tell their neighbour as a means of articulating their thoughts. Ask a question, give thinking time and then ask students to tell their neighbour their thoughts. Tell students what the new topic is and then ask them to tell their neighbour everything they know about it.
Thumbs Check class understanding of what you are teaching by asking them to show their thumbs. Thumbs up = I get it Thumbs half way = sort of Thumbs down = I don t get it
Idea Thoughts When you have received an answer to a question, open up the thinking behind it by asking what others think about the idea. e.g. What do others think about s idea?
Basketball Questioning Bounce answers around the room to build on understanding and have students develop stronger reasoning out of misconceptions. E.g. Jimmy, what do you think of Sandra s answer? Sandra, how could you develop Carl s answer to include more detail? Carl, how might you combine all we ve heard into a single answer?
Laminated Criteria Make laminated, studentfriendly assessment criteria cards.
A B C D Laminate a set of cards so every member of the class has four, with A,B,C and D written on them. Ask questions with four answers and pupils can show you their answer. Encourage them not to look at other people s response so as to copy.
Working with a partner, rank the following factors in terms of e.g. value,importance A B C D E F
Alphabet Line Line We need 5 volunteers for our starter / plenary! Using consecutive letters of the alphabet they need to come out to the front & take it in turns to shout out key words linked to our topic It's very easy - if we were doing the Middle Ages, you could start with A - Arrow B - Battle C - Conqueror
Topic: What do I know? (starter activity) What would I like to know? (starter activity) What have I learnt? (plenary)
Test True your or False: Knowledge: Test your knowledge of the lesson so far by deciding are whether following the following statements statements TRUE are true or FALSE? false
You have 30 seconds for each... Tell your partner one fact from your research. Turn to your new partner and tell him/her your old partner's fact. Discuss whether you think it's accurate. Write down any accurate information you think we need to know for this topic.
Ten Questions! Your teacher will select one student and put a post-it note with a keyword on their forehead - they have ten questions to ask the class to which they can only reply YES or NO!
Write down everything you know under the right heading: BOTH
Constantinople Starter: Your challenge today is to make as many small words from our key word today which is How did you do? Excellent: more Good: more Not Bad: more 10 words or 8 words or 6 words or
Mystery Object - Write down 5 questions about this object: DO NOT ASK: What is it? INSERT IMAGE HERE
Living Photographs A Create a freeze frame from one of these images: B C Place images here What is the "bigger picture"? What can't we see? Imagine you are the in Picture. What would you be thinking?
De Bono's Thinking Hats: 6 ways to look at this text/picture/research/ (delete not applicable) Red hat - Hunches What is my gut reaction? What do my instincts tell me? Write down what you think. Yellow hat - Positives What are the good points? What are the benefits? What do I like? Write down the positives. Green hat - Creativity What ideas do I have? What alternatives can I come up with? Write down things that are new and different. Use the blue hat for feedback after all other groups White hat - Facts What information do I have? What information do I need to get? Write down only what you know. Black hat - Negatives What are the bad points? What are the problems? What don t I like? Write down the negatives. Blue hat - Overview What have I discovered? What is still left to discover? How can I discover it? Have I worn all of the hats? Write down your overall view.
Arrange these words from to
Fill in the missing words, using the example as a guide: Wood Metal is to Car as...is to Furniture. is to as...is to. is to as...is to. is to as...is to. is to as...is to. Teacher to input subject-related analogies
Speed Dating! Sit with a partner - one of you must sit facing the whiteboard and the other facing the opposite way The first person has only 30 seconds to describe the key word(s) featured below before moving onto their next partner - your teacher will keep writing down the keyword to be explained Your keyword is:
Here's how it works: 1. Each group is given a worksheet. They read the question/topic and add facts on Post-its to answer this (in 2 minutes). 2. When the time's up, they pass the worksheet clockwise to the next group and start adding Post-its to their new sheet. 3. The task is completed when all groups have added notes to all sheets. A B D C
You have one minute to explain each of the following key words from today's lesson, without using the word itself: USE THIS SLIDE WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE PLENARY AS A WHOLE CLASS USE SCREEN SHADE OVER KEY WORDS NOT DONE YET
Just a Minute! Using the words in your envelopes, you have one minute to explain the key words from today's lesson, to the 2 other people in your group: One key word out of the envelope at a time Without using the word itself The first person to guess, is next to choose a key word and explain it to the others! USE THIS SLIDE WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE PLENARY IN GROUPS
Topic Tennis You have been grouped into 3s: 2 players and a scorer/scribe When I say the topic, 2 of you take it in turns to say words related to that topic, until one of you can't go. The 3rd person notes down the words and decides the score. Score: 1 point every time the other person can't think of the next word OR use Tennis scoring (15 - love, deuce, etc)
Sentence Finish Complete the following sentence: Today I learnt... When you come to the front you will be asked to say your sentence and your classmates will ask you questions to test your knowledge about what you have learnt. Some question stems for testing someone's knowledge Why... How do you know that... What evidence do you have for... What do you think... Do you agree that... Can you explain... What would you have to do in order to...
The Room is a Map! The class has been labelled with grid references from a map. Using the grid references provided, see if you can find a specific location in the room. door windows Indicate grid references here
Noughts and Crosses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rules Rules: 1. Team 1 (Noughts) chooses a number from the grid. 2. Teacher reads question related to that number. 3. Team 1 answer correctly: get nought in that square. Team 1 answer incorrectly: Team 2 (Crosses) gets chance to answer question and get a cross in that square.
Roving Reporter In your groups you will be recreating a TV news broadcast for... (eg water cycle, battle of Hastings, etc) Pupil 1: announces the day's main headlines (ie stage of cycle, event), providing a "dong" of a bell sound between each one Pupil 2: newsreader in the television studio; summarises the main news story Pupil 3: roving reporter; provides the details of the story while broadcasting from where the event is taking place Pupil 4: witness who is interviewed by the roving reporter
Ready...Steady...Teach! You will each be given a bag of "goodies" to help you teach your given topic. You have 5 minutes to plan the activity.
Each one of you must write down 5 questions related to what you have learnt today. Each question must start with a different question word: What Who When Where Why How What would happen if... Coach Pupil 1: you will have the questions with the answers on the back. Ask each one without giving clues. Only give clues when it is clear pupil 2 cannot give you a full answer. Player Pupil 2: you will answer the questions in full. If you cannot answer a question, you can ask for a clue.
Individuals: Write down 5 questions (one on each card, with the answer on the back) to ask your classmates. Swap your cards with another group Groups of 4: Leader reads questions given to your group Group members write answers on mini-whiteboards and hold thumb up to indicate they are ready Leader says "Showdown" and all reveal answers Discuss misconceptions in groups (if still no consensus, feed back to whole class
Heads Together Discuss the answer to your question quietly so your neighbours don't hear Your teacher will then select a number 1-4 Whoever matches that number will be called upon to answer A great way of ensuring discussion and differentiation takes place
Show Me! Here are some sentences with a selection of words to choose from. When I count to 3, hold up your mini-whiteboard with the right word for each sentence. We'll do each sentence one at a time. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Practice: The pupil what/who/which gets the most correct answers will win a prize. Let's go!
Which is the odd one out? A B C Why? Use this sentence in your answer: Both... and... are..., whereas... is...
What is the difference between A these two? B Insert images or key words here Why? Use this sentence in your answer:... is..., whereas... is...
Memory Game Here are the key words we have learnt today/ over the last few lessons. You have 2 minutes to memorise them. Insert keywords here You will then need to recall them from memory in a limited time in your groups/pairs. Prizes for the most right answers - correct word and correct spelling!
Memory Game Here is the sequence of events we have learnt today/ over the last few lesson You have 2 minutes to memorise the sequence. You will then need to recall them from memory in a limited time in your groups/pairs. Prizes for the group who gets the sequence right first!
Memory Game You have been divided into groups. When I say "Go!", one person from your group must come up to my table and try and memorise as much as they can of the map/diagram/chart/packaging/storyboard/painting/graph/sequence (delete not applicable) before going back to the group to record the information. Rules: 1. Only one person from each group out of their seats at any time. 2. You may not write down anything when you are at the table. 3. You may not shout information to your group when you are at the table. You will need to think about the following: What strategies are you using for remembering the diagram and the text? How are you organising yourselves to work effectively? What are you finding easiest or most difficult about the task?
Memory Sequence A good way to remember a sequence is through repetition. The cycle/sequence/series we will be memorising today is: Here's how it works: Pupil 1: Firstly... Pupil 2: Firstly... Then... Pupil 3: Firstly... Then... After that... Pupil 4 onwards : Start at beginning and add another point. Who can complete the cycle/sequence/series?
Classroom Object Models Each group is going to reproduce the cycle/system/map (delete not applicable)allocated to them, using objects in the box. Things to consider: What shape should the cycle have? What can we use to depict this shape? How will we represent the main points?
Adding Detailed Ideas In teams you are going to be extending sentences to show off your newfound knowledge. The team with the best sentence, ie accurate and detailed, wins the prize! Example Original Sentence: The Second World War started in 1939. Example Extended Sentence: The Second World War, which occurred between 1939 and 1945, started when the Germans invade Poland and Britain declared war on Germany
1 2 3 4 Guess the Question... Here are some answers to questions. What are the questions? 5 10 6 9 8 7
Topic Key Words Which of these words are related Word Bank Our Topic Place topic words here, with unrelated words in between as "red herrings" Key words will be dragged here
Attachments fruit_machine.htm