A week after our seminar, I tried to use the technique that we learned in class that day. We have been studying the Civil War, and particularly the Slaves. I have a set of newspapers that go over different periods in American History. I gave each of the groups that my students are divided into (3 or 4 people per group) one of the articles in that paper. The groups read the articles and decided the most important points that were covered. I then handed out chart paper, and had them list or make graphic organizers of the important points.
When they were finished, each group came up to the front one by one, and each child told about an important part of their chart in 30 words of less.
I really like the part where the students had to use there words carefully. It made them think about what they wanted to say, and be precise about their words.
When the exercise was over, we mounted the posters in the hall, where all of the 5th grades could see them, and read them.
This activity turned out very well, as each group had a chance to study one article in depth and hear about the other articles. It kept 90+ percent of the students engaged the entire learning time.
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I have tried this activity before we did it at the pre-seminar, however, I have never had the students 'choose' their words so carefully. Since then when we have class discussions or are summarizing passages, the students have to give their response in 20 words or less. For some of my verbose students, it has been a real challenge to get to the point. Over all this is a great activity.
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