Four Corners
Purpose: :
To stimulate student learning through movement and discussion
Description: : Students
will be presented with a controversial scenario. In each of the four corners of
the classroom, an opinion about the scenario will be posted. Students will then
express their opinion about the scenario by standing in front of one of four
statements with students who share their same opinion.
Procedure:
- Generate a controversial scenario related to your topic of study.
- Formulate four divergent opinions related to the scenario. Post these on
chart paper in the four corners of your classroom.
- Present the controversial scenario to your students.
- Ask students to move to one of the four corners. Students should move to
the corner with the statement that most closely fits their opinion of the
controversial scenario.
- Follow up by having students present a group summary of their opinion.
This can be done through an oral presentation or by using a strategy such as
an Opinion-Proof T-chart or a RAFT.
Sample Scenario:
Tell students that the school board has run out of money. The only way that
they can keep Internet access in schools is to charge the students for using
the school's Internet access.
- Students should be charged .10 per minute for the total amount of time
that they are online using the Internet. This would be payable on a weekly
basis.
- Students should be charged a flat rate of $2.00 for each day that they
use the Internet. Each day would come with unlimited access.
- Students should be charged a flat rate of $50.00 per year for unlimited
access to the Internet.
- The school board should eliminate school access to the Internet.
After students report to their corners, have them work collaboratively to
write the school board a letter convincing them of their point of view.
from Instructional Strategies for
Engaging Learners
Guilford County Schools TF, 2002
Return to Cognitive
Strategies