WELCOME TO DAY FOUR OF CAMP CREATIVE

 

 

Today we're talking about how to help kids explain their connections once they've made them. There are so many options!

 

Students might: 

  • Present a key connection back to the class 
  • Make a Flipgrid recording of their web and explain two key connections
  • Write their connections directly onto their webs, using post-its, connection arrows, or the paper or whiteboard behind their web
  • Write their explanations onto graphic organizers, handouts, or Google slides guiding them in their responses

 

Take a look at this web from your digital toolkit from yesterday. One way to have students explain their connections is to have them label several intersection points within the web, and then explain them in writing. 

Each explanation corresponds clearly to a different intersection point on the web. Each student in the group can explain their thinking in their own way, showing what they've taken in from the group conversation but also putting their own unique spin on it and making their arguments clear. 

It's also easy to print block arrows (this page of arrows comes from your day one kit, hexagonal thinking for any novel) and let students cut them out, fill them in, and put their connections right onto the web. In this case, I suggest you make sure every student is responsible for a certain number of arrows, so you don't end up with a couple of dominant students doing all the writing. 

A graphic organizer like this one (also from your kit, hexagonal thinking for any novel) is another easy option. Every student can copy several intersections that they find most interesting, then explain their thinking in writing. 

 

Whether your students are presenting back to the class live or on Flipgrid, using a graphic organizer or connecting arrows, or writing something more extensive, it may help them to have a few guiding prompts up as they work. You can project this slide as your students prepare to present, write,

or record their final arguments. 

 

Tomorrow, we'll be diving into assessment, reflection, and growth mindset when it comes to hexagonal thinking, so remember to check your email!