Compass Sharing
Four children facing each other (momcilog, Getty Images)
Four children facing each other (momcilog, Getty Images)
Format
How does this align with my curriculum?
PE
5
Integrated Curriculum Grade 5: Science (Draft 2023)
IS 1.4: Collaborating with others effectively can help us to share meaningful explorations in impactful ways.
PE
6
Integrated Curriculum Grade 6: Science (Draft 2023)
IS 1.4: Collaborating with others effectively can help us to share meaningful explorations in impactful ways.
This strategy helps students engage in small group sharing and ensures equal opportunity for voice through its structured process.
Why use it?
- To enhance collaborative learning
- To foster critical thinking and reflection.
- To consider different perspectives on a topic.
- To promote inclusive and supportive learning opportunities.
Tips for success
- Name the direction of the person to start (e.g., the person whose back is facing north) so you are able to see each group’s progress with sharing at a glance.
- Provide a guideline for how long groups will have to share their thinking about the prompt in their small group (e.g., 10 min). This time will serve as a guide for individual sharing (e.g., 2 minutes per person and then 2 min for cross-talk).
How do I use it?
- In groups of four, learners place their chairs facing inward to form a square, with chairs at north, east, south, and west positions.
- Provide a guiding question or prompt as the focus of the discussion.
- Sitting knee to knee, the person in the north position begins sharing for a set amount of time.
- Each speaker shares without interruption in a clockwise order.
- After every person is done sharing, group members can engage in cross-talk, including questions, answers, and comments.
- Small groups can discuss one prompt or a series of prompts in separate rounds.
Variations
- This strategy can work with 3 participants if needed.
- This could also be done by students sitting around a square table or sitting on the floor or ground.