First Turn, Last Turn
![Group of people brainstorming](/sites/default/files/2022-08/group-of-people-discussing-and-brainstorming.jpg)
Group of people brainstorming (leremy, iStockphoto)
![Group of people brainstorming](/sites/default/files/2022-08/group-of-people-discussing-and-brainstorming.jpg)
Group of people brainstorming (leremy, iStockphoto)
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.
PE
6
Integrated Curriculum Grade 6: Science (Draft 2023)
IS 1.4: Effectively communicate the results of their inquiry.
This strategy helps students collaborate and practice active listening by taking turns to offer insights without cross-talking.
Why use it?
- To help students practice taking turns to give everyone a chance to share ideas
- To allow students to hear various perspectives
- To support listening to understand as opposed to listening to respond
- To foster listening through synthesis
Tips for success
- Consider designating the starting speaker. These individuals set the tone for the remainder of the group. Their positive modeling increases the likelihood of honoring the process.
How do I use it?
- Students read /listen or view a video, article, or other piece of content.
- Afterwards each student should identify 2-3 items.
- Items could be points of agreement, points of disagreement, provocative statements, interesting facts or curiosities.
- Break students into groups of 4 to 6. Each group structures their discussion using the following framework.
- Round 1
- Choose the first speaker. That student shares one item, not indicating why they chose it.
- The next person comments on that item. Each participant in that group comments on that same item.
- Finally, the original speaker indicates why they chose that item and offers original and perhaps new insight from what their peers shared.
- Round 2
- Another student begins the second round, indicating a chosen item and everyone takes a turn commenting about that item, finishing again with the original speaker of the second round.
- Continue until all students have had a chance to initiate an item found in the piece of content.
- Round 1
- Emphasize that there should be no cross-talking during the sharing
- Reconvene the full class for reflections on this process or the content shared.
Variations
- Summarize the piece of content together as a class. Then, provide students with options to choose from for their 3 ideas. This way they do not need to brainstorm those ideas on their own.
Using this Strategy
- First Turn, Last Turn Recording Sheet Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
Create Your Own
- First Turn, Last Turn Recording Sheet Reproducible [Google doc] [PDF]
References
Adapted from: K20 Center. (2020). First Turn/ Last Turn.