Instructional Playbook

Carousel Brainstorm

Click here for the Implementation Slides

Overview Students move in small groups to different “stations” with prompts, adding ideas or responding to previous groups. This can be used at the beginning to prepare the learner or at the end to extend the learning. Instructional Purpose Collaboration, inquiry, and active engagement through: Writing : Captures ideas quickly and clearly Inquiry: Builds on others’ thoughts and questions Collaboration: Everyone’s voice is visible Materials/Set-Up Prepare and place 4–6 chart papers around the room Write a different prompt, question, or add an image on each one. Provide students big markers, one color per group, so you can track contributions. Instructional Steps 1.Divide students into groups of 3–4. Assign each group a starting station. 2.Have students work (3-5 minutes) at each station to respond, then rotate clockwise. Encourage building on or questioning previous responses using sentence frames. 3.After all rotations, groups read all charts and discuss and write about common themes or surprises. 4.Have students do a Gallery Walk (5-7 minutes) of the posters and add a response to the different ideas e.g. “star” ideas they agree with. 5.Facilitate a quick whole-class discussion connecting ideas to the learning goal 5-8 minutes. Using guiding questions to focus the talk. Organization: Charts provide a structured thinking space Reading: Analyzes peers’ contributions in gallery walk

* Adjust discussion time for each station as needed. Access by Language Proficiency Level Entering (1) Emerging (2)

Developing (3)

Expanding (4)

Use words or images to respond. May copy ideas or contribute with a partner. May need to use home language.

Share short responses or ideas using visuals, word banks, or sentence starters.

Use original ideas in sentence form. Encourage using academic language.

Explain ideas clearly and respond to others using academic language. Justify why the idea is novel.

Sentence Stem Examples - All Levels

One idea is… Another response could be… I agree with…

This reminds me of… I think this is different because… Our group said… but I would add….

*Adapted from AVID Center. (n.d.). Carousel Brainstorm. AVID Strategies for Success.