Guess My Rule

Late final week, I spent some fourth dimension prepping for some other first-week activeness inspired past times Elizabeth Cohen's Designing Groupwork: Strategies for the Heterogeneous Classroom (affiliate link to 2nd Edition / 3rd Edition).  It's called "Guess My Rule."

Y'all are belike tired of hearing me gush close this book, but I seriously learned as well as hence much close groupwork this summertime from reading it.  It made me realize just why groupwork is beneficial, but at the same fourth dimension it focused on why groupwork fails to accomplish what you lot desire as well as how to ready it. I intend it's a must-read for whatever instructor who has students working inward groups.  I bought the sec edition off of Amazon because it was cheaper, but I'm wishing forthwith that I'd invested inward the newer tertiary edition.
Just similar for Rainbow Logic and Broken Circles (two other activities I'm likewise using the commencement calendar week from Designing Groupwork), I created a chore bill of fare to give my students amongst the supplies, objective, rules, as well as norms this activeness is supposed to address.

Here's a non-glared version. :)

Here's what each group's supplies volition expect like:

There are 3 decks of cards.  1 deck of dominion cards.  I printed these on regular white re-create paper.  3 decks of shape cards.  I printed these on green, blue, as well as cherry bill of fare stock.  Shaun as well as I bought some of this Astrobrights main colored bill of fare stock at Wal-Mart, as well as it has such slap-up bold colors.  I dearest looking at anything printed on this stuff!

Each grouping volition likewise demand a circle made of string or yarn.

Since my desks are arranged inward groups of four, this is how I would similar to run across my students ready for this activity.  One mortal volition last the dominion keeper.  So, they volition acquire the deck of dominion cards as well as the circle.  Each other pupil volition receive got a deck of a dissimilar colored laid of cards on their desk.

The red, green, as well as bluish bill of fare sets are identical.  They are merely printed on dissimilar colors.  There are circles, squares, triangles, as well as diamonds of 3 dissimilar sizes (small, medium, as well as large).  Here's what the template for each deck of cards looks like:

Here are the dissimilar dominion cards that the dominion keeper draws from:

I typed these upwards as well as formatted them as well as hence cards for 2 dissimilar groups would impress on the same page.

Of course, you lot could ever receive got students come upwards up amongst their ain rules.  But, I abide by that students demand examples of what an appropriate dominion would expect like.  

To give you lot an instance of how it works, let's assume that the dominion keeper pulled this bill of fare out of the deck.  Note: the dominion keeper should house the dominion bill of fare somewhere the other players CANNOT run across it!

The students who are non dominion keepers must determine which cards to paw the dominion keeper.  When the dominion keeper is handed a card, he/she volition house it within the circle if the bill of fare matches the dominion as well as exterior the circle if the bill of fare does non stand upwards for the rule.  

After a few minutes, the tabular array mightiness expect similar this: 

If a pupil thinks that he/she knows what the dominion is, they should inquire the other players inward the grouping for their visit first.  After listening to what the others say, the histrion must brand upwards their ain hear close what the dominion is as well as inquire the dominion keeper.  If the dominion is right, the game is over.  If the dominion is non right, play continues.  As fourth dimension allows, other students tin receive got a plough existence the dominion keeper.

This activeness is supposed to reinforce 3 grouping run norms:

1. Find out what others think.
2. Tell why.
3. Make your ain decision.

I expect frontward to walking some as well as eavesdropping on groups equally they explicate their reasoning to their grouping members.  My students demand lots of practise doing this because it is something that many of them may receive got never been asked to create before.

After groups finish, I conception on having them consummate this grouping reflection sheet.  Each mortal inward the grouping volition last responsible for writing out the group's response to 1 of the questions.

I've uploaded all of the files I created for this activeness here.  If you lot conception to edit the files, you'll demand to brand certain you lot likewise download the font HVD Comic Serif Pro.

Again, I can't recommend the majority Designing Groupwork past times Elizabeth Cohen (affiliate link to 2nd Edition / 3rd Edition).enough!  If you lot similar this activity, you'll definitely savour the book!

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