Carousel Brainstorming is a fun and engaging teaching strategy that will get your students moving
and talking. You can use this strategy in several ways; as an introduction, prediction, or reflection.
Students will be able to discuss in both small groups and as an entire class.
Students begin by forming small groups and rotating with their group around the room, stopping at
each "station". They discuss the information required at the station and then post their ideas for the
next group to see. Below are the steps to implement this technique:
STEP 1: Identify a topic for which input is desired.
STEP 2: List one topic area or question per sheet of butcher paper. I often use groups of six and write a large number (1-6) on the paper as well.
STEP 3: Divide your students into groups and assign each group a number.
STEP 4: Have those groups stand next to the poster that matched their assigned number.
STEP 5: Have students brainstorm ideas, writing them on sticky notes or the poster itself. I usually give my students 1-3 minutes.
STEP 6: When the time is called have students rotate to the poster to their right.
STEP 7: Students review the previous group's information while having a discussion. Then they add their ideas. This process continues until all groups have brainstormed at each poster.
Ideas for the Social Studies Classroom:
In your U.S. History class, you could use it as a reflection at the end of a lesson to review Civil
Rights Leaders. Each station would be a specific person. Students would brainstorm their most
important contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
If you teach Civics/American government you could use it as an introduction to gain prior
knowledge about the Constitution. Topics could include:
Station 1. The Legislative Branch
Station 2. The Executive Branch
Station 3. The Judicial Branch
Station 4. The Bill of Rights
Station 5. The Amendments (11-27)
Station 6. The Creation of the Constitution
When teaching Psychology you could use this strategy to review for the final. Topics would include the units that were covered during the semester class. For example;
Station 1: What is Psychology?
Station 2: Consciousness
Station 3: Psychological Disorders
Station 4: Therapy
Station 5: Motivation and Emotion
Station 6: Personality
In World History there are so many options. For example, when studying Imperialism each poster
could have a title with the different locations of imperialism and have students explain what they
learned about imperialism in each location.
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Happy teaching!
Chalk Dust Diva
