Carousel Brainstorming Teaching Strategy

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