T.I.P.R.- Modern Constructivism

In the class I'm observing, the teacher had the students participate in an inquiry/jigsaw based lesson about early Colonial America. He started the class by asking them about what they thought life in early America was like (based on their prior knowledge from previous lessons). He allowed the students to respond, and then he helped them to dig a little deeper. He asked them to think more specifically about what life was like for early colonial American women, children, patricians, men in the army, and slaves. What was their daily life like?

The students had some general ideas, and then the teacher had the students split up into their preassigned groups. He assigned each group to take on different roles of the groups they discussed to research. They were to learn, as best they could, about the daily life that these people experienced. He gave them some primary documents to read, and some secondary sources as well. He allowed them to use technology to find more information. The groups were allowed to research for 35 minutes.

After the groups became "experts" on their group assignment, they were then split up and reorganized into new groups with people from other groups who were the "experts" on their  roles. They were then assigned to take turns describing and teaching their new group members about the daily lives of the roles they were assigned.

I observed as some of the students were really excited and engaged in the activity. Learning was taking place, and they were teaching each other. I saw students express empathy, amazement and even more curiosity. At the end of class the teacher handed out exit slips which asked the students to describe something new they learned from class that day. I did not see any of the students' slips, but I can imagine that there were many who had great responses.

It would have been so easy for the teacher to lecture and use direct instruction to explain the daily lives of early colonials. It was much more effective for him to allow the students to step into that world, and also teach other students about their topics. It was fun to watch, and something I want to incorporate into a lesson plan!!