Cooperative Learning
Why?
What?
Circle the Sage
3s
2s
Circle the Sage provides an instructor an opportunity to check for understanding and clear up
misconceptions. Furthermore, it allows students to learn something from each other while
working in their intrapersonal skills at the same time.
•
•
How?
4s
Circle the Sage is a strategy that allows students you may know, or is passionate, about a
certain topic in Social Studies. This two-stage grouping strategy allows students to become
the experts on a topic and the opportunity to share what they know.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
When?
All
Divide students into pairs or triads.!
Present an issue or a problem to the class.!
Ask students who know something about the issue or problem to stand on one side of
the class and spread out.!
Explain to students remaining at their seats that they are to go to the people standing
(sages) and listen and record the information that they give out.!
Explain to students that they are to spread out among the different people that are
willing to share what they know.!
Have students that are sitting meet up with those standing.!
Have sages share their information while the rest of the students are listening and
recording their notes.!
Have all students return to their home groups.!
Have teams share what they learned from the different “sages.”!
If all home team members are in agreement that the shared information is the same
then they raise a “thumbs-up” signal.!
If some/all home teams have differing information then they are to present a “thumbsdown” signal indicating that there are some discrepancies. !
If discrepancies are present, then work out the conflicts as a whole class.
You can use Circle the Sage for reviewing previously taught material or even as a hook
(prediction) activity.
Can Address Garner’s Multiple Intelligence:
VL
LM
BK
VS
Adapted from the research and works of David and Roger Johnson. "Cooperative Learning." and Garner, Howard (1993-2004)!
®SAISD Social Studies Department
Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
NA
MR
IP
AP
EM
Cooperative Learning - Circle the Sage!
Page 1