Four Corners

Many thanks to Lori Leininger for sharing this activity idea!

Purpose:  This activity stimulates student learning through movement, social skills and discussion. This activity is fun and takes very little preparation and is a great review activity.

Prep Time: 5 to 10 minutes

Materials: Four large signs that you will create

Prep: Create four large signs, each with a different letter --- A, B, C, and D. Post each lettered sign in one of the four corners of the classroom.  

Procedure:

1. Pose a question to your students.  For example: Where would you most like to take a vacation?

A. New York City
B. Denver
C. San Francisco
D. Orlando

2. Instruct students to go to the corner labeled with the letter that matches their first response to the question.  For example, students who prefer response A, New York City, will go to the corner marked by the A poster. 

3. The students in each corner then discuss with their small group the reason they chose this answer and discuss their similar views.

4. Continue the activity with other questions. 

Variations:This activity can be used for grouping purposes too.  If you need four random working groups, pose a question and have students go to a corner.  The students gathered in each corner become a "working group."

Label the four corners of the room with Disagree, Strongly Disagree, Agree, and Strongly Agree.  Read a controversial statement and have students write on a piece of paper whether they agree, disagree, strongly agree, or strongly disagree with the statement. When all are finished writing, have students go to the corner representing their point of view. All students sharing a similar point of view work together to collect evident and present an argument supporting their beliefs.