© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0433-2004
5 | Key Stage 3 National Strategy|Pedagogy and practice
Unit 10: Group work
Task 3
Using a snowball to introduce group work 10 minutes
gradually
Watch video sequence 10b, which shows an example of a snowball in the
context of MFL. Notice how the teacher gives instructions.
How does the activity the pupils are asked to do vary when they work:
- as individuals?
- in pairs?
- in groups of four?
- in groups of eight?
Notice how the teacher makes sure all will cooperate in a large group (an eight).
Practical tips Planning a snowball activity
Prepare well and in detail.
Select a simple activity and build to a four to start with.
Plan each question carefully. As a rule of thumb, have:
- a recall task for individuals;
- a comparison task with some decision for pairs;
- a decision-making task with discussion for fours or eights and an
opportunity to feed back.
Make sure the seating arrangements allow for pairs and fours to form easily.
Give tight time guidelines and stick to them.
Task 4
Classroom assignment: try a snowball 30 minutes
Try out the snowball technique. Use the examples and the practical tips to plan
two different snowball activities for two different classes. You could work with a
colleague who teaches the same class and compare notes. Try a 1, 2, 4 first.
Evaluate how the pupils responded.
What do you think were the key learning points for pupils?
