The Doughnut
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The Doughnut

The doughnut is a simple activity that can enable students to have a structured conversation with several people in a short space of time. It can develop the idea of movement within the classroom for a specific purpose. It is a forerunner to the more complex activities involving Home Groups, experts, envoying etc. and is particularly suitable for younger students. Sometimes known as Inside-Outside Circle this activity can be used as a development of ‘circle time’.

PURPOSE

Sharing information and ideas, developing ideas, class building, communication.

RELEVANT SKILLS

Talking quietly, moving for a purpose, sharing information, listening, summarising other’s ideas, paraphrasing, asking questions, help others.

STEPS

  1. Students stand in two concentric circles facing each other.

  2. Facing their partner they take it in turns to share information and ideas or ask each other questions.

  3. At a given signal from the teacher the outside circle moves a given number of places clockwise.

  4. Students now give feedback on what was said between themselves and their previous partner.

  5. These steps can be repeated if desired.

P I G S F

Positive Interdependence

Students work in pairs and depend on each other to share ideas, ask questions and remember what has been said.

 

Individual accountability

Each person must share information and ideas, they will need to ask questions and be able to repeat or summarise what has been said

 

Equal participation

High. All students are involved at all times.

 

Simultaneous Interaction

All students will be actively engaged in purposeful speaking and listening.

APPLICATION

  • Very useful class building activity at the beginning of the year and at other times as students can share personal information, likes/dislikes, what they have done, favourite TV programmes etc.
  • Can be used as a development of circle time with younger students. All children can share and talk about what they have done rather than just a few.
  • For mastery or review of material covered during a lesson or module of work.
  • For introducing and focussing upon a new module or area of work.
  • Sharing information on a topic. They can question each other and paraphrase what they have learned from a previous partner.
  • Can be used for forming groups either purely random or with some ability grouping, i.e. more able children on the inside of the circle. Pairs can then be joined together to make new groups of four.

CURRICULUM

Can be used across the curriculum for all age groups. Young children can all participate in speaking and listening activities when sharing their news. (An excellent development of ‘circle time’).

Older students can learn interview techniques by interviewing each other across a range of subjects.

A fun way of testing each other using mastery questions in many subjects, particularly maths, science etc.

COMMENTS

This is a very adaptable structure that can be appropriately used with students of all ages. The skills developed using the Doughnut can be developed upon with older students undertaking more complex group activities.

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