Rate It!

I've seen this used in many different classrooms and so I don't pretend this is my own idea. It's a kinesthetic / audio way of rating information. Here are the basic steps:

1. Have students rate information. One way to do this is in a jigsaw format first and then switching to rating the information afterward. An example that's worked well in my social studies class has been rating the most important technology of a given time period.

2. Have groups create their lists with a rationale next to each answer.

3. Create a paper (8.5 X 11) with each item on it.

4. Have students hold up each paper. The students should be in a line and holding their one paper in front of them. Think front mug shot photo. The person on the right is "most important" and the person on the left is "least important."

5. Allow students to rearrange the order by explaining why one item is more important than another item. This becomes a visual, interactive debate.