Today it snowed both inside and out as I used a “snowball” activity to introduce our wikispace literature discussions and appropriately Mother Nature gave us our first snowfall to set the stage. 

We have been discussing John Steinbeck’s The Pearl through literature circles.  Students now can contribute to an online discussion to allow for another avenue of communication.  This online voice allows students time to formulate their responses and creates a scenario where students practice respectful online dialogue.  I had written six discussion topics on separate pieces of paper and made enough copies for the class.  These discussion topics came from the questions the literature groups had formulated for their face-to-face meetings we will be having next class.

As I handed out the discussion topics randomly, I asked students to write a response to the topic with a minimum of three statements and to sign their name.  We crumpled the papers and tossed them around the room.  Students each got a random paper.  They were to read the topic and response and then formulate a response of their own; now having two items to respond to.  At this point we discussed the importance of respecting and supporting everyone’s opinion.  Since the group discussion etiquette guidelines are posted on the wall, it was easy to refer to these and relate them to the work we have been doing and will be doing in the future.

Students responded to the discussions on their piece of paper, signed their name and crumpled the paper again.  This worked well, students responded to the questions with insight and were respectful of each other. 

Have everyone throw their “snowball” at the same time so that it doesn’t become complete chaos.

Don’t crumple the paper into too small of a ball.  Sure it is much easier to throw a greater distance, but more difficult to make into a legible paper afterward.   Distance is not our goal here.

When students got the same paper they had written on previously, they just switched with a  neighbor. 

Taking home the papers is a bit of a feat in that now 24 pieces of paper consumes a lot more space. 

Students were then ready to respond to discussion topics on the wiki using the same guidelines we had just practiced with the “snowballs”.