Diabolo Tutors: Peer Micro-Lessons

Five students who have mastered a diabolo trick plan and teach five-minute micro-lessons to small groups rotating through their stations. Students practice explaining a technique clearly and giving useful feedback.

How to play

1. The teacher assigns five tutors one trick each (start, speeding up, low throw, trapeze and leg pass) and they plan their micro-lesson with a guide card: demo, three key points and a common error (5 min).
2. Rotations 1 and 2: groups of four or five spend 5 minutes at each station, marked with a cone (10 min).
3. Rotations 3 and 4: groups finish the remaining stations they need (10 min).
4. Each learner rates on the sheet how clear each tutor's key points were and notes what they learned best (3 min).
5. Quick discussion: what makes a good technical explanation (2 min).

Rules

• Each station has its own space, and diabolos are used only inside it.
• Tutors give one key point at a time and let students practice before adding another.
• Throws stay low, below head height.
• Feedback for tutors is constructive: one strength and one suggestion.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing impairment: the tutor focuses on demonstration and a card with the key points in writing.
• Autism: can be a tutor using a fixed micro-lesson script or rotate with a set partner.
• Limited mobility: can be a tutor or learner using a large diabolo and short sticks from the wheelchair.

Learning goals

• Explain a technical skill in a clear, organized way.
• Learn from peers through demonstration and feedback.
• Recognize and value the effort of those who teach.

Equipment for a class of 25

• diabolos: 15
• worksheets: 10
• cones: 5

Teacher tip

Also pick tutors who learned recently, since they remember the tricky parts better. Walk around the stations without stepping in except for safety.

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