Question Ball: Unit Wrap-Up Circle
Seated in a circle, students pass a foam ball with a gentle toss; whoever catches it draws a card with a question about the unit and answers in one sentence. It connects the lesson to what was learned and gives the teacher assessment evidence in a calm way.
How to play
- The teacher prepares twenty cards with unit questions (what have you improved, what technical error would you fix, which safety rule is key, what would you do differently next game) and places them face down in the middle (1 min).
- Form two seated circles of 13 to 15 students; before tossing, say the name of the person who will catch (1 min).
- The catcher draws a card, answers in one or two sentences and passes the ball to someone who has not spoken yet (4 min).
- Final wild-card round: anyone can add to another student's answer by raising a hand (1 min).
- The teacher sums up out loud the two or three ideas that came up most (1 min).
Rules
- Pass the ball with a gentle underhand toss or roll it.
- Listen to whoever has the ball without interrupting.
- You may pass on one question and draw another card.
Variations
Easier
Closed or either-or questions.
Standard
Open unit questions answered in one or two sentences.
Harder
The person answering must also ask a new question for the next person.
Adaptations
- Hearing impairment: the speaker sits in the student's line of sight and questions are read from the card.
- Autism or social anxiety: may write the answer on the card for a classmate to read, or choose to pass.
- Visual impairment: the ball is rolled with a verbal cue and the questions are read aloud.
Learning goals
- Reflect on what was learned in the unit.
- Share ideas briefly and clearly in front of the group.
- Listen to and respect others' contributions.
Equipment for a class of 25
- foam balls: 2
- cards: 20
Teacher tip
Keep a quick list of who answered what; it is a simple assessment record. Change the cards for each unit and keep the best questions students come up with.
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