Creating an interactive and stimulating learning environment is every teacher’s goal. As educators, we encourage respectful debates and promote the development of well-rounded individuals. One effective strategy that accomplishes these objectives is the Four Corners activity.
This teaching strategy allows students to delve into controversial topics, express their opinions, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers.
In this blog post, I will explain how you can use the Four Corners strategy in your upper elementary classroom. I’ve also provided a list of debatable topics to get your students thinking and debating.
Be sure to get the handout. It includes the printables you need to complete the activities.
Four Corners Teaching Strategy
How to Implement This Strategy
To implement the Four Corners strategy:
- Begin by preparing the necessary materials.
- Take four pieces of paper and label each one with “strongly agree,” “agree,” “disagree,” and “strongly disagree.”
- Post these papers in the four corners of your classroom.
- Choose a controversial statement or question related to the topic you wish to discuss.
- Write this statement on a whiteboard or display it on the SmartBoard for easy reference during the activity.
- Explain the activity to your students. Let them know they can express their opinion on the given statement by physically moving to the corner that aligns with their viewpoint. Please encourage them to think critically and consider their beliefs before choosing.
- Once students have moved into their respective corners, give them time to discuss their feelings about the topic within their groups.
- Designate a recorder within each group to jot down the reasons supporting their opinion. Afterward, have a spokesperson from each group present their reasoning to the class.
This activity allows students to hear different perspectives during the group presentations. Afterward, provide time for students to reflect on the discussions and decide if they want to move to another corner based on the insights gained from the presentations.
Activity 1: Discussion Topics for the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio
This printable includes these debatable topics based on the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio for students to use for the Four Corners Teaching Strategy.
Students will practice using strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with topics such as:
- The author’s use of humor to lighten difficult situations was a good idea.
- Miranda was doing the right thing when she gave Auggie the helmet.
Students will also select from multiple answer choices with questions such as:
- Who is your favorite narrator?
- The best action for Veronica to take in the ice cream parlor when Jack first sees August would be to: introduce Jack to August, leave the ice parlor in a rush, start a friendly conversation with August, or ignore the situation.
Activity 2: Debatable Topics for the Four Corners Strategy
To help you kick-start your Four Corners discussions, I have compiled a list of fourteen debatable topics with discussion questions for each group suitable for upper elementary students:
- Should the ban on plastic bags be enforced?
- Does social media effectively facilitate communication?
- Is the captivity of animals in zoos justified?
- Should mandatory voting be a requirement?
- Are students’ personal devices suitable for classroom use?
- Would the elimination of homework be beneficial?
- Should participation in sports be mandatory for students?
- Can lying ever be morally justified?
- How important is music as a component of education?
- Is it necessary to remove fast food from schools?
- Should Confederate statues remain in public spaces?
- Is public funding well-spent on supporting art programs in schools?
- Should animal testing be permitted for medical research purposes?
- Is teaching only classic literature in schools appropriate?
The Four Corners strategy encourages critical thinking, promotes respectful debates, and fosters a deeper understanding of controversial topics. Implementing this strategy in your upper elementary classroom creates an engaging and thought-provoking learning environment.
The provided list of debatable topics will help you spark meaningful discussions among your students, allowing them to develop their communication skills and broaden their perspectives. So, try the Four Corners strategy and watch your students actively engage in stimulating conversations that enhance their learning experience.
