Cubing

Purpose: to prepare students for reading or writing, increase comprehension, extend understanding of a topic/concept, character, or text from various perspectives. May also be used as a pot-reading activity to encourage students to think critically about the topic at hand.

Procedure:

1. The teacher or students must select a topic to be cubed.

2. If being used as a whole-class activity, the class may be divided into 6 groups and each group will be assigned a perspective to consider and discuss.

3. Each group writes a summary or their discussion and shares it with the class. These perspectives may be taped to the cube for reference and access.

Benefits and Limitations:

· May be used as whole-class, cooperative group, pairs, or independent activity.

· Almost any topic may be cubed including math concepts, science theories, and events in history.

· When used as a post-reading strategy, students are required to apply the information they have learned.

· May be modified according to desired outcomes and lesson objectives.

· This strategy should be modeled and the teacher should explain why this strategy is being used.

Possible Cube Perspectives:

Describe: what does it look like? What are some traits/characteristics? What size, shape, or color?

Compare: What does it remind you of? How is it like something else? What is it different/opposite from?

Associate: What does it make you think of? How is it related to other topics or people? How does it connect to other things/concepts?

Analyze: What is it made of? How can you break it down into smaller parts?

Apply: What can be done? How is it used?

Argue for/against: make a list of supporting reasons

This is one of my favorite strategies because it is engaging, easily adaptable, and a great concept attainment tool for all grades!

I created this cube (with detachable parts) for a Pre-Kindergarten lesson on food/nutrition. The student's enthusiasm and participation was fantastic! By the end of the unit their discussion and thought processes became observably more detailed and sophisticated.