This simple activity developed by Sara Van Der Werf is a great way to get students talking to each other, especially if pair/shares haven’t been very effective in your classroom. This activity is also a nice physical break from sitting and thinking individually.

• These are the teacher instructions Sara recommends:
  “I’d like everyone to stand up.  Do not have anything in your hands.  No calculators. No notebooks. No phones or pencils.  Nothing. In a moment I am going to give you something that I want you to look at with a partner.  I want you and your partner to notice at least 10 things on the sheet. I want to hear you asking each other things you wonder about.  Look closely at all the details. You will be working with this partner for just a few minutes. You can work with anyone except for the people at your table.  Please go now and find your partner, no groups of 3 & I will bring you a sheet to look at.”
• Hand out complete chart with all data (keep graph side up). Walk around the room and make sure everyone has a partner. There should only be one group of 3, if necessary.
• If there is a lull…
  • I should see you pointing at your paper.
  • I want you to notice at least 10 things.
  • What do you wonder?
  • Everything on the card is there for a reason, what else do you notice?
• Ask participants to take their seats. (You might also have this conversation when people are standing.)
  • What did you notice?  Shout out your noticing and wonderings.