Learning Circus

Imagine a three-ring circus operating at full gear. Your mind's eye probably brings forth an image of a setting where there is a hubbub of activity with many different and exciting things, all happening simultaneously. A classroom Learning Circus looks just like this, but, hopefully without any clowns!

A Learning Circus is appropriate for any discipline in which the instructional goal is to create an active, discovery oriented, and student-centered learning environment.The reason for using the Learning Circus format is to apply a discovery process that helps students integrate pieces of information gained at the different stations. What makes this classroom structure interesting and effective is that it promotes a motivational learning context in which students are actively engaged in exploring, discussing, and synthesizing information. In a Learning Circus, stations are set up around the classroom containing interrelated student activities that all illustrate key ideas or sub-concepts associated with a single, broad unifying concept.

A Learning Circus scaffolds student learning by systematically breaking down a larger topic into smaller, more manageable sub-topics. This lesson format offers a relatively simple way to differentiate instruction to address the needs of all learners.

Learning Circuses can include minds-on as well as hands-on activities. For example, students could go to a listening station or a location where they were asked to arrange pictures according to a timeline of events. The hoped-for outcome of a Learning Circus is a thorough understanding of the conceptual elements and major ideas of a topic under investigation.

Implementation

1. Choose a topic and identify the student Learning Expectations to which the topic is aligned.

2. At each station provide students with instructions and guided reflection questions.

3. Different student groups simultaneously work at each of the stations.

4. Eventually, groups rotate through all of the stations.

5. The teacher's primary role during a Learning Circus is to manage the movement of students through the stations and to lead the discussion after the lesson.

6. Design an assessment that is closely tied to the Learning Expectations to that you are targeting. Build a corresponding rubric if appropriate.

Classroom Management

1. Select several activities that address the major sub-concepts associated with the topic.

• The goal is to break down the main topic into smaller, interrelated tasks.
• Choose catchy titles for the stations to capture attention and create interest.
• To avoid classroom management issues, select station activities that take similar amounts of time to complete.

2. Prepare Student Discovery Guides for each station.

Be sure to scaffold the Discovery Guide questions to promote student understanding.

3. Create a single Summary Question that students can answer by integrating information gained at each of the stations.

4. Conduct and process the Learning Circus.

5. Assess student understanding with some type of formative assessment.

6. Supplement the Learning Circus with a Learning Center where students can further explore the topic.