LINE-UPS
K-12
BIG IDEA
This structure allows students to move and interact with each other. It also provides opportunities for students to get to know each other, as well as teachers to learn more about their students. Line-ups can be used with a variety of curriculum.
The benefits of Line-ups are that students form a concrete image of the lineup, are active, can create estimates, learn to sequence items or events, and interact with classmates.
DIRECTIONS
- Teacher describes the line and asks students to line up based on the criteria given (i.e. Line up by your birthday).
- Students position themselves in the lineup by finding where they stand relative to their classmates.
- Teacher announces a discussion topic or question and provides think time (i.e. Do you like or dislike the date of your birthday? Think about why you like or dislike it).
- Students turn to a partner next to them in the lineup to interact over a question or topic. Use timed pair share to allow each person time to talk for an equal amount of time.
Positioning
Announce topic or question
Students turn to a partner to interact
WHEN TO USE
- ORDER: largest to smallest, tallest to shortest, alphabetical
- SIZE: shoe size, length of hair
- FAMILY: number of brothers, family members
- CLOTHING: darkest to most colorful, number of pockets or buttons or stripes
- DATE: birthday, favorite holiday, favorite month
- TIME: when you woke up, went to bed, time it takes to get ready
- MATH: fractions, multiplication or division answers, values, problems (using cards), distance, weight
- LITERACY: story events (using cards) character appearance
- SOCIAL STUDIES: chronological events, presidents, country populations, state size
- SCIENCE: steps in a procedure, planet distance from sun, stages or phases
STRATEGY VARIATIONS
Younger students: mark the ends of the line-up with tape and label each end.
Characteristic Line-Ups: students sequence themselves using personal characteristics (distance from school or number of buttons they are wearing).
Item Line-Ups: students line-up using items on a card (fractions or decimals).
Estimate Line-Ups: students line-up according to their estimates (how many jelly beans do you think are in the jar?). Teachers can give a clue to the estimate, then give students time to discuss and then adjust their place in the line.
Probability Line-Ups: students line-up according to the probability of an event.
Team Line-Ups: instead of lining up as a whole class, students line up in their teams according to the criteria given.
Mix-N-Match Line-Ups: students use cards to match events with dates - then pairs line up in chronological order based on date.