Postbox (McGrath & Noble, 2003,2008) This can be a good way to start a new topic.

Summary Students individually complete a survey and then each group collates the results for one survey question and reports the result to the class Number of Students Students work in groups of four Age Suitability Year 4-12

Materials needed (For six groups of four)

One survey sheet containing 6 questions for each student in the class Six post boxes clearly labelled 1 to 6 to represent the six questions asked in the survey. Little rubbish bins with push-in tops or shoe-boxes with slots in the lid make good boxes. You could also use large envelopes. Place them in different parts of the room Large Role Cards or Role Badges for each role (Optional)

Preparation (For six groups of four) Prepare a sheet containing six numbered survey questions relating to an aspect of the topic. Leave space underneath each question for students to write their answer and separate each question with a line that can be used cut up each question. Questions can be about:

Students experiences (eg Have you ever seen a rainforest and if so, where? Have you ever seen a movie about a natural disaster and ,if so, what kind? Personal opinions or preferences (eg which of the following fruits do you most like? What character in the story did you feel most sympathy for? Which party would you vote for if you were able to vote in the next election?) Questions designed to identify prior knowledge or lack of knowledge (eg what is photosynthesis?; Name an example of a marsupial)

All questions asked should be of the type that can be easily answered in a few words. Stress to students that their answers need to be brief.

Individual Accountability

Each student completes the first part of the task individually Each student also has one of these additional roles. It can be helpful (but not essential) for students to wear a role card on a cord around their neck or a role badge.

The Collector/Returner (Postman) The Spokesperson (Reporter) The Sorter (Answer Sorter) The Decision Coordinator (Decision Negotiator)

Collects the postbox allocated to their group and, after the activity has been completed, recycles the paper Reports on the results of their question

Organises the sorting of the answers into categories Helps the group to make negotiated decisions about categorisation and what should be reported

Step 1 Step 2

Step 3

Step 4 Step 5

Students answer the 6 survey questions by themselves and before being allocated to a group They cut out and post their answers to each question in the appropriate post box. Place the boxes as far apart as you can in the room and make sure they are clearly labelled by number. Youll need some crowd control here! After all students have posted their answers, allocate students to groups of four. Number each group from 1 to 6 to correspond to the six questions and the six boxes. The Collector from each group collects the numbered box that corresponds to their group number Each group sorts the answers from their box into no more than four categories and give the categories labels. Remind them not to lose the richness of their data by oversimplifying the categories. They should also record the number of answers given in each category and examples of the kinds of responses in each category.

Step 6

Each groups spokesperson presents their findings to the class, focusing on their four categories and how they defined each and the number of responses in each category (from most to least)

Social skills used in this activity Sharing X resources, workload and discussion space Active listening X Negotiation X Playing fairly

Conflict management skills

Respectful X disagreeing Positive tracking X Variations

Group (or pair) summarising Expressing an opinion in a nonpolarising way Suggesting and persuading instead of bulldozing & bossing Avoidance of putdowns Including others

X X

X X

You can show the six survey questions via an overhead transparency, data projector or interactive whiteboard and ask students to write down the numbers 1-6 i=on a sheet of paper with a space for an answer beneath each question. You could create simple post on each boxes by simply placing six sheets of coloured paper with a picture of as post box (labelled a 1-6) around the room.