RSTAQ: Tips

Remedial and Support Teachers' Association
of Queensland

›› Tips

Contents jigsaw - cooperative activity

Some children find it difficult to see the organisation on material, to realise that knowledge can be organised in different ways. This activity helps children draw on their own knowledge to understand the organisation underlying chapters in a book.

The activity was originally devised for Middle Primary boys with reading difficulties.

Purpose
To help children think about how the information in the book had been organised.

Materials
Chapter headings typed onto separate strips (16 or 18 pt - depending on typeface).

A selection of sub-headings from the body of the text typed on separate strips in smaller point size 12 or 14 pt).

Large sheet or clear desk top or wall space

Glue or Bluetak

Procedure
Give chapter headings to the students. They collaboratively reassemble the headings into a table of contents.

Sometimes order will be important; sometimes not. The discussion around justifying their choice of heading order is always important.

Once they have all agreed on the order, they check the book, identify and discuss any differences.

Fix the strips to a large sheet of paper or to the table top, or wall.

Present a selection of subheadings from the body of the text.

Each student draws one or several strips and tries to match a sub-heading with the most likely chapter heading.

Discussion and helping each other is encouraged.