Tips for Making Scientist Circles Work - OpenSciEd
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Tips for Making Scientist Circles Work

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Short tips for using scientist circles in the OpenSciEd curriculum to promote student-centered science discussions through strategic use, clear routines, and creative setups.

Poster titled “Making Scientist Circles Work” with four tips for teachers to help students talk and learn from each other: Use them Strategically – Only use scientist circles when important sensemaking is needed, not for every discussion. Set it Up – Explicitly teach and practice with students how to enter and exit the circle efficiently. Share the Why – Tell students why you are in a circle, emphasizing that their ideas matter and encouraging them to talk to each other, not just to the teacher. Be Creative – If space is limited, try standing circles or having students sit on desks. The setup doesn’t need to be a literal circle, but students should face each other at a similar level. Footer shows the OpenSciEd logo and Creative Commons icons.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NC+ License.

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