Connect 4 Thinking

Purpose

Students make connections between a concept or text and other words, ideas, or visuals.

Materials

• Concept or text
• Connect 4 Thinking handout
• Connect 4 Thinking template (English/Spanish)
• Notebook or chart paper (if handout is projected)

Instructions

1. Project or distribute the Connect 4 Thinking handout.
2. Using the handout to organize their thinking, students analyze the concept or text by making 4 different connections such as:
   • Synonym or antonym
   • Analogy or real-life connection
   • Quick sketch or visual
   • Example or non-example
   • Another term, concept, or text
   • Genre demands
   • Assessment item
3. Using a movement and discourse strategy such as Musical Mix-Freeze-Group, students share and compare their learning connections and add new ideas.
4. Observe students’ thinking and clarify/verify as appropriate.

Classroom Management

• Model the strategy using a think-aloud.
• Time Saver: Project the template and ask students to record connections on notebook or chart paper.

Differentiation

• Promote access by partnering students with a supportive peer/adult and allowing the use of teacher/student notes and visuals.
• Provide response support by providing an idea/word bank and allowing students to dictate responses to a scribe.
• Provide response support by allowing students to develop responses using a speech-to-text or word prediction support with a digital version of the Connect 4 Thinking template.

Think It Up!

• Have students think more deeply about the concept by responding to a Think It Up prompt as an exit ticket or journal entry:
  • Justify which connections help you understand and remember this concept best.
  • Write a paragraph summarizing the 2 most important connections you made.
• Encourage students to use lead4ward’s Thinking Stems (English/Spanish) to frame their responses, if needed.