For teachers and coaches
The thinking trail
15 minutes · all levels · individual work
What the children learnthink for themselves first, then explain their own solution. You see how each child thinks and where they need help.
What you needtwo exercises the children have not solved yet, on a topic already covered. Plus a spare exercise for children who finish early. Each child has a workbook, pencil, coloured pencil and a cover sheet.
How it goes
- The children cover old solutions in the workbook. Everyone solves exercise 1 alone and quietly. They write the move in the workbook; in Level 1 and 2 they draw an arrow. A child who is unsure writes a question mark.6 minutes
- Each pair explains their solutions to each other. The partner asks: “What can the opponent do?”3 minutes
- You show the right solution at the front. Anyone who was wrong corrects with the coloured pencil. The first answer stays.3 minutes
- Solve exercise 2 alone, then show the solution.3 minutes
From Level 3
exercise 1 may be harder. Show it at the front; play other possibilities only when you check.
Tip
a question mark is not a mistake. If many children cannot go on, give everyone the same small hint and leave out exercise 2.
Odd numbers
in the group of three, the three children explain their solutions in turn.
In a large class
the children at the table compare. Listen more carefully to the children on the Listening list (see Organisation).