Watch, Think, Talk, Present, Reflect
The five steps take about 20 minutes after the film. The last step puts the screen down and says it out loud, so children leave with something to tell. Twenty minutes is a guide. Your own timing wins.
- 1
Watch
Choose a film that suits the age group and play it to the whole class. No talking while it plays. Each child keeps what they saw for themselves.
- 2
Think
The film ends. Read one question aloud. Everyone thinks in silence. There is no right answer and nothing to mark.
- 3
Talk
Children turn to the person next to them, or form groups of about five, and take turns hearing a view that is not their own. You walk around and listen to a few groups. You do not have to hear them all and you do not have to take notes.
- 4
Present
Every child is invited to take a turn to lead and to tell, not only the confident ones, and no one is made to. Anyone who would rather draw or write can do that instead.
- 5
Reflect
Each child sums up what they took from it in their own way. Speak, draw or write one line in a notebook. No one marks it. No homework.
Short on time? One question, three minutes.
When the film ends, read one question aloud, once. Children think in silence, then turn to the person next to them and take about half a minute each. You listen in on a few pairs. Three minutes at most. Ready when you are.
Use it like this all year if you like. You know your class best.
Start with the age of the class
3 to 5
Sit in one big circle and ask the whole class one question. Listen to whoever wants to tell. Children who do not want to speak can draw.
6 to 8
Start with pairs. When the class is used to it, after about a month, move to groups of three.
9 to 14
Groups of about five work. Children this age can wait for a friend to finish. Everyone is invited to take a turn. No one has to.
15 to 18
Let students choose. They can join a group, talk in pairs or write alone in a notebook.
The same rules at every age. No marks. No competing. No groups by ability. Change group members every month.
Another way in for every child
Drawing, a voice note, a gesture, or the language a child speaks at home. Any of these counts as an answer. You do not need to tell us anything about a child. No paperwork.
