Teaching Strategies

Concept Circles

How To Use Concept Circles
Draw circles divided into four sectors. Each sector stores information about a concept such as: the term, the definition written out in full, the symbol, the name of the unit. The teacher fills in two or three of the sectors and the students work independently to fill in the missing information. The students then work in pairs discussing answers using mathematical language. The students focus on the answers that are different and also on the reasoning behind the answers that are the same. This is followed by full class discussion if needed.

The Benefits of Concept Circles
Concept circles can be used at the beginning of a unit to clarify to both students and teacher what is known and what needs to be learned. They can be used during and at the end of a unit for revision. A visual summary of concepts can be a useful memory prompt.

Example of Concept Circles: Year 11 Science (Physics: Forces, Motion and Energy)

Adapted from material by Barbara Mcgowan.