Graffiti Board

What is it?
Graffiti Boards are a fun way to engage students in whole-class written
discussion. All you need is a very large sheet of paper, a whiteboard, or a
chalkboard. This strategy is beneficial because its easy for everyone in the
class to track the thought processes of participants.
How does it work?
I.

II.

III.
IV.

Preparation
a. Large writing surfaces that can allow multiple students to write at once
(the more the better). Butcher paper or white/blackboard would work
well.
b. Lots of writing utensils--markers work better than pens or pencils so
writing can be seen from a distance.
c. For this specific graffiti board activity, four boards are needed with a
question on each:
i. What rights do we have that entitle us to a school garden?
1. (Why should we have it)
ii. Whose responsibility is it to build and maintain the garden?
iii. Does the garden meet any community needs or wants? If so,
what?
iv. How will this affect students, school staff (teachers,
administration, groundskeepers, etc.), parents, and neighbors
(the community)?
1. (multiple perspectives)
Explanation of strategy
a. Students should remain quiet throughout this activity. What matters is
each individual opinion.
b. Students must write their own response to each prompt.
c. Students may also respond to peer comments.
i. Lines/arrows should be drawn to connect comments/responses
Invite students to the board.
a. Give students 5-10 minutes for silent writing on the graffiti board.
b. Time can always be extended as students continue writing.
Dive into discussion
a. On doc cam, have students help organize different opinions
b. Ask students to summarize what they see on the board