Graffiti Board Webs

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 graffiti board activity, students should organize their
writing in a specific way
i. Challenge in the center
ii. Solution(s) sprouting off, to form a kind of web
Explanation of strategy
a. Students should remain quiet throughout this activity. What
matters is each individual idea.
b. Students must write at least one challenge and at least two
solutions.
i. Solution can be for their own challenge or another
challenge
c. If a student sees a challenge or solution that they wanted to
write, they can put a check next to it.
Invite students to the board
a. Give students 10-15 minutes for silent writing on the graffiti
board
b. Time can always be extended as students continue writing.
Dive into discussion
a. Bring class back together, ideally seated on the floor or at desks
(board must be visible to all)
b. Ask students to summarize what they see on the board
c. Encourage discussion of popular/relevant/pressing challenges (as
evidenced by check marks)