Rainbow Groups Discussion Strategy: Explanation
This activity generates two discussions.
In the first, a series of different groups discuss different topics.
In the second, the members of those groups disband and then re-form in new groupings to share the results of their initial discussions.
It works as follows:
Begin by dividing the class into groups of five.
Provide each group with a different topic or question that they are to discuss.
This might be supplemented by some resources that learners are to investigate (with the results forming the basis of their discussions).
How long is needed for this part of the activity will vary according to the age levels in your class and the topic under consideration.
Ten to fifteen minutes is usually about right.
There may need to be some structure or direction to help learners maintain their discussions. This could be in the form of a set of questions to work through or a handout that needs to be filled in.
Next, take enough colours to cover each member of each group.
So, if we have groups containing five learners, red, green, orange, yellow and blue will be enough.
Assign each group member a different colour.
Ask the groups to disband.
Explain that the new groups will be formed by the colours banding together.
All the learners who were assigned ‘red’ will form a new group, as will all the learners who were assigned ‘green’, and so on.
Each member of the new colour-coded groups takes it in turn to relay what was discussed in their original group.
These reports are discussed in turn.
At the conclusion of the final report and discussion, the group reflects on all that has been said and looks for connections between the various things that have been shared.
Rainbow Groups Discussion Strategy: Example
Topic: The Great Depression
There are twenty-five learners. The teacher divides the class into five groups, each containing five learners.
The areas for discussion are distributed as follows:
- Group One: How influential was the stock market crash of 1929?
- Group Two: Were the banks to blame?
- Group Three: What role was played by consumer spending?
- Group Four: Was the Great Depression hastened by America’s protectionist policies?
- Group Five: Would things have been the same if there had not been a drought in 1930?
In this example, the class have already spent time studying the main topic. The activity is being used to apply prior knowledge, to compare different perspectives, and to evaluate arguments.
This means each group can easily spend ten to fifteen minutes discussing and reviewing their question, especially when supported by a set of general questions provided by the teacher as a scaffold.
Once the time is up, the members of each group have a colour assigned to them.
These could be the same colours as those used above: red, green, orange, yellow and blue.
The new, colour-coded groups come together.
Each has a representative from one of the five earlier discussions.
Therefore, each new group gets the opportunity to hear a synthesised account of the points made in the first part of the activity.
Further discussion ensues in which learners contrast the different questions and try to come to a reasoned decision about the most important cause of The Great Depression.
Rainbow Groups Discussion Strategy: Extensions and Developments
- Used in the manner outlined in the example, this activity is excellent preparation for a piece of extended writing. It gives learners the chance to rehearse a range of arguments, to hear the results of other people’s investigations, and to make connections between different elements of a topic.
- In the first part of the activity, assign the role of scribe to one member of each group. This person should make detailed notes of what is discussed. The teacher can then collect these in, photocopy them, and create a booklet to hand out to learners in the next lesson.
