ABC Graffiti: Alphabetizing Historical Concepts as a

Building Block for Historical Understanding

Students brainstorm information from the reading, work collaboratively to synthesize this information in prose, and develop thesis statements about the reading to capture the key social studies concepts. This final step is a great jump-start for individual student writing. The process is outlined in the following steps:

1.     Students read selected texts (including a variety of primary, secondary, and fictional texts), and then complete ABC Graffiti sheet individually. Students are expected to brainstorm concepts from the reading that begin with the letters of the alphabet. Ideas can be either a single word or a phrase. Students should not be allowed to use the text. Give students approximately 3 minutes to complete the task.

2.     Organize students into four groups. Arrange groups in small circles that comprise a diamond or circular shape. This configuration will be helpful when rotating papers between groups. Groups collectively complete one ABC Graffiti sheet. This is completed in the same manner as #1, but the task is a collaborative effort. Give groups approximately 5 minutes to accomplish the task.

3.     Collect ABC Graffiti sheets from each group and distribute them to another group. Once papers are distributed, each group continues the brainstorming process on another group’s ABC Graffiti sheet. Give groups approximately 5 minutes to accomplish the task.

4.     Collect ABC Graffiti sheets from each group and distribute them to the third group. This time, however, students will be allowed to use the text to brainstorm concepts. Give groups approximately 10 minutes to accomplish the task.

5.     Collect ABC Graffiti sheets from each group and distribute them to the fourth group. The task is different in this rotation. Groups will be asked to evaluate and synthesize the list of ABC concepts in a summary paragraph. The summary paragraph should integrate all concepts in an organized manner. Give groups approximately 15 minutes to accomplish the task.

6.     Collect ABC Graffiti sheets from each group and distribute paper to the original group. Groups should synthesize the summary paragraph and write a thesis statement that describes the meaning of the concepts identified. Give groups approximately 10-15 minutes to accomplish the task.

At the conclusion of this rotation, each group shares their summary paragraph and thesis statement. A brief discussion is conducted to highlight important concepts from the text. The discussion focuses on points identified in the summary paragraphs and thesis statements. Teachers may also require students to write individually about the text. The writing prompt will be the thesis statement that their group developed.