ABC Brainstorm

A quick before unit/reading strategy for teacher and students to assess knowledge of a topic

Example:

Students use the ABC Brainstorm chart to generate terms in a ninth grade Biology classroom.

Online Sample: YouTube

Purpose

To assess students’ vocabulary, ability to brainstorm and spelling knowledge.

Procedure

1. Introduce the brainstorming activity.
2. Share an example or model briefly how to brainstorm and write down ideas.
3. Choose a topic: choose a word related to a topic that students know about and are motivated to discuss.
4. Give students two minutes to write down as many words about the topic/word as possible (one for each letter of the alphabet).

Modifications and extensions:

1. Students can complete brainstorm in vocabulary notebook or be given a brainstorm sheet.
2. Students can work in groups. Divide students into groups to discuss and combine their individually ideas. Have students serve as a scribe, timekeeper, discussion facilitator, and reporter. After a few minutes, the reporters share their group’s ideas.