By Mrs Martin (Head of Year 3)

Chalk talk is a teaching technique that encourages pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in a collaborative fashion. Last week, to initiate their new Unit of Inquiry, Year 3 used the chalk talk method to explain their understanding of organisations.

In this case, the Year 3 girls were given a piece of paper with the word "organisations' ' written in the middle. They were then asked to draw or write anything that came to mind when they thought about this word. The girls worked collaboratively creating a colourful and diverse range of ideas and images. After 10 minutes they were asked to share their chalk talk sheets with the rest of the class. This involved sharing words that came to mind and identifying commonalities. The girls made deep connections with their previous Units of Inquiry and drew upon their understanding of the verb to be organised. 

One particularly interesting aspect of the chalk talk was the way in which the girls' ideas built on each other. For example, one girl understood BGS to be an organisation, with teachers and students working together. Another girl added to this by explaining that Student Voice as an organisation within this, showing how students could be involved in decision-making and leadership within the school.

Overall, the Year 3 girls' use of the chalk talk method to explain their understanding of organisations was a great success. Their colourful and diverse range of ideas showed a good understanding of the topic, and their collaborative approach demonstrated the power of working together to build on each other's ideas.