Daily Assignment #49: Summarizer-4 Box Synectics

Synectics means bringing together diverse elements.  That is what you do when using this summarizer.

The teacher draws a large box and divides it into 4 quadrants. Students name 4 everyday objects, e.g. pencil, bike, car, comb.  The teacher writes one object in each quadrant.  Based on the topic studied, have the students brainstorm 3-5 similes for each word.

Example:

• How is the respiratory system like a pencil?  tree?  car?  comb?
• How is an atom like a...?
• How is a quadrilateral like a...?
• How is division like a...?
• How is dribbling like a...?
• How is/was Macbeth like a...?

This summarizer can be done as a whole group, small group, or with partners.  If in small groups or with partners, have students share out their favorites.

For students who have not yet studied similies, this strategy does not work.  They just don't understand how to make the connections.  So, I recommend this strategy for grades 4-12.

I hope you will take the opportunity to experiment with this strategy and then let us know how it goes.

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Best Effort,
Linda103