For first-time teachers

Start here

What is this?: Students ask questions, discover shared interests with classmates, record them, and watch a live word cloud grow into a Connection Constellation they discuss.
How long does it take?: About 5 minutes to set up. Quick Start runs in 30–45 minutes; the Full Lesson takes 75–90.
What do I need?: A projector and a few shared student devices. No printing required.
How do I start?: Choose Quick Start: pick a grade, paste names, press Start Discovery.

Quick Start — No Printing Explore the Full Lesson

Full lesson · optional ways to deepen learning

Before, during & after

Bold steps are what to do; shaded notes explain why it matters.

BEFORE THE LESSON

Prepare materials and routines

What to do: Upload the roster, print bingo and conversation cards on cardstock, set up devices, and rehearse your attention signal with the class.
Why it matters: Clear routines free students to focus on people instead of logistics.
What to listen for: Questions about what to do if a device is busy or a partner is unsure.
How to respond: Name the routine: "If the device is busy, keep talking and come back."

Model good questions

What to do: Run the shallow vs. developed conversation demo. Ask, "What made one conversation more interesting?"
Why it matters: Students build principles of questioning themselves, which sticks better than a list you give them.
What to listen for: Ideas like "asked again," "wanted to know more," "got specific."
How to respond: Write their words on the board. Then connect them to the follow-up questions.

Provide language before writing

What to do: Hand out conversation cards. Have partners rehearse one opening and two follow-ups out loud.
Why it matters: Oral rehearsal lowers anxiety and supports multilingual learners.
What to listen for: Students stuck after the first answer.
How to respond: Point to "Which ones?" or "Can you tell me more?" on the card.

Set inclusive expectations

What to do: Explain that everyone talks with many classmates, that quiet participation is welcome, and that students choose which discoveries to record.
Why it matters: Students should feel safe regardless of how many matches they find.
What to listen for: Worry about not finding anything in common.
How to respond: "Differences are interesting too. Ask more — you might find something specific."

DURING THE LESSON

Scaffold follow-up conversations

What to do: Circulate. Coach pairs to ask at least two follow-ups before recording.
Why it matters: The goal is genuine conversation, not collecting names.
What to listen for: Pairs recording broad interests like "music."
How to respond: "Which artist? Which song? Get specific together."

Encourage genuine curiosity

What to do: Notice and name real curiosity aloud: "I heard someone ask why — great follow-up."
Why it matters: Public praise for behaviors (not results) shapes the classroom culture.
What to listen for: Rushed, checklist-style exchanges.
How to respond: Pause the class with your attention signal and re-model one follow-up.

Monitor participation privately

What to do: Use your private dashboard to see who hasn't recorded yet. Quietly suggest a partner or join a conversation.
Why it matters: Participation gaps can have many causes and must never be made public.
What to listen for: Students hovering at the edges.
How to respond: Invite them warmly into a small group; never announce who is missing.

Keep the data trustworthy

What to do: Merge misspellings and remove accidental submissions from the dashboard.
Why it matters: Students will analyze this data; clean data leads to better thinking.
What to listen for: Different spellings for the same interest.
How to respond: Merge them quietly, or ask the class how they'd like to name it.

AFTER THE LESSON

Lead evidence-based discussion

What to do: Reveal the constellation, then use Notice → Interpret → Support → Question → Reconsider.
Why it matters: Separating observation from interpretation builds data literacy.
What to listen for: Claims that jump to conclusions ("Everyone likes…").
How to respond: "What on the screen shows that? How many students is that, really?"

Challenge assumptions respectfully

What to do: Pose the featured question: what does this make easy to believe that might not be true?
Why it matters: This visualization only shows what was recorded — not everything people share.
What to listen for: Assumptions that few lines means few friends.
How to respond: "What else could explain that? What didn't we record?"

Use student-generated data critically

What to do: Ask how the way data was collected shaped the picture (time, choice of what to record, spelling).
Why it matters: Students learn that all data reflects how it was gathered.
What to listen for: "We only had 15 minutes," "We picked our favorites."
How to respond: Affirm and extend: "So what would a fairer picture need?"

Talk before writing

What to do: Use turn-and-talk with sentence stems before any extension activity.
Why it matters: Spoken thinking becomes stronger written thinking.
What to listen for: Ideas students can build on in writing.
How to respond: "Hold on to that sentence — it could start your piece."

Teaching toolkit

Modeling, multi-turn examples, starters and follow-ups, grade-specific language supports, the optional Farmyard routine, evidence-based discussion and creative extensions.

Open teaching toolkit Printable bingo & conversation cards