Fishbowls feature a small interior circle of participants surrounded by a larger outside circle of participants. While the inside group of participants engage in a discussion, the outside group is free to listen and to share questions with classmates standing beside them.
Hamilton 2023
Fishbowl activities provide an opportunity for students to learn from each other as they observe and notice other students engaging in a task.
As the teacher, you divide students into two groups: those observing and those doing the task. Those students who are observing form a circle, or “fishbowl”, around the small group who continue to work on the task. The observing students actively watch and listen, and only share questions with those standing next to them. You may provide some prompts to focus their observations.
A discussion should be held at the end of the task or observation period, for students to reflect on what they observed, and to provide opportunity for the students doing the task to respond to questions and comments so that their thinking and strategies are clearly understood by all.
Discuss with your colleagues:
- What opportunities does this activity offer students?
- What other activities do you use with your students which provide similar opportunities for learning?
References
Hamilton, D. (2023). Exploring Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches to Inquiry through Fishbowl Role Plays. Active Learning for Real-World Inquiry.
Lipmanowicz, H. & McCandless, K. (2014). The surprising power of liberating structures: simple rules to unleash a culture of innovation. Liberating Structures Press