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Strategy 1: Making Connections — Activity 2

Connections Text Walk

Small groups (3–5 students) 30–45 minutes

Overview

A collaborative gallery walk where five to eight text extracts are placed around the room on A3 paper. Small groups rotate between extracts at timed intervals, reading, discussing and annotating each extract for connections. Groups respond to other groups' notes, creating a layered, collaborative reading of the text.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Select five to eight key extracts from the text being studied. Print each onto A3 paper or stick them onto large sheets, leaving space for annotations.
  2. Place the extracts at stations around the room.
  3. Divide the class into groups (one per station). Assign each group a different coloured marker.
  4. At each station, groups read the extract and annotate it with connections (TTS, TTT, TTW) and brief explanations. Set a timer for 3–5 minutes per station.
  5. When the timer sounds, groups rotate clockwise to the next station. They read the extract and the previous group's annotations, then add their own connections. They may respond to, agree with, or challenge earlier annotations.
  6. Continue until all groups have visited all stations (or a set number of stations).
  7. Bring the class together. Each group presents the most interesting connections they found across their walk.

Tips

  • Choose extracts that are rich with potential connections — key scenes, turning points, or thematically dense passages.
  • Encourage groups to respond to previous groups' annotations, not just add their own.
  • For shorter lessons, reduce to 3–4 stations and have groups visit each one for longer.

More Making Connections Activities

Student Handout

Ready to print or download as PDF

Making Connections practicalreadingstrategies.com

Connections Text Walk — Station Response

At each station, read the extract and add your connections. Build on what previous groups have written.

Station #Key connection we addedType