Description: The Jigsaw strategy involves students reading different selections and sharing the information from that reading with a group or whole class. The reading assignment can be divided among group members to allow some students to receive more challenging text. A Jigsaw may focus students in one of three main ways.
Students jigsaw to read different sections of a textbook chapter, different short stories following a similar theme, or stories by the same author.
Students might jigsaw around a certain topic of research using multiple text to gather information. Some examples include health issues of obesity, problems involving the environment, causes of World War I or how to determine the amount of tile needed to cover a floor.
Students jigsaw to research independently within a group. Each group would be responsible for one area of study within a generalized topic.
Step-by-Step
- Determine the text to be used, either a textbook chapter or identify a range of materials related to specific topics addressed in a lesson. Consider the skill level of students to determine appropriate text difficulty and interest level.
- Organize students into cooperative groups, assigning each group their reading selection.
- Students read selections independently. Encourage students to make notes on the text or use sticky notes to interact with the text.
- Upon completing the selections, students who read the same text are grouped together to discuss the contents, concepts, information and to share their notes. Students will then share a summary of all the information gathered. They might summarize key points, design a concept map, use a graphic organizer, or highlight a set of notes. Teachers may collect these and copy them for the class, giving each student his/her own personal set.
- Students return to their original groups and each member shares his/her information from the assigned selection. The rest of the group is responsible for learning each section. When each member has presented, the entire reading selection has been covered.