Gallery Walk – A Walk on the Thinking Side

I like to call this strategy “worksheet on the wall.” However, unlike the typical worksheet, Gallery Walks

provide learners with an opportunity to get up and move around, talk to fellow peers and, best of all, THINK!

You, the teacher, act as the question designer and facilitator. This strategy can be modified for any grade level

and content area.

Before You Begin:

• Think about a concept(s) and/or problem(s) your students may have/have had a difficult time

understanding/solving.

• Design and type up a question for the number of groups you have organized in your

classroom; for example, I had six groups of four in my room, therefore I designed six

questions/actions.

• Tape each question around your classroom on a piece of chart paper. Allow some space

between each question/chart paper.

• Have a different colored marker for each of your groups.

The Walk:

• Invite students to the Gallery Walk by reading over each of the questions or statements

hanging around the room.

• Tell them that they will be working in their groups thinking and responding to each

question/statement. For the first question/statement, they are to read each question, discuss

their responses, and one person will write. *Depending on the question/action, you may want

them to write their responses using complete sentences.

• Hand out one marker per group; each group should have a different color.

• Assign groups to a question/chart paper.

• *Depending on the question/statement, allow enough time for groups to think, discuss, write

and revise.

• Tell groups that once they are finished writing and revising their responses they are to turn

around and look at you. This is your sign to know that they are finished.

• Walk around to groups and listen to the discussion, providing assistance only when needed.

Be their cheerleader and facilitator.

• Once everyone is finished, ask students to move clockwise to the next question/statement,

HOWEVER THIS TIME THEY ARE TO READ THE QUESTION/STATEMENT AS

WELL AS THE PREVIOUS GROUPS’ RESPONSE. THEY MAY NOT REPEAT.

ALSO, ON THE CHART PAPER THERE SHOULD BE SPACE FOR GROUPS TO

MAKE SUGGESTIONS, AGREE WITH, OR ASK QUESTIONS (i.e. CHECKS OR

QUESTION MARKS) TO THE PREVIOUS GROUPS’ RESPONSES.

• Continue until all questions/statements are complete. You may wish to assess the responses, but

please tell the class your intentions before the Gallery Walk begins.

• Extension: Once the rotation is complete, have groups with the question marks defend theirresponses to the rest of the class.