Town Hall Circle

Step One: Preparation
Select four-six readings on the same topic representing different perspectives.

Step Two: Reading in “expert” groups
Divide the class into four-six groups (depending on the number of readings) and assign each group one of the readings. Give students the opportunity to read. Some groups may prefer to read the text aloud after each student has also had the opportunity to read the text silently. Then, students discuss the reading among themselves answering questions such as: What is this reading about? What are the main ideas and facts presented? Why are these ideas relevant or important? From whose perspective is this text written? How might that influence the ideas expressed in the text? Students appoint one person in their group to summarize their reading to the class. (See the Assigning Roles teaching strategy for more ideas about other roles you might assign to help students work more independently.)

Step Three: “Town hall” discussion – Part 1: Summaries
Arrange chairs in a circle, providing one chair per group. The person assigned to summarize for each group sits in the chair. The other students then form a larger standing circle around the chairs. Make it clear that each student in the class will have an opportunity to be heard. Students can only speak when they have entered the circle and are seated. Then, each representative summarizes the reading assigned to the group. It is important that no analysis or interpretation is allowed at this point. Just the facts.  

Step Four: “Town hall” discussion – Part 2: Comments and questions
After all readings have been summarized invite students seated in the circle to comment on what they have heard or to ask one of their peers a question. Students in the outer circle are then allowed to enter the conversation by "tapping" the shoulder of someone in their own group and taking their seat. The only way to enter or leave the discussion is by this process.

Step Five: Debrief
After the discussion, give students the opportunity to reflect on the following questions in their journals and/or through a class discussion:

• What did you learn from this activity?
• How did your ideas about the topic change during this activity, if at all? Explain what caused your ideas to change or why you think your ideas did not change at all.
• What does perspective mean? Where does our perspective come from? How does our perspective shape how we see the world? Draw from particular examples from this activity when answering these questions.