Teaching Strategy
Socratic Seminar
A Socratic Seminar invites students to facilitate a discussion in order to work together toward a shared understanding of a text.
Subject
- Advisory
- Civics & Citizenship
- English & Language Arts
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12Language
English — USPublished
Overview
What Is a Socratic Seminar?
In a Socratic Seminar activity, students help one another understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in a text through a group discussion format. Students are responsible for facilitating their group discussion around the ideas in the text; they shouldn’t use the discussion to assert their opinions or prove an argument.
Through this type of discussion, students practice how to listen to one another, make meaning, and find common ground while participating in a conversation.
Lesson Plans
How to Conduct a Socratic Seminar
Inspiration, insights, & ways to get involved
Subscribe to our email updates