The jigsaw strategy is a cooperative learning technique where students are broken into expert groups to learn about subtopics of a larger topic, then return to home groups to teach their subtopic to their group members. This helps build comprehension as students must learn to become experts and teach others. It encourages collaboration as students work with different group members to collectively learn the entire topic. The jigsaw strategy involves breaking students into home groups, then expert groups to research subtopics, before returning to home groups to teach their subtopic and combine all pieces of the puzzle.

2. What is Jigsaw?
• Multi-step strategy in which students cooperatively learn
about a topic.
• Students break into small group and each member becomes
an “expert” in a specific subtopic that relates to the topic.
• Once they master the important information from the
specific sub topic, they meet with members from the other
groups in class who are experts in that same topic.
• Return back to their home base group teach the information
to all members of the group.

3. Why use Jigsaw?
• Helps to build comprehension
• Encourages cooperative learning and collaboration with
classmates
• Can help to improve listening, communication, and problem-
solving skills.
• Allows students to become experts, and teachers.
• All students feel are a vital part of the group.

4. Each student represents an essential piece
of the jigsaw puzzle and when they work
together, the puzzle is complete.

5. Jigsaw In 9 Easy Steps:
1. Discuss framework, rules, and time management with groups.
2. Group students heterogeneously into a “home group”. Usually 4-5
students per group depending on class size.
3. Identify a topic and four different subtopics with appropriate grade
leveled readings.
4. Create "expert groups" that consist of one student from each "home
groups" who are reading the same text selection.

6. 5. Provide key questions to help the "expert groups" gather
information in their particular area.
6. Provide appropriate resources and materials that are
available to students to learn about their topics.
7. Instruct the students to go back to their home groups to
share their expertise with classmates.
8. Have the students prepare their own summary or graphic
organizer that documents the experts; information.
9. Each home base will share their findings with the class.
Jigsaw In 9 Easy Steps:

7. Example:

8. Possible Topics For Jigsaw
• Life cycle of a plant
• Water Cycle
• Peer Editing Steps
• The Writing Process
• Seasons
• Authors
• Characteristics of a specific Genre
Etc…