This document describes the literacy strategy of "Cubing" which can be used to help students explore and review topics. With Cubing, students analyze a topic from six different dimensions or perspectives, represented by the six sides of a cube. Students work individually or in groups to brainstorm and write about the topic from dimensions like describe, compare, analyze, and argue for or against. The strategy provides students a structured approach to demonstrating their understanding of topics studied in class.

1. LITERACY STRATEGY # 11 “CUBING ” Jessica L. Sep úlveda Rivera

2. CUBING: GRADES 3-8 With this strategy students explore a topic from six dimensions or viewpoints. The name comes from the fact that cubes have six sides. Students can use the cube as a way to review a topic they have been studying. This way is less formal and focuses on using cubing as a tool for learning Cubes can also be used to demonstrate what they have learned during a thematic unit. This way is more formal and students use the writing process to draft, revise and edit their writing for each side of the cube. Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

3. SIX DIMENSIONS Describe the topic, including its colors, shapes and sizes. Compare the topic to something else. Consider how it is similar to or different from this other thing. Associate the topic to something else and explain why the topic makes you think of this other thing. Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

4. SIX DIMENSIONS Analyze the topic and tell how it is made or what it is composed of. Apply the topic and tell how it can be used or what can be down with it. Argue for or against this topic. Take a stand and list reasons to support it. Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

5. STEP BY STEP 1. Choose a topic. Students choose a topic related to a literature focus unit or thematic unit for the cubing 2. Divide students into groups. Students will work in six small groups; each group examines from one of the six dimension. As an alternative, teachers can divide the students in to six-member groups and have each group cube the topic (each member in each group will examine the topic from one of the six dimensions and the group will create a cube). Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

6. STEP BY STEP 3. Brainstorm. Students brainstorm ideas about the dimension and write a quickwrite or make a drawing using the ideas gathered though brainstorming. 4. Complete the cube. Students can share their quickwrites with the class then attach them to the sides of the box. Students can also construct a cube by folding and gluing cardboard or paper into a six-sided box. Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

7. CUBING: GRADES K-2 The cubing exercise is an excellent students of all ages. However for the younger grades I recommend making some simple modifications to the content of the cube. For example the Story Elements Cube. This cube consisted of: Characters Setting Plot Problem/Solution or the student’s favorite scene Point of View Theme Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

8. CUBE DESIGN Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera

9. REFERENCE Tompkins, G. E. (2004). 50 Literacy Strategies: Step by Step . New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. Jessica L. Sepúlveda Rivera