This document outlines a teaching strategy called "The Four Corners" which involves generating discussion topics, having students physically move to different corners of the room to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement, and discussing their opinions. It describes the four steps: 1) Preparation of topics and labeling corners, 2) Introducing topics, 3) Having students move to corners and discuss their views, and 4) Having a reflection on how students' beliefs were changed or reinforced. The goal is to get students actively engaging with controversial topics and understanding different perspectives through questioning peers in an interactive way.

1. The Four Corners
A Teaching Strategy
BY JESSE BUCK

2. Step One: Preparation
 Label the four corners of the room: 1st-
Strongly Agree, 2nd- Agree, 3rd-
Disagree, 4th- Strongly Disagree.
 Generate a list of possible discussion
points.
 Make sure points are vague enough to
allow for discussion.
 Controversial topics are preferable
because they encourage in depth
discussions.

3. Step 2: Introduce Topics
 Distribute the list of
topics.
 Allow the students time
to write down their
opinions to the topics.
 Tell the students to
explain their opinions.

4. Step 3: Four Corner Discussions
 Start off stating one of the topics out loud for the class.
 After the question is stated, tell the students to go to whichever
corner that is marked with their opinion of the topic.
 Once students are in their places, ask the students for volunteers
to explain their opinions from each corner.
 Encourage students to switch corners if an opinion is stated that
encourages a change of mind.
 Encourage students to ask question the opinions of other
students.

5. Step 4: Reflection
 There are many ways that this strategy can be
debriefed.
 One way is to ask the students how they feel
like this exercise changed or reaffirmed their
original beliefs.
 Many students may feel uncomfortable with
the results of this exercise.
 That is a good thing, because it shows that a
student is actively trying to understand and
learn.