Taboo is a collaborative learning technique where students work in groups to describe a topic to other group members without using forbidden "taboo" words related to the topic. The activity involves preparing a list of taboo words for a topic, splitting into groups, giving each group the topic and taboo words, and having group members take turns describing the topic while avoiding the taboo words. Variations include allowing groups to add more taboo words after correctly guessing the topic to increase difficulty. The purpose is to familiarize students with a topic through creative word association while applying and creating with constraints.

1. TABOO
BY: XOCHITL REGALADO AND KATE ULRICH

2. WHAT IS TABOO?
• Taboo is a Collaborative Learning Technique that is used to gain information about a
specific topic by relating other words to it.
• It also helps familiarize students with the topic by supporting background
information.

3. HOW AND WHEN ITS USED
• The average group size: 4
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: Apply & Create
• Time on task: approximately 35-40 minutes
• Transferability:
• Online– video chat, discussion, live chat (message)
• One-on-one– adaptable, works well with small class size

4. ACTING IT OUT
1. Prepare a list of words and terms that are not allowed to be used to describe the
object in question.
2. Split into groups using a creative method.
3. Give the group members the card with the topic along with the taboo words.
4. To the best of their ability, try to describe the word to the other member(s).
1. Remembering not to say the word itself or those considered taboo.

5. VARIATIONS
• After correctly guessing the word/phrase that team can add more taboo words to
the card to provide an even bigger challenge to the next group.
• If students are struggling, as a last resort, you can use one of the taboo words under
the topic.

6. CONCLUSION
• Report out….Stand up and share
• The purpose of this activity was to give the students more knowledge of the states
and be able to apply what they learned from the Kahoot to the next activty.
• To make others aware of the may facinating facts of other states.