In my
school the Language Assistants (within the Project “Sharing to Learn”) and I have used a
technique called “Lotus Blossom” with our students of grade 4 and grade
6.
The purpose of
Lotus Blossom is to generate ideas that are connected to other ideas to stir
speaking up. I use it in my classes as a way to present specific structures of
language, practice fluency and for students to generate content to fit into a
structured conversation.
This is a basic step by step for using
Lotus Blossom:
1. Draw a
circle on a cardboard. Write the context, idea or question that will generate
conversation for the lotus blossom. For example: Where do you want to go in summer?
2. Elicit one
or two answers for the first stage of the idea generation on the board. For
example: Explain that students can think of many different places to go. Pass out post it notes and have Ss use post
it notes to put the words around the circle (as they continue to be added will
give this the look of a real flower).
3. Circulate
as Ss write information to the first idea. When finished draw Ss attention to
the cardboard. Review previously elicited ideas. Now ask the second question.
For example: Who do you want to go with?
4. Allow time for the Ss to write the
second tier.
6. When
finished draw Ss attention to the cardboard. Elicit the third tier. For
example: What are you going to do there?
Model with three additional answers. Have Ss write on a post it and complete
the third tier.
7. Once
finished introduce the structure using presentation techniques. Then have Ss
use the language generated to have a conversation. It is also a good technique for assessing speaking.
Example:
Point to one
of the places on the cardboard. Write the question on the board. “Where do you
want to go in summer?” Say the question. Point to a place. Have Ss answer with
the place you point to. Write the question. “Who do you want to go with?” Point
to the post it. Have Ss answer. Write the final question “What do you want to
do there?”
B: I want to go to
______________. (I’m going to...)
A: Who do you want to go
with? (Who are you going with?)
B: I want __________ with
_________. (I’m going with ______)
A: What do you want to do
there? (What are you going to do there?)
B: I want to
______________. (I’m going to _____________)
The Language Assistants model
this conversation with the students. They take the role of A and the student
the role of B. Point to the answer on the cardboard for student to use.
Exchange roles and have students take the role of A, while Language Assistants
take the role of B.
I have found this Prezi called "Let's your ideas flower like a lotus blossom" that clearly explains how it works.
Thanks a lot to Sara Davila for her examples and models of how to apply this technique to the ESL to improve communication while developing creative thinking.
