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This file contains two different packets of Socratic Seminar packets- packet A and packet B. Each packet contains three different discussion questions that require students to answer and provide two quotes from the text to back up their answers. Students are also required to come up with three additional questions they will ask if there’s time in their seminar. Finally, the packet has a page where each student will monitor a partner in the opposite circle. They will make a check each time their partner speaks, and paraphrase meaningful comments their partner makes. The file also contains a rubric for you to use while your students are discussing!

When you print out the file, you’ll see packet A on the top half of the sheet, packet B on the bottom half, and then the rubric as the last page of the file. Remove the rubric and print one out for each of your students. Copy the rest of the pages, cut them in half, and staple them. Each student will receive one half-sheet booklet; packet A or packet B.

Give your students adequate time to plan for their Seminar! I usually give them a full class period (40 minutes for me), but you could have them do it for homework, or over the course of a few days. The day of the Seminar, you’ll assign partners with opposite packets. Let A discuss for as long as they need (usually 30-ish minutes for me!), then flip-flop your circles and have B discuss afterwards.

My students LOVE Socratic Seminars! I have found the fishbowl discussion format works much better when you give each group three different questions so you don’t hear the same discussion two times, which is how this product is set up. Please let me know if you have any questions about this product! Thank you so much!

If you're interested in an activity that helps students identify and analyze the THEME of "The Fun They Had", check out the following product:

Theme in "The Fun They Had"

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This product's purpose is to help students identify, analyze, and prove the theme of "The Fun They Had" by Issac Asimov.

It begins with a graphic organizer worksheet that helps the students identify and analyze the theme of the story. First they identify the big idea or topic, then decide what message is being said about that topic. Once they have a theme, they'll analyze how it affects the setting, how the theme relates to Margie's attitude about school, and how the story's title relates to the theme. An answer key for the worksheet is included.

Afterwards, they will work together in small groups to find quotes that support their identified theme. I have provided 13 quotes from the text that you will cut into strips. 8 of them support the theme, 5 do not. Shuffle them up and give a set to each group of students. They will collaboratively sort the strips, discussing why and how the quotes support the theme as they work.

Lastly, they will individually complete a paragraph response question. It asks them to select the quote that they feel contributed the most to the development of the theme.

The page numbers I used to cite the quotes refer to the pages in the 6th grade Pearson Literature textbook my school uses (pages 345-347), but feel free to remove them if you are using a different version of the text.

If you're interested in an additional activity or assessment for this short story, please check out my Socratic Seminar packets!

Socratic Seminar: "The Fun They Had"

A special thanks to Teacher's Scrapbook for the clipart of Margie used in this product! https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Tweens-Teens-Clip-Art-Sampler-FREEBEE-1823324

Please help my little business grow!

Did you know that you can receive $ credit towards future TeachShare purchases by reviewing this product? Please leave a review at the product page or through "My Purchases" under "My Account" at TpT. Thank you!