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Placemat Activities

A structured group discussion tool where each learner records their individual thinking in their own section of a shared sheet before the group synthesises ideas in a central shared space.

Group work
Placemat Activities diagram

What is placemat activities?

  • Divide a large sheet of paper into sections: one for each group member plus a central rectangle
  • Pose a question or problem to the group
  • Each learner writes their individual ideas in their own section silently
  • The group discusses all contributions and records agreed ideas in the centre

How it works

A placemat is a large sheet of paper divided into sections. The outer sections belong to individual learners, and a central rectangle belongs to the group. The activity has two distinct phases: individual thinking and group synthesis.

In the first phase, learners work silently in their own section. They write, draw, or note their individual response to the question or stimulus. This ensures every learner thinks independently before discussion begins. Without this individual phase, dominant voices tend to set the agenda.

In the second phase, learners share their ideas in turn. Each person explains what they wrote. The group discusses, compares, and identifies common themes, differences, and interesting outliers. They then agree on key ideas to record in the central section. This synthesis requires negotiation and prioritisation.

Placemats make individual contributions visible. The teacher can see who contributed what, which provides assessment evidence. The activity also reveals the range of thinking within a group, which is often wider than expected.

Placemat activities work for brainstorming, problem-solving, responding to texts, analysing data, and reviewing learning. The structure is simple but the thinking it generates is rich. Groups of three to five work best.

Classroom example

A Year 6 Humanities class in a Wrexham school is discussing: "Should our town build a new supermarket on the green belt?" Each group of four has a placemat. Learners write their initial opinions and reasons in their own sections. During the sharing phase, one group discovers that three members support the supermarket for different reasons (jobs, convenience, regeneration) while one opposes it (environmental impact). The central section captures both the majority view and the dissenting argument, showing the group has genuinely engaged with multiple perspectives.

Curriculum for Wales connection

Placemat activities develop the "Develop" strand of thinking skills through generating, sharing, and synthesising ideas. They support the Four Purposes by developing "ambitious, capable learners" who can think independently and "ethical, informed citizens" who can negotiate and respect diverse viewpoints.

Rainbow Curriculum's Thinking Tools lens helps you plan where structured discussion tools are used across your curriculum, ensuring that individual thinking is protected within collaborative activities.

Tips

  • Use large paper (A2 or bigger) so there is enough space for each section.
  • Enforce the silent individual phase. If learners start talking immediately, the dominant voice takes over.
  • A common pitfall: skipping the synthesis phase. Individual notes without group discussion is just a worksheet.
  • Number the outer sections so the sharing follows a clear order and everyone contributes.
  • Use placemats as a record of group thinking that can be displayed or photographed.

Source: Adapted from "How to develop thinking and assessment for learning in the classroom", Welsh Assembly Government, Guidance 044/2010.