Cubing

As you may be aware there are many different types of learners. I consider myself to be a "hands on" or kinesthetic learner. Therefore, I like to find techniques that help to allow me to explore this type of learning. One fun learning tool I have come across is Cubing. This technique involves a student literally making a cube out of paper or cardboard and writing about a topic on each of the six sides.

Examples of topics for the six sides of the cube are:

Describing: What are the characteristics?
Comparing: What is it similar to or different from?
Associating: What does it make you think of?
Analyzing: Tell how it is made or what it is composed of.
Translating: What can you do with it? How is it used?
Arguing: Take a stand list reasons for supporting it.

Using this in a science classroom works very well to send a topic home. Check out my example for use with "acid rain"

Describing: Rain with low pH balance
Comparing: Similar to regular rain but different because of acid levels.
Associating: Pollution
Analyzing: Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur combine with water, forming acids (nitric acid and sulfuric acid)
Translating: It destroys building and is bad for plant and animal life
Arguing: Acid rain is harmful to the environment.


There are tons of templates on google images for making a cube, here's how to do it:

Go to google.com/images
Type in "make a cube"
Copy one of the images you find to paint or a word document. Enlarge and print out as many copies as you need for your class... simple as that! You can use this for any class or any topic and make them as simple or complex as you want.

The process of making the cube really helps kinesthetic learners such as myself. The creation of the cube itself can help put the topic deep in our long term memories.

Thanks for reading,
Mr. Nappen