Teaching toolkit
Inside-Outside Circle
Two circles rotating in opposite directions: Each round, explain something to a new partner. Repeating, explaining, and listening at a fast pace, with no one able to drop out.
How the method works
- 1
Form an inner and outer circle, with pairs facing each other.
- 2
Ask a question or give an explanatory task; the inner circle speaks first, then the outer circle (1 to 2 minutes each).
- 3
Rotate: the outer circle moves two places forward, a new pairing, a new round.
- 4
After 3 to 4 rounds: collect the best explanation or an open question in a class discussion.
Material
- Conversation prompts
- Timer
You can find free, ready-made worksheets for the work phase in the TeachPie Marketplace , sorted by subject and grade, in three levels.
Common pitfalls in practice
- Clearly set the rotation signal and speaking times
Variants
- Question carousel: Everyone brings a question they’ve written themselves and swaps it as they rotate.
- Speed feedback: Instead of content, participants comment on product drafts in quick rounds.
In TeachPie, the planning AI suggests Inside-Outside Circle automatically when it fits the phase, timing, and class, including ready-to-use materials.