• Large paper divided into sections (corners + center)
• Markers in different colors per person
• Text or novel students have read
• Timer

Create placemat templates on large paper: divide into 4 corners with oval or rectangle in center. Form groups of 4. Prepare discussion question that has multiple valid responses.

1. Groups sit around placemat paper. Each person has a corner section and one marker color.
2. Question: 'What motivates the main character's actions? Give evidence.'
3. Phase 1 - Individual (5 min): Write your own ideas in your corner. No talking. Work independently.
4. Each person should have 2-4 ideas with text evidence in their corner.
5. Phase 2 - Share (5 min): Go around the group, each person shares their corner ideas. No debating yet, just sharing.
6. Phase 3 - Consensus (7 min): Discuss as group. Which ideas are strongest? What do we all agree on?
7. Write agreed-upon ideas in the center section. Everyone must agree for it to go in the center.
8. If you can't agree, keep discussing or note the disagreement.
9. Center should contain 3-5 strong, agreed-upon ideas.
10. Share out: Each group presents their consensus center.

Provide sentence starters in corners. Assign roles (facilitator, recorder, timekeeper). Allow quiet students to write rather than verbalize during sharing. For advanced groups, require evidence citations for center.

Compare individual ideas to consensus center. Note quality of consensus process. Review for text evidence use. Evaluate whether consensus represents best thinking.