What is a Snowball Throwing Technique?

Isn't it true that sometimes you wish the lesson could become more interactive, and that students could be even more engaged in learning English? 

There are many games and techniques to diversify lessons, but have you ever heard of the Snowball Throwing Technique? It sounds unusual, doesn't it? 

In this article, we'll explore what this technique is and how to use it in English lessons.

The Snowball Throwing Technique is an active learning method that helps engage students in the learning process. 

In this technique, students write their answers to questions or tasks on pieces of paper, fold them into "snowballs," and throw them into the centre of the classroom. 

Once all the "snowballs" have been collected, each student picks a random snowball, unfolds it, and reads what is written. 

They then share their thoughts on the content.

This technique is particularly effective for group activities. 

It encourages interaction among students and helps improve communication skills. 

Additionally, the "snowballs" allow for the review and reinforcement of material. 

By using this approach, the teacher creates an atmosphere of trust and engagement. 

And, of course, everyone learns to express their thoughts in English in a fun and interactive way.

Here are the types of lessons where we can use this technique:

Let’s take a closer look at how exactly we can apply this technique in lessons.

Select a text for reading, such as a short story or an article. 

Students read it silently and independently. 

After reading, ask the students to choose and write down one fact or idea from the text that they consider important. 

This could be, for example, a trait of the main character. 

Each student folds their paper into a snowball and throws it into the centre of the classroom. 

Then, they take turns picking a random snowball, unfolding it, and reading it aloud. 

After reading the fact, students can form a sentence by adding information from the text. 

For example, if the snowball says, "The main character was very brave," the student might say, "The main character showed bravery when he saved his friend from danger." 

The teacher can ask additional questions to deepen the discussion: "How did this affect the plot's development?" “Do you agree with this character's trait?”

In a grammar lesson, the Snowball Throwing Technique can be useful for reinforcing grammatical rules and practising their use. 

Here’s an example of how to organise such a lesson:

You explain a new grammatical rule, such as the use of the Present Perfect tense. 

You also provide examples and explain how sentences with this tense are constructed. 

Next, ask the students to create a few sentences using the new rule. 

For example, for the Present Perfect: "I have visited Paris," "She has finished her homework." 

The procedure is the same as in the previous activity: fold, throw, pick and read. 

But after reading the sentence, students discuss the correctness of the grammatical rule used. 

They can point out whether the tense is used correctly and, if necessary, correct any mistakes.

 For example, if the sentence "I have went to the shop" contains an error, a student can correct it to the right response: “I have gone to the shop.”

Here’s how this technique can be applied in a lesson on a new vocabulary topic "The Environment":

After learning new words on the topic, the teacher asks a question or gives a task, such as: "Name one way each of us can help protect the environment." 

Students write their answers on pieces of paper. For example: "recycle," "use less plastic," "turn off the lights." 

Next, the process follows the same four steps as before. 

Think that’s it? Not quite. 

Now it’s all up to your imagination. 

For instance, after reading the answer, the student can form a sentence using that word. 

If the snowball says "recycle," the student might say, "I always recycle to help the environment." 

If it says "use less plastic," the sentence could be: “We should use less plastic to reduce pollution.”

The Snowball Throwing Technique is an excellent way to make English lessons more engaging and dynamic. 

Whether it’s exploring a new topic, working on reading, or reinforcing grammar rules, the Snowball Technique introduces an element of play and interaction that helps students better understand and remember the material, as well as encourages them to speak more and listen to others. 

Try incorporating the Snowball Technique into your lessons, and you’ll see how the class becomes both beneficial and genuinely captivating!