When using smart match as a working form with students aged 6 to 10, you can easily differentiate at three levels: beginner, advanced and expert.
Beginners:
- Students are given simple questions with two clearly different answers (one obviously fictional, one scientific).
- They discuss in pairs or small groups which answer seems more credible and why.
- Teacher guides the discussion closely, asking prompting questions.
Advanced learners:
- Use more complex or ambiguous problems that require independent thinking.
- Limit hints, so students must brainstorm multiple solutions themselves.
- Encourage reflection on why certain solutions may or may not work.
Experts:
Students create their own thought-provoking question and write a fictional answer.
Criteria:
- The answer should relate to the animal’s appearance.
- They must invent a logically plausible reason for the feature.
Finally, students research the scientific (true) explanation themselves.