Placemat
Each participant writes their answer individually, shares it and together finds a consensus.
Time
5–10 min
Form
All together
Phase
Check
Materials
Not needed
Step-by-step instructions
2 steps · 5–10 min
- Each group shares one sheet: an own section per participant around the edge, a shared section in the middle.
- Writing: everyone first notes their own answer in silence, in their own section.
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This activity combines individual thinking with finding a shared position. Each participant first writes their answer in their own section of the sheet, then shares it with the group — and together they formulate a shared conclusion in the centre. Choose it for an in-depth discussion of a topic, exploring different points of view, or when it is important to reach consensus without losing individual thoughts.
A sheet of paper in A3 format or larger — divided into sections for each participant with an empty centre for the shared conclusion. Print our template — available to download on our platform.
Pens for each group member.
Prepared questions — enter them into the system, one per line.
Time for individual writing, time for sharing answers and time for writing the consensus — configure these separately in the settings (default 3, 2 and 2 minutes).
Optional: a plenary closing question for the whole class.
With one question: deeper exploration of one topic instead of several.
Without consensus: stop after sharing answers — if the goal is simply to hear different perspectives.
With presentation: one group shares their consensus with the class.
As an assessment tool: questions such as «What do you already know about this topic?» / «What would you still like to know?» at the start or end of a topic.
Any subject: «What do you already know about this topic?» / «What do you think is most important?» / «What question do you still have?»
Social studies: discussion of an ethical dilemma or social issue.
Literature: different interpretations of a text or a character's actions.
Training and teams: mapping out the group's expectations, values or priorities.
Placemat is a widely used structure within cooperative learning. The physical sheet makes every voice visible and equal — individual thinking and shared result exist simultaneously on the same page.
Pairs well with
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