Technique 24: Pepper

(Part of Chapter 4: Engaging Students in Your Lessons)

Pepper is a fun, fast-paced question and answer time.  It is good for review of fundamental information -- quick questions with quick, short answers.  The teacher can take hands or can use Cold Call.

One fun way to implement it is to use popsicle sticks with students' names on them.  Repeatedly, the teacher quickly picks a stick and addresses the question to the student.  (The author notes that the teacher can actually steer questions to selected students -- only the teacher can see the name actually written on the stick).

Another fun idea is to start the session out with everyone standing, and then students have to earn their seats by answering a question correctly.

My thoughts:

I haven't used this technique at all.  I do like the idea of the popsicle sticks.  I think even college students would find that fun.  And, it would help me learn students' names near the beginning of the semester.