Cubing

Cubing is a strategy that can fit any classroom. It is a strategy that can be used to differentiate activities based on a student’s readiness, learning styles, or interest. Cubing gets its name from the “instrument” used to complete the activity, which is a cube. You create a six sided cube which has different task that relates to the concept or idea being taught.  

            You can start by printing out a blank cube template, which can be found on the internet. After you have the template you need to create the different questions or commands that will go on each of the six faces of the cube. The students are grouped in ways that best fits their learning style or ability levels, or readiness, in the classroom. The groups may differ depending on the activity or concept that you are having the student complete. Cubing can be modified to fit your particular school, class or select individuals in your class.

            Cubing allows for differentiation in your classroom for the many different learning styles, interest, and levels of ability. The activity can be differentiated for individual students or a group of students. For example you can have one group of gifted students completing higher-level activities that are more challenging, and another group of students completing task that better fit their level of ability. Another way to group the students is according to their interest. Groups may consist of gifted and non-gifted students working together on a concept of similar interest.

            Cubing does more than allowing for differentiation in the classroom.  Cubing is a strategy that encourages critical thinking and exploration of a concept or idea. Cubing leads to a deeper understanding of the concept or idea being taught because it is created around the multiple intelligences and incorporates Bloom’s Taxonomy.