I Have .. Who has ... cards
Adapted from an article in the Arithmetic Teacher


This is one of my favorite review techniques, but it does require some preparation beforehand.
You must first make a list of questions and answers for the subject that you want to review.   I make two columns -- the first called "I Have" and the second called, "Who Has."   The first column is for the answers and the second for the questions (The answers are to the questions on the previous line).   You will see this in the example on the next page for the basic trig identities.   You can use this technique with almost any subject matter.

You must make cards for each question and answer that you have prepared.   In the example for the fundamental trig identities,
Card two states," I Have cos A, Who has sin2A + cos2A ?"
Card three reads "I have 1, Who has 1/sin A ?"
The answer to the question on card two is found on card three.

When the students arrive for class, I hand out cards to them at random.   I keep the first card on my list (so I will begin and end the exercise).   Then I read my card.   The student who has the answer to my question, then reads her card.   The student with the answer to that question then reads his card, and so forth until every one in the class has read his card.

One of the benefits of this exercise is that every student must participate.   The problem (if you have a large class) is that those who answer first may not be as attentive as they should be (since they know that they will not have to answer again).

Click here to load the I Have ... Who Has ... Cards   for the Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
(I have numbered the cards from 1 to 25)


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher