If you try this activity with your student(s), we’d love to see what you do. Share your journey via the #Inspired2Learn hashtag on your preferred social platform.

Created by: Aleta Margolis
Discipline:  With some language modification this activity can be applied in any subject and for any grade level.
Age level: Elementary through High School
Time: 15-20 minutes for the activity and a debrief
Materials:  Zone of Proximal Development graphic, space large enough for students to move freely, chalk for drawing circles if you are outside

Most of us are familiar with psychologist Lev Vygotsky and his construct, the zone of proximal development. In simple terms, challenging students to spend time in their zones of proximal development means helping them identify their capabilities and competencies, and then stepping just far enough outside of their comfort zones to stretch toward what might be possible. This is a simple exercise to do with your students in the first days of school to help them understand this concept.

What to do: 

Clear a space in your classroom, or better yet, head outside to the playground or any open space. Share this image (if you’re outside, you can simply show it to students; if you’re inside, you can post it on the wall).

Gather everyone together in the center of the space, pointing out that you are now in the “comfort zone.” Invite your students to imagine the three concentric circles in the graphic. Let them know you will call out a series of activities. For each prompt, each person should move to stand in the “comfort zone” or “unknown” or “alarm zone” depending on how they feel about the activity. Here is a sample list to get you started:

• Meeting someone for the first time
• Going on a rollercoaster
• Giving a speech
• Playing team sports
• Dancing
• Cooking
• Walking a dog
• Carrying a spider outside
• Reading
• Eating a new food
• Trying to talk to someone in a language other than English
• Trying to solve a math problem I’ve never seen before
• Add your own items here!

Adjust the list however you like, noting that it’s wise to begin with general items, and then move into prompts that are specific to your classroom. 

After a while, invite students to shout out their own prompts for everyone to respond to. Be sure to play along with your students, so they can learn about your comfort zones too.

End the exercise by inviting students to share their observations, how they felt while playing, and what they noticed about themselves and others. You might also ask how they think this activity might connect to the learning experience they’ll have in school this year, and see where that conversation goes. 

I recommend this exercise at the beginning of the school year to show students that their classroom is a place where they will be supported and challenged at the same time. It helps set up a learning environment in which students know they will be expected to push themselves and work hard, and that they will be safe and supported when they step outside of their comfort zones.

Inspired Teaching Connection: 

An activity like this both establishes and builds upon Mutual Respect in the classroom. It’s particularly important for you as the teacher to participate so your students see you as a learner just like they are. This activity also offers an opportunity to talk with students about Wide-ranging Evidence of Student Learning and the fact that even if we’re not highly skilled at something we’re learning for the first time, showing our effort and growth is evidence that we’re learning. This activity highlights and celebrates the Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity all your learners will be bringing to the classroom this year. 

See our instructional model here.

Standards Addressed by this Activity