I begin by handing out 3-5 cards to each student, and I ask them to examine the images on the front and the bold titles on the back.  Then each student reads each of the titles on the backs of their cards.  This gives us a nice overview of the ideas and topics, and we begin to immediately make inferences about what we've already learned: "He was a medic in the army?"  "He was a lawyer?"  "I guess he liked smiling..."  "He was assassinated?!?!?"  I then ask them to pick one card they want to learn more about, and to put the others aside.  I model by reading my own card out loud, thinking aloud and making connections about what I'm reading.  I highlight the format of each card (the title, quote, text, and reflection question), and put what I've learned in my own words.  Then it's their turn to teach each other.  After reading their own card, students pair up (several times with new partners) and share with each other what they've learned.

Watching this unfold is really cool, and I'm struck by how EVERYONE, even the struggling readers, are able to find something they think is interesting.  When a teacher can sit back and watch his/her students do the teaching, we know we're on to something!  After some time, we come back together as a whole group and share out things we've learned (from our own cards and what others have shared).  I also ask if anyone has a reflection question from their card they'd like to ask the group to respond to.  These questions alone could stimulate rich discussion, and I'm already beginning to think of ways to use these cards on a more daily basis.  For example, I'd like to make a daily ritual of having a volunteer choose a card at the beginning of class, share with the class what they've learned, and pose the reflection question to the group.

To the Gandhi Institute, and to all the people that helped fund and produce this wonderful resource, THANK YOU!!!