Help Students Think Deeper with the Iceberg Activity

Sometimes the most powerful teaching strategies are the simplest ones. The kind that you can implement with little planning and no technology. The Iceberg Activity is one of my favorites! It’s a simple yet impactful strategy that can be applied across a variety of topics and grade levels. Not only does it ask students to recall surface-level information, but it also encourages deeper thinking and supports meaningful discussion. 

How the Iceberg Activity works:

The Iceberg Activity helps students separate what’s visible from what lies beneath the surface.

1. Students identify what’s above the water, like facts, events, actions, or observations related to a topic or text.
   
2. They then explore what’s below the water– causes, motivations, patterns, systems, or deeper meaning.
   
3. Finally, students reflect on how the ideas below the surface help explain what they see above. You might pose the following questions:
   • Why is what’s below the surface important for understanding this topic?
   • How does what’s beneath the surface explain what we see above?
   • What questions do you still have after examining the whole iceberg?
   • What if we completed the iceberg from another perspective? What would change and why?

This activity can be completed independently, in small groups, or as a whole-class discussion.

Note: If an iceberg doesn’t fit your students or content, this same strategy can be adapted using other familiar metaphors like trees (roots and branches), houses (foundation and structure), or layers.

Examples of the Iceberg Activity:

The Iceberg Activity is flexible and works across content areas →

ELA

⬆️ Character actions 

⬇️ Motivations, conflicts, or themes

Social Studies

⬆️ Historical events

⬇️ Root causes, power structures, or societal factors

Science

⬆️ Observable phenomena

⬇️ Systems, processes, or scientific principles

SEL

⬆️ Student behaviors  

⬇️ Feelings, needs, or experiences

What you’ll need for the Iceberg Activity:

• The Iceberg Activity template (download below)
• A lesson, text, topic, or discussion students are already exploring
• Optional: chart paper or sticky notes for collaborative use

Try this easy Iceberg Activity at the end of a lesson, during discussion, or as a quick formative assessment. Students can revisit as their understanding deepens.

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