--- title: "Four Corners" description: "Participants choose among four posted prompts or images, walk to that station, and discuss their reasons in small groups before a brief whole-room debrief." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/four-corners-sel-3-signature-practices-playbook/" --- # Four Corners Participants choose among four posted prompts or images, walk to that station, and discuss their reasons in small groups before a brief whole-room debrief. **Time:** 15 minutes. UWT suggested 15-minute pacing based on CASEL 5-minute corner conversations plus introduction and debrief. **People:** 4 to 24. Whole-room selection, then corner clusters of 2 to 4 people ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Surface varied perspectives and current mindsets across a group before collaborative work begins. **Use it when:** Use at the start of a meeting or workshop when you want to surface diverse viewpoints, encourage light movement, and connect participants. **Skip it when:** Skip when the meeting requires immediate task-oriented focus without personal reflection, or when the physical room does not allow open movement and no digital alternative is prepared. ## Materials and tools - 4 printed prompt sheets or posters - Wall adhesive or tape - Timer or stopwatch ## Before participants arrive 1. Select a prompt set with 4 distinct statements or images relevant to the session. 2. Post one prompt sheet in each of the four distinct corners or wall areas of the room. ## Say this to open We have four different statements posted in the corners of the room. Read all four silently. Decide which one best reflects where you are at this moment. When I give the signal, you will walk to that corner and talk with others who made the same choice. ## How to run it ### 1. Review choices silently (3 minutes) Point out the four prompt posters hanging in the corners of the room. Give participants 2 minutes of quiet reflection to read each option and decide which one resonates most. Remind them to remain seated until invited to move. ### 2. Move to stations (2 minutes) Invite participants to walk to their chosen corner. If any corner has more than 5 people, instruct them to split into smaller clusters of 2 to 4. If someone is alone at a corner, walk over and join them to listen to their rationale. ### 3. Small group discussion (6 minutes) Corner clusters converse for 5 minutes. Each person who wants to share takes about 1 minute to explain what drew them to that prompt. Speaking is optional; members may pass and simply listen. Broadcast a one-minute warning before calling everyone back. ### 4. Whole-room debrief (4 minutes) Call the room back to attention. Ask 2 or 3 volunteers from different corners to share what they noticed about group sizes or the reasons people gave. Keep comments concise and conclude the activity on time. ## Debrief questions - What did you notice about your own thinking as you chose your corner? - What do you notice about the size and spread of the groups across the room? - What different reasons emerged among people who chose the exact same station? **Finished output:** A visible spatial map of the group's current perspectives, with every participant having the option to share in a small cluster. ## Remote Display a slide showing the four numbered prompts. Create four breakout rooms matching numbers 1 through 4. Invite participants to self-select their room. For rooms with up to 5 people, each person has the opportunity to speak for 1 minute while a volunteer keeps time. For 6 or more people, participants spend 2 minutes typing their rationale into the room chat, followed by 4 minutes of open discussion led by a volunteer timekeeper. Participants may pass or simply read the chat. Return all breakout rooms to the main room after 6 minutes for debrief. ## Hybrid Display the four prompts on screen for remote attendees and on wall posters for in-person attendees. In-person participants walk to corners while remote participants choose matching numbered breakout rooms. Remote breakout rooms follow the remote protocol with participant-volunteer timekeepers, while the room facilitator monitors in-person clusters and joins any solo in-person participant. Bring both groups together after 6 minutes of breakout discussion. During the whole-room debrief, alternate between one in-person speaker and one remote speaker. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may point or indicate their chosen corner number from their seat instead of walking. - Sharing in small groups is optional; participants may listen without giving a rationale. ## If the session gets stuck **Most participants gather at a single corner, leaving others empty.** Treat the clustering as neutral data. Split the large group into clusters of 3 or 4 so everyone who wishes to speak has time. **One participant stands alone in a corner.** The facilitator walks over, joins as an active listener, and invites the participant to share their perspective. ## Terms used here - SEL: Social and Emotional Learning, a framework focusing on self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. ## Participant material: Sample Four Corners Prompt Set: Current Work Focus Corner 1: Building trust and strengthening relationships. Corner 2: Clarifying goals and aligning priorities. Corner 3: Testing new ideas and taking calculated risks. Corner 4: Protecting capacity and managing steady pace. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in CASEL's SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook as an inclusive welcome activity. Retained CASEL core mechanic of four corner stations, self-selection, small group sharing, facilitator joining solo participants, and debrief prompts. UWT provided structured step timings, neutral workplace sample prompts, explicit volunteer-led remote timing, and clear hybrid coordination. [CASEL](https://signaturepractices.casel.org/four-corners/) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/four-corners-sel-3-signature-practices-playbook/