When I worked at the British Council in Bogotá, we held weekly meetings where a member of the teaching staff would share practical strategies with the rest of us. One session stands out where a colleague introduced me to a tool I now use regularly: The Blob Tree. I wanted to pass this on because I believe many teachers will find it incredibly valuable.
The Blob Tree, originally created by behavioral psychologist Pip Wilson in the 1980s, is a visual tool used in classrooms and therapy to help people express their emotions. It’s an illustration of a tree with various "blob" characters placed on and around it, each representing different moods, emotions, and social situations. These blob figures are purposefully designed without defined gender, race, or age, making them universally relatable and allowing people to project their own feelings onto them.
Each blob character reflects a different emotional state or experience. For instance, a blob sitting alone at the base of the tree might represent feelings of isolation, while one climbing the tree could convey ambition or excitement. This allows students or participants to choose the blob that best represents their current feelings, giving them a way to express emotions they might otherwise find difficult to articulate.
In my classroom, I use the Blob Tree primarily for self-reflection and group discussions. For self-reflection, I ask students to select a blob based on how they feel after a lesson, serving as a kind of exit ticket that also guides future instruction. It’s a non-judgmental way to uncover gaps in understanding or areas where students might be struggling, encouraging open expression. This is the true power of the tool.
Students genuinely enjoy it! Whenever I display it on the board, I see smiles as I ask them which blob they feel like based on what we learned. Some students may say they feel like a 20, reflecting confidence, while others might relate to a 5 if they're feeling uncertain. Occasionally, someone may say they feel like a 14!
Last week, after a lesson on supply and demand, I used the Blob Tree. I had an idea of which blobs certain students might choose, but the responses still held surprises. One student, who seemed to understand the topic well, chose blob 7. Curious, I asked why she didn’t perhaps feel like a 10, and she explained she was still a bit confused about surplus and shortage on the supply and demand curve. Further discussion revealed that several students shared this confusion. This insight was incredibly valuable, and we dedicated the next lesson to clarifying surplus and shortage.
I highly recommend trying the Blob Tree with your students. They’ll enjoy choosing their blobs, and you'll gain valuable insights to better support them in their learning journey!
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