If you’ve been hanging out with me for any length of time, you know I’m obsessed with the Depth and Complexity framework. It’s like a Swiss Army knife for thinking. It’s versatile, it’s sharp, and it’s oh-so-useful.
But what if we take this brainy tool out of the traditional classroom and into the wild world of performance-based classes like PE, music, choir, or theater?
Spoiler alert: it works beautifully.
Let’s dive in and explore how to use Depth and Complexity to reflect, grow, and spark some serious “aha!” moments after a game, concert, or activity.
Reflection: The Secret Sauce of Growth
One of the simplest ways to weave Depth and Complexity into performance-based classes is to use it as a reflection tool after the big event—think post-concert, post-game, or post-play.
Picture this: your students are still buzzing from the adrenaline, and you gather them around a Smartboard, document camera, or even just a good ol’ whiteboard.
As a class, you whip up a quick Depth and Complexity frame to unpack what just happened. (Grab my amazing frames freebie here).
Or, if time’s tight, pick one or two juicy questions to toss out there.
Bonus points if your campus is all about “writing across the curriculum.” You can have students jot down short answers to flex those literacy muscles.
To use any of these ideas, you’ll need questions. So, I’ve made a list of a LOT of questions you could use.
Questions That Dig Deep
Here’s a treasure trove of reflection questions tied to the Depth and Complexity thinking prompts. These aren’t just “how’d we do?” fluff. They’re designed to get kids thinking critically about their performance, teamwork, and growth.
Pick a few, mix and match, or let your students choose their faves.
Here we go:
⚖️ Ethics:
⚖️What were the pros and cons of three decisions we made before the performance/game?
⚖️Was it fair that some of us had more time to shine today? Why or why not?
⚖️If someone felt overlooked during the game/concert/play, what could that person do?
⚖️Should we rethink how we communicate with each other during a game or concert to make it more effective/less confrontational/more supportive? How?
👄 Language of the Discipline:
👄What are three words you’d use to describe how we did?
👄How did using terms like “rhythm,” “strategy,” or “formation” help us communicate during the event?
👄What role did a key figure (e.g., coach, conductor) or tool (e.g., baton, whistle) play in shaping our success?
🍃 Details: The Little Things That Matter:
🍃What specific action or sound during our performance/game made it memorable compared to others we’ve done?
🍃Which small moment stood out as unique today, and why might it matter more than it seemed at first?
🍃Which detail that seemed minor at first ended up making a big difference by the end?
🌀 Patterns:
🌀What sequence of movements or notes did we repeat today that mirrors what we’ve done before? Did it help or hurt us?
🌀How did our warm-up pattern predict how we performed in the game or concert?
❓ Unanswered Questions:
❓ What will we never know about how our performance affected someone watching us?
❓ How could two teammates interpret our mistakes differently, even though we all saw the same thing?
🚦 Rules:
🚦 Which rule or routine did we follow today that made everything come together smoothly?
🚦 How did the structure of the game or piece dictate the way we worked as a team?
📉 Trends:
📉What caused our energy to rise or fall during the performance/game, and where was it heading by the end?
📉What outside forces (e.g., crowd noise, practice time) pushed us toward today’s outcome?
📉If we keep performing like this, what direction will our team or group head in, and why?
🌳 Big Idea:
🌳After today, what’s one big lesson we can take away about working together?
🌳What can we say about effort or preparation based on how we performed?
📚 Across Disciplines:
📚How was our performance like solving a math problem or writing a story?
📚What science concept (e.g., energy, motion) explains how we moved or played today?
📚How does this performance connect to something we’ve previously done or that you’ve done before in a different year or sport?
⌛ Change Over Time:
⌛How was today’s performance different from our first one this year, and why does that matter?
⌛Based on today, what might our performance look like a month from now?
⌛How might the audience have experienced our performance differently than we did?
🕶️ Multiple Perspectives:
🕶️If the ball, instrument, scoreboard, sheet music, field, or stage could talk, what would it say about how we treated it today? (Or, what would it say about our performance?)
🕶️How might a new team member or musician who just joined us see today’s performance differently than someone who’s been here all season?
🕶️How might our opponents or another section of the orchestra (e.g., strings vs. brass) describe what we did well or poorly?
Why This Works (And Why You’ll Love It)
The key point is that Depth and Complexity isn’t just for English or history. It’s a framework that thrives anywhere kids are thinking, creating, or collaborating.
In PE or music, it takes the chaos of performance and turns it into a goldmine of insight. Students stop seeing a game or concert as just “fun” and start seeing it as a puzzle to solve, a story to tell, or a lesson to learn.
Plus, it’s flexible. You can use it as a whole-class discussion, a quick journal prompt, or even a team huddle. You’re not just coaching skills; you’re coaching thinking. That’s the power of Depth and Complexity.
Try It Out and Tell Me Everything!
Next time your PE class storms the field or your music crew nails a concert, give this a whirl.
Pick a couple of questions, grab a marker, and see where the conversation takes you.
I’d love to hear how it goes, so drop me a note or tag me on social media with your stories so others can see your great ideas!
