A COSMO session should not feel like school with a different logo.
The best sessions have a rhythm: attempt, compare, name, prove, practice.
Suggested Structure
- 5 minutes: opening puzzle
- 10 minutes: students try individually or in pairs
- 15 minutes: compare strategies
- 15 minutes: introduce the concept
- 15 minutes: guided problems
- 10 minutes: challenge or reflection
Questions to Ask
What did you try first?
Where did the brute-force method break?
Can someone explain the same idea with a diagram?
What would make this problem impossible?
Teaching Reminder
Do not rescue students too early. A little productive confusion is often where the actual learning begins.