Billie,
I think small group discussion is a great activity, whether it is plan-A or plan-B. In fact, a good back-up plan should be viewed as just an alternate assignment that could be substituted for the regular planned material and the students wouldn't notice the difference. Also, keeping back-up plans low tech makes them universally available, as the woes (and triumph's) of technology have invaded our lives.
Barry Westling
