Seating chart template: U shape (free printable)
A landscape chart with desks down each side and across the bottom in a U, and a place for you in the open middle. Choose the length of the sides and print.
To save a PDF, choose Print, then “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints.
About this sheet
A U lets every student see every other student, which is why teachers use it for discussion and for classes with a lot of talk. It also lets the teacher walk into the middle and be at arm's length from everyone. This page draws the U with the opening toward the board, desks down the left and right sides and across the bottom, and your place marked in the center. Choose how many desks on each side, from three to nine, and the bottom row fills the width. Names go in by pencil. A U works best for classes of around twenty to thirty, and for a room that is wide rather than deep.
Best in: August, September, January.
How to use it
- Choose how many desks stand on each side of the U. The bottom row is filled to match the width of the page.
- Print and write the names in pencil, starting at the top left and moving down, across and up the right side.
- Use the same page to plan a second ring if the class is big, by taping a second sheet below and extending the shape.
Five ideas for class
- Use the U for Socratic discussion, when students need to look at each other and not at the back of someone's head.
- Walk into the middle for a mini-lesson and the class is around you without any move or reshuffle.
- Mark the seats where students who need the front or the door sit, and plan the rest of the U around them.
- Rotate the seats by moving the whole class one place round the U each month, so everyone has been at each position.
- Try it for a test day with the desks turned outward, so each student faces a wall and the teacher sees all the work.
Related
Questions
How many students does a U hold?
With nine desks on a side and a wide bottom row, around thirty. A U of three to five desks a side suits a group of twelve to eighteen.
Does the opening face the board?
Yes, the U opens toward the front, so everyone can see the board and each other. For a closed circle, use the table chart.
Can I use it for a meeting?
Yes. A U is common for a staff meeting or a workshop, with names written on the desks by hand.
How do I save it as a PDF?
Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.
Can I print it in black and white?
Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.
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