Teamwork Ball

Have you struggled with having your students work cooperatively on a project, during science, or even just sit next to each other?! This activity will help your students understand how having a plan, thinking of everyone involved, and ensuring that everyone participates is better than arguing with one another. Whether your students have been constantly arguing and picking on each other from the beginning, or it is a recent development in your classroom, this activity will allow your students to see that by working as a team, the end result is much better for everyone involved.

In this activity you break your students up into small groups of 4-6 per group. You give each group a ball and tell them that the goal is for each person in the group to touch the ball at least once in the shortest amount of time. That is the ONLY instruction you give them. Give each group one attempt to complete the challenge. Once each group has had a chance, pose these questions to each group and give them time to think and discuss as a group.

• How did the first try go?

• What worked?

• What didn't work?

• Does anyone have an idea they want to share with their group to improve their time?

Let the students think discuss these questions as a group. You can circulate to listen to them but do not give any suggestions. The idea is that the students realize that they need to listen to each other's ideas and try out their ideas to see what idea works best. This will help your students learn to value each other's opinions and ideas. Give the students a few more tries to attempt to get the shortest time with each student touching the ball at least once. After each try revisit the questions above. Give the students time to think and share with their group members.

Once your groups have found their most efficient strategy come back together as a whole class. Ask these questions:

• What was it like the first time your group tried this?

• Was your group more successful when you had a plan?

• Was there anything that didn't help your group?

• What strategy was the most successful for your group?

*This is when you can have each group demonstrate their strategy so that other groups can see the difference in thought processes.

This activity will get your students to think about how their cooperation affects their team's success. It will also allow all of your students share their thinking and will also hold all students accountable for trying. Students will get to see how working together to create a plan allows them to reach their goal more quickly rather than arguing. This is a great team building activity that can be done time and time again! All you have to do is change the goal or objective.