"In February of 2010 our student parliament came up with the idea of organizing the school community into the Olympic Rings as a way of boosting school and Olympic spirit. As you can see, the results are impressive! You will notice in the front (middle) of the rings, one of our students who was selected to be a torch bearer." Principal in Great Britain.
This unit has students work in teams throughout the unit in all lesson plans. Students also create a team poster in cooperative groups throughout the unit. But, perhaps the largest cooperative learning takes place when students create a game to highlight one of the multiple intelligences. These teams come together from all 4 classes to organize and run the larger school Olympics event including each team's game.
School Olympics
First students will take a multiple intelligence test to determine their grouping. They will collaborate with this group of peers to create a game highlighting their intelligence for the larger Olympic school games. The underlying theme will be that each intelligence creates a larger community with many different strengths. Their individual teams will be a microcosm of this theme.
Below are links to the Multiple Intelligence Test and the Team Planning Graphic Organizer
Multiple intelligence test
Team event planning form
This cooperative learning activity includes: Positive interdependence, individual and group accountability, group processing, social skills, and face to face interaction both at the team level and a whole class level.
Positive Interdependence:
Each team, taking one multiple intelligence, is part of the bigger whole. Each team relies on the others to make the entire event. The same is evident inside the teams. Team members are given specific rotating roles of materials manager, time keeper, recorder, and facilitator. Students will reap be joint rewards and consequences in how their entire event and team game is run. In addition, there will be a self and peer evaluation at the end of the event.
Individual and Group Accountability
The team game and the event success relies on each person doing their part. Each member must participate since students will be rotating to see other events. Students will initially choose their role, but their role will rotate giving everyone a chance to experience the accountability of each role. Within the whole group, different teams will take responsibilities such as advertising for the event, organizing where each game will be, planning rotations, and timing rotations
Group Processing
Time will be given to both team and whole group processing. Team members will share what is working and what isn't. Students will be given a chance to problem solve. Teachers will only intervene if necessary to maintain a respectful environment.
Social Skills
Students will be required to work together and trust that other members will do their part. Students will get together in groups and bring their personal work to fit into the common social goal. They will need to make decisions after discussion with their group. Students will use techniques taught in class about how to respectfully respond to comments by using a teacher led model conversation with the whole group. Positive student interactions will be highlight in teams and larger group discussions.
Face to Face
Success will be celebrated on the day of the event. Students will have a chance throughout the process to talk about what is working. They will also bring materials so that they can closely work together to create a team game as well as organize the greater event.
School Olympics
First students will take a multiple intelligence test to determine their grouping. They will collaborate with this group of peers to create a game highlighting their intelligence for the larger Olympic school games. The underlying theme will be that each intelligence creates a larger community with many different strengths. Their individual teams will be a microcosm of this theme.
Below are links to the Multiple Intelligence Test and the Team Planning Graphic Organizer
Multiple intelligence test
Team event planning form
This cooperative learning activity includes: Positive interdependence, individual and group accountability, group processing, social skills, and face to face interaction both at the team level and a whole class level.
Positive Interdependence:
Each team, taking one multiple intelligence, is part of the bigger whole. Each team relies on the others to make the entire event. The same is evident inside the teams. Team members are given specific rotating roles of materials manager, time keeper, recorder, and facilitator. Students will reap be joint rewards and consequences in how their entire event and team game is run. In addition, there will be a self and peer evaluation at the end of the event.
Individual and Group Accountability
The team game and the event success relies on each person doing their part. Each member must participate since students will be rotating to see other events. Students will initially choose their role, but their role will rotate giving everyone a chance to experience the accountability of each role. Within the whole group, different teams will take responsibilities such as advertising for the event, organizing where each game will be, planning rotations, and timing rotations
Group Processing
Time will be given to both team and whole group processing. Team members will share what is working and what isn't. Students will be given a chance to problem solve. Teachers will only intervene if necessary to maintain a respectful environment.
Social Skills
Students will be required to work together and trust that other members will do their part. Students will get together in groups and bring their personal work to fit into the common social goal. They will need to make decisions after discussion with their group. Students will use techniques taught in class about how to respectfully respond to comments by using a teacher led model conversation with the whole group. Positive student interactions will be highlight in teams and larger group discussions.
Face to Face
Success will be celebrated on the day of the event. Students will have a chance throughout the process to talk about what is working. They will also bring materials so that they can closely work together to create a team game as well as organize the greater event.