Re: peers working together

[Marji Morris <mlmsoar@hotmail.com>]

i do this activity with my leadership development crew. we call it magic carpet and use two vinyl tablecloths laid about 2 feet apart on the floor.  we split the grooup and put half on each "carpet"  we crowd them on. then we zoom them 10,000 feet into the air. usually we invent a mission--like rushing to save the world from some disaster.
 
after we get them in the air, we tell them there is a problem. the carpets are upside down and they must turn them over without anyone falling off. we don't tell them this, but the only way they can be successful is to work together, that is, some of the people on one carpet have to step onto the other carpet. then the two or three remaining folks can turn that one over. the process has to be repeated with the second carpet.
Marji MorrisSOAR! CoordinatorSuccess and Opportunity at Reading1707 N. Shelby St, Ste. 107Salem, IN  47167  www.soarliteracy.orgVideo at www.youtube.com/soarliteracy
812-896-1515> Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 11:44:13 -0800> From: debracparker@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [middle-lit] peers working together> To: middle-lit@interversity.org> > we did this at our school on a professional dev. day to improve team work. We had 12 people on a twin sheet outdoors. it was great becuase we had to all work together and keep one foot on sheet at all times and not touch the grass with any feet! I think we each had a new appreciation for who can do what > > Angie Corbet <ajcorbet@comcast.net> wrote: Karen, if I understand the procedure correctly, all kids stand on the sheet, > then without stepping on to the floor with any foot, they have to flip the > sheet to the other side and stand on it again. No talking as a means of > communicating ideas is also part of the procedure. Question: about how many > kids fit safely on a queen size sheet?> Thanks,> Angie> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Karen Sinning" > To: > Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 8:46 PM> Subject: Re: [middle-lit] peers working together> > > > This is an activity that my team uses to encourage teamwork; we learned it > > at a Challenger Learning Center. You will need a queen-size sheet (more > > than one if you want everyone to participate at the same time). Have > > several kids stand on the sheet--it should be crowded, but not dangerously > > so. When all are on, tell them to flip the sheet over without talking. > > No one is allowed to step off the sheet.> >> > You can vary the activity by making it a race or by having teams compete > > to do the flip without "losing" any students. Or you can set other > > conditions--talking is OK, but no use of hands is allowed.> >> > When you debrief, you can talk about how important it is for everyone to > > communicate, come up with a plan, and follow it. The kids enjoy this, and > > it is a break from the routine.> >> > Karen Sinning> >> > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Debbie Parker" > > To: "middle-lit" > > Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 3:34 PM> > Subject: [middle-lit] peers working together> >> >> >> Hi and happy new year! I am having trouble with my 7th graders working > >> together. When I ask them to try to solve a question or discuss > >> something, they are immediately off task. My team teachers agree with me > >> that our kids don't seem to know "how" to work together. I want to do > >> some specific lessons with my kids about working together, but can't find > >> anything online and ideas are not coming to me. suggestions? Thanks,> >>> >> Debbie Parker> >> 203-470-7705> >> debracparker@sbcglobal.net> >>> >>> >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------> > Archives->> > http://interversity.org/lists/middle-lit/archives.html > > ---------------------------------------------------> Archives->> http://interversity.org/lists/middle-lit/archives.html> 
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