Re: peers working together

["Karen Sinning" <ksinning1@comcast.net>]

Probably no more than a dozen.  You could use a full sheet with fewer kids. 
The key is to make it challenging but leave enough room on the sheet to 
maneuver so that no one HAS to fall off.  Some kids will think that falling 
of is cool, but if staying on is part of the competition, they usually work 
well.  I teach eighth grade, so the size of the kids might be a factor.

Karen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Angie Corbet" <ajcorbet@comcast.net>
To: <middle-lit@interversity.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: [middle-lit] peers working together


> 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" <ksinning1@comcast.net>
> To: <middle-lit@interversity.org>
> 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" <debracparker@sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "middle-lit" <middle-lit@interversity.org>
> > 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