Team Work isĀ one of Colonel Light Gardens expert Learner qualities. In Week 2 we had a discussion about what teamwork is and, in particular what successful teamwork, should look like sound like and feel like. Students were thenĀ then split into groups of 4 or 5 and given a challenge. The aim was to work successfully as a team to complete the challenge.
The Cup Stacking Challenge
Using onlyĀ a cup stacking tool ( a rubber band with 4 pieces of string attached) Students had to move 6 red cups from their starting position, into a pyramid.Ā Working togetherĀ and communication was required to use the tool to stretch it over the cups, move them into position (flipping the cup upside down in the process) and removing the rubber band from the cup. It was certainly fun to watch. Students worked really well and only a few reminders were needed when little hands were tempted to touch the cups.
Cup stacking Team Challenge-21c4hhj
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The studentsĀ decided they would like to continue these team challenge throughout the year. These challenges will usually be STEM based involving science, design and technology, engineering and maths. So this is the beginning of what we will call Team Work Tuesday. Each week they will be put into teams inĀ various ways with different people so they learn to work, communicate and collaborate with all of their classmates.
So today we had our second Team work Tuesday:
The Marshmallow Tower Challenge
Students had 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 metre of string, 1 metre of masking tape and one marshmallow. Their challenge was to, in 20 minutes,Ā build the tallest freestanding tower with the marshmallow on top. It was interesting to see the designs students started with until they realised the weight of the marshmallow on top was heavier than they thought and required them to have a steady base. It was trickier than many first thought but a few teamsĀ were ableĀ to measure their towers. The tallest tower reached 49 cm
Marshmallow Team Challenge-1g2eau9
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So should you be near our classroom onĀ a Tuesday afternoon be warned š. It can get loud and crazy (especially at pack up time lol) butĀ there is learningĀ happening. Students are beingĀ team workers, communicators, taking risks, being resilientĀ and solving problems
Krista š