Engage: Use a topic web to brainstorm ideas about what "cooperation" means to the children. In the middle of a large oval write the word cooperation. As the children provide ideas, definitions, examples, write them on lines that you draw going out from the oval.
Revisit: After reading a book selections of your choice, discuss how the main character, or group of characters, did or did not displayed cooperation.
Extention: The children can illustrate a page showing how they show cooperation in the classroom or at home. "I cooperate when I..." Use one or more of the following activities to solidify the concept of cooperation.
Literature
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Another Mouth to Feed by Robert Kraus
A Weekend With Wendell by Kevin Henkes
Stone Soup by Marcia Wise Brown
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
The Great Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
Cooperation Activity Ideas
Cooperation PuzzlePrecut a large piece of bulletin board paper or poster board into puzzle piece. Each child will decorate their puzzle piece with a picture of themselves. After decorating they will work together to reassemble the puzzle. This can be done as a whole class puzzle or group puzzles.
The Web of Cooperation
With this activity, the children will work as a class team to create a web using a simple ball of yarn.
1. The class sits or stands in a circle.
2. Explain that they will be spinning a web using the yarn.
3. Start off by saying a child's name, toss the ball or yarn to the child, and then say something positive about him/her. Make sure to hold the end of the yarn tightly. You have made the first line of silk.
4. The child who caught the yarn ball holds on to the end and tosses to another child. They say something positive about the classmate they threw the yarn to.
5. Continue until every child is holding onto a piece of the yarn.
* Remind them to hold tight and don't let go.
Team Signs
Table groups of 3-5 children put their heads together to agree on a team name and make a sign to hang above their group. Supply them with a large (18"x24") piece of construction paper, markers, crayons, etc. The write the name of their team plus any illustrations on one side. On the other side they each write their name.
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