Karen L. Brown

A.     Lesson Title: Untying Knots with Teamwork

B.     Type of Lesson: Warm-up / Social Skills Development

C.     Target Group: Grades 6 – 12, Class Size: Group of 8 – 10

D.    Approximate Length: 20 – 25 minutes

E.     Materials Needed: Open space, chalkboard, paper, pencil

F.      Objectives:

-Competency Goal #2—The student will act by interacting in improvisations and assuming roles.

-Objectives—2.03 The student will utilize acting skills to study human behavior and conflict resolution.  2.11 Understand and participate in physical warm-ups to develop focus and creativity.

G.    Procedure:

1. The student will brainstorm teamwork skill words as the teacher writes the words on the board.  This should last approximately 4 – 5 minutes. (Hopefully words will come up like communication, listening, working together, give and take, etc.)
2. The teacher will have a “safety talk” with students about respecting each other’s space and working together with everyone feeling comfortable in the situation. 
3. The students will break into groups of no more than 10.  Each group should form a circle and all join hands with other people in the circle (across and diagonal from instead of beside) forming a human knot.  They should make sure not to join both hands with one other person.  The students should then attempt to untangle the human knot without letting go.  The catch is that the first try should not include any attempts of using teamwork.  The students will not be allowed to communicate in any way, not use any of the brainstormed skills discussed earlier.
4. After about 3 – 5 minutes, of the students attempting to untangle the human knot, a signal is given that they are now allowed to use the teamwork skills that were discussed earlier.  They will then have approximately another 3 – 5 minutes or so to untangle the knot.

H.    Evaluation: The students will discuss within their groups the advantages and disadvantages of using teamwork skills.  As a group, they will come up with and write down to turn in three daily activities in which it would benefit them to use these skills or in which they see teamwork skills being used.  These findings should be turned in on one sheet with all group members’ names on it.  The teacher will also evaluate the students individually with points using the following system:

1) Following the rules / directions                                  1          2          3          4         

2) Cooperation                                                 1          2          3          4

3) Contributions                                                            1          2          3          4

4) Focus                                                                       1          2          3          4

The teacher will circle the number that best describes the students participation.

            *Point values: 1 = 16 points—Needs Improvement

                                    2 = 19 points—Fair

                                    3 = 22 points—Good

                                    4 = 25 points—Excellent

                                    The possible number of points = 100 points