Swim into Social Studies 1: Working in a Group

Learning Outcomes:
Children will:
- participate in various activities that require them to speak to others, to listen to one another, and to cooperate with one another.

Activity:

Working in groups, the children will be given a simple task to perform, e.g., decide on the location of a class outing. A group leader should be selected (chairperson).  The chairperson asks each person to speak one at a time to offer suggestions while the others in the group listen attentively.  You can write each groups' suggestions on the board. When all the suggestions are on the board, each group has the opportunity to discuss other group suggestions.  Each child decides on a final location. A vote can be taken by all the groups on the preferred location. Children who selected other locations should be reminded that cooperation is an integral part of working together.


Assessment:

Circulate around the classroom as the children complete their tasks.
Note observations on the level of cooperation among members of the group 
(e.g., speaking in turn, listening attentively, accepting decisions)