We arranged the desks to accommodate each team.
I told them that I've noticed that it seems like many people in the world are moving from independence and competition towards greater collaboration and working together. I said that I felt that was true because we live in a complex, interdependent world and to solve our most important problems we need to work as teams.
Next we discussed the attributes of successful teams. Students named the following descriptors:
- collaborate
- fair jobs
- ability to compromise
- finding different solutions
- listening to everyone's point of view
- participation
- acknowledging that everyone's role is important
- sharing
- regular meetings.
Then students worked together to create posters that exemplify what it means to be a positive TEAM.
I find it interesting that we're working on this at the end of the year, yet I know this work is a helpful focus as we dig in deeper with STEAM activities and prepare students for their transition to the Middle School.
