Teamwork is an essential ingredient for almost every successful decision, project, or problem solving endeavor. Teamwork brings a diversity of perspectives, experience, and knowledge as well as positive checks and balances when it comes to good work. Of course, teams differ with regard to their success for multiple reasons. Some teams are not diverse enough, lose their sense of mission, and engage with ineffective process which results in poor work, but in the best of situations, teams use good process, have a collective, meaningful mission, and include good diversity for successful work.
This week, at fifth grade, our math and science study will morph into STEAM: science, tech, engineering, art, and math. This STEAMwork will focus on teamwork initially. We'll discuss multiple essential elements of successful teams as outlined in this document and we will also discuss the kinds of roles that STEAMwork includes as illustrated at the top of the page. Later in the week, STEAM teams will have a chance to design an outdoor waterpark together--the kind of waterpark students may be able to replicate in their yards or a local park.
I'm excited about this learning because teamwork is an essential ingredient for the kinds of decision making, problem solving, and projects needed in today's world. Our students need to learn how to work as effective teams with good purpose. I'm happy to help my fifth graders get a good start with this important learning focus as well as the creativity and problem solving included in the project focus: The Global Cardboard/Recycled Goods Challenge. Onward.
