Novelinks
The Dark Is Rising: Problematic Situation Strategy
What items would you need to save the world from an evil wizard? Prior to reading Susan Cooper's young adult contemporary fantasy The Dark is Rising, and to generate interest in the tale, class groups must reach consensus on a list of...
EngageNY
Conducting Research: Asking and Answering our Questions about Rainforest Arthropods
Let's ask an expert. Scholars divide into groups to research and become experts on either ants or butterflies. Learners use task cards and text on their topic to complete a note catcher. At the end, they share their information with a...
Curated OER
Close Observation: Coins
Integrate math, science, and speaking/listening with a collaborative hands-on activity. Each group works with a single penny, examining it with the naked eye and recording observations. Repeat using magnifying glasses. Then repeat with a...
EngageNY
Reading and Talking with Peers: A Carousel of Photos and Texts about Frogs
Frogs are the theme of a lesson plan that challenges scholars to examine photographs, read informational texts, then ask and answer questions. Scholars work collaboratelively as they rotate through stations, discuss their observations,...
Curated OER
Working in a Team
Learning how to interact and work cooperatively in a team is an essential skill, both in school and the world beyond the classroom. Pupils use a self-check, group skills worksheet to evaluate their behavior in a recent group situation,...
Curated OER
The Earth's Layers: Day 6: Landforms II
Students closely examine the earth's crust and various landforms. In this Earth's layers lesson students work in cooperative groups and analyze their roles and responsibilities therein. Each group is assigned a specific landform to...
Curated OER
Archeology Lesson; Making Inferences
Students discover what an archeologist is and make inferences about societies and cultures based on artifacts. In this archeology lesson, students complete an array of captivating activities, guessing about what an artifact is and what...
Curated OER
Act it Out: Dramatizing Asian American Stories
Read and act out folktales, fairy tales, or myths from various Asian American cultures with your class. Each group reads a story aloud and then works together to create a short play or skit about the story. Suggestions for stories are...
Curated OER
Literature Circles
Literature circles let kids interact with each other and hear different perspectives. explore literature circles. Group your class into small reading groups, and then assign each class member a specific role to keep them focused. After...
Curated OER
Locating Information Quickly in a Variety of Resources
Here is a instructional activity which may be best suited for a library science teacher, or one that can be done by a regular teacher when in the library. In it, learners explore the best ways to use print and electronic resources to...
EngageNY
Reading about Freaky Frogs: “The Amazon Horned Frog"
The Amazon Horned Frog is the focus of a activity designed to encourage readers to ask and answer questions. A frog-themed poem opens the door to a whole-group discussion. Following a read-aloud of an informational text, a three-page...
Curated OER
Cooperative Learning Lesson Plans
Cooperative learning activities can help students feel like they are active members of a classroom community.
Curated OER
Antonyms 4: Level 7
A dynamic way to build vocabulary is to find the perfect antonym for a word under study. This worksheet, whether used for individual practice or for group work, is sure to enrich the vocabulary of your pupils. Of particular value is the...
Curated OER
The Alphabet Game
Students participate in a game that promotes group unity while spelling words with letter cards. In this teamwork instructional activity, students have to work together to win the game, but may find it hard to do so without making a lot...
Curated OER
Cooperative Learning Projects
Students practice cooperation skills. In this cooperative learning lesson, students read 6 books regarding cooperation and then participate in 6 cooperative activities.
Curated OER
Training Students for Literature Circles
Role sheets clearly define expectations of all group members in this introduction to literature circles. By using a variety of picture books or short texts, readers can practice roles while the teacher circulates to each group observing...
Sharp School
The Jungle Project: Creating a Magazine
To conclude a study of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, groups create a multi-media magazine in which they investigate one aspect of the foods industry. The packet details the requirements for the project, and includes rubrics for assessing...
Sharp School
Horror Fiction Multimedia Project
"There comes an end to all things" and ending a study of horror fiction with a multimedia project is "like starting a stone. . . away the stone goes, starting others. . ." In this case, groups start with a question generated by Dr....
Curated OER
If I Had the Power
Have your young learners practice using higher-order thinking skills by engaging in this problem-solving activity. They work in cooperative groups to solve problems, and list ways to address a variety of challenges. They explain their...
Curated OER
Overview of Cooperative Learning
Students identify the components of cooperative learning and plan a lesson using what they have learned.
Curated OER
Understanding Fantasy
Explore fantasy as a genre. After working in small groups to identify literary elements in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, class members share their work and then use the presentations to help them prepare to write...
Curated OER
Cooperative Learning Duties
Learners learn how to be held accountable while working in groups. In this accountability lesson plan, students complete an assignment in groups and everyone has a role to be held accountable for.
Curated OER
Working Well With Others
Students discuss the importance of communicating well with employers, customers and co-workers. A personality profile is completed and students work in groups to discuss various ways to solve disagreements when working with others. ...
Curated OER
Communicate - Without Talking?
Students discuss and define communication and identify different ways of communicating with people. Students then practice team building and non-verbal communication skills as they work silently in small teams to put puzzles together.