Cooperative+Learning

Cooperative Learning Strategies Here is a list of some cooperative learning strategies that can be used on the first days of school or throughout the year when building classroom community.

**Classroom Spider Web- this activity promotes social and emotional development as well as positive guidance. All you need is a ball of white yarn and a group of students. You sit in circle and the teacher begins by giving a complement or saying something nice about someone else in the class as you throw the ball of yarn to them. The web continues to be spun as each person throws the ball of yarn. At the end the yarn looks like a huge web in the middle of the circle.

** **A Kiss for the Kids **-All students start this activity in a seated position. Then the teacher will give the following, or similar, instructions for students to follow: At this point in the activity give a (chocolate) kiss to all those who are standing and say, "We all need a kiss a day!"
 * If you traveled this summer, stand up.
 * If you have a brother, sit down.
 * If you are the youngest of all the children in your family, stand up.
 * If you own a pet, sit down.
 * If you have a sister, stand up.
 * If your family owns a computer, sit down.
 * If you live in an apartment, stand up.
 * If this is your first year in this school, sit down.
 * If you are in ____ grade, stand up. (Fill in the blank with your grade; all students will stand.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">If you were kissed by someone this morning, sit down.

<span style="font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">**Additional Websites for cooperative learning strategies <span style="font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">[] -This website is all about creating a caring classroom. It gives great ideas for the first days and first weeks of school. It talks about classroom management ideas, reward systems, team building, class building, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">[] -This website offers teaching tips: cooperative learning strategies. This is full with links for lesson plans that you can access. <span style="font-family: 'Cooper Black','serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">[] -This website offers a list of cooperative learning games that make cooperative learning fun.