How do I plan a Cooperative Learning class?

Question

I need to plan a 1 hour class using "Cooperative learning" Which topic would be GREAT to work like this, and which activities could I include in my plan?

Answer 1

A jigsaw is kind of cool. My kids always love it.

When the kids walk in the door allow them to pick a piece of candy from a bowl. If you are going to have 6 groups of 4 then you need 6 different types of candy, and 4 different colors in each group. For example; get jolly ranchers (1 red, green, yellow and purple) and then get suckers the same color and gum, etc.

Have the kids read something in their groups and become experts on it. They cannot eat their candy yet! You can have question sheets made up. Each group does just one portion and they must all understand it AND be able to explain it to others.

When they have done this, have them move. All of the reds sit together, the yellows, greens, etc. Now you have 1 expert from each group. The experts share their information with the others. They can also eat their candy while they work.

If there is time left after this you can do a game or something that helps to reinforce the information that they have just obtained. I like basketball. Have 1 kid from each row go to the board. Give them a question. They race to answer it. The first one to get it right gets a point for their team. They can then have the chance to make a basket. This gives their team a bonus point.

For the basket you can buy a cheap one at the dollar store. If they do not have it then use the trash can and a wad of paper, or a box and a bean bag thing.

Answer 2

Depending on your topic, you can do a myriad of things. Look on the Kagan website ( http://www.kaganonline.com/ ). They have the most amazing ideas for co-operative learning. ANY TOPIC can be used.