Teamwork exercise

Learning to work together as a team can mean the difference between success and failure. Imagine the challenge that the women of WomenQuest face in learning to pull together to help each other achieve their goals. In this exercise, students will have a chance to build a freestanding structure as a way of experiencing what it takes for a team to work together.

Teaching Objectives:

Group Discussion:

• Engage peers in constructive conversation about how to accomplish a task
• Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills
• Demonstrate attentive listening skills
• Demonstrate the ability to apply a decision-making process
• Planning and Problem Solving
  • Demonstrate the ability to plan a project in a team
  • Engage in creative problem solving
  Equipment needed:Materials to build a freestanding structure may vary. Here are some possible combinations of materials that can be used to construct the structures. Teachers should consider what is readily and inexpensively available at their school. Do not feel limited by the lists below:
  • Plastic straws, straight pins, paper clips, masking tape (baggies and a magnet can help keep the straight pins together and prevent injuries)
  • Newspapers, masking tape, toothpicks
  • Tinker toys
  • 3x5 index cards, masking tape, paper clips

  Time required:

  Allow at least 45 minutes for the students to receive instructions, plan their towers, build them, and discuss the results. More time permits richer discussions.

  Tips/special instructions:

  There are many variations on this activity. One includes charging students for the cost of the materials they use (i.e., straws = $1.00; pins = $.10, etc.). This means that structures can be rated both by height, ability to stand unsupported, and cost of production. It also introduces an added dimension into the planning process. If you add this to the activity, please allow students additional time to calculate the cost of materials. Or, you may wish to give students "money" to buy the materials they think they need.

  There are a few keys to success for the teams. The first is to use the planning time to determine what will work and to assign tasks to people. Usually at least one person in every group knows that a solid base is needed in order to make a structure that is tall. There are many approaches to building solid bases, so the students will get to see different solutions to the fundamental problem (just like real life, where, for example, many different cultures have solved the "problem" of how to raise children successfully).

  Assigning tasks to people is necessary to make the optimal use of the build time. If everyone just does everything, things do not go as smoothly. Tasks that students may identify include creating the basic building blocks, handing them to builders, trouble-shooting, etc. So, the other lesson in this exercise is that actually spending time on planning and preparing to execute a task gets better results than just plunging in and doing it. You will notice some groups that are done planning after only a few minutes. Often they have problems with building because they didn't really plan. Circulating among the students to observe the planning and preparation processes can enhance your ability to lead the debrief.

  The Assignment:

  1. Brainstorm with the class to create two lists. One list is what makes teams work best and one list is what makes teams work poorly. This should only take 5 to 7 minutes. Once the lists are done, review them to help set the stage for cooperative teamwork.
  2. Read the general instructions to the class and provide each group with a copy. "Each team is responsible for building the highest freestanding structure possible. You will have 15 minutes to plan your structure, 5 minutes to prepare your materials for construction, and 3 minutes to build it. You will each be provided with an identical set of materials for construction. You may not use any other materials. During planning you may look at your materials, but you may not touch them. During preparation, you may organize your materials or prepare them in any wish for building. You may only build during the 3 minutes construction period. At the end of construction, your structure needs to stand with no outside support of any kind. I will give you five minute time checks during planning and use a timer to set other time limits."
  3. Divide the class into groups of 5 to 6 students. Random assignment is one option for achieving heterogeneous groups. Careful construction of groups to increase their heterogeneity is another. Heterogeneous groups are effective when working on ambiguous problems with no single solution.
  4. Provide each group with an identical set of construction materials for their freestanding structure and the instructions.
  5. Start the timer and STRICTLY enforce the time limits. Your role is to ensure that no one touches the material during planning or begins building until the construction period. You may facilitate discussion, if called upon to do so, but you may not provide comments or suggestions.
  6. Following the construction period, applaud everyone efforts. If time permits, have each team discuss the following questions first, then share with the class as a whole. If not, debrief in the class.
  7. 1. What worked? What helped the team accomplish its task?
     2. What didn't work? What would the team do differently next time?
     3. How was this experience like other teams you've work with?
     4. How would take what you've learned here and use it with other groups or teams?

  return to Exploration home page