Lesson Plan
Skills Snapshot
Students will define and reflect on five essential work skills and practice collaboration by building a ‘teamwork tower’ in small groups.
Developing self-awareness of key work skills and experiencing teamwork prepares students for future academic and career success.
Audience
8th Grade Class
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Quiz, mini-lecture, hands-on challenge, self-assessment.
Materials
- Got Skills? Presentation, - Quick Skill Quiz, - Teamwork Tower Challenge, - Skill Self-Check, - Flip Chart Paper, - Marker Set, and - Building Blocks or Plastic Cups
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review Got Skills? Presentation slides and familiarize yourself with each work skill definition.
- Print and cut copies of the Quick Skill Quiz for each student.
- Print enough Skill Self-Check worksheets.
- Set up flip chart sheets and marker sets at workstations.
- Gather building blocks or plastic cups for the Teamwork Tower Challenge.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Quick Skill Quiz
10 minutes
- Distribute the Quick Skill Quiz handout.
- Ask students to complete the quiz individually, circling skills they believe they already use.
- Collect responses and display key skills on the board for reference.
Step 2
Introduction: Defining Work Skills
5 minutes
- Project the Got Skills? Presentation.
- Briefly define each of the five essential skills (communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, organization).
- Invite a few volunteers to share examples of each skill in action.
Step 3
Main Activity: Teamwork Tower Challenge
25 minutes
- Divide students into groups of 4–5.
- Explain the Teamwork Tower Challenge rules: build the tallest freestanding tower using blocks/cups in 10 minutes.
- Assign roles within each team (planner, builder, timekeeper, communicator, quality checker).
- Begin the timed build. Circulate to observe and prompt reflection on skill use.
- After time is up, measure towers and discuss which work skills helped teams succeed.
Step 4
Cool-Down: Skill Self-Check
10 minutes
- Hand out the Skill Self-Check worksheet.
- Students reflect on which skills they used during the challenge and rate their comfort level.
- Pair-share reflections and set one personal goal for improving a specific work skill.
Slide Deck
Got Skills?
An interactive session to identify and practice five essential work skills.
Welcome students and introduce the session. Explain that today they’ll discover key work skills and test them in a fun challenge.
Today's Agenda
- Warm-Up: Quick Skill Quiz (#quick-skill-quiz)
- Define Five Key Skills
- Main Activity: Teamwork Tower Challenge (#teamwork-tower-challenge)
- Cool-Down: Skill Self-Check (#skill-self-check)
Walk through each agenda item briefly so students know what to expect.
Skill #1: Communication
The ability to clearly share ideas and listen to others.
Example: Explaining a game strategy to teammates.
Define communication and share a real-life school or sports example. Ask students for additional scenarios.
Skill #2: Problem-Solving
Finding solutions when obstacles arise.
Example: Figuring out how to fix a broken projecter before class.
Explain problem-solving step by step: identify, brainstorm, test, reflect.
Skill #3: Teamwork
Working together toward a common goal.
Example: Dividing roles to complete a group poster on time.
Highlight why collaboration matters and how roles help teams succeed.
Skill #4: Adaptability
Adjusting to new situations quickly and positively.
Example: Switching to an online quiz when the printer fails.
Use an example of adapting to a schedule change or tech glitch.
Skill #5: Organization
Keeping tasks and materials in order.
Example: Using color-coded folders for each subject.
Show a desk or binder and discuss students’ own organization tips.
Skills in Action
Imagine planning a school fair:
- Communicate roles and deadlines
- Solve budget or supply issues
- Work as a committee
- Adapt to weather or schedule changes
- Keep plans and materials organized
Briefly recap how these skills work together in real life. Encourage students to spot them around them.
Teamwork Tower Challenge
- Groups of 4–5
- Build the tallest freestanding tower in 10 minutes using cups/blocks
- Assign roles: Planner, Builder, Timekeeper, Communicator, Quality Checker
- Reflect on which skills you used
Explain rules, timing, and roles. Emphasize observation of skills during play.
Reflect & Set Goals
- Complete the Skill Self-Check
- Rate your confidence for each skill
- Pair-share one skill you’ll improve and set a goal
Introduce the Skill Self-Check handout. Guide students to set a SMART goal.
Warm Up
Quick Skill Quiz
Directions: Read each skill description below. Circle the skills you already feel comfortable using.
- Communication: The ability to clearly share ideas and listen to others.
- Problem-Solving: Finding solutions when obstacles arise.
- Teamwork: Collaborating with others to reach a common goal.
- Adaptability: Adjusting to new situations quickly and positively.
- Organization: Keeping tasks and materials in order.
Which skills do you already use? Circle all that apply:
Communication Problem-Solving Teamwork Adaptability Organization
Game
Teamwork Tower Challenge
Objective:
Practice five essential work skills (communication, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, organization) by collaborating to build the tallest freestanding tower.
Materials:
- Building Blocks or Plastic Cups (20–30 per group)
- Timer or Stopwatch
- Measuring Tape or Ruler
- Role Cards: Planner, Builder, Timekeeper, Communicator, Quality Checker
Setup:
- Divide the class into teams of 4–5 students.
- Provide each team with a set of blocks/cups, a timer, a measuring tape, and one of each role card.
- Assign one role to each student. If you have fewer than five per group, combine Planner & Communicator or Builder & Quality Checker.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Planner: Sketches a simple design and guides the build plan.
- Builder: Physically stacks cups/blocks per the plan.
- Timekeeper: Monitors the 10-minute build time and gives 2-minute reminders.
- Communicator: Shares ideas clearly with teammates and listens actively.
- Quality Checker: Tests stability and suggests adjustments.
Rules:
- Build only with the provided materials; no tape or glue.
- The tower must be freestanding for at least 10 seconds at the end.
- All team members must participate in their assigned role.
- If the tower falls before time’s up, students may rebuild but within the 10-minute limit.
Timing:
- 2 minutes for roles & rules explanation
- 10 minutes for tower construction
- 3 minutes to measure and record each tower’s height
- 5 minutes for team reflection and sharing
Reflection Prompts:
- Which work skills did your team use most? Why?
- How did your assigned role support the team’s success?
- What was your biggest challenge, and how did you solve it?
- If you repeated this challenge, what would you change?
Cool Down
Skill Self-Check
Reflect on the work skills you practiced during the Teamwork Tower Challenge and set a goal to strengthen one skill.
Part 1: Rate Your Skills
Use the table below to note which skills you used in the challenge and rate your confidence on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high).
| Skill | Used It? (Yes/No) | Confidence (1–5) |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | ||
| Problem-Solving | ||
| Teamwork | ||
| Adaptability | ||
| Organization |
Part 2: Choose One Skill to Improve
Which one skill will you focus on improving?
Skill: _________________________________________
Why this skill? ____________________________________
Part 3: Set a SMART Goal
Write a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Specific: I will ________________________________
- Measurable: I will know I’ve succeeded when __________
- Achievable: I will practice by _____________________
- Relevant: This will help me ________________________
- Time-bound: I will complete this goal by ___________