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Play Together, Grow Together

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Lesson Plan

Play Together Lesson Plan

Students will engage in cooperative group play activities to practice sharing, turn-taking, and teamwork, aiming to complete tasks together and reflect on their collaborative strategies.

Building cooperation skills at an early age fosters positive peer relationships, reduces conflict, and promotes a supportive classroom environment essential for kindergarteners’ social development.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Active games with guided reflection

Materials

Paper, Markers, Cooperative Play Cards, Turn-Taking Spinner, and Teamwork Reflection Chart

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Activity

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the floor.
  • Ask: “What does cooperation mean?” and collect a few responses.
  • Show 2–3 cards from Cooperative Play Cards and discuss how each action requires teamwork.

Step 2

Cooperative Game Introduction

5 minutes

  • Explain the cooperative game rules using the remaining Cooperative Play Cards.
  • Demonstrate spinning the Turn-Taking Spinner to decide group roles (e.g., helper, timer, checker).
  • Emphasize sharing materials, taking turns, and helping each other succeed.

Step 3

Group Play Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into groups of 4 and provide each group with a set of Cooperative Play Cards and one Turn-Taking Spinner.
  • Students draw a card, spin for roles, and complete the cooperative task together.
  • Circulate among groups to observe, prompt positive language, and reinforce teamwork behaviors.
  • Praise groups that communicate kindly and support one another.

Step 4

Reflection and Discussion

5 minutes

  • Reconvene students in a circle and display the Teamwork Reflection Chart.
  • Ask each group to share one strategy that helped them cooperate (e.g., taking turns, listening).
  • Record their ideas on the chart under headings like “What We Did Well” and “How We Helped.”
  • Highlight key cooperation skills and encourage students to use them throughout the day.
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Slide Deck

Play Together, Grow Together

Objectives:
• Share materials
• Take turns
• Work as a team

Welcome, friends! Today we’re going to learn how to play and work together. Explain that cooperation means helping each other so everyone succeeds.

What Is Cooperation?

What does cooperation mean?
• Helping friends
• Sharing ideas
• Working as a team

Ask the question aloud and call on a few students. Encourage them to listen quietly when others speak.

Cooperative Play Examples

Here are some cooperative tasks:
• Building a puzzle together
• Passing a ball in a circle
• Drawing a group picture

(From Cooperative Play Cards)

Show 2–3 sample cards. Hold them up so everyone can see. Ask: “How does this action show cooperation?”

Game Rules & Roles

  1. Use Cooperative Play Cards
  2. Spin the Turn-Taking Spinner to pick roles:
    – Helper
    – Timer
    – Checker
  3. Share materials
  4. Help each other succeed

Explain each rule slowly. Demonstrate spinning the spinner and assigning roles.

Time to Play!

Steps:

  1. Form groups of 4
  2. Draw a cooperative card
  3. Spin for roles
  4. Complete the task together
  5. Remember to share and help

Divide students into groups of four. Hand out cards and one spinner per group. Circulate to praise and prompt teamwork.

Let’s Reflect

Use our Teamwork Reflection Chart:
• What went well?
• How did we help each other?

Bring everyone back to the circle. Point to the chart headings as you record student ideas.

Great Job, Team!

Keep practicing cooperation all day:
• Share
• Take turns
• Help friends

Praise specific examples you observed (e.g., “I saw great sharing when Mia let Ali choose first!”). Encourage future cooperation.

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Worksheet

Cooperative Play Cards

Cut out the cards below. Use them during group play to guide cooperative tasks. Share, help, and have fun together!

Card 1: Block Tower Builders

Work together to build the tallest tower using blocks.



(Draw a block tower here)

Card 2: Pass the Ball

Stand in a circle and pass the ball to each friend without dropping it.



(Draw a ball here)

Card 3: Puzzle Partners

Complete a puzzle together, taking turns placing each piece.



(Draw puzzle pieces here)

Card 4: Group Drawing

Draw one big picture together—each friend adds their part.



(Draw a crayon or picture frame here)

Card 5: Toy Clean-Up Crew

Work as a team to put away all the toys in the play area.



(Draw a toy bin here)

Card 6: Storytime Helpers

Take turns adding one sentence to create a fun group story.



(Draw an open book here)

Card 7: Line-Up Leaders

Line up with your group by height or birthday order—help each other find your spot.



(Draw a line of children here)

Card 8: Sing-Along Friends

Choose a song and sing it together, listening and harmonizing.



(Draw musical notes here)

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Activity

Turn-Taking Spinner

Print this spinner template on sturdy paper or cardstock. Cut out the circle and the arrow. Assemble by attaching the arrow in the center with a brad or paper fastener so it can spin freely.

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/_______________________________________\

HelperTimerCheckerHelper
TimerCheckerHelperTimer
CheckerHelperTimerChecker
_______________________________________/

How to Use

  1. Place one spinner in each group of four.
  2. Students take turns spinning to see who is Helper, Timer, or Checker next.
  3. Roles guide each cooperative task:
    • Helper – assists team members
    • Timer – keeps track of time
    • Checker – makes sure everyone shares and follows rules
  4. Rotate roles each round so every student practices a different job.

(Tip: Color‐code each labeled section before cutting for easy recognition.)

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Activity

Teamwork Reflection Chart

Use this chart to record what your group did well and how you helped each other.

What Went Well?How We Helped Each Other?
























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Play Together, Grow Together • Lenny Learning