Lesson Plan
Relay Reliability Guide
Students will differentiate reliability from honesty and collaborate to complete a reliability relay with no dropped tasks.
Understanding reliability helps students become dependable individuals, build trust with others, and effectively contribute to group efforts, both in school and in their personal lives.
Audience
3rd Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through direct instruction, interactive slides, a team relay, and a rubric.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, You Can Count on Me Slides, Space for a relay activity, Task cards for the relay (5-7 per team), Relay Announcer Script, and Team Reliability Rubric
Prep
Prepare Materials
15 minutes
- Review the You Can Count on Me Slides and practice the Relay Announcer Script.
- Print and cut out task cards for the relay (e.g., "Solve 2+3," "Draw a circle," "Write your name"). Ensure there are enough for 5-7 tasks per team.
- Prepare copies of the Team Reliability Rubric for each student or team, or display it digitally.
- Arrange the classroom for the relay activity, creating clear start and finish lines and space for tasks.
Step 1
Warm-up: Goal Setting (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Begin with a quick warm-up discussion about setting goals and working together. Ask students:
- "What does it mean to set a goal?"
- "Why is it important to work together to achieve a goal?"
- Introduce the idea that today's lesson will focus on a special kind of teamwork called reliability. (See You Can Count on Me Slides Slide 1-2)
Step 2
Explain Reliability & Examples (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Use the You Can Count on Me Slides (Slides 3-6) to explain the difference between honesty and reliability.
- Honesty: Telling the truth.
- Reliability: Being someone others can count on to do what you say you will do, consistently.
- Provide clear, age-appropriate examples for each. Use the Relay Announcer Script for detailed talking points.
- Engage students with questions: "Can someone be honest but not reliable? How?"
- Emphasize that reliability means finishing tasks, following through, and being consistent.
Step 3
Team Reliability Relay (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Divide the class into small teams (3-4 students per team).
- Explain the "Reliability Relay" activity: Each team will have a set of task cards. Students will take turns completing one task at a time, passing the card to the next teammate only when their task is completely and accurately finished. No dropped tasks!
- Emphasize the goal: Complete all tasks reliably as a team. Refer to the Relay Announcer Script for instructions.
- Distribute task cards and begin the relay. Observe teamwork and task completion.
Step 4
Reflection & Rubric (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- After the relay, gather students for reflection. Ask:
- "What made your team reliable (or not)?"
- "How did each person's reliability affect the team's success?"
- Introduce the Team Reliability Rubric.
- Have students self-assess or peer-assess their team's reliability during the relay using the rubric. Discuss their scores and reasoning. (See You Can Count on Me Slides Slide 7)
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Slide Deck
You Can Count on Me!
Understanding Reliability & Teamwork
How do we become people others can truly depend on?
Welcome students and introduce the lesson's main topic in an engaging way. Emphasize that reliability is a key skill for working with others.
Warm-up: Goal Getters!
What does it mean to set a goal?
Why is it important to work together to achieve a goal?
Think about a time you worked with others. What made it successful?
Start with a warm-up. Ask students to share their ideas about setting goals and teamwork. This activates prior knowledge and sets the stage for the relay activity.
What is Honesty?
Honesty means telling the truth.
It's about being truthful with your words and actions.
Introduce honesty first. Give clear, simple examples. It's important to distinguish this from reliability right away.
What is Reliability?
Reliability means people can count on you.
It's about doing what you say you will do, consistently and on time.
Introduce reliability. Provide examples that show consistency and follow-through. Connect it to actions over time.
Honesty vs. Reliability
Honesty: Did you tell the truth about eating the last cookie?
Reliability: Did you remember to bring cookies for the class party like you promised?
Both are important, but they are different!
Use this slide to directly compare and contrast the two concepts. Give specific scenarios to help students grasp the difference.
Why Be Reliable?
People trust you!
You help your team succeed!
You feel proud of yourself!
Being reliable makes everything run smoother!
Explain why being reliable is a valuable trait. Connect it to personal relationships, school work, and being part of a team.
Reliability Reflection
How did your team show reliability today?
What could your team do to be even more reliable next time?
Let's use our Team Reliability Rubric!
Conclude with reflection on the relay activity and introduce the rubric. Encourage self-assessment and discussion.
Script
Relay Announcer Script
Introduction to Reliability and the Relay
"Alright, fantastic goal-getters! We just talked about what it means to be reliable. Can anyone remind me what reliability means?"
"That's right! It means people can count on you to do what you say you will do, consistently. It's about following through, finishing tasks, and being someone others can depend on. Today, we're going to put our reliability skills to the test with an exciting Reliability Relay!"
Explaining the Reliability Relay Rules
"Here's how our Reliability Relay will work. I'm going to divide you into teams. Each team will get a stack of task cards facing down."
"When I say 'Go!', the first person in each team will pick up the top card. You must complete that task completely and accurately. Only when your task is fully done and checked by me (or a designated team leader if we decide), can you pass the task card to the next teammate. The next teammate then picks up a new card and completes their task, and so on."
"Here's the most important rule for reliability: No dropped tasks! Every single task needs to be completed carefully and correctly before you pass it on. If a task isn't done right, you have to fix it before your team can move forward. Our goal is to complete all tasks as a reliable team."
"Are there any questions about the Reliability Relay rules?"
During the Relay
"Ready, set, RELIABLY GO!"
(Circulate, observe, and provide encouragement. Remind students of the reliability aspect if they rush or try to 'drop' a task.)
"Remember, take your time and be thorough! We're focusing on reliability, not just speed!"
"Great teamwork, everyone! I see some really reliable efforts happening!"
Concluding the Relay
"And... STOP! Fantastic work, everyone! Give yourselves a round of applause for your efforts in our Reliability Relay!"
"Now, let's gather back together. We're going to talk about what we learned about being reliable as a team, and we'll use our Team Reliability Rubric to help us reflect."
Rubric
Team Reliability Rubric
Team Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Use this rubric to assess how reliable your team was during the "Reliability Relay"! For each category, circle the description that best fits your team.
Category 1: Task Completion
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 - Excellent | Our team completed all tasks completely and accurately. No tasks were dropped or left unfinished. Each task was done carefully before moving on. |
| 3 - Good | Our team completed most tasks completely and accurately. A few minor errors or unfinished parts were quickly corrected. |
| 2 - Developing | Our team completed some tasks, but several were rushed, incomplete, or had errors. We sometimes moved on before a task was fully reliable. |
| 1 - Needs Work | Our team struggled to complete tasks reliably. Many tasks were unfinished, inaccurate, or ignored. |
Category 2: Team Collaboration & Support
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 - Excellent | Everyone on our team worked together, encouraged each other, and helped ensure tasks were completed reliably. We communicated clearly. |
| 3 - Good | Our team worked well together most of the time. Some members offered support, and communication was generally good. |
| 2 - Developing | Our team had some moments of teamwork, but communication was inconsistent. Not everyone contributed equally to ensuring reliability. |
| 1 - Needs Work | Our team struggled to collaborate. Members worked individually, or there was a lack of support, making reliability difficult. |
Category 3: Understanding Reliability (Self-Reflection)
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 4 - Excellent | I clearly understand what reliability means and how it's different from honesty. I can give examples of how my team (and I) showed reliability today. |
| 3 - Good | I understand what reliability means. I can explain how it was important in our relay, but I might need a little more practice explaining the difference from honesty. |
| 2 - Developing | I am starting to understand reliability, but I sometimes confuse it with honesty or struggle to see its importance in our activity. |
| 1 - Needs Work | I am still unsure about what reliability means or how it applied to our relay activity. |