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Team Synergy

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Lesson Plan

Building High-Performing Teams

Students will learn and practice important team skills: working together, talking clearly, and solving small problems in a group.

Working well with others is a very important skill for school, friends, and future jobs. This lesson will help students learn how to be a good team member.

Audience

8th Grade Beginner ESL Students

Time

65 minutes

Approach

Easy talks, fun team game, and thinking about what we learned.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Markers or Whiteboard, The Power of Teamwork Slide Deck, Teamwork Triumphs & Troubles Discussion Guide, Collaborative Challenge Quest Game, Treasure Map Worksheet, Collaborative Challenge Quest Answer Key, Pens/Pencils, and Scratch paper or small whiteboards for game

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Start & Learn: What is Teamwork?

10 minutes

  • Begin with a quick Warm-Up to ask students about teamwork.
  • Use The Power of Teamwork Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to talk about "Team Synergy." (This means when a team works so well, they do more together).
  • Talk about why good teamwork skills are important for school and life.

Step 2

Talk About Teams: Good and Bad

15 minutes

Step 3

Fun Team Game: Collaborative Challenge Quest

30 minutes

  • Put students into small groups (3-4 students).
  • Explain the Collaborative Challenge Quest Game and its rules.
  • Walk around and watch groups. Help them if they need it.
  • Tell students to use good talking and teamwork skills during the game.

Step 4

Finish & Think: How Did We Do?

10 minutes

  • Bring everyone back together after the game. Talk about what was easy and what was hard for the teams.
  • Use the Cool Down to ask students to think about teamwork and how they can be better team members.
  • Review the main ideas: working together, clear talking, and solving problems help teams do great things (Slide 6 of The Power of Teamwork Slide Deck).
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Warm Up

Teamwork Start!

Instructions: Think about a time you worked with other people. Maybe for a school project, a game, or with friends.

  1. Was it easy or hard to work together? Why?


  2. What does "Teamwork" mean to you?


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Slide Deck

Working Together is Strong!

Working better, together!

Welcome students and talk about working in groups. Ask them why it is good to work together.

What is Team Synergy?

When 1 + 1 = 3!

It's when a group's work is bigger than each person's work alone.

  • Working Together: Doing a job with others to reach one goal.
  • Talking Clearly: Saying your ideas and feelings so others understand.
  • Solving Problems: Finding a way to fix disagreements so everyone is happy.

Explain 'Team Synergy.' It means when people work together, they can do more than working alone. Give a simple example, like building a tower with friends.

Part 1: Working Together!

All Together Now!

  • Same Goal: Everyone knows what to do.
  • Share Work: Everyone has a part to do.
  • Help Each Other: Give help when someone needs it.
  • Listen to Ideas: Hear and respect what everyone says.

Talk about working together. Ask students for examples of good teamwork. Talk about shared goals and helping each other.

Part 2: Talk and Listen Well

Speak Up, Hear Others!

  • Speak Clearly: Say your thoughts so others can understand.
  • Listen Actively: Pay attention to what others say.
  • Ask Questions: If you don't understand, ask.
  • Give Feedback: Share kind ideas to help the team do better.

Talk about how we talk. Talk about speaking and listening well. Ask how bad talking can cause problems.

Part 3: Fix Problems Friendly

Problems Happen! How We Fix Them Matters.

  • Stay Calm: Take a deep breath.
  • Listen to All: Understand what everyone thinks.
  • Find Common Ground: Look for ideas that work for everyone.
  • Try to Agree: Be ready to change your idea for the team.

Talk about solving problems. Tell students that problems happen, but how we fix them is important. Brainstorm good ways to solve problems.

Teamwork Makes Dreams Work!

All Parts Work Together!

  • When we work together, talk clearly, and fix problems well, teams can do great things!
  • These skills are important for school, sports, friends, and future jobs.
  • Keep practicing!

End by saying how good teamwork helps everywhere. Encourage students to practice these skills.

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Discussion

Teamwork Good & Bad Talks

Instructions: In your small groups, talk about these questions. Be ready to tell the whole class some of your ideas.

Part 1: Good Teamwork!

  1. Tell about a time you worked in a team (school work, sports, game, etc.) and it went very well. What made it a "good time"?





  2. What did team members do that helped the team win or finish well?





  3. How did talking help in this good teamwork?





Part 2: Bad Teamwork

  1. Tell about a time you worked in a team and it was hard or did not go well. What made it a "bad time"?





  2. What were some big problems the team had?





  3. How did talking (or not talking) make these problems bigger?





  4. If you could go back, what would you or your team do differently to fix problems or make it better?





Part 3: How to Make it Better

  1. From your talks, what are 2-3 important things a team needs to do to have "good times" and avoid "bad times"?





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Game

Teamwork Treasure Hunt Game: Find the Lost Map Piece

Goal: Your team has parts of a secret treasure map. You must put your clues together, talk well, and solve small puzzles. Find the hidden treasure before time is out!

Time: 25 minutes

Things Your Team Needs:

  • One big envelope with 6 small envelopes (A, B, C, D, E, F) inside.
  • Each small envelope has one special clue/puzzle.
  • Treasure Map Worksheet

How To Play:

  1. First, Alone: Each person in your team opens one small envelope (A, B, C, D, E, or F). DO NOT show your clue to others yet! You have 2 minutes to read and understand your own clue.

  2. Then, Together: After 2 minutes, your team can now put your ideas together. Tell your teammates about your clue. You cannot give your clue paper to others, but you can say what it says, read it loud, or draw a picture of it.

  3. Work Together to Solve: Work as a team to solve the puzzles in your clues. Each clue will tell you something important:

    • Clue A (Puzzle for X-number):
      How many sides does a triangle have? This number is your first steps to the East (go right) for the treasure.



    • Clue B (Math for Y-number):
      How many letters are in the word "sun"? This number is your first steps to the North (go up) for the treasure.



    • Clue C (Mixed-up Word for Name Part 1):
      Put these letters in order: EAMT
      • This is the first part of the Treasure Name.



    • Clue D (Mixed-up Word for Name Part 2):
      Put these letters in order: KROW
      • This is the second part of the Treasure Name.



    • Clue E (Check X-number):
      What number, when you multiply it by itself, makes 9? This number should be the same as your steps to the East (X-number) from Clue A. If it is different, talk about it as a team!



    • Clue F (Check Y-number):
      What is 6 divided by 2? This number should be the same as your steps to the North (Y-number) from Clue B. If it is different, talk about it as a team!



  4. Find the Treasure! When you have solved all clues and checked your numbers, use the "steps to the East" and "steps to the North" to find the treasure spot on your Treasure Map Worksheet. Write the two words from Clue C and Clue D together as the "Treasure Location Name." Then, draw an "X" at the correct spot on your map.

Win the Game: The first team to find the correct treasure spot and mark it on their map wins! Good luck, treasure hunters!

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Worksheet

The Lost Treasure Map

Instructions: This is your team's treasure map! Start at the bottom-left corner (0 East, 0 North). Use your clues to find your "steps East" (go right) and "steps North" (go up). Then, draw an "X" where the treasure is.

    4 +---+---+---+---+---+
      |   |   |   |   |   |
    3 +---+---+---+---+---+
      |   |   |   |   |   |
    2 +---+---+---+---+---+
      |   |   |   |   |   |
    1 +---+---+---+---+---+
      |   |   |   |   |   |
    0 +---+---+---+---+---+
        0   1   2   3   4

Treasure Location Name: ____________________


Mark your X here: (Draw an X on the map above at the correct numbers!)

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Cool Down

Teamwork Reflection

Instructions: Please write your answers for these questions.

  1. What is one new thing you learned about working in a team today?


  2. Tell one way you can talk better when you work in a team.


  3. Why is it important to know how to fix problems when you work with others?


  4. How can the skills you practiced today (working together, talking, fixing problems) help you outside of school? (Like with friends, family, or games?)


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Answer Key

Teamwork Treasure Hunt Game Answer Key

Clue Answers:

  • Clue A (East Steps):

    • Question: How many sides does a triangle have? This number is your first steps to the East (go right) for the treasure.
    • Answer: 3. (A triangle has 3 sides.)

  • Clue B (North Steps):

    • Question: How many letters are in the word "sun"? This number is your first steps to the North (go up) for the treasure.
    • Answer: 3. ("Sun" has 3 letters.)

  • Clue C (Treasure Name Part 1):

    • Question: Put these letters in order: EAMT
    • Answer: TEAM. (First part of the Treasure Name.)

  • Clue D (Treasure Name Part 2):

    • Question: Put these letters in order: KROW
    • Answer: WORK. (Second part of the Treasure Name.)

  • Clue E (Check East Steps):

    • Question: What number, when you multiply it by itself, makes 9? This number should be the same as your steps to the East (X-number) from Clue A.
    • Answer: 3. (3 x 3 = 9.)

  • Clue F (Check North Steps):

    • Question: What is 6 divided by 2? This number should be the same as your steps to the North (Y-number) from Clue B.
    • Answer: 3. (6 / 2 = 3.)

Treasure Spot:

  • Steps East (X-number): 3
  • Steps North (Y-number): 3
  • Treasure Name: TEAMWORK

So, the treasure is at (3,3) on the map, and the name of the place is TEAMWORK.

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