Teacher Script: Team Up! Communicate!

Warm-Up: Human Knot (5 minutes)

"Alright, gentlemen, let's get those brains and bodies moving! I need everyone to stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder. Now, listen carefully: reach your right hand across the circle and grab the hand of someone standing opposite you. Got it? Great. Now, reach your left hand across and grab the hand of a different person. Don't grab the hand of the person right next to you, and don't grab the hand of the person you already have a hold of!"

"Okay, the challenge is this: without letting go of anyone's hands, your team needs to untangle yourselves and form one big, unbroken circle. This is going to require some serious teamwork and even more serious communication. Talk to each other, strategize, and figure out how to unravel this human knot! Go!"

(Circulate, offering encouragement and reminding them to communicate if they get stuck.)

Introduction & Objectives (3 minutes)

"Awesome work, everyone! That was a fantastic display of problem-solving and, most importantly, communication. You probably noticed it was tough to get untangled without talking to one another, right?"

"Today, we're diving deeper into the power of teamwork and communication. These aren't just buzzwords; these are superpowers you use every day, whether you're on the basketball court, working on a school project, or even just hanging out with your friends."

"Let's look at our mission for today." (Advance to Team Up! Communicate! Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"By the end of this session, you're going to be able to: actively participate in team-building, show off your communication skills, work together to solve challenges, and understand just how valuable working as a team is."

"So, quick show of hands: What do you think makes a good team? What's one thing a team has to have to be successful?"

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts, affirming good ideas like 'listening,' 'respect,' 'sharing ideas.')

Team Challenge: The Great Escape (10 minutes)

"Fantastic ideas! Now, it's time to put some of that into action. I'm going to split you into 2-3 smaller teams. Each team will get a 'Team Challenge Card' with a tricky situation. Your job, as a team, is to work together, communicate your ideas, and strategize a solution to the challenge on your card."

(Divide students into teams quickly.)

"Here are your Team Challenge Cards. You'll have 7 minutes to discuss and plan your solution. After 7 minutes, each team will briefly present their solution and, more importantly, tell us how you worked together. How did you make decisions? Who spoke up? Who listened? Think about it."

(Distribute Team Challenge Cards. Start timer. Circulate and observe, making notes on effective/ineffective communication and collaboration.)

"Alright, 30 seconds left! Start wrapping up your discussions!"

"Time's up! Team 1, let's hear your brilliant plan and how you tackled the challenge!"

(Facilitate brief presentations and follow-up questions for each team.)

"Great job, everyone! It's clear that when you put your heads together and talk things through, you can come up with some pretty clever solutions."

Role-Playing Communication (8 minutes)

"Now, we're going to shift gears slightly and focus specifically on communication. Sometimes, even when we want to work together, our communication can get a little messy. How many of you have ever had a misunderstanding because of how something was said, or not said?" (Expect nods or hands raised.)

"Exactly! So, we're going to practice. I'm handing out some Communication Role-Play Scenarios. In your teams, quickly assign yourselves roles for the scenario you get. Then, you're going to act it out. The key is to focus on practicing effective communication. Think about active listening, speaking clearly, and how to reach a compromise. Feel free to have a little fun with it, exaggerate if you want, but really try to apply those good communication habits."

(Distribute Communication Role-Play Scenarios. Give them a minute to read and assign roles, then 3-4 minutes per scenario. Circulate and provide gentle coaching.)

"Fantastic effort, teams! What did you notice in those role-plays? Was it easy or hard to communicate effectively in those situations?"

Wrap-Up & Reflection (4 minutes)

"Alright, everyone, bring it back in! We've done a lot of work today, from untangling yourselves in a human knot to solving challenges and even acting out tricky conversations."

"Let's reflect: What's one big thing you learned about teamwork or communication today that you didn't quite realize before?"

(Allow a few responses.)

"How do you think you can use these skills – effective teamwork and clear communication – in your daily life? Maybe in school, with your family, or with your friends?"

(Allow a few more responses.)

"You all showed incredible energy, creativity, and willingness to work together today. Remember, being a great teammate and a clear communicator are super valuable skills that will help you succeed in whatever you do. Keep practicing them! You are all incredible collaborators and communicators! Keep it up!"

(End with applause for their effort.)

Team Challenge Cards

Cut out these cards and give one to each team. Teams will work together to brainstorm a solution and explain their process.

Card 1: Desert Island Dilemma

You are stranded on a small, uninhabited island after a shipwreck. You have managed to salvage only three items: a broken mirror, a coil of rope, and a half-eaten bag of gummy bears. The sun is setting, and you need to build a signal fire before dark to alert passing ships.

Your Team's Task: Describe how your team will use only these three items to build a signal fire. Explain the steps and how each person contributes.

Card 2: The Mysterious Device

Your team has stumbled upon a strange, unlabeled device in a forgotten attic. It has several buttons, levers, and flashing lights, but no instructions. You suspect it might be able to grant wishes, but pressing the wrong button could cause a major disaster!

Your Team's Task: Develop a plan to safely figure out how the device works and what its purpose is. How will your team investigate, test, and decide which buttons to press (or not press)? Everyone must agree on the final steps.

Card 3: The Class Project Catastrophe

Your team has been assigned a huge group project for history class, due tomorrow! One team member just told you they accidentally deleted the entire presentation. Another team member is refusing to help because they think it's someone else's fault. You have less than 24 hours.

Your Team's Task: Create a step-by-step plan to save the project. How will your team address the deleted file, motivate the uncooperative member, and divide the remaining work to get everything done on time? Outline specific roles and communication strategies.

Communication Role-Play Scenarios

Cut out these cards. In your teams, assign roles and act out the scenario. Focus on practicing clear communication, active listening, and reaching a compromise.

Scenario 1: The Gaming Dilemma

Situation: You and your friends are trying to decide what video game to play. Two of you want to play a new RPG, but the other two really want to play a competitive online game they've been practicing. The argument is getting heated, and no one is listening to anyone else.

Your Team's Task: Act out this scenario. Practice expressing your preferences clearly without yelling, actively listening to others' arguments, and finding a solution that everyone can agree on, or at least compromise on.

Scenario 2: The Unfinished Homework

Situation: You and a partner were assigned to complete a challenging math homework together. You finished your part, but your partner admits they totally forgot about it and it's due in 10 minutes! They are panicking and just keep saying, "I can't believe I did this!" You're frustrated because you did your part.

Your Team's Task: Act out this scenario. Practice communicating your frustration calmly, but also offering constructive suggestions for how to proceed, even in a time crunch. How do you work together to minimize the damage and learn from the mistake?

Scenario 3: The Group Project Idea Clash

Situation: Your team is brainstorming ideas for a science fair project. One member has a really elaborate, but possibly impossible, idea and keeps interrupting others. Another member has a simple, but effective, idea but is too shy to speak up. The deadline for submitting your project idea is fast approaching.

Your Team's Task: Act out this scenario. Practice ensuring everyone gets a chance to speak. How do you encourage the shy member? How do you gently guide the enthusiastic member to listen more? Work towards combining or selecting the best idea through effective discussion and consensus-building.