Counselora · Classroom lesson
Including everyone in a group task
Grades 6–8 · Ready-made original
Learning goal
Spot what makes a group hard to join and change one thing.
Materials
The student page below and a pencil.
Opening question · 3 minutes
“What change would make the task easier to join?”
A school situation · 5 minutes
Four students must plan a class display. Two have already chosen the design and keep passing one marker back and forth. Another student cannot see the instructions. A fourth would rather write ideas before talking. The group has ten minutes to decide on a plan.
One possible response · 4 minutes
Put the directions where everyone can see them and offer time to write an idea before speaking.
Practice · 10 minutes
What change would make the task easier to join?
1. One student is holding the only copy of the directions. A teammate cannot see it.
2. A teammate cannot respond in the fast group discussion but can write an idea.
Possible answers
1. Place the directions in the middle or share another copy.
2. “Let's give everyone a minute to write before we choose.”
Student page · 5 minutes
Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.
Exit question · 3 minutes
“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”
Student page to print
Including everyone in a group task
Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.
An example
Four students must plan a class display. Two have already chosen the design and keep passing one marker back and forth. Another student cannot see the instructions. A fourth would rather write ideas before talking. The group has ten minutes to decide on a plan.
What change would make the task easier to join?
One possible response: Put the directions where everyone can see them and offer time to write an idea before speaking.
1. One student is holding the only copy of the directions. A teammate cannot see it.
What change would make the task easier to join?
2. A teammate cannot respond in the fast group discussion but can write an idea.
What change would make the task easier to join?
One sentence to keep
Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.