Forgetful Writer, and Plans

Hint to anyone thinking of writing a blog like this: don't make mental notes about posts; you'll mix things up and forget them; which is the case I'm in right now :)

I just wanted to post a great activity that Deborah did with the teams.

You'll need to split the kids up into groups, for example their Odyssey teams.

Then you will need:
- One hoop (or movable 'base') per group, plus one extra
- about twenty beanbags or similar

Place the hoops widely spaced in the room, and then the extra hoop ('base') in the middle.
All the bean bags go in the central hoop.

Now tell the teams to go to their 'base' and get all the bean bags to one base.

Mayhem ensues, and after a few minutes stop the kids and ask them how it's going. Give them a few minutes to think about and comment about their experience. Then set them going again.

This is one of those 'no one right way' to solve it problems- but solutions do exist. Our kids came up with at least three- after a few attempts!







Thanks Deborah for this great activity- which highlighted one of the things the kids find hardest: Teamwork- especially when it comes to collaborating on creative ideas. I'm starting to realize that an implicit part of the teamwork process is a certain amount of disappointment, especially when your idea isn't used (or only parts of it are used.) It takes a while for the process to reach the point of synergy where the final result is more than the inputs and individual ideas. I good lesson for me and the kids!

Talking of teamwork, both teams did a great job of brainstorming for their long-term problems. I've added a couple of snapshots of their notes- purposely blurred to keep their ideas top secret.