Fun Group Work Skills Role Playing/Discussion Lesson!

Have you ever noticed that we hardly ever teach our students explicitly how to work together on a project? How to stand up for themselves while still being respectful? How to resolve conflicts peacefully but fairly?

We just sort of expect them to have learned it last year. :p

If you assign group projects, you need this lesson!

This is a role playing activity in which students watch short skits illustrating common group problems, and then discuss ways to resolve those problems fairly and peacefully. This lesson contains 2 thought-provoking Quickwrites, 11 short skits, suggested discussion questions, teacher instructions, a blank form for students to take notes, and a short writing assignment at the end for assessment.

Teach your kids directly how to...

- 'Respond' instead of 'react' to a problem

- Speak respectfully but firmly with their partners

- De-escalate an emotional situation

- Protect themselves from unfairness

- Consider a problem from multiple perspectives

- Stay on-task during group work time

- Delegate tasks fairly

- Think before they speak/Consider the consequences of their actions

- And much more!