A classroom without teamwork is a hard place to be. Learn how to teach your students this character education trait today!
What Does Teamwork Look Like in the Classroom?
Teamwork is working respectfully and effectively with a group to achieve a common goal. Part of working as a team is each person doing their share.
Teamwork comes in many different forms while at school:
- Working collaboratively to complete a project
- Sharing resources during small group time
- Playing together during centers
- Playing games together at recess
- Everyone completing classroom responsibilities at the end of the day
Why Teach Teamwork in the Classroom
Teaching teamwork is beneficial for a better classroom environment as well as preparing students for working with others throughout their lives.
Benefits of Teaching Teamwork in the Classroom
Students practice better communication and social skills by working together.
There are also many other benefits of working as a team:
- Deeper friendships
- Self-confidence
- Learning from other students
- Feeling heard and validated
- Increased classroom community
How to Teach Teamwork in the Classroom
Model Teamwork
Having a positive role model is critical for students learning new social emotional skills in the classroom. Students learn so much from watching YOU!
As you model teamwork through your interactions with your colleagues and support staff, students will learn what teamwork really looks like and see how to implement it in real life.
Use Resources
Made-for-you resources are also a great way to teach teamwork in the classroom. Hands-on activities allow students to focus specifically on this trait and identify ways to be a good teammate through communicating well and showing sportsmanship.
This Character Education product includes 9 activities to help you teach TEAMWORK in your classroom. The activities include identifying good teamwork skills from bad, “What Would You Do?” situation cards, self-reflection questions, and more!
It also includes a digital learning version for Google Slides, bulletin board posters, and 9 extra forms and supplemental resources.
You can take all the thought out of your planning with this all-inclusive resource. Use it as a single lesson or spread out over several days.. or the entire year. It’s up to you!
Use Books & Videos
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The Hard Hat for Kids by Jon Gordon
Mickey loves basketball and cannot wait to play on her school’s team. On the first day of practice, Mickey hears about a prize that is awarded to the best teammate. Throughout the story, Mickey learns that being the best player and the best teammate are very different. She must learn to be selfless, loyal, compassionate, and work hard to put her team first.
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
Stick and Stone are both lonely. Pinecone begins to bully Stone, and Stick stands up to Pinecone. After this, Stick and Stone do not feel so alone. They begin to play and explore together. They realize the benefit of reaching out and making a new friend.
Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldland
The bear, beaver, and moose are best friends, but they often disagree. One day they decide to go on a canoeing trip. Throughout the entire trip, the friends argue and fight over who gets to do what and how to cross a large beaver dam. Their disagreements lead them facing raging rapids, and they have to decide on a rescue plan together to finish the trip safely.
Teamwork Isn’t My Thing, and I Don’t Like to Share! by Julia Cook
RJ is having a bad day. His teacher wants him to work on a group project with three students whom he does not like. The teacher tells the class “TEAM” stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More”, but RJ doesn’t really believe her. After his frustrating day at school with his team, he goes home, and his mom makes him share the last cookie with his sister. RJ’s soccer coach helps him learn that working as a team and sharing skills is not just needed on the field but in school and at home too.
Good Teamwork and Bad Teamwork
This short video on teamwork shows students how to work together for good while avoiding potential disasters. Clear instructions about how to be a good teammate make carryover of this skill easy!
Teamwork is a SUPERPOWER that your students can benefit from now and for the rest of their lives! Teach this skill confidently in your classroom this year.
You might also be interested in reading:
Teaching Social Skills in the Classroom
Teaching Conflict Resolution in the Classroom
You might also be interested in these products:
Character Education BUNDLE Vol. 1
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