VISION-SETTING

OBJECTIVE. CONNECTION TO GOAL

What is your objective? What knowledge and skills are embedded in the objective?

SWBAT show how working together helps with
some tricky problems.
SWBAT identify thinking and communication that
either support or get in the way of working together
to do something well.
This lesson gives an opportunity to explore how groups
handle problems that dont have easy answers. The
group will have trouble completing the activity without
flexible thinking, good communication, persistence,
questioning, good observation skills, creative problem-
solving, team work, and an ability to laugh and have fun.
Solving this problem requires the use of most of the
Habits helping to reinforce for my students how all the
Habits are connected.

KEY POINTS
What three to five key points will you emphasize?

When you think interdependently, you understand that working together helps you solve any type of
problem.
Communication skills are important when working together.
Thinking interdependently also allows you to work well with others.
DETERMINING METHODS

HOLLOW SQUARE ACTIVITY (30 min.) MATERIALS.

How will you communicate what is about to happen? How will you communicate how it will happen?
How will you communicate its importance? How will you communicate connections to previous lessons?
How will you engage students and capture their interest?
-Hollow
The hollow square activity gives an opportunity to think about working with other people to Square
solve problems together. It gives students a chance to notice the kind of talk and listening and Worksheet
other actions that help or get in the way of a group working well together. -Hollow
Square
Students form groups of two or four. Pass out materials and read through the directions Pieces
together:

1. Working together, finish the assigned task as carefully and accurately as you can.
2. Each of you has pieces of an overall design. Your task is to figure out how to place the
pieces together so that they form a square with a small, hollow square in the center.
3. You must use all the pieces.
4. Keep all your pieces in front of you all the time.
5. You may not touch other peoples pieces or trade pieces.
6. You may not write on the pieces.

DEBRIEF (20 min.)

How will you explain/demonstrate all knowledge/skills required of the objective, so that students begin to actively
internalize key points?
Which potential misunderstandings do you anticipate? How will you proactively mitigate them? How will students
interact with the material?
How/when will you check for understanding? How will you address misunderstandings?
How will you clearly state and model behavioral expectations? Why will students be engaged?
Bring students back to the carpet to debrief.

Debrief questions:
What happened? What did you notice?
What, if anything, do you recall getting in the way?
When the group was having trouble, what did you notice about your own thoughts and
feelings?
When did the group work well together?

Allow students to discuss openly about their experience. Make sure to reinforce When you
think interdependently, you understand that working together helps you solve any type of
problem. Communication skills are important when working together. Thinking
interdependently also allows you to work well with others.
Name: ____________________________________________

How to Make a Hollow Square

1. Working together, finish the assigned task as carefully and accurately as you

can.

2. Each of you has pieces of an overall design. Your task is to figure out how to

place the pieces together so that they form a square with a small, hollow

square in the center.

3. You must use all the pieces.

4. Keep all your pieces in front of you all the time.

5. You may not touch other peoples pieces or trade pieces.

6. You may not write on the pieces.

Name: ____________________________________________

How to Make a Hollow Square

1. Working together, finish the assigned task as carefully and accurately as you

can.

2. Each of you has pieces of an overall design. Your task is to figure out how to

place the pieces together so that they form a square with a small, hollow

square in the center.

3. You must use all the pieces.

4. Keep all your pieces in front of you all the time.

5. You may not touch other peoples pieces or trade pieces.

6. You may not write on the pieces.