| Summary of Cooperative Learning Examples |
| Mr. Pitonyak's Pyramid Puzzle |
| This lesson in which students estimate the cost of building a pyramid using modern materials and ancient methods is extremely conducive to cooperative learning. It is a real-world situation that requires students to work together "in teams" to plan, collect data, submit a bid, complete a scale drawing and model, and present a final report. The teams consist of 4 to 5 students, each having a specific role to fulfill during the unit. These roles include a project director, an accountant, two engineers, and a secretary. The students are encouraged to integrate everything that they have learned in math, science, and social studies in order to complete the project. The students are also required to learn how to use email and other internet research techniques in order to successfully complete the group project. Therefore, this project encourages students to work cooperatively, integrate different subjects, complete hands-on activities, and fulfill specific roles in a problem solving situation that is motivating and fun. |
| Healthy School Environment |
| This lesson is an interdisciplinary unit that requires students to integrate their knowledge from mathematics and sciences in order to complete a study on the environment of their school. The students are encouraged to work together "in teams" to collect and record data about temperatures, humidities, etc. Following the data accumulation, groups are able to present their data to classmates. Then, students attend a mathematics lab where they work together to complete group spreadsheets and graphs of the data they collected. Finally, students complete a final portfolio that includes all of the work they have completed. This is also a final grade for the project. This lesson is a hands-on activity in which students are required to work together to complete one final group portfolio. The students are able to integrate different subject areas by completing the one interdisciplinary unit. The students will also be motivated by completing an activity that is relevant to their school and thus, a real world situation. Finally, the students have an opportunity to see what that an actual "problem" consists of more than a paragraph of reading followed by a couple of 2 minute problems. |
| Teachers First Classroom Lessons |
| This website provides numerous examples of cooperative learning lesson plans. The various lessons include many of the characteristics that distinguish a "good" cooperative lesson from a traditional individual lesson. For example, one lesson requires students to measure a baseball field, map out the field, and create a scale model with correct measurements. This requires students to work together on a hands-on, real life problem situation. It allows students to integrate their knowledge about mathematics, science, and architecture. This lesson won a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching. There are also numerous other lessons that adhere to our guidelines. |
| Ask Eric Lessons |
| This website provides an alphabetical list of interdisciplinary units for all grade levels. The units incorporate hands-on activities, real world scenarios, and allows students to work together to develop collaboration skills. |