CHARACTER COUNTS! Kindness 101

Teamwork - The Life-Changing Play

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of individuals working together towards a common goal. It prioritizes mutual support and selflessness while valuing each team member’s unique abilities and demonstrating empathy, cooperation, and a commitment to empowering one another over individual achievements.

Teamwork
Grade Level: K-12
 
Character Skills
  • Trustworthiness
  • Good Citizenship 
SEL Skills
  • Responsible Decision-Making
  • Social Awareness
Academic Skills
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Self-Direction and Engagement

Definitions

Trustworthiness
  • Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal.
  • Have integrity. Do what you say you’ll do.
  • Keep your promises.
  • Be loyal. Stand by your values.
Good Citizenship
  • Do your share to make your home, school, and community better.
  • Cooperate.
  • Stay informed. Vote.
  • Be a good neighbor.
  • Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others.
  • Protect the environment.
Responsible Decision-Making

Make decisions based on rationality, ethics, and effectiveness.

Social Awareness

Assess and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Acquire, remember, understand, and apply knowledge.

Self-Direction and Engagement

Fully engaged in the educational process and connected to the school community.

Learn more about our character, SEL, and academic outcomes.
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The Ray Center at Drake University
CBS News

Students will reflect on the importance of teamwork and cooperation, as exemplified by the Olivet Eagles football team. Students will also reflect on their experiences with teamwork, identify characteristics of successful teams, and consider how these attributes contribute to athletic teams and strong families.

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activiate prior knowledge

Activate Prior Knowledge

  • What is the goal of playing a team sport? Think about your experiences playing a team sport outside of school, or during gym class at school. What are the benefits of playing and working collaboratively towards a common goal?
  • What does it mean to show teamwork?
    • Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal.
  • Aside from sports, what other ways can you utilize teamwork? Think about times you’ve needed to use teamwork to achieve another goal.
Kindness 101

Kindness 101 Video

discussion

Discussion Prompts

  • What did you learn from the video about working as a team?
  • What are the benefits of teamwork? What are the challenges of teamwork?
  • What did you think about the actions of the Olivet Eagles football team?
  • How did teamwork and cooperation play a role in the success of the Olivet Eagles Football Team?
  • What can we learn from the example set by the Olivet Eagles?
materials

Activity Materials

  • 24 plastic cups (any size between 9-18 oz)
  • Strings about 8 inches long (at least one per student)
  • Rubber bands (1-2 per group)
activity

Activity: Cups and Bands

Before starting the activity, prepare the rubber bands by tying up to five strings on each rubber band. In total, there should be at least the same number of strings as students.

  • Break students into small groups.
  • Give each group a stack of 6 cups and 1-2 rubber bands with strings attached.
  • Students must use only one hand to hold one of the strings.
  • They should work as a silent team to use the rubber band to un-stack the cups and restack them as a pyramid.
    • They are not allowed to touch any part of the cup with a body part.
    • They can only use the rubber band and strings. If they touch them or talk, they must start over.
  • Students will work as a team to stack the cups: three on the bottom, two in the middle, and one on the top.
  • Follow-up questions:
    • Why was it important to work as a team to be successful in this activity?
    • How did not being able to speak affect your success?
journal prompts

Journal Prompts

K-5

  • Describe a time when you worked with others to achieve a goal. How did you feel during the process?
  • How can you show cooperation and teamwork in your classroom or at home?

6-12

  • Reflect on a time when you were part of a successful team. What qualities contributed to the team’s success?
  • How can responsible decision-making and social awareness enhance teamwork and cooperation in group settings?
  • How do you support a teammate that does not get to contribute as much as other teammates? Think about playing time or sharing ideas, for example.
family connection

Family Connection

Educators: Copy the Family Connection and email it to parents, or click here to download a PDF version to email or print.

Watch
Watch the video as a family: https://youtu.be/HAo5QBCSB9U.

Discuss
Use these questions to start meaningful conversations about teamwork.

  • How did the actions of the Olivet Eagles football team make you feel?
  • When have you experienced teamwork like the video showcased?
  • What characteristics are common to both great teams and strong families? How do these attributes contribute to their success?
  • How can we demonstrate teamwork and cooperation as a family?
  • How do each individual’s contributions to the household contribute to its functioning?

Activity

  • Work together as a family to complete a puzzle this week.
  • Cook a meal together and discuss how working as a team/family unit makes you feel.

More Kindness 101

CHARACTER COUNTS! Lessons and Activities

 

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RayCenter@Drake.edu

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