Paper Ball Cooperation Activity
Contributed by Joan Granda, Parkwood Elementary

Classroom Activity to Teach the Key of Cooperation

Levels: Grades K – 5

Instruction: Each student will ball up two pieces of scratch paper and put them on top of their desk. Teacher will tell students to throw one ball on the floor. Teacher will appoint one (speedy) student to see how long it takes him/her to pick up all the balled pieces of paper and throw in the trash can (or a box). The number of minutes and seconds will be written on the board.

Then, students will throw second paper ball on the floor. This time the students will be split into teams of three or four and asked to pick up the balls as fast as possible. This could be done once or repeated several times for every child to be in a team and have a chance to pick up. If this second option is used, students would need to retrieve a paper ball from the box after each round. Times will be recorded on the board.

Instructor will then lead the students in a discussion comparing the times – why were the time(s) of the group(s) shorter than with the speedy individual? What are some examples from your own daily lives of times when it’s much better to cooperate?