1. I can work and play well in a small group
Year 1 – Solving problems
I can work and play well in a small group
© Leeds South and East CCG

2. Learning outcomes Knowledge Skills
I know how to play and work co-operatively with others
I understand that people often need to play / work together to reach a shared outcome
I can name three goals / targets and say who can help with them 2

3. How we will work together
Can you remember the ground rules we have already talked about, let’s take a minute to think about them
Teacher notes
Read these through with the children. Hopefully the ground rules will be displayed in the classroom already. 3

4. What do we already know? Group discussion
What do we need to do to work well as a team?
Group discussion
Discuss as a class and record children’s ideas 4

5. Let’s get started
As a group, put your pieces together to make a picture
Sit children in groups and provide them with a picture that has been cut up into pieces so that each member of the group has a piece. Ask children to put the pieces together to make a picture. Once this is done, discuss with the children how well the task worked and why.
Pictures could be chosen to suit your topic, linked to your school or just of things that you know the group of children like. 5

6. Let’s get started What was the problem? . 6
Watch film clip – The bridge. What was the problem? Which animals made good/wrong voices? What could they have done differently? What did the Racoon and the rabbit do to get across safely? What should the elk and the bear have done?
Help children understand that sometimes we need to work together to achieve things. .
What was the problem? 6

7. How to work and play together
What do we need to do to be able to work and play together?
Thinking about what the animals did right and wrong – create a list with the children of things that we need to do in order to work well together, whether it is playtime or working time. Help children understand that these are things that we need to practice and keep trying at in order to work well, just like other skills like reading and writing. 7

8. Cross your own bridge Learning to cross the bridge 8
This activity could be done in the hall or outside.
Split children into groups and provide them with some equipment. This could be benches and mats etc. if you are in the hall. You may have equipment in an outdoor area such as crates, wooden blocks etc. You may choose to set up lots of different areas for groups to work as the same time or may need to have a group on rotation depending on resources and staffing.
Explain that the children are going to have to work together to cross the bridge without falling off. The group will be split in half with children at each end of the bridge, as in the film. Talk about safety rules for the activity. Remind the children of the list they created about how to work well as a group.
This could be recorded and played back to the children so that they can discussed how well they worked as a team. Alternatively the children could share their experience with the class and explain what worked well and what they could improve on next time. 8

9. My goals Name 3 goals or targets Who can help you achieve them? 9
Ask children to think about how well they worked in their group. Is there something that you found difficult? Discuss times when some children might find it hard to share because they are excited and want their turn. Explain that some children may be shy and find working in a group difficult and other children may want to do everything and not let others have a turn. Some children may get cross if the group doesn’t do what they want, other children may get upset. Look back at the list created as to what we need to do in order to work as a group. Ask children to think of 3 goals/targets they could set for themselves so that the next time they work in a group they can improve. Ask children to think about who could help them achieve their goals. Discuss who when can go to for help with any help or concern that we have. 9

10. How has our learning progressed?
As a group, put your pieces together to make a picture
Repeat the picture task carried out at the start of the lesson but give each group a different picture. Remind children of what they have said they need to do in order to work well as a group. Remind them of the targets/goals they have set for themselves.
After, discuss with the children whether they thought they had improved from the first time they did the tasks. 10

11. Taking the learning away
Can you work well as a team at home?
Who can you explain the bridge game to outside of school? Is there someone at home that you might be able to play the bridge game with? It could be adults or children. What tips will you give them so that the group works well together? 11

12. Additional resources and help
Talk to your teacher or an adult in school
Talk to your Mum, Dad or someone you trust at home about how you are feeling
If you have them: – Write your worry down and post it in the class worry box – Talk to a peer mediator in your school – Write your worry down on the worry wall on the school’s website
Contact:
im-a-young-person
Where can I go for help? 12