With younger students, explain that cooperation is important because we
can?t do everything alone. Cooperation is helping to achieve a task or
a goal. (Ask older students why cooperation is important.) Provide
examples to which the students can relate. For instance: ?Suppose Sam
has a car stuck in the mud and can?t get it out alone. Do you think all
of us could get it out if we cooperated? Or, what if I decide I want
all the furniture out of this room within five minutes? I would need
your cooperation. Suppose you want to gain weight. You might need the
cooperation of your mother to buy food which is high in fat content and
calories.?
We all need cooperation sometimes. Ask:
What do you need cooperation with?
What would you like more cooperation with?
How do you feel about the task when the person helping is happy to
help and when the person helping is grumpy or angry?
Point out that real cooperation is working together with patience and
affection ? happily.
Cooperative Eating
Say: ?Today we?re going to have a snack (or lunch) that shows how
important cooperation is. I want you all to pretend that your elbows do
not work. They cannot bend. You have to figure out how to eat without
bending your elbows! How are you going to do that??
Allow the students to figure it out for themselves. For younger
classes, the teacher may need to model keeping her or his arms straight
while someone gives food. This activity should provide a lot of
laughter while learning!
Cooperation Lesson
Games
Game: Ask students to stand around the edges of a bed sheet. Put a
lightweight ball or an inflatable globe inside. Challenge the students
to see if they can toss the ball up and catch it 10 times in a row.
Discuss afterwards the various roles they played in order to accomplish
the task. (Perhaps one became a leader and called out: ?Up, down.?
Perhaps another was an ?encourager.? Maybe someone else was a willing
and cooperative team player.)
Discuss the Reflection Point: Cooperation requires recognizing the
value of everyone?s part and keeping a positive attitude.
Then, allow groups of students to gather in accordance with the sports
they like. Students who play basketball can talk about the kinds of
cooperation they want from each other. Students who play soccer can
discuss what types of cooperation would improve their game.
Cooperation Lesson
Create-A-Game
Activity: Students can work in groups of three to create an educational
board game for their peers or younger students. Ask them to brainstorm
ideas and to design and make the board.
Example: Quest for Respect
A snakes and ladders type board could be created. Shake a die and move
forward the number of spaces indicated. Certain squares would require
the player to take a card and follow the instruction. Examples of
instructions are: 1) Your friend asks you to lie to your mother. You
say ?No.? Move forwards three spaces. 2) Your best friend says she
doesn?t like your new dress, so you go home and change. Go back four
spaces.
Reflect on the attitude that is most important in cooperation. Think
about the saying: ?Cooperation follows love.? The dynamics of anger,
guilt, resentment and blaming are easily tied in when there is
expectation, disappointment, nagging and demands. With whom do you
enjoy cooperating? Why? Share your thoughts with your partner or a
friend.
Make sure that play time is still in your schedule with the children.
When you are preparing to have a picnic, go to the park, go camping
or do something fun, have everyone in the family tell you how they can
cooperate.
Ask for cooperation when you need it. Tell them you appreciate their
cooperation.
When the children ask for your cooperation, see if it is possible and
then, if so, do it affectionately.
Enjoy doing small cooperative things together to make the world a
better place. Compliment the children when they independently do kind
things for others.
Notice and positively comment on the children?s cooperative
behaviour.
Remark to your children when you notice how someone is cooperating
with your family.
Excerpts from Living Values Activities for Children and Young Adults and
Cooperation
Ideas at Home for Parents of
Cooperation - Living Values Activities for Children
Ages 8-14 
Adapted from LVE's Living Values Activities for Children Ages 8-14