This document provides instructions for an activity called "Academic Mini-Mixers: Teamwork Edition II - Tangrams" that aims to teach students cooperation, teamwork, and classroom procedures through puzzle solving. The activity involves students working in groups of 4 with assigned roles to complete tangram puzzles using only their designated puzzle pieces. It recommends doing this as a school-wide or period-by-period activity and having students reflect on what worked and what didn't in their group process. Links to printable tangram materials are also provided, as well as suggestions for extending the teamwork concept into daily classroom routines and group work.

1. Smart School Start
2014
Academic Mini-Mixers
Teamwork Edition II: Tangrams
Estimated time: 20 minutes each
by Marlena Hebern

2. Academic Goals
Culture Goals
Get to know how kids work together
Start teaching cooperation and teamwork
Light introduction to classroom procedures
Students meet other students
Students learn to communicate and solve problems
Students have fun

3. In self contained classes:
Do this as a school wide activity
In departmentalized classes:
Do this for each period

4. Fast feedback!
Have kids reflect on the process of
solving the problem….
What worked, what didn’t?
OR
Use Socrative.com for them to do
short, open ended answers with iPads,
phones or in a lab!

5. Tangram
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Goal: Students will work cooperatively
in groups of 4
to complete tangram puzzles.
!
Students may only touch or
handle the item
listed in their job chart.
!
Number or color code the tangram puzzle
pieces prior to passing out to students.
!

6. Tangram
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Materials per group:
1 pair of scissors
1 sheet: White Tangram Printable
1 sheet: Tangram Puzzles
Markers, crayons, or
pencil to color code or number the
tangrams pieces

7. Printable Puzzles:
http://ideas.gstboces.org/programs/tangrams/tangrams-print-sheet5-bw.pdf
Tangram
!
White Tangram Printable:
http://ideas.gstboces.org/programs/tangrams/tangrams-print-sheet2.pdf

8. Tangram!
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!
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Step One: The designated team member cuts
out the tangram pieces and numbers
or color codes them.
!
7 pieces: 2 per student, and 1 student gets 1
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9. Tangram
Job Matrix:
Team Member 1 Team Member 2 Team Member 3 Team Member 4
Job: 1 Red shape
Job: 2 Blue
shapes
Job: 2 Green
shapes
Job: 2 Yellow
shapes
Director Scissors
Color codes
tangram pieces
Gets supplies
form teacher
Note: Post this chart so students
know what they are doing.

10. Tangram
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Step Two: Students create each puzzle
while only handling their designated pieces.
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11. Tangram
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Step Three: The student with one piece
is the director
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Rotate pieces after each puzzle
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12. !
Students now have an idea of team roles!
!
Can you extend this concept
into your daily routine?
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Who gets supplies, or passes out materials?
DAILYROUTINE

13. 1 student asks the teacher questions
1 student keeps every one on task
1 student networks with other groups
1 student takes care of supplies
!
How could you use team
roles in your class?
GROUPWORK What if….?