TITLE:  COOPERATION BLOCKS

Author:  JACK C. HEMPHILL, RIDDEL BOYS SCHOOL

GRADE LEVEL:  APPROPRIATE FOR GRADES 6-12,
              SP. ED. - REG. ED. - ANY AREA

OVERVIEW:
THIS ACTIVITY WILL PROVIDE PRACTICE IN GIVING/RECEIVING
DIRECTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, AND
COOPERATION.

PURPOSE:
TO STRESS THE IMPORTANTS OF GIVING AND RECEIVING
INFORMATION, FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, AND EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

OBJECTIVES:
STUDENTS WILL OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES
THAT WILL GIVE INSIGHTS INTO FACTORS THAT MAKE
COMMUNICATION MORE EFFECTIVE, CONDITIONS THAT MAKE
COMMUNICATIONS MORE DIFFICULT, AND CONDITIONS THAT
EFFECT PRODUCTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED:
ONE SET OF WOOD BLOCKS FOR EACH STUDENT - 1 1/2" X 1
1/2" X 3" - ONE RED, ONE BLACK, ONE WHITE

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

     WORKING IN PAIRS, STUDENTS WILL COMPLETE TWO
     EXERCISES.

FIRST, STUDENTS WILL SET ON THE FLOOR FACING EACH OTHER
-  ONE STUDENTS WILL ARRANGE 3 BLOCKS TO FORM A
SPECIFIC PATTERN.  THE OTHER STUDENT, RESPONDING ONLY
TO VERBAL DIRECTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS WILL ATTEMPT TO
DUPLICATE THE EXACT PATTERN.

SECOND, THE SAME PAIR OF STUDENTS WILL NOW SET BACK TO
BACK - ONE STUDENT WILL MAKE PATTERN AND VIA VERBAL
DIRECTIONS ATTEMPT TO HAVE HIS PARTNER DUPLICATE THE
NEW PATTERN.  AT THIS POINT - STUDENTS REVERSE ROLES
AND COMPLETE ABOVE TWO STEPS.


TYPING IT TOGETHER:  UPON COMPLETION OF THE ABOVE
ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY:

* CONDITIONS THAT AID EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

* CONDITIONS THAT MAKE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION MORE
  DIFFICULT

* THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING/RECEIVING DIRECTIONS

* CONDITIONS THAT EFFECT ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE

* THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION TO COMPLETE JOINT TASK