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Lesson plan: 'Survivor' skills

 
June 9, 2000
Web posted at 9:57 p.m. EST (0157 GMT)


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Objectives


Students will:

  • Understand important characteristics and terms associated with teamwork.
  • Conduct research to identify key elements of group decision-making.
  • Learn team building concepts through participating in a team activity.

Standards


National Council for the Social Studies

High school students must understand the paradigms and traditions that undergird social and political institutions. They should be provided opportunities to examine, use and add to the body of knowledge related to the behavioral sciences and social theory as it relates to the ways people and groups organize themselves around common needs, beliefs and interests.

Suggested time


1-2 class periods

Materials


CNNfyi article, "And then there was one"
Internet access
Recreational facility/field

Procedure


1. Discuss with students the idea of using teamwork to achieve a goal. Have them share any cooperative team excursions or other efforts they may have experienced such as camping or hiking trips. Ask students if they have seen the CBS show "Survivor." Allow students the opportunity to research and discuss the following terms as they relate to cooperative groups: team building, cohesiveness, roles and norms, communication, goal specification and interdependence. Inform students that they will use these concepts and terms later in the lesson.

2. Have students read the CNNfyi article "And then there was one," then ask:

  • How many people were involved in the "Survivor" group? How many tribes were there? What is a team? What characteristics would a person need to be successful on a team? What happens to those who fail to meet the group's standards of teamwork? Do you think that this is fair? Why or why not?
  • What approach would you use to vote members out of the group? Do you think B.B.'s using a cooking bowl for his personal use or washing his shirt in the limited drinking water showed consideration for others? Do you believe his behavior reflected good team building? Why or why not? What would you recommend to a group regarding decisions that would affect all its members?
3. Decide upon a team sport that requires group participation yet individual performance, such as kickball. Choose student teams and review the rules below. Have each team choose an observer who will be responsible for recording any positive or negative interactions or comments between teammates. Inform students that any negative, critical or otherwise nonsupportive interactions or comments will be used against them. Let students know that the team with the most points wins.

Rules: Scoring will include the usual points for the particular team sport. But for each negative interaction, 1 point is deducted from the team's score. For each positive interaction, 2 points are added to the score. Have each team choose an observer, who won't participate in the activity. Direct observers to answer the following questions for their group: Were students organized? Were positions/tasks properly delegated? How was the group led? Were problems solved?

Assessment


Have students return to their group/team after the game is over. Instruct the observers to meet and arrive at the winner. The observers will then meet with the teams for a debriefing session to explain their decisions and reasoning.

RELATED SITES
Outward Bound
Team building tips
'Survivor' home page

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