Activity title: Write It – Do It
Description: This activity is a good team building activity and also a good activity to practice writing and following directions. It can be modified to accommodate students will limited English language skills. The students work as partners to direct each other in recreating a structure that they cannot directly copy.
Materials needed:
· Building materials like Legos™, Construx ™, TInkertoys ™, or miscellaneous lab equipment like tubing, straws, stoppers, etc. You should make enough duplicate sets so that there is one set for each student group plus one for the model
· Paper and pencils for each group
Prior knowledge needed: none
Time required: 1 period
Special teacher procedures, safety notes, and suggestions:
· Before the class, use the materials in one of the sets to construct some kind of model.
· Have the students divide themselves into groups of two. One of each group will be the writer and the other will be the builder. Each builder will have a set of materials and the writers will take paper and pencils out into the hall or into another room.
· After the students are settled, place the model in the hallway or some other place that there is enough room for the writers to look at it at the same time. Students should be instructed not to touch the model.
· The writers have 15 minutes to write directions of how to build the model. They cannot use pictures or diagrams, but can use numbers. When they are finished or when the 15 minutes are up, their directions are given to their partners who will then try to build the structure. The writers cannot be in the same room as the building is going on. As soon as the builder has finished construction, he or she should notify the teacher who will check for accuracy.
· If there are enough building materials, you could make two different sets with two different models. This way, both groups will write about their own model, switch directions with their partner and then build the other model using the instructions. This keeps everyone busy.
Student sheet or handout (if needed): none
Scoring guide: You can give points based on how fast the team completes the project or just assign participation points. You can give extra credit for teams that finish fastest if desired.