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Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach, 2/e

Joe Krajcik, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Charlene Czerniak, University of Toledo
Carl Berger, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

How Do I Develop Collaboration in the Science Classroom?

HOW DO CHILDREN BUILD TRUST IN A GROUP?

Materials Needed:

Something to write with
Index cards
Scissors

What follows are techniques for developing trust among members of a group. Try them out with a group of peers or a group of children.

Name Cards
Each participant should write his or her name in the center of a 5 3 8 index card. In each corner, the person should write some type of information about him- or herself. For example, children might list where they were born, personality characteristics, favorite hobbies, favorite science topics, the names of people they admire, accomplishments they are proud of, or favorite school subjects. Participants should gather in groups of four to share their cards. Participants should take on different roles-probers, recorders-to elicit more information about what is written on the cards. Each person in each group should introduce another group member to the whole class.

People Search
Each participant should complete the following chart by circulating among the entire group to find people who meet the criteria.

Someone who likes comedy shows:
Someone who plays basketball after school:
Someone who likes science:
Someone who has visited a science museum:
Someone who took a vacation last summer:
Someone who collects stamps, coins, stickers or baseball cards:
Someone who likes pizza:
Someone who has a chemistry kit:
Someone who likes _____ (fill in the name of a restaurant):
Someone who loves cats:
Someone who loves dogs:
Someone who dances:
Someone who likes _____ (fill in name of a TV star):
Someone who has the middle name Marie:
Someone who has lived on a farm (or in the city):
Someone who walks to school (or takes a bus):
Someone who owns a computer:
Someone who is shy:

Partner Interview
All participants should pair up. Each member of a pair should interview the other by asking the following questions:

What is your favorite science fiction movie?
What do you like to do after school?
What is your favorite school subject?
Where have you gone on vacation?
What science museums have you visited?
What is your favorite hobby?
What is your favoritescience topic?
What is your least favorite science topic?
What is your favorite restaurant? Which kind?
Do you have any pets?
What is your favorite sport?
What sports do you play?
What is your favorite song?
What is your middle name?
Where do you live?
What science magazine have you read?
What is your favorite computer program?
What would embarrass you?
What do you think you want to be when you grow up?
What makes you laugh?
What's your favorite book? Why?
Who's your favorite actor or actress?
What's your favorite science experiment? Why?
What science topic have you noticed in the newspaper this week?
What science topic would you like to know more about?

Interview Cube
Make paper cubes (or cover some other types of cubes). On each side of each cube write the name of a topic such as favorite science fiction movie, favorite science topic, science-related hobby, or best experiment ever conducted. Participants should form groups of four or five. Each member should "roll" the cube and respond to the topic that rolls face up. For example, if the cube lands on science fiction movie, the roller must tell the others the title of her favorite science fiction movie. Then members of the group must ask probing questions about the topic. For example, they might ask, "When did this become your favorite movie?" At the end of the activity, each participant should share something interesting about the person next to him or her.

Finding Common Ground
Participants should form groups of four or five and then select a topic such as sports, science class, TV shows, or school. Each group should discuss its topic until members find an interest, dislike, or quality that every member of the group shares.

Finding Qualities
Participants should circulate around the room to find one positive quality about each other person. Participants should list each person's name with at least one positive quality such as "Is always friendly toward others" or "Helps others understand science ideas."


1		After you have completed some of these activities, analyze how each contributed to building trust among members of a group.



2		Why would it be important for children to build trust before working in collaborative groups?



3		Record your ideas in your portfolio.

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