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10 Cooperative Learning Idea for a Socially Distanced Classroom

By: peacefieldhistory2 Comments

10 Cooperative Learning Ideas for a Socially Distanced Classroom

One of my greatest frustrations this year has been the difficulty associated with cooperative learning in a social distanced classroom. I love when my students get to interact with each other during class, decipher new texts, work on projects together, and challenge one another. Of course, with all the restrictions in a “COVID” classroom, that interaction has been substantially more difficult to foster. Still, it’s clear that students crave this interaction more than ever. Therefore, I decided to brainstorm 10 different lesson ideas that allow for cooperative learning, even in a socially distanced classroom.

Here are 10 of my favorites:

Depending on the age you teach, you may find that some of these lesson ideas will work better in a middle school environment and some will be more effective at the high school level. No matter what you teach, I encourage you to think about how you can tailor these lessons to best fit your students’ needs and abilities.

1. Classroom Debates

It’s important for your students to have a solid foundation of all things debate before beginning. Most students at the middle school age have no idea that listening skills are way more important than public speaking skills when it comes to a debate. With my middle school debates, I create a structure that facilitates speaking AND listening. Check out my previous blog on how to set up a socratic seminar in your classroom, what your role as the teacher is, as well as how to assess students’ understanding of the topic. As long as you can bring your students “into” the classroom in some way – through Google Meets or Zoom – you can still have them participate in a class debate together.

I also recommend having your students practice playing some of these evidence-based argumentation games to practice their socratic skills. One of my favorites is Jenga. You can always use this digital spinner instead of touching Jenga blocks, or just hand out points to keep score.

2. The Urban Game

Your students will have so much fun with this game in the classroom, as well as students who are virtual, as long as they have a paper and a pencil! This is an awesome game to practice what it means to have critical listening skills. If you’re unfamiliar with the Urban Game, your students draw on paper everything that is taking place as you read a specific story aloud. You can find a variety of versions of the Urban Game aligned with different subjects on the internet, or you can snag my version that focuses specifically on the infamous Five Points Neighborhood in NYC!

3. Mystery Doc

You can totally make this game competitive by putting students into small groups (Google Breakout rooms or Zoom breakouts) or having the class work together and earn “points” as a whole. Present a mystery document to students through a digital whiteboard. The students will work together to figure out who wrote the documents. You could set up the game so that each group earns points for getting their document correct, or the whole class can earn a reward as a whole. Using a virtual whiteboard will allow you to display multiple documents to your students at one time, and gives them the ability to annotate or highlight text.

I have a great post that gives you a few suggestions on virtual whiteboards to use, as well as the features of each. You can also stick with Google Slides and put a document on each slide, then display in slide sorter view on your screen to watch the students take notes on their document as they go.

4. Role Plays

I always have certain students who are very reserved and would rather sit in the back of the classroom than share their opinion vocally on a topic. Then once they know they’re in “character,” they immediately get a sense of confidence that makes them soar. While students have to keep their distance, you can always keep them in their seats and conduct a table read. They’re sure to still be laughing and interacting.

If you’re searching for some ideas for role plays, you can snag my Marbury v. Madison skit, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the Scopes Monkey Trial. I’ve created them specifically with middle schoolers in mind!

5. Silent Conversation/Gallery Walks

During a time of hybrid and virtual learning, it’s a perfect opportunity for students to practice all forms of communication. Students can engage in silent conversations by walking around the classroom and responding to different questions and ideas on paper. To incorporate all students, including virtual, you can post questions and pictures on Google Slides or Google Jamboard. Have the students go through each slide and respond to each others’ comments. Encourage the students to create genuine conversation instead of the typical, “I agree” and “Well said!” You can check out my blog post here to learn more about silent conversations, how I prep for them, as well as ways they can be varied to work best for your students. I recently had my AP students participate in a Jamboard conversation, and the results were amazing. Students were silent in the class, but they were intensely communicating online.

6. Jamboard Pictionary

I previously mentioned the idea of using digital whiteboards to display mystery documents. I especially recommend using Jamboard and playing Jamboard Pictionary with your students. Jamboard has multiple frames you can assign to small groups of students so they each can have their own area to draw the social studies term they are assigned. To include hybrid students, the in-class students can challenge the virtual students and vice versa. Since Jamboard is a Google product, you can easily use it in Google Classroom. If you’d like to learn more about Jamboard, check out my post discussing digital whiteboards.

7. Gimkit Games

Gimkit allows students to play digital multiple choice games while competing to earn fake money. It’s is much like a game-show set up in which your students answer questions from a device and earn money by answering correctly. My favorite part about this website is that they’re always coming out with new versions of the game for students to mix up the experience. Students can join with a code from any location – virtual or in class. If you want to go all in with Gimkit, I highly recommend getting a paid subscription in order to get the most out of your experience.

I think the most effective way to use Gimkit is to review content. Your students will have so much fun and it’s much more engaging than an individual study session. When you’re creating questions, I recommend having your definitions be the questions and then your answers will be terms – basically like a game of Jeopardy! Gimkit makes it very easy for students to get involved no matter where they are because the platform can be embedded into Google Slides. Depending on your subscription, it even has some grading capabilities. Who doesn’t need help grading? You can get signed up here!

8. Pear Deck’s Flashcard Factory

Pear Deck is awesome for many reasons, but especially because it’s completely free! (There is a paid version, but many of the feature are available without a paid version.) It’s another great way to make review fun and engaging. Teachers can create a list of your terms or concepts they want students to practice. Those words will then go to the “Flashcard Factory” and students will create pictures and descriptions for each term. Once created, your students are able to print and keep the flashcards.

To accommodate hybrid students, you can upload the flashcards to Gimkit and play your review game with the actual cards your students created. When your kids are creating the illustrations and descriptions themselves instead of memorizing, the information definitely tends to stick!

9. Aerobic Review Questions

We’ve all been there when we have 10 minutes left in class, but are at a point where it would be ineffective to start something new. I love doing aerobic review questions at a time like this! Display a multiple choice question with answers on the board and assign each answer with a specific body movement. An example could be:

  1. Touch Your Head
  2. Hand on Hip
  3. Touch Your Nose
  4. Point to the Sky

It’s a good idea to use this lesson idea at the tail end of class because the kids sure get a kick out of it. Also, it gets them up and moving and is an effective use of extra time. You can always search for pre-made questions from Quizlet if you don’t have any in mind on the spot.

10. Google Slides

Don’t underestimate the power of simple Google Slides! Make them interesting and engaging by creating statements or questions that students can fill in the blank or comment on with an open-ended response. I also require my students to respond to another classmate’s comment. As I mentioned previously, model what genuine conversation should look like through a comment – complete sentences.

I hope these lesson ideas have spurred some idea for you as you take on the challenge of in-class and hybrid learning. All lessons are perfected through trial and error, so give yourself some grace if things don’t go quite how you planned them to on the first try. After all, no one has ever been a teacher under these kinds of circumstances. Have fun and try new things!

How are you creating possibilities for cooperative learning in your classroom right now?

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Comments

  1. 1

    Blair says

    October 12, 2020 at 9:05 am

    Thank you so much for these creative ideas! I can’t wait to try them with my eighth graders. We did the Columbus Day Socratic debate last week and it was a hit! I have a mix of online and in-person learners and wasn’t quite sure how it would work. My online students decided to have their own debate in the meeting chat and I was blown away by their discussions. This will become a regular thing in my class.

    Reply
  2. 2

    peacefieldhistory says

    October 12, 2020 at 9:52 am

    That’s great to hear! I thought of two options for debates.
    1. Have the remote students on a Smartboard, so they they can contribute as though they were in the room.
    2. Have students all join the Google Meet, even those in class. That way students could all debate virtually.

    It’s all new and weird, but it’s not all bad!

    Reply

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Peacefield History is filled with all topics teaching and history related. Follow me for trends in education, teacher tech tips, history related reading, and other more general musings.

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You are watching an insurrection. This is domesti You are watching an insurrection. 
This is domestic terrorism. 
This is not a representative Democracy. 

Period.
𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴???? ⁣ 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴???? ⁣
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I don't think we should be first on the list by any means... however, when I see teachers from other states getting that coveted shot in their arm, I wonder when it will be our turn. ⁣
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I just want some information.⁣
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#socialstudiesteacher #socialstudies #teachinghistory  #hybridlearning #weareteachers #teacherlife #middleschoolsteacher #teachersfollowteachers  #distancelearning #iteachhistory #
This post might be two days late, but that's becau This post might be two days late, but that's because I'm all about finding "balance" this year. Balance between...⁣
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work/life⁣
school/home⁣
plenty/simplicity⁣
productivity/relaxation⁣
the past/ the future⁣
growth/contentment⁣
⁣
I can over think everything at every moment of the day. This year, I just want to live and savor the days instead. (This might just be because I'm 40 now, but I see those days as they pass, and they are fast y'all.)⁣
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Accurate. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to t Accurate.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to those who celebrate in this season! I’m just trying not to eat ALL the spinach and artichoke dip that I made... #selfcare #thedipistheselfcare
My students have been playing "For Crown or Colony My students have been playing "For Crown or Colony?" over the past week, and I needed a new way to make sure that they were understanding/paying attention to what they were learning from the game. I wanted this check-in to be quick, easy to mark, and with minimal clicking on my part. @Padlet came to my rescue. Here's how I set it up.⁣
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1. I posted a question with directions. My post was the only item visible on the page.⁣
2. Student didn't have to log in, they just created their own posts and added their names at the top. ⁣
3. To prevents students from copying each other, I make the posts require approval. This way, I could see all the posts, but they could not. I could provide a check next to their names as I gradually approved the posts. ⁣
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This worked. Students would review the posts the next day to see how their interactions with the game differed. It was easy and quick, and we all need more of that this year. I hope you're thriving and not just surviving right now in your classroom!⁣
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Allison⁣
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#socialstudiesteacher #socialstudies #teachinghistory #TpT #teacherspayteachers #hybridlearning #teacherlife #middleschoolsteacher #teachersfollowteachers #historyteacher #distancelearning #iteachhistory #distancelearning #cooperativelearning #padlet #missionus #forcrownorcolony  #iteachmiddleschool
So basically today was about how much I look like So basically today was about how much I look like my Bitmoji. 🤷🏻‍♀️ #greatkidslongyear #iteachmiddleschool #socialstudiesteacher #iteachhistory #hybridteaching #socialstudies #bitmoji #teachersofinstagram
I'm EXHAUSTED, but I'm starting to figure out how I'm EXHAUSTED, but I'm starting to figure out how this hybrid learning thing works. (It probably helps that I have the sweetest kids under the sun this year!) Since I've had a couple nights of actual sleep, I decided to blog about some of the ideas I've had for cooperative learning this year. It's definitely more difficult, but it's not impossible. (Especially since I've fallen in love with Google Breakout rooms.) Click the link in my profile to learn more!
I have a million tasks on my plate right now, but I have a million tasks on my plate right now, but I may have spent some of my Saturday rearranging my plants. Swipe to see some of my faves. (Yes I have fave plants, don’t you?!) 

#noregrets #havetograde #plantsaremyhappyplace #plantlady #houseplants #sundayvibes #homedecor #sundayscaries
The day after the President told teachers that the The day after the President told teachers that they were focusing too much on slavery in our history, we talked about slavery in my AP class. Why? It's a HUGE part of U.S. History, and not shocking, it also a HUGE part of my curriculum. Slavery comes up often in my classes because it's so fundamental to our development as a country. I'd traditionally done this lesson as a silent conversation, however, I decided to have my hybrid class use Jamboard instead for this lesson.  I gave them 8 "thought provoking" prompts. They had to respond using the ideas they generated by reading two articles (Nash and Kendi). Then, they had to respond to a classmate's posts on each slide. ⁣
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It was an intense and silent period. Students were clicking, typing and THINKING. Their brains were flying and focused. It was interesting, when the bell rang it startled all of this. The initial feedback was that they really enjoyed the experience. We had nine slides filled with details and ideas. Of all that I have done with hybrid teaching thus far, this was probably my favorite. ⁣
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I had a bit of a lightbulb go off with this experience. We're often tasks with "summing things up" at the end of every lesson. With this lesson, I made it about the PROCESS. Thinking, critical thinking, doesn't always lead to an immediate resolution. My students still learned, despite not having a summation.⁣
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This is not my lesson. I've blogged about it previously, and all the resources are there. Click the link in my profile to grab them.
I had another post scheduled for this evening, but I had another post scheduled for this evening, but right now all I can think about is this tremendous loss and my concern for our country. She lived an admirable life, and the fears we have because of her death make me so sad. 

Image from @theimpeccablewoman
Since many of us teaching remotely in some form th Since many of us teaching remotely in some form these days,  I compiled a list of my favorite Youtube channels for teaching Middle School History.  You can check out my blog post by clicking the link in my profile.
One of the best things I did for myself this past One of the best things I did for myself this past year was revive my garden. It had fallen to pieces the previous year. I was overwhelmed by life, and the garden was way too big for just me. It had become a place of stress instead of joy. This year, I cut it in half and had my Dad help me rebuild the beds. With a smaller garden, I was able to maintain the space properly. It looks so much better, I grew veggies and flowers again, and I love going out there now!

Never forget to keep a space for yourself. Both a tangible space and one in your mind.
I had the BEST day with students today. I introduc I had the BEST day with students today. I introduced them to @pear_deck, and we were all able to collectively learn. They learned about the program, and I learned a bit more about them! I gave them a bunch of different kinds of questions to get them used to the platform. For one, they had to draw a historical event, and then their classmates had to guess which even they were drawing. I faced my  computer towards the screen so that both my in class students and my remote students could participate. It was so cool! Everyone had a chance to be a part of the conversation.

I still look serious here however, because despite these positive experiences, we all have to stay vigilant. Keep cleaning, socially distancing, and keep that mask on! I want to at least keep hybrid schooling in my life, and that will only happen if our cases stay low.

Get some rest this weekend!
So, my first day back with students went by in a f So, my first day back with students went by in a flash, so here’s a picture from the morning before the school day.

Honestly, for me today was pretty darn good. To see my AP kids in the room was just pure joy (I had them in seventh also.) The hybrid thing was weird, but we’ll get used to it. The seventh graders were still super cute - online or in person - and we all just seemed happy to be back. I know that it’s going to get more difficult, and I think that grading online is certainly going to kill me. However, I’m going to savor this moment. I just felt grateful to be back in my classroom. (Oh, and wearing a mask really wasn’t that bad.🤷🏻‍♀️)

I hope your day was good also, and if it wasn’t, I hope it gets better soon!
Although I’m finally going back to my classroom Although I’m finally going back to my classroom this week, the circumstances of the past six months have meant that I’ve spent most of my time at home. I’ve managed to keep balance in part by taking long walks with my dog (Mabel), and obsessively listening to podcasts. I’ve found that I struggle with silence, and ambient noise and music also help me to settle my mind. 

Generally speaking, I would just shove my iPhone into my pocket on my way out the door. My neighbors have really gotten to know my listening habits, as I take a walk every morning catching up with the news on NPR, or re-listening to the latest @officeladiespod.

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