Cooperation · Activity

Tower building activity

1st & 2nd Grade



Tower building activity: Paired students are given blocks of different sizes and are tasked to work cooperatively building a tower. The highest tower wins. 


 



Materials needed: blocks or similar building materials that can be used to build towers; level space for students to do the activity; a measuring tape or yardstick 


 



Directions: Explain: “I have put you in pairs for this activity. Teams will work cooperatively to build the highest tower you can build. When I give a signal, start building. Listen to one another and take turns as you build. Once all teams are finished, we’ll measure the towers.”


 



Wrap up: Ask: “What was it like to build a tower with a teammate? Were you able to listen to one another’s suggestions? Did you disagree sometimes? If you disagreed about where to place the next block, how did you handle it - did you let the other person try even though you thought it wouldn’t work? When we work with a partner or team, it’s important to give each person a chance to contribute. The team that works the best together may not have built the highest tower, but at least you had a good experience working with each other. 


 
← Back to Activities Library