Definition of Cooperation for 4 - 7 year olds: Cooperation happens when two or more people help each other to make something good happen. It can also apply to animals or parts of a whole that need each other and work together.  An example of this is the human body – all the parts work together to make you healthy.

In a nutshell:

Together we can do more. 

Summary:
Construction machines and farm animals take on human characteristics and talk about Farmer Bill’s plan to build a nice place for swimming and picnics on his property. The team of machines work well together until Deke the tractor shows up. Deke takes over all the work, which is upsetting for the rest of the team. An accident pulls the group back together and Deke learns a much-needed lesson about cooperation. 

Lesson Objectives: 

1. Students who tend to dominate others will be more willing to share responsibilities with others and have a better team mentality.  
2. Students are more inclined to cooperate at home and at school after reading about how the machines had a good time working together  

Guiding Questions: 

1. What did Farmer Bill want to create? 
2. What did the machines do to get the job started? 
3. The team got a lot done before Deke showed up. Name some work they did.  
4. Would you like to operate some of those machines? If so, which one - a tractor, a steam shovel, or a bulldozer - and why? 
5. Do you know anyone who operates big machines? Try to find someone who does and ask them what it’s like. 
6. Deke kept criticizing the other machines. What are some of the things he said? 
7. How do you feel when someone criticizes you? 
8. Before the accident Tractor Mac tried to persuade Deke to ……. (fill in the blank). 
9. What caused the accident and what did Deke realize after he was rescued? 
10. Share about a time when you worked with others to make something happen that helped others. Or, make a plan with family or friends to make something happen to help others.