Let’s Talk About Teamwork

Doing more together

by Hannah Taylor

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the benefits of good teamwork.

Preparation and materials

• Have available the YouTube video ‘The power of teamwork’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 1.23 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/4duPBWzf46E
  
  

Assembly

1. Ask the children what they understand by the word ‘teamwork’.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Explain that good teamwork is when people work together to complete something, communicating well, listening to each other and showing respect. For example, we might work together to play a game of football or complete a task in class.
   
   
2. Explain that you are going to give some scenarios and you want the children to indicate whether the scenario involves teamwork by raising their hand.
   
   - Reading a book to yourself.
   - Playing a sport like tennis or netball.
   - Writing a story with the person next to you.
   - Finding a missing jumper with your teacher.
   
   
3. Show the YouTube video ‘The power of teamwork’ (1.23 minutes long). 
   
   
   
   
4. Ask the children, ‘Why is teamwork so important?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Teamwork is important because it teaches us amazing skills that we can use for the rest of our lives. There are many occasions when we can achieve more by working together. Examples might include:
   
   - us working as a team with our teachers to learn
   - sportspeople working with their trainers to get ready for competitions
   - builders working together to build a house
   - children working well together on sports day to win the race
   
   Point out that every time we work as a team, we learn how to solve problems, improve our confidence, make people feel included and enjoy community.
   
   
5. Ask the children, ‘How can we all practise good teamwork?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Point out that we can practise teamwork in many places such as at home, at school, at clubs and in the playground.
   
   Ask the children to think of times when they might need good teamwork. Offer the following examples, pointing out that working as a team can be great fun.
   
   - At school: we might be involved in a scavenger hunt with our friends, finding the items on our list - such as insects, leaves and sticks - before other teams.
   - On sports day: we need to work well with our team by listening to them and watching closely for our turn in the race. We could practise races in the playground at break times and get others to join in.
   - At home: we could work with our family to complete a puzzle, play a game or build something creative with Lego.
   
   Ask the children whether they can think of other examples.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.

Time for reflection

Let’s think about what we have learned today and then take these next few minutes to consider what we can do to be better team players at home and at school.

Pause to allow time for thought.

Prayer
Dear God,
Please help us to be good team players:
To listen, communicate and respect people around us
So that we can all achieve great things together.
Amen.

Song/music

‘The teamwork song’, available at: https://youtu.be/XM2g8DfRe3I (from 0.07 to 2.04 minutes)

‘Friend like me’ by Robin Williams, available at: https://youtu.be/WuqgoTy3y6Q (2.29 minutes long)