Considerations for
Cooperative Games,
Trust Games
and Initiative Activities

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1.  Think of creative ways to divide students into groups.  Try to prevent individuals from feeling left out of a group.  For example, have students get into groups according to their date or birth or color of eyes, hair, shirt, shoes or socks.

2.  Emphasis is on trying.  Encourage all students to try their best and praise them for their attempts.  Encourage all students to do the same.

3.  Trust is important.  Students must learn to be trustworthy.  Spend extra time of this if necessary.

4.  In cooperative games there is no right or wrong way to meet challenges.  Encourage students to be creative and to elicit input from all members of their groups.

5.  Help students to reflect on their experiences.  Encourage all students to talk about their feelings.  This is often difficult amoung high school students but is important to the group process.

6.  The teacher's role is that of a facilitator.  Encourage students to make their own decisions even when you know that there are more expedient methods.  The enjoyment is the process!