Cooperative Learning Example
Uncommon Commonalities

Uncommon Commonalities
Uncommon Commonalities can be used for team building, ice breakers, or to explore similarities and differences in thinking.

1.) In small groups, students are asked to list individual things
Examples: things that are special about them; personal favorite (can be general or specific i.e. sports, books); family characteristics; 10 things I would take on a trip

2.) Group members share their lists listening and looking for things they have in common.

3.) When the group finds one item they each identified, they list that item under 4; when they find something that 3 of them identified, they list that item under 3, etc.

4.) Group can set group name based on their most common trait.
Grade 3 Student Sample - Our Families:

4
3
2
1
- have a pet - have 2 parents at our house - have a sister - lives with one parent


Grade 8 Student Sample - Ways to Spend our Long Weekend:

4
3
2
1
- watching movies - staying up late - sleeping in - skateboarding

* Adapted with permission from Kagan Publishing. Kagan, Spencer. Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing, 1994. www.KaganOnline.com

Cooperative Learning Examples