Background
Information
for Teachers
Before Lesson
• Post Learning Goals and Success Criteria for this lesson after the Human
Knot activity.
• Be prepared to share your own stories and experiences about a time in
your life when you showed Perseverance.
• Have the Anecdotal Observation Template (BLM #2) ready on a clipboard
to use while students are working collaboratively.
Step A:
Assessment
as Learning
ACTIVATING SCHEMA;
ORAL DISCUSSION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THINKING
Teacher Talk: Explain the “rules” for this game (do not give the context
ahead of the activity).
Human Knot: The group starts out in one or two tight circles. Everyone in the
group reaches across the circle with their right hand to grab another group
member’s right hand. Then everyone reaches in with their left hand to grab
a different group member’s left hand. The object is to untangle the group
without letting go of hands until a circle is formed. If the group is having
extreme difficulty, you can administer “knot first-aid” and break one set of
tangled hands (with group consensus), otherwise group members may not
let go at any time. You may have to decide as a group that the knot is not
solvable, after prolonged attempt. Note: You can have the group do this
without talking, if they are advanced enough.
Teacher Talk: How was the activity? What were the difficulties? What would
have happened if everyone just gave up? How did having even just one
or two people not give up affect the outcome? What words would you use
to describe what you needed to do to solve it? (Possible responses are
“Perseverance,” “working together,” “listening to others’ ideas,” etc.)
We are going to now focus on Perseverance. What does this word mean to
you? How would you describe or define this word?
Anchor Chart: On chart paper or whiteboard, record student answers as
they share. Possible responses are “not giving up”; “continued effort to do
or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition”; “the quality
that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is
difficult”; etc.
Black Canadian Curriculum – Intermediate – ETFO – 2014