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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Choose your own maths adventure with our interactive tools that allow you to build a custom playlist of inspirational activities!

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20 activities to establish productive group work in the classroom 

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20 activities to establish productive group work in the classroom 

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Copy of Pear Deck Templates: Icebreakers

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Make sure to make a copy of this template and change any prompts so the activity works for you.

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Create a new spreadsheet and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Sheets to edit Excel files. Free from Google.

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Classmate Bingo Student Introduction Activity - Templates by Canva

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Use this customizable Classmate Bingo Student Introduction Activity template and find more professional designs from Canva.

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Back to School Ice Breaker Activities - Templates by Canva

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Use this customizable Back to School Ice Breaker Activities template and find more professional designs from Canva.

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Teach brain breaks early in the year so you can easily refer back to them when needed throughout the year.

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Give each student a square blank Google Drawing and have them decorate it. Download each square and put them together to make a "quilt" or collage Google Classroom banner. Alternatively you can have each student add their name to a collaborative Google Drawing Classroom banner by making the file "anyone with link can edit" and asking students to add their name using word art. Don't forget to revisit this activity when any new students join your class. See the links below to use for this activity.

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Student work in small groups to figure out to how save Fred (a gummy worm). PDF version of activity available in comments.

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This post may contain affiliate ads at no cost to you. See my disclosures for more information.

Can You Save Fred? is a classic activity that has been done in classrooms across the world many, many times.

At the end of this past school year I held a small STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) class for a group of homeschoolers, and one of the activities we did was Can You Save Fred?

This is a cooperative activity that has children work in pairs to save a hapless gummy worm named Fred who has managed to capsize his boat and lose his life preserver.

Working together, students must rescue Fred, turn his boat right side up, and put on his life preserver - all without hurting Fred or dropping him into the "lake."

This activity helps children develop teamwork, problem solving, communication, and fine motor skills.

Below I share pictures from the activity, and at the end you can grab a free copy of my Can You Save Fred? activity to use with your own children or students.

To do this activity, each group will need the following materials:

1 gummy worm (Fred)

1 gummy life saver candy (life preserver) - it must be the gummy kind, not the hard kind

1 small, clear plastic cup (boat)

4 paper clips (rescue materials)

Optional: Small tray (lake)

Student instructions

Optional: Student worksheet

Place the gummy life saver in the middle of the tray. Turn the small, plastic cup (Fred's boat) upside down and place it over the gummy life saver. Finally, place the gummy worm on top of the plastic cup and the four paper clips to the side.

Explain that Fred is a friendly worm who took his boat out on the lake one day. However, Fred wasn't very smart because he forgot to wear his life preserver!

Unfortunately for Fred, a strong wind caused his boat to capsize. Now his boat is upside down, Fred is stranded on top, and his life preserver is underneath!

Then have your students work in groups of 2-3 people to (1) turn Fred's boat right side up, (2) get Fred back into his boat, and (3) put on Fred's life preserver.

However, students must follow certain rules:

1. Students may only touch the paperclips. They may not touch Fred, the boat, or the life preserver directly with their hands.

2. Students must not let Fred fall into the lake or he will drown.

3. Students may not injure Fred (e.g., spearing him with the end of a paperclip).

Below are a few pictures of the process.

It takes teamwork to get the life preserver on Fred!

And this is what the end result will look like when Fred is safely in his boat with his life preserver on.

Here is a sneak peak at the teacher instructions, student instructions, and student worksheet included in my Can You Save Fred? download:

Want a copy of my Can You Save Fred? activity?

Add this product to your cart by clicking the button below!

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Kids will love this cooperative activity that builds teamwork, planning, communication, and fine motor skills.

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This resource includes 12 community building activities and 6 STEAM activities. All activities are simple, include few supplies and would be great for the first week of school.

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Shared by @headoverheelsforteacher on instagram

This teacher put it up during a meet the teacher night and had students find their own name that night. Then put out regular size versions on student desks the first day.
See comments for directions on how to print posters on a regular printer.