TEAM AND TASK

‘Mini Apprentice’ Mornings

At the beginning of the week the class is divided into teams.  The teams decide on a name to call their team and each morning elect a team captain.

Each morning they are set 5 tasks:

• A mathematical problem(s)
• A piece of visual art they have to create
• A drama or musical show they have to write and perform
• A physical activity (such as variations on ball games or athletics) that the teams have to play against each other
• A piece of creative writing

Each task begins with a learning element in which their teachers will show them as examples:

• a solution to a mathematical problem or mathematical technique that is connected to their mathematical task
• a drawing or painting technique which they have to use for their piece of visual art
• a type of drama or musical method that they will need for their performance
• a skill or skills needed for their physical activity
• writing skills needed for their piece of creative writing

Once the demonstration/teaching period is over, the team captains, in discussion with the rest of the team, decide on who in their team (it could be one person or a group depending on the task) performs each task.  The task period then begins where the teams complete each of the tasks set.

Finally in the last period of the morning, when all the tasks have been completed, the team captain appoints a ‘lawyer’ for every task to argue how many points they should get for their tasks.   Each task has a score of 1-5.   Each lawyer argues in front of a panel of teacher judges how much their team should get for the task they completed and how much the other teams should get for the same task.   The teacher judges then decide which score to accept.  They can only accept a score offered by a ‘lawyer’.

The winning team is the team with the most points for the 5 tasks.   At the end of the day, the winning team gets a reward.

Finally, at the end of the week the two outstanding players become the team captains for the Grand Finale.  They select their teams from names put in a hat and have to complete a Project with their team.

In mini apprentice, there are many input/output outcomes amongst the most essential are:

The children learn:

• team work
• leadership skills
• social skills
• public speaking techniques
• the art of argument and persuasion
• different mathematical techniques
• different art techniques
• performance skills
• writing skills
• creativity skills

The children:

• produce their own dramas and musical performances
• play different types of sports employing different physical skills
• produce different types of visual art
• produce different types of creative writing
• solve different levels of mathematical problems

ACTIVITY

Most afternoons and evenings (see activities marked with a *) the students take part in activities with International students.  In the process of interacting with these students they will learn more about their countries and different cultures.  On one afternoon (Thursday), they will have a session with their teachers bringing together and quantifying what they have learnt and what they know and understand about other countries, languages and cultures in general.  This will end up in an art work portraying the multiplicity and diversity of culture and ethnicity.