Cooperation is when people work together to achieve a common goal. It is a give and take that balances our own needs with the needs of other people. When we cooperate with others to accomplish a task, we listen, compromise, share, and take turns. Cooperation is a crucial skill for children to learn at a young age.
For this activity, the teacher will begin by reading The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel aloud to the class. This story is about a little red pen who needs help grading all of the student papers, but her helpers stapler, scissors, pencil, highlighter, pushpin, and eraser do not want to pitch in. When Little Red Pen falls off of the table into the trash can out of exhaustion, the others realize that they need to get her out and all help to get the papers graded. With the help of a lazy hamster and a lot of cooperation, Little Red Pen is rescued, and the grading gets done together.
After a discussion about the book and how the friends all worked together, students will create a cell describing and illustrating their favorite part of the story. Depending on age and ability level, teachers may choose to include writing or just have students use pictures.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a cell that illustrates and describes your favorite part of the story.
Student Instructions
Foster student collaboration by organizing a group project inspired by The Little Red Pen. Working together helps students practice cooperation in a real-world context and deepens their understanding of teamwork.
Assign each student a role from the book (like Pen, Stapler, Scissors, etc.) to promote responsibility and ownership. Roles help students recognize how diverse contributions support group goals.
Give groups a shared task similar to grading papers or rescuing the pen. This models the story’s conflict and encourages students to strategize and support each other.
Prompt students to list cooperative actions such as sharing materials, listening, and helping. This reinforces positive behaviors and sets clear expectations for teamwork.
Lead a brief discussion about what worked well and what could improve. Reflection helps students internalize the value of cooperation and apply it in future group activities.
Read aloud The Little Red Pen, discuss how the characters cooperate, and have students illustrate and describe their favorite scene to highlight teamwork. This hands-on activity makes the concept of cooperation relatable and fun.
Use The Little Red Pen as a read-aloud to spark a discussion about working together, then guide students to create an art or writing piece showing teamwork in the story. This connects SEL skills to real classroom experiences.
Books like Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper, My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann, A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams, Crayon by Simon Rickerty, and Goal! by Mina Javaherbin also teach cooperation through engaging stories.
After reading, prompt students to choose a memorable scene, use art supplies or digital tools to draw the characters and action, and write a brief description to explain why it stands out to them.
Cooperation helps children develop social skills like listening, sharing, and problem-solving. These abilities are crucial for building friendships, succeeding in group projects, and creating a positive classroom environment.