Intent

This activity draws upon the Lonesome Llama experience in such a way that students recognize the various roles that members must assume in order for a group to function well.

Mathematics

IMP activities are designed to encourage a high degree of interaction, involving collaborative problem solving as well as engaging discussions of ideas, arguments, and presentations. For such a learner-centered environment to be effective, care must be taken to help students work in groups effectively. Role Reflections helps students become aware of these norms, or roles, for working in groups and why they are important. See “Assigning and Using Roles in Cooperative Groups” in the Overview to the Interactive Mathematics Program for more information.

Progression

Upon completion of Lonesome Llama (or as a filler while groups finish Lonesome Llama), students should privately reflect on the activity to identify actions taken by a student engaged in the various roles. A class discussion of responses helps to highlight the value of the variety of contributions that class members made to the successful completion of the activity.

Approximate Time

15 minutes

Classroom Organization

Individuals, then groups, followed by whole-class discussion

Doing the Activity

When the students in a group have determined that they are confident they know the Lonesome Llama, provide the following instructions. Ask each group member to think back to the activity and remember the various actions taken by their group members that helped them complete the task. Instruct students to organize their recollections using the roles listed in Role Reflections. This work should be done individually and privately.

Once every member of a group has completed identifying one person for each role, have the group members share what they recorded and what moment during the Lonesome Llama activity prompted them to identify each person.

Discussing and Debriefing the Activity

Once every group has spent at least some individual time identifying the moments that a member took on a particular role, bring the class together for a discussion. Ask for volunteers to share actions taken by fellow group members that moved them forward in their success to complete the Lonesome Llama activity. Ensure that both task roles and socio-emotional roles are shared.

Key Questions

Which role might someone in your group have performed that would have helped the group be successful with the activity?

Were their any roles that your group spent too much time attending to?