• When peers work together, amazing things can happen.symbol for teamwork image by bilderbox from Fotolia.com
  
  Teaching a group of classmates lessons in teamwork and cooperation can help bring a positive spin to interactions with their peers. However, a simple lesson at the head of the class may not do the trick. Consider playing games to inject a bit of fun into the lesson and get your students more willing to work together.
  
  

The Mating Game

• Begin the game by picking one person out of the group to become the "carnivore." Divide the rest of the players into pairs of "herbivores." The pairs must figure out a way of distinguishing themselves from the other pairs by sound alone. After each pair creates their own mating call, separate every pairs: place one member of the pair on one side of the room and the other member of the pair on the other side of the room. The carnivore stands in the middle of the room with a bell. Every time he moves, he has to ring that bell. Blindfold the herbivores. On the count of three, the herbivores must try to find their partners while avoiding the carnivore by listening to his bell. The herbivores cannot sound their mating calls unless they're stationary. Whenever the carnivore tags an herbivore, the herbivore loses one of five lives. The first pair to find each other wins the game.
  
  

T-Shirt Relay

• Start by dividing the players into two teams, lining each group up side by side. Hand the first player in each line an oversized shirt, which she has to put on. Tell all of the team members to hold hands. The game begins when you say "Go." The first player has to get the shirt off of her body and onto the next player in line without breaking hands with him. This process continues until the shirt rests on the shoulders of the last person in line. The first team to accomplish this task wins the game.
  
  

10-Second Objects

• Before the game, think of some objects that groups of people can manifest the shapes of by using their bodies, for instance, things like cars, washing machines and lawnmowers. Begin the game by dividing the players into teams of four people. Once every team has its own section of the room, call out an object. The teams must work fast to come up with a representation of the object by using their collective brains and limbs. After 10 seconds has passed, tell the teams to stop. Survey the groups to see who, if any, came up with an accurate representation. Give a point to the team who did the best job. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.