In this lesson, we are learning to:

• Practice hand-eye coordination skills to achieve a goal in groups.
• Perform a scenario in pairs to practice negotiation skills.
• Create a sculpture using communication skills as a team.

Episode: ‘Eddie In The Middle’ – Eddie learns that sometimes it’s impossible to be everybody’s best friend at the same time.

Find ‘Eddie in the Middle’ on NITV, Netflix or SBS on Demand. 

Ahead of the lesson, prepare the materials needed for a game of ‘Team Pen’ (also known as ‘Pen Rope’). In this team challenge, students pull strings to collaboratively control a coloured marker, aiming to successfully write/draw a provided prompt.

Students will work in groups of five or six for this game. Use masking tape to secure large pieces of paper to tabletops (one table per group). Then use masking tape to secure the ends of six lengths of string (about 40cm) to the upper half of coloured markers (one marker per group).

Ask each group to gather around their table, and have each student pull a single string at opposing angles. Depending on students’ ages and abilities, challenge groups of students to draw an image or write a word as a team. Students control the marker by strategically pulling their strings to create tension. If required, model writing the word or drawing the image for students.

Students will need to coordinate their movements and communicate using commands such as:

• Up and Down
• Left and Right
• Long and Short
• Stop and Go

In a class discussion, have students reflect on the team pen challenge, presenting the sheet with the word or drawing to the class.

Invite students to reflect on the process:

• What did you notice about working with your peers in the Team Pen challenge?
• How would you describe collaboration? What makes working with others successful? What happens when we are not working so well together?

Now challenge students to try the same word or drawing again as a team and compare the first and the second attempts.

Invite students to reflect on the process:

• What did you notice about working with your peers in the Team Pen challenge the second time?
• How did your team learn and adapt from the first collaboration attempt?

Explain to students that this game involved contributing to a team as a group of individuals, each playing a part of the whole. Collaboration is an important skill we all need to learn and practice, when we work with others we can do big things, to achieve common goals.

In the Eddie's Lil’ Homies episode titled ‘Eddie in the Middle’, Lottie and Tal struggle to find a way to work together. Their disagreements get in the way of achieving their goal, a sculpture for the community art show. In this episode, we notice that Tal and Lottie have different perspectives. For example, Tal would like to make and follow a plan, and Lottie would prefer to work without a plan, to figure it out as they go.

When Tal and Lottie work together with Eddie they learn that they can cooperate as a team to achieve a collective goal. This takes compromise, being open to other perspectives, active listening, and good communication skills.

As a class, document the arguments for and against making a plan for the sculpture. Then, in pairs, ask students to role-play as Tal and Lottie. Through improvisation, students can explore how to navigate differing perspectives: Tal who wants to use a plan, and Lottie who doesn’t want one.

Encourage students to consider how they can take turns to talk, listen to the opposing character's perspective, and persuade each other why a plan might be good or bad. In the final minute, ask students to arrive at a compromise where they both agree on how they will work together.

To encourage communication strategies for collaboration and enable students to demonstrate their understanding, ask students to form small groups and create a sculpture from recycled materials. Remind students of the benefits of teamwork, taking turns, listening and communicating clearly. Teams may benefit from discussing how they will work together before the making, for example, would they like to draw a plan first? Will the members of the team have dedicated roles? How will the students deal with frustrations or conflicts in the group if they arise?