</FONT>Objective: To show how Kounin's classroom management model is effective

Materials:

• large box
• tangram puzzle pieces
• direction sheet:(see attatched page)
• ziploc sandwich bag
• small pouch
• 2 tangram pictures
• answer sheet for the tangram pictures

Teacher Preparation:

• Place the tangram puzzle pieces, one direction sheet, the two tangram pictures and the answer keys all in a ziploc bag. Make enough bags for half of your class. (Note: Each student has a partner so the number of bags will actually be less than a half.)
• Place enough tangram puzzle pieces, direction sheets,  tangram pictures and answer sheets for the other half of your class in a large box. Place at the front of the classroom.

Directions:

• Split your class in half and assign each student one partner.
• Hand out the prepared baggies to one half of the class and have them begin the tangram challenge.
• Tell the other half to come up and read the directions and get their supplies from the large box. Be vague in your directions.
• Compare the two halves of the classroom.
• After the activity, explain how Kounin's theory about handing out supplies with clear precise directions is better than having a central location, (the large box), and being vague in giving directions.
• If you want, have the two halves switch sides so that students can see the differences for themselves.

Comments: This is wonderful for teacher development workshops and/or classroom management and psychology courses in college.

Image: http://www.bilet.go.ro/origami/tangram.gif