1. When geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it.
2. When a goose drops out of the v-formation it quickly discovers that it requires a great deal more effort and energy to fly.
3. Geese rotate leadership
4. Geese honk at each other
5. Geese help each other
I think I like #4 the best. I like that we have to communicate with others in order to be successful. I know it is true with me. If I tell my class that they have an assignment due, I need to communicate the due date. I need to communicate what the assignment is. That also is true for students. What do you not understand? What do you need help doing?
This goes beyond answer when it is due and answering a google-able question. We are trying to get the kids asking relevant questions. Not just "can I go to the bathroom", type questions.
Thanks Coach Beard for finding this and sharing it with us. After our students read the article they were to blog about which part of the formation they were in and why. They had to answer, could they do better? Help others? Help themselves? The kids enjoyed it and hopefully will continue to think about using teamwork to accomplish their goals.