25 Kernels in a jar

The idea is to reward the whole group rather than individual students and hold the whole group accountable for any problems. This activity has really enhanced building a sense of community in the classroom. You may adapt this activity to other situations just by changing the criteria.

1. You will need a glass jar and a bag of corn kernels (you may use beans, marbles, etc.).
2. Mark the jar at different points (two or three). At the end of each class, the teacher will put a number of kernels in the jar, depending on the criteria adopted. When the kernels reach a “mark” students are rewarded with a special treat: “ice-cream day”, “music day”, a field trip, etc. It is important for teachers to check, in advance, how many kernels will be needed to reach each mark and adapt the number of kernels to the criteria below accordingly, so that the mark can be reached within the time period you wish.
3. Establish the criteria with your class. You may use the ones below or change any of the criteria to fit your needs:

• Participation ……………….. 5 kernels
• Collaboration ………………. 5 kernels
• Task goal achieved ……… 5 kernels
• Use of English …………….. 5 kernels
• Respect towards peers and the teacher….. 5 kernels

Other criteria we have used: punctuality; showing respect for others; assiduity; homework completion.

Note: When establishing the criteria, analyze the reality of your class. For example, I once chose “punctuality” as a criterium for a group of older children, but I eventually dropped it because I realized students were late because their parents were late driving them to school. Also, be careful not to punish the class for situations they can’t control, such as a hyperactive student who cannot sit still. Finally, you may award extra kernels for special situations (e.g.: I usually had a small poem for students to learn during the week. If they were able to recite the poem by the end of the week, I awarded them extra kernels).

At the end of the class, sit with students and decide how many kernels the WHOLE group earned that day for each of the criterium established. Do not draw attention to any individual students.