Gather the children on the first day of school and talk about what makes a team. Write down their ideas on chart paper. Explain that as a class you are a team, and ask them to come up with a list of goals for the team. Tell them that rules help create an environment where people can meet goals more easily. Prompt them to generate a list of rules that will lead the team to success. Write down their rules and have them sign the bottom of the page. Hang the lists of goals and rules in the classroom.
Create a buddy system. Match each student up with another and require them to do certain activities together throughout the week. Give a range of assignments that allow partnerships to present projects to the class. Switch buddies every week. Avoid partnering incompatible students during the first part of the school year. Meet in a circle at the end of each week if desired and ask partners to share a few things they've learned about each other.
Assign group activities throughout the school year. Arrange groups that allow strong, weak, shy and outgoing students to work together. Design activities where each group member has a specific role to play and the whole group has a common goal. Develop some open-ended projects that prompt students to share ideas and problem-solve.
Design long-term projects for the whole class. Give the class a joint goal, such as reading 100 books, and tell them they will work as a team to meet this goal by a certain date. Encourage students to recommend books to each other. Keep a chart in the room where students can record their accomplishments.
Use positive reward systems that recognize team success. Hang a chart on the wall and come up with ways for the class to earn stickers as a team. When the chart is full, reward them by throwing a party or extending recess. Keep a large jar in the room and put a marble in it when you notice students working together or compromising. Reward the class each time the jar is full.