 One first grade classroom at Riverside Elementary was transformed into an investigation room today. For this week's Golden Apples, Sarah Winkleman shows us how this breakout activity promotes teamwork. Fox read all day eating apples. It started off with reading a book to the class, but before it got to the end it was up to them to solve the mystery. We had a lot of fun and we were able to learn in a different way. My job was to completely stay out of it. I did not get to talk. I did not get to guide them and as a teacher that's really hard that's what we were trying to do. So they learned from each other today. The students were completely on their own with only one hand card per group to help them if they got stuck. After each group completes the puzzle they were given, they're off with their magnifying glasses to find the missing picture that will eventually lead them to the key. Yes! Yes! Once a group had collected their key they would step up to help others since they needed to find all six in order to see what treasure lay inside. The main objectives really are the seas, you know, the collaboration, the critical thinking, the communication, those types of things are really the goal of this. The skill of teamwork that is crucial for first graders. They're still trying to understand their emotions and feelings and how their behavior and how their actions affect others and when they're working together in a group that naturally comes out. Sarah leads these projects all across the Brainerd School District from kindergarten to 12th grade but she was impressed with how well and how quickly this class worked together. And students who I thought might sit back and be a little bit more reserved were out there and excited and talking and sharing. It was a day full of discovery for everyone involved. It just makes so much more excitement for the sciences and math and technology where they get to have hands-on experiences and things come to life for them. It was a lively classroom as all of the pieces of the puzzle were put together, one student at a time. For this week's Golden Apple in Brainerd, Sarah Winckelman, Lakeland News. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.