The first few days of school are the most important of the entire year. The classroom tone is set, expectations and procedures are established, and the students begin to form a community of learners. One of the fun activities that students participate in is the "Straw-Tower Challenge". This lesson helps students see that working as a cooperative team, they can be successful. Group work in class is a part of almost each day during the year. Students need to be self-sufficient, but they also need to learn how to work together to accomplish a common goal.