Teaching the Stages of Group Development

ABSTRACT

This article illustrates a psychodramatic exercise for teaching social work students and other group leaders the stages of group development. The classroom is transformed into a sculpture gallery and students arrange themselves in a series of sculptures depictingthe stages. The sculpting brings together theory and practice. It gives students a visualmetaphor of the stages and takes them through a condensed experience of the phases themselves. This approach can be used in social work practice classes or in specific group workcourses.