Describing an innovative classroom technique, which seeks to place students in small interactive groups rather than in large groups around a teacher, this study provides guidelines for making cooperation and mutual trust a valuable and necessary by-product of education. The technique prescribes that each child be given a part of a topic to study, and the students then fit their pieces of the subject matter together to form a complete jigsaw picture. Objective scientific evidence for the efficacy of the technique is provided, and specific sections of the book deal with: (1) the formation of cooperative groups among students; (2) typical jigsaw classrooms; (3) special roles of the teacher and group leader; (4) development of communication skills; (5) problems the teacher will face; (6) research findings concerning the technique in action; and (7) cooperation as one part of the classroom experience. Appendices provide a teacher's guide and sample curriculum for multicultural social studies, an example of a teacher training workshop, and sample team-building exercises. References are also included. (DS)