TECHNIQUE
Today we are going to practice helping others improve with constructive feedback/coaching.
IMPORTANCE
Helping others improve with constructive feedback is important because it promotes communication and allows for personal and team growth.
VOCABULARY
Constructive feedback: to give feedback to another person in a way that will help them grow.
These phrases can be used during different situations that may come up while playing a game with teammates:
Disagreeing Phrases
- “I feel ___ when you do___.“
- “Maybe we could try ___?“
- “You/we might consider trying….”
- “I noticed ______ , but I wish ____.”
- “Something I liked is ____ because _____.”
- “I see your point, but what about _____?”
- “What if we did _____?“
- “How about we try _____?"
Encouraging Phrases
- “You can do it!”
- “Keep going!”
- “I am confident in your ability.”
- “We care about you.”
- “I know you can handle it.”
- “We can do this together.”
- “We need your help with ___.“
- “Can you help us do ____?“
- “We won’t be able to do ___ without you.”
- “We really want you to be a part of our team.”
Congratulating Phrases
- “You really improved today.”
- “It’s obvious you did your best.”
- “It made me feel good when you did ____.”
- “I appreciated _____.“
- “Thank you for doing ____ in the game.”
- Give each other high-fives or a hug after a game or challenge.
ALLIANCE TAG
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
No restrictions
EQUIPMENT
1 flag per 2 students
Optional: 1 flag per student
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Alliance Tag. In this game, the objective is to tag all the students on the opposing side before they tag you. Remember to help others improve with constructive feedback/coaching and encourage them to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into two teams.
- Before the game begins, line up with your team on one side of the field.
- When I say, “GO!” you have to tag someone on the opposing team before they tag you.
- If you are tagged or go out-of-bounds, you are down and must sit or crouch.
- You may get up when your tagger goes down or you pull an opponent’s flag while you are down.
- If you and another student tag each other at the same time, Ro Sham Bo to decide who goes down.
- Students cannot be tagged during Ro Sham Bo.
- We will begin a new game when only one team remains standing.
Game 1: After every five minutes, call a jail break – all students that are down are allowed to come back up.
Game 2: Play on a half-field to increase activity.
Variation: Allow tagged students to crawl. If they tag another student while crawling they may stand back up.
Variation: For increased difficulty, tagged students do 10 jumping jacks or jog in place for 10 seconds.
Variation: Play with flags instead of tagging.
Exit Ticket: Students share an example of when constructive feedback helped them grow.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Let teams have one minute before the game begins to plan their strategy.
- Safety:
- Make sure students fasten their flag belts properly so it pulls away easily to avoid injury.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- What is the opposite of constructive feedback?
- Give an example. Is it difficult for you to coach others?
- What makes it difficult?
- What makes it easy?
BANK VAULT
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-20 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 dot per student
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Bank Vault. In this game, the objective is to work together to unlock the vault by completing the combination. Remember to help others improve with constructive feedback/coaching and encourage them to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Before the game begins, choose a dot to stand on around the circle and hold hands so you can move as one team.
- I will give you the combination in order to open the vault.
- When I say, “GO!” you will need to open the combination lock by moving a certain number of dots to the left or to the right (i.e. if the combo is 3-2-7, move three spots to the left and stop, two spots to the right and stop, and seven spots to the left and stop”)
- In order for a move to count, you must all move at the same exact time.
- A foot must be touching a dot at all times.
- If a dot is left open, you will need to restart.
- We will begin a new game when a new combination is unlocked.
Game 1: Start with a 3-digit lock code.
Game 2: Give students a 5-digit combination.
Exit Ticket: Students share an example of when constructive feedback helped them grow.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Communication is important for helping all students achieve the same goal.
- Safety:
- If holding hands is uncomfortable for a student, consider letting them move independently.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- What is the opposite of constructive feedback?
- Give an example. Is it difficult for you to coach others?
- What makes it difficult?
- What makes it easy?
TANK
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-32 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 fuzzy ball per 2 students
1 blindfold per 2 students
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Tank. In this game, the objective is to be the last team standing by knocking other teams out. Remember to help others improve with constructive feedback/coaching and encourage them to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into teams of two and give you two fuzzy balls for ammunition.
- Before the game begins, Ro Sham Bo to decide which one of you will be the tank and the driver.
- The tank will be blindfolded and will listen to the driver.
- The driver will direct the tank towards other teams by placing his/her hands on the tank’s shoulders and communicating where to choose your words carefully).
- When the driver says, “FIRE!” the tank can throw the ball and try to hit another team.
- If either of you are hit by another team, you are down and must sit or kneel.
- You may not carry more than two fuzzy balls at a time.
- The driver may lead the tank to a ball or “park” the tank (cannot move). Only the driver may pick up a fuzzy ball.
- Even if a tank is parked, both of you may still be hit by another team.
- We will begin a new game when there is only one tank remaining.
Game 1: Play as indicated above on a half-field.
Game 2: Play as indicated above on a full field.
Game 3: Give every team four lives in the game. Each letter in the word “T-A-N-K” is a life.
Exit Ticket: Students share an example of when constructive feedback helped them grow.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Consider calling frequent jail breaks so that players are not down for too long.
- Safety:
- Tanks are not to run into one another. It is important to keep a safe distance between teams.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- What is the opposite of constructive feedback?
- Give an example. Is it difficult for you to coach others?
- What makes it difficult?
- What makes it easy?
TRAFFIC JAM
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-24 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 dot per student + 1 extra dot
Optional: 1 hula-hoop
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Traffic Jam. The objective in this game is to work together with your teammates to switch ends of the line with the other team. Remember to help others improve with constructive feedback/coaching and encourage them to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into two teams.
- Before the game begins, stand on a dot on your team’s side, leaving one empty dot in the middle.
- The middle dot is only a steppingstone and no one should be on it at the end of the game.
- When I say, “GO!” take turns with your teammates to move one dot at a time.
- You must stay on the dots but may step around other students.
- The game ends when your entire team has moved to the other side of the middle dot.
Game 1: Play as indicated above (standing order does not matter).
Game 2: If a student steps onto the floor/ground instead of a dot, the round resets.
Variation: If there are not enough dots, consider using a hoop instead for a middle dot (no more than two students may step in the hoop at one time).
Exit Ticket: Students share an example of when constructive feedback helped them grow.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- If the game is not working well, pause and allow students to come together and strategize.
- ELL Accommodation:
- Post labeled pictures of skills and game play.
- Partner with proficient English speakers for directions/modeling and reflections.
- SpEd Accommodation:
- Set individual goals for physical or behavioral modifications.
- Allow students to demonstrate skill one-on-one with teacher.
- Allow students extra time to master the skill.
- Reflection:
- What is the opposite of constructive feedback?
- Give an example. Is it difficult for you to coach others?
- What makes it difficult?
- What makes it easy?