TECHNIQUE
Today we are going to practice identifying and leveraging our teammates’ strengths.
IMPORTANCE
Identifying and leveraging our teammates’ strengths is important because everyone can offer different abilities during a game. This is needed in order to work as a team.
VOCABULARY
Leverage: to use effectively.
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.
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
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Traffic Jam. Your goal in this game is to work together with your teammates to switch ends of the line with the other team. Remember to identify and leverage your teammates' strengths to help everyone play to the best of their abilities.
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 game 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 examples of how they leveraged their teammates' strengths during the game.
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:
- How would you define leverage?
- Why do you think it is important to be able to identify and leverage your teammates's strengths?
- What about their weaknesses?
TRANSPORTERS
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
No restrictions
EQUIPMENT
1 beach ball per 2 students
1 short cone per student
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Transporters. In this game, your goal is to work with your team to transport your beach ball without using your hands. Remember to always identify and leverage your teammate's strengths to help your team play to the best of your abilities.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into teams of two.
- Before the game begins, each team will line up behind a marker cone.
- When I say, “GO!” you and your partner must find a way to transport the beach ball without using your hands from the baseline to the end line and back.
- All team members must have a body part touching the beach ball.
- If the beach ball touches the ground at any point you must start over.
- We will begin a new game once everyone has made it back to the baseline.
Game 1: Have each team transport the beach ball using only their arms (but not their hands).
Game 2: Have each team transport the beach ball using only their legs.
Game 3: Have each team transport the beach ball using only their backs.
Game 4: Have each team transport the beach ball using only their heads.
Game 5: Have each team transport the beach ball using only their elbows.
Variation: Have each team try transporting a beach ball, along with one or more other objects.
Exit Ticket: Students share examples of how they leveraged their teammate's strengths during the game.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Consider having teams switch partners after each game so that everyone gets a chance to work with different people.
- Remind students that communication is key when completing this challenge.
- Safety:
- A team should not start moving until each member has said that they are ready.
- 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:
- How would you define leverage?
- Why do you think it is important to be able to identify and leverage your teammate's strengths?
- What about their weaknesses?
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
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Tank. In this game, your goal is to be the last team standing by knocking other teams out. Remember to identify and leverage your teammate's strengths to help your team play to the best of your abilities.
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 go (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 examples of how they leveraged their teammate's strengths during the game.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Consider calling frequent jail breaks so students 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:
- How would you define leverage?
- Why do you think it is important to be able to identify and leverage your teammate's strengths?
- What about their weaknesses?
BANK VAULT
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-20 students per game
EQUIPMENT
1 dot per student
STORYLINE
Today we are playing Bank Vault. Your goal is to work together to unlock the vault by completing the combination. Remember to identify and leverage your teammates' strengths to help everyone play to the best of their abilities.
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 examples of how they leveraged their teammates' strengths during the game.
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:
- How would you define leverage?
- Why do you think it is important to be able to identify and leverage your teammates' strengths?
- What about their weaknesses?