TECHNIQUE
Today we are going to practice helping our team.
IMPORTANCE
Helping your team is important because it creates higher and better performing teams.
VOCABULARY
Teamwork: to work with a group of people in order to achieve a goal.
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.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
No restrictions
EQUIPMENT
None
Optional: 1 short cone per student
Optional: pen and paper (to track message/ points)
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Lost in Translation. In this game, your objective is to communicate the secret message with your teammates, as clearly as possible, so no part is lost in translation. Remember to always help your team and encourage others to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into two communication teams.
- Before the game begins, form two straight lines on either side of the field stretching from the baseline to the end line. Each student should be the same distance apart.
- The first student in line will receive the message from the translator (teacher) and will pass it to the next student.
- Each secret message contains a certain number of words. The goal is to see how much of the original message makes it to the end (ex: “Wild winds blow above mountains” or “Feet smell funny”).
- When you share the message, whisper it clearly into the ear of the next player so no one else can hear.
- When the last student receives the message, he/she will run to the front, high-five the teacher and whisper the message.
- When the round ends, the line shifts and the last student becomes the first student for the next round.
- The message will be different and may become more challenging each new round.
Game 1: Have students do a round with a two-word message (i.e. “blue tattoo”).
Game 2: Play with a three-word message (increase the length for each round).
Variation: To increase activity and prevent eavesdropping, have students clap while waiting for the message OR have the message be a secret handshake students have to pass along.
Exit Ticket: Students share how teamwork and success are connected.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Consider telling the students how many words will be in the message before the round starts.
- Consider having students stand on dots to ensure the spacing for both teams is equal.
- 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 does it mean to help your team?
- Why is helping your team important?
- How would your team be different if you didn't support each other?
STARGATE
TIME
10-20 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
No restrictions
EQUIPMENT
1 hula-hoop
Optional: 1+ hula-hoops
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Stargate. In this game, the objective is to get all the students through the Stargate (hula-hoop) by passing it all the way around the circle without letting it touch the ground. Remember to always help your team and encourage others to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will decide what time, in the past or future, we are traveling to.
- Before the game begins, stand in a circle and hold hands.
- When I say, “GO!” pass the Stargate around the circle by climbing through it.
- You cannot disconnect hands with the classmates on either side of you.
- If a link breaks or the Stargate touches the ground the game resets and we can try again.
- We will begin a new game once everyone has made it through the Stargate.
Game 1: Play as indicated above.
Game 2: Add another Stargate.
Game 3: Students have to stand on one foot only.
Game 4: Count aloud so students can see how quickly they can complete a full circle pass.
Variation: Stargate Race- Using two hoops (one at either side of the circle), students try to make one Stargate catch the other by passing them as fast as possible (without stopping) around the circle.
Exit Ticket: Students share how teamwork and success are connected.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Emphasize the need to communicate and encourage teammates in order to be successful.
- Safety:
- Students must be careful to not pull on one another when holding hands to avoid unnecessary 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 does it mean to help your team?
- Why is helping your team important?
- How would your team be different if you did not support each other?
LIBERATOR
TIME
15-25 minutes
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
4-30 students per game
EQUIPMENT
24 fuzzy balls
15 short cones
OBJECTIVE
Today we are playing Liberator. In this game, the objective is for the liberators (throwers) to free or break out all their teammates from the other team’s prison. Remember to always help your team and encourage others to do their best.
INSTRUCTIONS
- I will divide the class into two teams.
- Each team will select two people to be their liberators.
- The rest of you will be prisoners in the other team’s prison zone.
- When I say, “GO!” the liberators may throw balls to their teammates in prison to free them.
- Liberators may also protect their prison by blocking or catching balls thrown by the other team.
- If you block a ball from being caught, it is a dead ball and the other team must try again.
- If you catch a ball that is thrown from the other team, the student who threw it is sent to your prison.
- To be freed from prison, you must catch a ball inside the prison zone thrown from one of your teammates.
- Prisoners may help liberators by tossing back any stray balls that have landed in the prison.
- We will begin a new game when one team has freed all of their prisoners.
Game 1: Play as indicated above.
Game 2: Prisoners decide on a liberation order before the game starts. When a ball is caught, the prisoner at the front of the order is set free. When a new student is sent to prison, they move to the end of the order.
Variation: A liberator may try to free a prisoner by crossing to the other side and high-fiving him/her without being tagged or hit below the shoulders with a fuzzy ball.
Exit Ticket: Students share how teamwork and success are connected.
TEACHING TIPS
- Approach:
- Consider letting teams select their first liberators as a part of creating their game strategy.
- Safety:
- Students in prison should communicate and be mindful of one another in the space to avoid collisions.
- 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 does it mean to help your team?
- Why is helping your team important?
- How would your team be different if you did not support each other?