Cooperative Games & Lesson Plan

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Racetrack relay 

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Purpose : The purpose of this activity is to provide each group with an opportunity to plan and communicate as a team, inevitably strengthening teamwork skills. 

 

Materials: 1 Racetrack for each participant, 1 marble per group, 1 toy car per group, 1 bucket/bowl per group. 

 

Instructions :All participants are divided into teams with an equal amount of players on each, which will be dependent on class size. Each student gets a single piece of a race track and with each team lines up at one end of the gym, relay race style. The objective of the game is to get the small object to the other side of the gym and drop it in the bucket without dropping it on the ground. If the object falls, the team must restart from the beginning.

 

Note*

This game would most likely be used in an educational classroom or physical activity class environment and can be adapted to be appropriate for any age group. For example, when working with 6 year olds, I may cut a pool noodle in half (to create a semi circle) to create a more structured path way for an object to move through. For an older group, I would create smaller teams so participants are forced to move to the other end of their team more efficiently. 

 

Regulations

• Team members must not touch the object with any body part.

• The object must flow through each persons individual track.

• The participants must not attach their tracks to each other.

 

Game variations/progressions 

• The teams will first attempt the relay race with a small toy car.

• Next, teams will attempt the race with a marble.

• Next, half of a teams members must go to the opposite side of the classroom while the other half remains at the original starting point. The race begins as normal with half the amount of players, but when the car reaches the end, the other half of the team must take over and bring the car back to the original starting point. 

 

Debrief questions 

• Was one object (car vs marble) more difficult than the other? Why?

• What was the most difficult part about having half of your team starting on the other side? Did this cause you to change your strategy at all?

• Was their one individual that took a stronger leadership role in comparison to others?

 

 

Spaghetti and Meatballs 

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Purpose: To warm up the students with a fun, interactive game while also implementing team work strategies. This game can also be used as an end of class wrap up game to ensure students are exiting your class with a positive attitude (this is shown in my lesson plan below).

 

Materials: a pool noodle (spaghetti) for half of the class, 5 hula hoops (plates), a large number of any type of small balls (meatballs). Set up this game by evenly spacing the “plates” around the playing area and dispersing all of the “meatballs” around the floor as well. 

 

Instructions: Leader begins by splitting half of the class into “meatballs” and “spaghetti”. Each spaghetti team member will receive a pool noodle and their objective is to tap the “meatballs” off of the “plate” using their “spaghetti noodle”. The Meatballs objective is to place the “meatballs” back onto the “plate” using their hands. The Leader will start a one minute timer to play. At the end, if there is more “meatballs” on the “plate”, Team Meatballs win. If there are more “meatballs” off of the “plate”, Team Noodles win. 

 

Note: I would personally use this game in a physical activity environment at the beginning of class to warm the students up and create a positive atmosphere for remainder of class. 

This game is suitable for all age groups. For a younger age group I may exclude the pool noodles and every team member is required to only use their hands which would decrease the chance of injury. I may also decrease the amount of “plates”. For an older age group, I would increase the amount of both “plates” and “meatballs”, and and in extra tasks such as only being able to hop on one foot.

 

Regulations 

• Players are unable to stand on the “plates”.

• Players must only lightly tap the “meatballs” off of the “plate.

• Players must not hold the “meatballs” for an extended amount of time. 

 

Game variations and progressions 

• Teams will play a one minute game.

• Participants will switch teams and play another one minute game. 

• Players will play another game, but they must only hop on one foot the entire time. If the leader catches an individual with their foot down, they must do five jumping jacks before proceeding. 

• Lastly, players will switch teams for the final game, still remaining on one foot.

 

Debrief 

• Did you create any small strategies within your team, such as staying close to the same person or targeting a specific opposing team member?

• How did your strategy switch when you could only use one foot? Were you less inclined to move around?

• Which team was easier when you were able to use both feet? Did this change when you could only use one?

• How did the punishment of five jumping jacks affect your team?