Co-operative Games - UBC Blogs



centercenter Co-operative GamesPhysical Activities to Promote Team Building and TrustTanya WinshipPhysical EducationUnit Plan00 Co-operative GamesPhysical Activities to Promote Team Building and TrustTanya WinshipPhysical EducationUnit PlanRationaleThis collection has been put together as a resource, building towards a Unit Plan for my upcoming practicum. My experience thus far in P.E. is that my students are highly competitive and do not work well as a team. In team games, students prefer to be on teams with students of similar ability in order to dominate the game. While this is acceptable when teaching skills, such as the development of movement skills associated with volleyball, in whole class games, it can become a problem. For my practicum, I have decided to teach a unit on co-operative and team building games in order to encourage students to work together and identify the strengths of their classmates. When looking for resources for this unit, I came to the conclusion that, while some very good, not all of them were practical or what I would consider to be a game that would promote positive behaviour and interaction. Some resources, for example, suggested that dodgeball was a “co-operative game.” My argument to this is that not all games in which students are divided into “teams” should be considered team games with the spirit of truly working together. It was my goal, therefore, to examine a selection of co-operative games and evaluate them for the specific use of incorporating them into my unit. I came to the conclusion that this would be a valuable resource to be used in my practicum class, but also in my future teaching endeavors. The collection that follows consists of team building exercises and co-operative games that I feel have value and merit. Each game in this collection provides a detailed description that includes the rationale for that specific game, the necessary equipment, safety notes, and rules and instructions. Of particular importance for my practicum is the inclusion of adaptations and considerations specific to my practicum class. This collection will be shared with the cohort and they can fill this section in with their own comments and concerns about the activity and their individual class. This will also be helpful for me as I continue in my own teaching.3323968-55605Each game will receive its own lesson. I will begin with teaching warm-up games and then use the warm-up games as part of the warm-up for subsequent lessons. We will then move to cooperative team building activities. Finally, we will play some team games adapted from popular sports, applying our team building and cooperative skills. Finally, as a culmination we will play ‘Capture the Flag.’00Each game will receive its own lesson. I will begin with teaching warm-up games and then use the warm-up games as part of the warm-up for subsequent lessons. We will then move to cooperative team building activities. Finally, we will play some team games adapted from popular sports, applying our team building and cooperative skills. Finally, as a culmination we will play ‘Capture the Flag.’-136525188658500-3892555388610002937510404622000Unit PlanLesson Plan #1Title: Blob TagType of Game: Whole ClassTime Required: 10-20 minutesRationale“Blob Tag” is a twist on the traditional game of tag. Students are not separated by who is it and who is not because students work co-operatively as a group. This game is a great way to get students warmed up and moving. Required SuppliesSafety NotesA space at least 20’ by 20’Students need to be careful of their pace and recognize that they are all linked.Specified space limits. Description1. Choose someone as “IT”2. IT starts the game as regular tag, but when he catches someone, they must join hands with IT to create a large Blob3. Once the Blob has 6 people, it can split into groups of three only, and may split into groups of three any time thereafter4. The person left without being tagged, is IT and the game starts againAdaptation and ApplicationSeveral students in my class may not like to be touched. Think of ways that the “blob” can move without joining hands (i.e. linking arms). Reinforce the idea of co-operation. Pace is extremely important to the blob, they must work together!Source: Lesson Plan #2Title: Turn & RotateType of Game: Small Groups (of 3-4)Time Required: 15-20 minutesRationaleThis is a great warm up game that gets students moving and focuses on a variety of movement skills. The co-operative nature of this game is founded on the principle that no student is ever “out” and all students may continue the game. Students also work in groups to act out the commands. No penalty for mess-ups, there will be plenty, just keep encouraging and positive feedback.?Required SuppliesSafety NotesMusic (good beat to walk to)Space to move freelyStudents should be grouped with people they are comfortable with in order to support individuals who may not wish to come into physical contact with others. DescriptionAs music is playing students are walking single file in groups or 3-4.? Teacher calls out commands and the groups must keep moving while completing the challenge.? Turn?= turn and go the opposite direction.Rotate?= back person speeds up and walks to front of line, all keep walking.Scramble?= leave your group and walk around gym.Fall In?= find your group, get in line and continue walking.Dive?= front person goes to back.Backwards?= everyone walks backwards.Under the Bridge?= first two people make bridge (hands up facing each other) and the rest continuously pass through.Round and Round?= join hands and circle around.Forward?= everyone walks forward.Twist and Turn?= walk, turn around one time, continue walking.Change Up?= change line order while walking.Find a new friend?= introduce yourself to someone new while scrambling.Your creation?= give group 1-2 minutes to create a new challenge, perform it when teacher calls out “your creation”.Adaptation and ApplicationI have actually removed some of the commands to suit my class better. More may be added or removed. I would probably start with 3 or 4 commands and build up to this many commands, also taking suggestions from the students. Source: Plan #3Title: Sharks & MinnowsType of Game: Whole Class (2 teams)Time Required: 15-20 minutesRationaleThis game is another adaptation of tag that allows students to work together. Like Blob Tag, the person who is it gains help from the people he or she tags. They then work together as a team to “catch” all the “minnows.”Required SuppliesSafety NotesSpace, preferably with marked linesStudents must respect boundaries and personal space.Students are ONLY allowed to use their hands to tag others, particularly the helpers who are not allowed to trip someone.Because the helpers will not be moving, they must be careful of their surroundings and not knock someone running over (and vice versa).DescriptionChoose a volunteer from the group to be a shark.??Then split the rest of the group into two sections.??One group lined across the width of the gym, also lined up.??The groups should be facing one another and the shark should be in the middle. You should also set up sideline boundaries to prevent cheating.??When the sharks says swim both groups run across to the other side trying not to get tagged by the shark.??If a person is tagged then he/she stops where he/she is and stands still.??Now they become the shark’s helpers.???They cannot move their feet, but they can reach with their arms to try and tag the other minnows (the people running across).??Once everybody is either across to the other side or tagged, then the shark says swim again.??The shark and his helpers tag more people.??This continues until there is one person left.??This person becomes the new shark.??Adaptation and ApplicationThis game connects to the Rock, Paper, Scissors scrimmage game. I might teach both games in the same lesson or use these as warm-up activities. As the safety notes point out, rules would need to be established re: tagging (where can someone be tagged, how, etc.).Source: Plan #4Title: Travelling TrainType of Game: Whole Class (or small groups)Time Required: 10-20 minutesRationaleThis is a co-operative exercise in which students work as a class (or in small groups) to manipulative themselves. It also focuses on locomotor skills such as walking and running at varied paces. Students must contribute to group success. This game is a good way to warm up and get students moving. Required SuppliesSafety NotesDrum (or music)SpaceBecause students are moving as a group, they need to be aware of how they are connected and how their individual movements affect the group.Appropriate space is needed so students can move freelyDescriptionHave each child hold on to the waist of the person in front of them, forming a train. Beat a drum to set various train speeds. Have the train move forward slowly, then faster. Stop the train, then have it slowly back up. The goal is for the train to stay in one piece and avoid crashes.Adaptation and ApplicationDo students have to put their hands on someone’s waist? An alternative could be to touch the person’s shoulder. As the teacher, set the music as to avoid collisions or crashes. I would probably have several small groups going at the same time (possibly 6-8 students/group).Source: Plan #5Title: Pass the BallType of Game: Whole ClassTime Required: 10-20 minutesRationaleThis is a simply ice-breaker game meant to build a team mentality and begin to look at problem solving. For a new class, this would be a great way to get to know students’ names. This game also involves memorization and passing skills. Required SuppliesSafety NotesSmall ball (no bigger than a tennis ball)The ball will begin by being thrown. All students need to pay attention at all times and be cautious that the ball may come to them.DescriptionBegin in a circle with a ball. The teacher should then start the game by throwing the ball to a random student. When the ball is thrown they must say the recipient’s name. That student would then throw to someone else until everyone has had the ball. The ball then gets returned to the leader (or teacher)No student should receive the ball more than once. Variations: Reverse order (remember who threw it to you, who you threw to); Pass as quickly as possible (can you beat your time); are there other ways that everyone can touch the ball so that the time can improve (i.e. not throwing, re-arranging group, etc.)Adaptation and ApplicationI would definitely consider moving into the variations for an extra challenge. Students could also do this in small groups and compare and contrast how their ideas compared to other groups’. Source: UBC Ropes CourseLesson Plan #6Title: Hula Hoop GameType of Game: Whole Class or Small Groups Time Required: 10-20 minutesRationaleThis game is a good warm-up activity designed to encourage students to work co-operatively and work as a team. Different ideas or suggestions may be tried in order to improve time. All students should have the opportunity to speak. Required SuppliesSafety NotesTimerHula Hoop (one per group)Because students will be joined, they must be cautious of how their individual movements may affect the group.Encourage students to be supportive of others’ ideas. Description- Have students hold hands and put a hula- hoop around a person’s arm. - Try and get the hula-hoop around the circle without letting go of hands. Do for time. Set goal and try to meet it. Adaptation and ApplicationI would begin in small groups and move towards doing this activity as a whole class. I would only introduce the timing aspect as a way to improve ourselves, not as a competitive element. Considerations would need to be made for size discrepancies as I have a split class. Source: Lesson Plan #7Title: Cross the RiverType of Game: Small Groups (of 6-8)Time Required: 30-45 minutesRationaleThis is a great game to help develop stability and locomotor skills, but also to encourage students to work as a team and co-operate to solve a common problem. The game asks students to think critically about their decisions before they make them, prompting students to make educated and well-thought out decisions in other aspects of school. Required SuppliesSafety NotesSpace to cross (lines of a gym or field)4 mats per group (depending on size)Students may not be comfortable touching others, so students should be briefed on what is acceptable. Increase the number of mats or decrease the number of people per group to encourage students to feel comfortable. DescriptionEach group has to get their entire team across the river. If anyone touches the water, the entire group must start again.Luckily the students have been given four magic lily pads that float only when in contact with a person. If they are let go of they will float down river and it is impossible to get them back.Everyone needs to get to the other side. Adaptation and ApplicationI would probably choose to play either this or Titanic as they are similar. Alternatively one could be an extension of the other. I need to look at my gym in order to determine the exact number of mats needed.Source: and Team Building Exercise (as cohort) – UBC Ropes CourseLesson Plan #8Title: TitanicType of Game: Whole ClassTime Required: 30-45 minutesRationaleThis is a variation of the game “Cross the River” (also included in this package). Students must use locomotor skills such as stability, walking, twisting, and bending. It is a co-operative game because the students must work as a team to complete a common goal. Problem solving will play an extremely important role.Required SuppliesSafety Notes2 benches (“ships”)Any number of hula hoops (see description) – possibly 2-10Students must be aware of personal space and remember the rules at all time.Only one student should be in a “lifeboat” at one time. DescriptionPrior to the activity, two objects or places on the floor need to be designated, one as the Titanic and the other as the rescue ship. Suggestion: use 2 or 4 benches for each ship because it allows students to physically be on a “ship,” making the game more realistic. In the game, students are passengers on the Titanic and just like in real life, the student's Titanic has hit an iceberg and is rapidly sinking. The object of the game is for all the students to escape from the Titanic to the rescue ship, using the lifeboats (hula hoops) to cross the freezing water (the gym floor). The only way to be in the freezing water is to be inside a lifeboat and once there is someone inside a lifeboat, it cannot be moved. Students are not allowed to touch the freezing water outside of the lifeboats and anyone who does so is sent back to the Titanic to start over again. This is all the information students should be given. To stimulate problem solving, students should be given the opportunity to discover how to travel from the Titanic to the rescue ship. There is, of course, only one way. Students must travel in the lifeboats in a rotating fashion, therefore needing a minimum of 2 lifeboats to travel. To travel, an empty lifeboat must be placed in front. Without touching the freezing water, students move forward and inside the front lifeboat. The rear lifeboat, that should now be empty, is then picked up, passed, and moved to become the new front lifeboat and the process in repeated. Depending upon the ages and number of students, there can any number of lifeboats.?With fewer lifeboats there is more problem solving as students must decide who will travel to the rescue ship first. However, with enough lifeboats for all the students to fit into there is more cooperation and teamwork when moving forward and passing the rear lifeboat to the front. I recommend trying the game with your students several times, each time using a different number of lifeboats to generate a discussion and reflection of strategy, strengths and weaknesses, and what could have been done differently each time.?Adaptation and ApplicationI would probably choose to play either this or Cross the River as they are similar. Alternatively one could be an extension of the other. If I was playing with the entire class, they would certainly need more than 2 hula hoops. Source: Plan #9Title: PopcornType of Game: Whole Class or Small GroupsTime Required: 20-30 minutesRationaleThis would be a good game to introduce the theme of problem solving within co-operative games. Students must practice their passing skills and work together towards a common goal. Required SuppliesSafety NotesBucket of various balls (10-20 balls)This game has few “rules” so be prepared to get creative as the game goes on.Students should be aware that there are balls that are being moved and that this can be a dangerous situation.DescriptionTake a bucket of balls and spread them out. The object is to get all the balls returned back to the bucket, but students can’t move with them. If they have a ball in their hand then you can’t move their feet from the spot. Time students to see how long it takes to get all the balls back into the bin. Try to improve their time every time.Adaptation and ApplicationStudents may need some brainstorming to discuss potential ways to move the balls. Although this is a problem solving activity, certain rules would need to be established (for example, can’t throw balls)Source: Plan #10Title: 4 Corner SoccerType of Game: Teams of 5-6Time Required: 45 minutesRationaleThis game allows students to work not only with their own team, but other teams. A variation of soccer, it builds on striking and passing skills. Students may form coalitions to work co-operatively with other teams to score points. Required SuppliesSafety NotesFour “nets” (benches)Soccer ballAll students will be on the court at once so extra attention should be made to playing safely and sharing the space. Be careful of flying balls!DescriptionFour teams are made up of 6 players each (this can be modified to accommodate different sized groups). Each team needs one captain and one goalie and each team is also assigned a color. Each team is given a ball which is painted with their "team color."??The goalie of each team wears a belt with three flags of the "team's color." When a goal is scored against a goalie, a flag is removed from the goalie's belt and is given to the captain of the team which scored (indicated by the color of the ball that went through the goal). The winner of the game is the team that first receives a flag from every one of the other teams. Because defense is as important as offense, the game can be played until all but one of the team captains has every color.?Adaptation and ApplicationThis is a game my students actually are familiar with and love to play. We don’t use flags in our game. Instead when a team is scored on, the team sits out until only one team remains. To ensure that students aren’t inactive for too long, the teacher may call “Jailbreak” and all teams are back in play. I might introduce the flags as a variation though. Source: Plan #11Title: Moon BallType of Game: Small Groups (of 6)Time Required: 15-25 minutesRationaleThis game may be used to help develop volleyball skills such as bumping, setting, or passing. Because each student must pass the hit the ball in order, all students are included in the game. Students must also work as a team to ensure the ball does not touch the ground. Required SuppliesSafety NotesFour Volleyballs or Beach ballsSpace (inside or outside)TimerSoft balls should be used to ensure that students are not hurt should the ball hit them. Students must remember their turn and act appropriately on their turn.Encourage students to support each other rather than use negative comments if a student misses the ball. DescriptionFour teams with six players on each team.? The games are usually played on volleyball courts, two teams per court.? Players number off 1-6.? The first player is holding the ball.?The first player on each court starts the game by hitting the ball into the air and calling "one."? The other players, in numbered order, attempt to keep the ball from touching the ground.? Once the player hits the ball they may not hit it again until their next turn.? Anytime the ball hits the ground, is hit out of turn, or is caught, play stops and the score is given.? This is the total to try to beat next time.Adaptation and ApplicationGroup students of equal ability levels together. Adapt the game to lower ability levels by allowing them to move the ball in other ways (rolling, passing, etc.) Higher levels could add a net as an extra challenge. Source: Plan #12Title: Roll With ItType of Game: Small Groups (of 4-6)Time Required: 10-20 minutesRationaleThis game helps develop basketball skills such as passing and dribbling. It also encourages teamwork because each team member must contribute. There is no competitive aspect to this game as students are not timed, but students should be encouraged to improve their accuracy to decrease time spent between each leader.Required SuppliesSafety NotesBasketball“Roll With It” by Stevie WonderMusic systemBe careful when passing the ball. Only use passes that you are comfortable with. Control the ball at all time.Leave enough space to pass and to ensure all students are comfortable, particularly when rolling the ball. DescriptionDivide the class into small teams.? Each team forms a straight line.? A ball is given to the leader of each line.? When the song begins, the leader starts the game by passing the ball to the person behind him/her.? The passing continues until the ball reaches the last person.? He/She dribbles the ball to the front of the line and begins passing again.? The teacher determines which type of pass the students are to perform.? While the students are passing the ball they must listen to the music.? Whenever the chorus of the song (Roll with it baby) comes on, the students must spread their legs shoulder width apart and begin rolling the ball on the floor.? The ball should travel to the last person who in turn dribbles the ball back to the front.? When the chorus stops, the students begin passing again.Adaptation and ApplicationTeach dribbling skills prior to this lesson. Brainstorm ways we could pass the ball. As the teacher, pay attention to when the chorus is played. Source: Plan #13Title: Capture the FlagType of Game: Whole Class (2 teams)Time Required: 45 minutRationaleAlthough this game may seem competitive, students must work as a team to complete the task. All of the team members must return to their home base in order to win. If students are captured by the other team, they need to be rescued by their team, thus ensuring the team works together. Required SuppliesSafety NotesOutdoor spaceTwo “flags”Because this game is played outdoors, certain considerations must be made.Clear boundaries must be set and students are to adhere to boundaries or the game will be called off. If at all possible, extra supervision would be helpful.DescriptionDivide your group into 2 teams; you also need to divide your playing area into 2 equal parts. (We use a field for the younger youth and the entire camp ground for the older youth). Each team has to designate an area to be used as a "jail" which can be guarded from 5 feet away. Each team also has to hide their flag from the other team. If a player from team A crosses onto Team B’s side, then a member of Team B can tag the member of team A.??The Team A member is then put into jail.???Players can also rush or storm the opposite by running over the line to try and find the flag -- but if you get tagged -- off to jail you go.??People in jail can be rescued by their teammates if their teammate makes it safely to jail.??Once she/he does they lock arms with the jailed teammate and walk back safely to the other side.?They cannot be tagged by their opponent if their arms are linked.??Once a team member has picked up the flag and stands still he/she cannot be tagged.??Only when they begin to run can they be tagged out. Then they must drop the flag where they were tagged and does not move from that spot. After the opposite team's flag has reached its opponents side--the game is finished.Adaptation and ApplicationThis game would most likely come at the end of my unit. I would ask my SA to help facilitate this game and if the SEA is available, ask her to join us. A lot of scaffolding re: boundaries and safety is necessary. This could be a fun game, but students need to respect the rules and remember that they need to work as a team.Source: Games provides an excellent opportunity to assess students in a variety of ways. Using the assessment triangle, students will be assessed based on their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor involvement. My co-operative games unit will teach my students to work together in groups and to come up with solutions as a team. Students must learn to listen to all team members, try new ideas, and be respect and cooperative. ?The objectives for this unit are as follows:Psychomotor:?Students will be able to demonstrate how to use the equipment properly and safely. Students will be able to work in a team and add successfully to the team's attempt to accomplish a common goal.Cognitive:?Students will be able to explain how their team reached their goal and what changes they could have made. Students will also be able to make meaningful and thoughtful contributions to the group’s progress.Affective:?Students will be able to work cooperatively in a group and be respectful. Students will remember that they are to work as a team and that competition is not the goal of each game. ................
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