Age Group: PK-5

# of Students: Minimum of 6 students, but more are welcome

Overview
Students will practice working together and race to get across the floor before the other team.

Materials
Open space

Duration: 10-15 minutes (or longer if they’re having fun!)

Instructions
1. Gather students in an open space and divide into even teams, with at least 3 people on a team.
2. Explain the game.
Instructor: “We are going to practice working together as a team and race to the finish line. This game is called Centipede Race. In your team, you will sit down in a straight line with your legs straight out in front of you. The person in front of you will be seated between your legs with their legs in front of them, and so on. and You will reach out and hold the shoulders of the person in front of you. All members of the team will be connected. You will have to work as a team and use your feet to scoot across to the finish line before the other teams. You MUST stay connected with hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you, or you start back at the beginning.”
3. Instructor will show an example of the centipede with a few students.
4.Questions?
5. Begin game

Reflection Questions:
1. Why was working as a team important in this game?
2. Did your team run into any problems?
3. If so, how did you positively communicate any concerns you had with your team?
4. Why was listening to your team’s advice important during this game?

Age Group: All

# of Students: Min- 4, Max- the more the merrier!

Overview
Students will practice working together in teams to collect as many balls as possible.

Materials
Open space; small lightweight balls, as many as possible (think dodgeballs, tennis balls, balls from a ball pit, etc)

Option #1– If you have mini rolling scooters, use those and the same number of baskets or open containers to grab balls

Option #2– If you do NOT have mini rolling scooters, use hula hoops. You will need to attach a long string to the hula hoops

Duration
10-15 minutes 

Instructions Option #1:
1. Gather students in an open space and split into 3-4 teams. Each team has a rolling scooter and a basket/container.
2. Gather all balls in the center of the room.
3. Explain the game.
Instructor: “We are going to work together in teams to gather as many balls as possible. Two members from each team will work together at one time.”
“Person #1 will lie on top of the scooter, belly down. Person #2 will grab person #1’s feet and control them on the scooter going forward or backward. Person #1 will have a basket or container in their hands. Each team will start at opposite ends of the room at their designated starting line. When I say ‘go’ each pair from each team will roll to the center of the room — person #2 controlling person #1’s feet and moves them forward and backward — and person #1 will scoop up as many balls as possible into their basket.”
“After one swipe with the basket, person #2 will roll them back to their starting line, place balls there, and roll back to the center to collect more balls. The round continues until all balls have been collected. Whichever team has the most balls at the end of each round gets a point. Continue until all players have had a chance to play. The team with the most points at the end wins.”
4. Ask for two students to demonstrate how to use the scooter.
5. Check for questions, then begin the game!
6. Explain the game. Instructor: “We are going to work together in teams to gather as many balls as possible.

Instructions Option #2:

Steps 1-3 are the same as Option #1.

Instructor: “Only one person from each team will go at a time. Each team will start at opposite ends of the room at their designated starting line. When I say ‘go’ one person from each team will run to the center of the room with their hula hoop and string. The person must throw their hula hoop into the pile of balls, scoop up as many as possible and drag them back to their starting line, holding onto the string, then run back to the center to collect more balls. The round continues until all balls have been collected.”

Whichever team has the most balls at the end of each round gets a point. We’ll keep going until all players have had a chance to play. The team with the most points at the end wins.”

4. Show a quick example of the game.
5. Questions?
6. Begin game
7. After each round, switch out players.

Reflection Questions:
1. How well did your team work together?
2. Can you demonstrate positive teamwork?
3. Why is it important to motivate one another when working on a team, rather than being negative?
4. Can positive feedback during a team activity make your team do better?

Age Group: 3-5

# of Students: Min- 4, Max- the more the merrier! Ideal with even number of students.

Overview
Students will practice working together and race in a relay to get across the floor the fastest.

Materials
Open space, bandana or scarf for 3-legged race, a ball (beach ball, dodgeball, etc.) for beach ball race

Duration
15+ minutes

Instructions
1. Gather students in an open space and divide into even teams of at least two players. The teams should have an even number of students as 2 students at a time from each team will race.
2. Have students line up behind one another in their teams at one side of the room.
3. Explain the game.

Instructor: “We are going to practice working together as a team and race to the finish line in a series of relay races. You will work with one other person from your team at a time.”

To begin, I will say what type of relay race we are doing. You will then partner up in twos as you go down the line (person #1 and #2 are partners, person #3 and #4 are partners, and so on) from each team. When I say ‘Go,’ you and your partner, starting with the first set, will race across the room. Once the first set of partners reach the finish line, then the next set will go. We’ll keep going until all members of the team have made it to the other side of the room and sat down.”

4. Show an example of each relay race style with another instructor or student:

• Wheelbarrow race (Person #1 walks on their hands while the person #2 grabs person #1’s ankles and lifts their legs.
• Back-to-Back (both partners go back to back and link arms)
• 3 legged race (partners must attach and secure their inside legs with a bandana or scarf to create 3 legs
• Leapfrog (One partner crouches down and the other does a straddle jump over them, pushing their hands onto their partner’s back as they jump over them. Then that partner crouches and the other jumps.)
• Beach Ball (Partners hold a ball between them in any way they can. If the ball drops, they pick it up and continue where it dropped)

5. Questions?
6. Begin game, starting with one relay race. After each round, pick another race.

Note: You may decide if the relay goes to the other side of the room until all team members meet or if the race goes down and back to the starting line.

Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it important to motivate your team throughout this game?
2. Provide an example of how you motivated your team.
3. If you had a suggestion for your team, how did you express your suggestion positively?

Age Group: PreK-5

# of Students: Min- 2, Max- the more the merrier!

Overview
Students will practice working together to keep a ball in the air.

Materials
Open space; a light, airy ball (beach ball or balloon)

Duration
10-15 minutes (or longer if they’re having fun!)

Instructions
1. Gather students in an open space.
2. Explain the game.
Instructor: “We are going to work together to keep a ball (or balloon) in the air. Let’s count and see how long we can keep it from touching the ground. Once it falls, we have to start over.”
3. Show an example of the game with a few students.
4. Questions?
5. Begin game
6. After a few rounds:

• PreK – 2nd: Help students brainstorm strategies (stand closer together, etc.)
• For 3rd-5th: Ask students if they can create different strategies to keep the ball in the air longer and to work together. For another challenge, try to add another balloon/ball. How many can be in the air at once?
  
  

Reflection Questions:
1. How did you work as a group to keep the balloon in the air?
2. What was difficult about the game?
3. How did it feel when you had to start over? What did you change for the next round?

Age Group: 3-5

# of Students: Min- 2, Max- the more the merrier!

Overview
Students will practice collaboration and working together as they build something with random objects.

Materials 
Open space, tables for student workspaces, random art objects (straws, tape, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, string etc).

Duration
30+ minutes 

Instructions
1. Group students into two large groups, 3 medium sized groups, or 4-5 smaller groups. Make sure each group has room at a table to work and sit.
2. Decide on the materials to be used in the game. They can be preselected or the players can just make use out of what objects are in the room and pass them out to each team. (The same number and amount of objects should be given to each team).
3. Decide what each team will be building and what materials they can use (ex: a tower out of marshmallows and toothpicks.)
4. Explain the game.
Instructor: “We are going to work together in teams to build [an object] with the materials given in the next [15 minutes.] The first team who finishes or who has the better design will win — we will test your design at the end of the time.”
Note: The instructor can give anywhere from 10-15 minutes to 25-30 minutes.
5. Questions?
6. Set the timer and let the teams begin!
7. Begin game
8. In the case of a tie, consider a “lightning round” where teams must add onto their creation or build a completely new object in a shorter amount of time.

Variations/Things to Consider

• The overall goal can be adjusted, so teams can build a certain object—like a fort, build something functional—like a chair, or simply build the tallest building.
• If playing outside, players can use natural objects like branches, leaves, or sand to build their creations.
• Provide a shorter amount of time to increase competitiveness.
• For additional challenges, consider adding blindfolds or allowing teams to build with only their left hands, etc.

Reflection Questions
1. What was the hardest thing about this activity? What would have helped your group?
2. How did you work together as a team to create your building? (Were parts assigned? etc.)
3. What would you add to the game to make it easier or harder?
4. Did any groups struggle? If so, why?

Age Group: 3-5

# of Students: Min- 6, Max – the more the merrier!

Overview
Students will practice working together by lowering a lightweight object to the ground.

Materials
Open space, thin dowel rod OR lightweight hula hoops (one for each group of 6-8 people) OR straws taped together (about 6-8 feet long)

Duration
10-15 minutes (or longer if they’re having fun!)

Instructions
1. Gather students in an open space and split into teams. (You’ll need at least six people per team to make it work, but more than eight or nine might get cumbersome.)
2. Explain the game.
Instructor: “We are going to work together to lower this dowel rod (or hula hoop) to the ground. We have ONE condition. We must hold the stick using the index finger of each hand of each person placed UNDER the stick. We then will lower it to the ground as a team.”
“Every team member has to keep both index fingers in constant contact with the stick at all times. If even a single team member loses contact, the team has to start over at chest height again.”
“The stick can only be resting on the index fingers. So team members can’t wrap a finger over the top of the stick or slide fingernails over the stick, etc.” (They can’t force the stick down.)
“Every team member must be standing and the starting point is at chest height of the tallest person. No starting at knee height!”
“Remember, the goal is to lower the stick to the ground.”
3. Questions?
4. Begin game

Instructor Notes
Once the teams begin to touch the stick, the challenge will present itself pretty quickly. The stick is so light that the up-force from each of the fingers trying to stay in contact is greater than the weight of the stick. The result? Immediately, the stick will begin to rise. Some team members will try to coach the others by giving verbal instructions like, “No, let’s go down!”

When that doesn’t work, they will get more vocal. After they struggle a while, take a break and ask the team to form a plan based on their past experience. Eventually, the teams will start to figure out the secret to getting the activity to work. This is a fantastic team building game that will let you draw lots of conclusions about verbal vs. non-verbal communication; the difference between loud, vocal “leaders” and those who lead by example; and more. Have fun with this team building activity!

Reflection Questions:
1. As a group, what challenges did you face when trying to lower the object? What would have made it easier?
2. How did you decide what changes needed to be made?
3. How did you feel when you were successful?