Cooperative games kids pe

Feel free to play some Jaws -themed music too! Another team building activity that I have done is called Buddy Walking. Everyone will have a good laugh; and, to be quite honest, being able to laugh together is another great way to bond! I liked to use the Team Walker Sets from Gopher for this activity. The idea is to get students to think, communicate, and walk as a group from Point A to Point B. Some students will take charge and lead their group in a cadenced march, while others will struggle to work together.

Again, this is why debriefing is crucial! It will allow students to hear success stories! Geocaching or treasure hunting is an activity that can be done in small groups or as a whole class and can be a tremendous amount of fun!

You are in control of how complex you would like to make this adventurous lesson. The units range in cost and complexity, so pick what you feel comfortable using and teaching! I have done this as a search-and-rescue mission utilizing clues that they must follow to get to a specific destination. Along the way as they get to each clue, I like to add different exercises that they must complete as a group before moving onto the next clue.

A word of caution, this is not the best thing to do within the halls of your school, it can be a little loud! Shop Geocaching supplies. My last suggestion, and I still use this at the high school level, is a counting game. I call it team counting, and I would say this is better for your upper elementary students.

There is no equipment necessary and you can use it inside or outside! If you have a class of 20 students, the idea is for the class to count from 1 to 20, but each student is allowed to call out only one number. Depending on the class, this task can be done quickly or it may take them 10 minutes or they may never get it. The hint I use is that once a student has secured a number that they called out, they should always be the person to call that number.

Again, debriefing with your class at the end is crucial, because you can talk about different strategies and how they as a class worked together to solve a tricky problem. I know the thought is to use team building activities for students at the beginning of the year and I agree it is important, but I would al o gauge your classes throughout the year.

I know when I taught elementary school PE, there were times in the year when I pulled these back out because I felt it was necessary to get everyone back together. This is especially true as they get older because hormones kick in, friendships form, and sometimes you can tell classes are excluding some kids.

Also, try adding additional objects of different shapes or sizes to be passed, so that more children are actively involved. Balloon Bop: Players children and adults stand in a circle—holding hands. A balloon is dropped into the circle and players see how many times they can tap the balloon into the air without losing connection everyone in the circle must continue holding hands. This will require that the circle move and players work cooperatively to keep the balloon in the air.

Players may contact the balloon with hands, arms, heads, shoulders, chests, or knees—but not feet. If the balloon falls to the ground or is touched by feet, start the count over. Teaching Tip: Try teaching balloon-tapping skills with children in pairs. Use interactive modeling to teach and practice light and gentle tapping of the balloon. She was assistant head of the lower school at the University School of Nashville for nine years. Your email address will not be published.

Share this I will definitely use this type of cooperative games in my class. This game is better suited to children at the upper grade-school level say, third grade and up. To make it more challenging, add a second or third balloon. Earlier versions of this game supplied each team with a box of plastic straws, with which they would then build a cushioning device.

No verbal communication or hand signals are allowed during play. If a player breaks this rule, he or she is disqualified, and their place is taken by one of the observers. Once everyone in the round has made eye contact and give up their place in the circle, switch teams until all the observers have had a chance to play as well.

Spaceteam In this game recommended for older children, ages 10 and up , players are tasked with repairing a damaged spacecraft while dodging asteroids and wormholes along the way.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here. Cooperative Games for Kids Everyone likes to win at games, especially young children who might have not yet learned to take minor losses in stride. First, use cones or other stationary markers to create a circle, and place one player at each marker.

Place a Nerf football or any soft object in the center of the circle. First, split students into teams of 4 or 6, depending on the size of the class and the number of playing surfaces you have on hand.

Give each team a playing surface old sheets and tablecloths are preferred. Have each team lay out their playing surface on the floor.

Divide players up into teams of four to six, depending on group size. Scatter a total of five bean bags for each team across the playing surface. Caterpillar Note that players should be comfortable doing a forward roll before attempting this activity.

Line up each team, single file, and have each player pass their right hand through their own legs before reaching out their left hands to take the right hand of the person in front of them. The player in front will still have a free left hand, while the rear player has a free right hand. Rope Circle Divide players into groups of two. Have one partner tie a jump rope loosely around their own wrists one end on the right wrist, one on the left.

The players should then attempt to separate from one another without untying the ropes or freeing themselves from their own circles. Ball Builders Divide players into groups of two or three.

Assign one player on each team to be the holder, and the rest to be the builders. The objective is to see how many tennis balls the holder can hold on to at one time, without using their pockets or any other article of clothing. Additionally, the balls cannot be touching anything aside from each other and the holder, and must be held for at least 10 seconds. Players are welcome to switch roles after a few attempts. Crossing the River This game can be played with groups of two to five participants, depending on age group.

The smaller the group, the more challenging the game becomes. In order to cross, they must move as a group without breaking this contact.

Shipwrecked Divide players into teams of eight to 10 students apiece, and assign a large hoop to each team. Note that all team members must be touching the ship at all times during this portion of play. The first team to get every player on board earns one point, and the first team to cross the finish line earns two points. Knots To play this game, divide players into teams of six, and have each team form a circle. All hands must remain joined until the team is standing in a circle, or in two intertwined circles.

Frenzy This is a fun way for students to let out pent-up energy on a rainy day. Invite players to scatter across the playing area the gymnasium is the preferred venue.

Next, toss out as many balls or balloons as there are players. To begin, split the class into teams of at least 5 try to stick with odd-numbered teams. Have all players form a circle, facing one another. The next player repeats this step, and so on and so forth, until the ball returns to the starting player.

Once this happens, have the players attempt to pass the ball in the same sequence as before. Once a rhythm has been established, continue by adding more balls to the circle. Birds of a Feather In advance, make up a series of index cards printed with the names of various animals two for each animal you choose.

Be sure that each creature has a distinctive sound that children will likely be familiar with. To play, have each student draw a card from the pile.

Turn them loose in a safe playing field, encouraging them to keep their eyes closed during play. Have them imitate their designated animal, repeating the sounds until they locate the student who shares the same animal. Once this happens, the pair is welcome to open their eyes. The game is over when all of the pairs have been matched up. Amoeba Advance This game requires splitting the class up into two equal teams.

When both teams have formed their makeshift amoebas, blow a whistle to signify the start of play. The teams will then attempt to make it to the finish line without breaking up the group.

If the amoeba should dissolve during the attempt, the team must repair itself before it can move forward. Magnificent Marbles In advance, designate a large circle to serve as the giant marble ring. Place three or four partially deflated beach balls and an equal number of smaller targets like multicolored poly spots within the playing circle.

To begin play, have ready a supply of bean bags.