Each Team Invents a Station

In teams of four or five, children choose three kinds of equipment, build a play station, test it and show it to the class; then everyone goes around the circuit they created together and each team puts its own equipment away. It works on movement creativity, team agreement and independence in setting up and cleaning up.

How to play

1. Form teams of four or five; each team picks three kinds of equipment from storage and carries them to its spot (3 min).
2. Build the station: decide what to do (jump, go around, go under) and try it out (4 min).
3. Each team demonstrates and explains its station's rule (3 min).
4. The whole class goes around the circuit in teams, switching stations on the teacher's signal (5 min).
5. Each team takes down its station and returns every item to its place in storage (3 min).

Rules

• We use only three kinds of equipment.
• Everyone shares an idea and we try one.
• What we take out, we put away.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the team makes sure the station works for a wheelchair.
• Autism: a picture card with the steps (choose, build, show, play, clean up).
• Different skill levels: each station has an easy way and a hard way, suggested by the team.

Learning goals

• Create a game idea with just a few items.
• Reach agreement as a team.
• Set up and put away equipment independently.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 12
• cones: 16
• ropes: 8
• plastic poles: 8

Teacher tip

Set one safety rule before starting: nothing up high and nobody climbs on anything. If a team gets stuck arguing, help with "First we try ____'s idea, then ____'s."

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