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Fair Play or Not? Stretch to Answer

The teacher reads game situations and students answer with a stretch: arms reaching up for fair play, a slow forward fold toward the toes for not fair; then the class briefly discusses each case. It blends the final stretches with reflection on sportsmanship.

PhaseCool-down
Duration7 min
Ages7–12
SpaceAny space
EquipmentScenario cards
IntensityLow

How to play

  1. Have students stand spread out, an arm's length apart, facing you (30 sec).
  2. Explain the two answers: fair play means reaching both arms to the sky on tiptoe; not fair means folding slowly toward the toes with knees slightly bent (30 sec).
  3. Read the first card, for example 'I touch the ball with my hand and admit it even though nobody saw'; everyone answers with the stretch and holds it for a count of eight (30 sec).
  4. Ask one or two students to explain their answer and suggest what we could do better in each case (30 sec per card).
  5. Repeat with about seven more cards, mixing clear and tricky situations: celebrating by mocking others, passing to someone who never gets the ball, arguing with the referee (4 min).
  6. Finish with a free-choice stretch and a deep breath while each student thinks about which card has happened to them (1 min).

Rules

Variations

Easier

Use only very clear situations and simple standing stretches.

Standard

Eight cards with clear and tricky situations and a short discussion of each.

Harder

Add a third answer, 'it depends', shown with a side bend; anyone who chooses it must explain what it depends on.

Adaptations

Learning goals

Equipment for a class of 25

Teacher tip

Write cards based on situations that really happened in your classes, but without names. Tricky situations spark the best discussions, so don't rush to give the right answer.

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