Find Your Match Partner Challenges
Each student gets half of a card (half a picture, a question, or its answer) and must find the person with the other half; the new partners complete a movement challenge, then cards are reshuffled for new pairs. It mixes the group naturally, so nobody is ever picked last.
How to play
- Prepare 13 pairs of half cards: two halves of an animal, a math problem and its answer, a word and its picture (prep ahead of time).
- Hand cards out face down. On the signal, everyone looks at theirs and walks around looking for their match without showing it: they have to describe it (2 min).
- When partners find each other, they share names, check that the halves fit, and pick up a soft ball and a hoop from the center.
- They do the challenge the teacher calls: 10 tosses without a drop, both passing through the hoop while holding hands, tossing the ball into the hoop from 10 ft (3 min).
- When done, they return the equipment, the cards are shuffled, and handed out again. Play about 5 rounds with different challenges (15 min).
- If there is an odd student, they join any pair they choose as a trio.
Rules
- Do not show your card; talk and describe it.
- Search by walking or jogging gently, never running.
- Play happily with whoever matches you: no trading cards.
- Partners pick up and return the equipment together.
Variations
Easier
Use cards with big colors and pictures, and allow students to show them.
Standard
Use cards that must be described, five rounds, and a new challenge each round.
Harder
Cut cards into three parts to form trios and use harder challenges, like bounce passes while moving.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility stay in one spot and their match comes to find them; challenges are adapted to their position.
- For students with visual impairments, cards can have textures or raised shapes they recognize by touch.
- For students with autism, preview the challenges before starting and allow them to choose an alternative.
Learning goals
- Interact with classmates beyond their usual friends.
- Communicate clearly to describe and find a partner.
- Cooperate with a partner on throwing and coordination challenges.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cards: 26
- soft balls: 13
- hoops: 13
Teacher tip
This game skips the awkward moment of choosing partners; keep the cards and use them all year whenever you need to make groups.
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