Map Conquest Team Challenge

The field becomes a map of 16 territories, and each team tries to conquer as many as possible by beating each territory's fitness challenge. Captured territories can be won back by beating the other team's score, so students build fitness, strategy and team planning.

How to play

1. Split the field into a 4-by-4 grid of territories marked with cones. Put a challenge card face down in each, such as "whole-team plank for 30 seconds" or "partner wheelbarrow side to side" (4 min).
2. Make 5 teams of 5; each has a cone color and starts with one edge territory already captured.
3. Teams can only attack a territory touching one of their own. The team moves together, flips the card, completes it and leaves its colored cone.
4. Time or rep scores are written on the card. To take a territory from another team, you must beat that score, timed by the teacher (18 min).
5. Every 6 minutes, take a one-minute break to study the map and plan the next move.
6. At the end, count territories, and each team explains its strategy (4 min).

Rules

• Teams always move together, and everyone does the challenge.
• No attacking a territory while another team is on it, or one recaptured less than 3 minutes ago.
• Sloppy form doesn't count.
• Keep your head up when running so you don't collide with other teams.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: each card includes an adapted version, such as throws or upper-body exercises, and the student can be the captain in charge of strategy.
• Autism: give the team a paper map of the grid and give advance notice of each break and of the end.
• Fitness level: scored challenges use the whole team's total, so each student contributes at their own level.

Learning goals

• Plan a team strategy to reach a goal.
• Complete strength, endurance and speed challenges with good form.
• Accept the rules and the outcome when winning or losing territories.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 25
• colored cones: 50
• challenge cards: 16
• markers: 5
• stopwatch: 1

Teacher tip

Put the toughest challenges in the center so teams don't crowd there, and keep the stopwatch yourself to avoid arguments.

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