Pass the Pencil Case: Row-by-Row Relay

Each row of desks is a team that passes a pencil case from front to back and back again with harder and harder passes, first seated and then standing. It works on coordination, communication and cooperation.

How to play

1. Explain the route: the pencil case goes from the first to the last desk in the row and back (2 min).
2. Seated: pass overhead going back and to the side coming forward (3 min).
3. Standing by the chair: pass through the legs going back and with a trunk twist coming forward (3 min).
4. Conditional pass: left hand only, or the receiver has eyes closed and is guided by voice (4 min).
5. Final challenge: each row invents a pass and another row tries it (3 min).

Rules

• Hand it over, never throw it.
• If it drops, pick it up and continue from there.
• Rows race their own time, not each other.
• Backpacks out of the aisle.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: pass with a verbal cue and hand contact.
• Wheelchair users: always pass to the side or at chest height.
• Students with back problems: skip the through-the-legs pass and pass to the side.

Learning goals

• Coordinate handing off and receiving.
• Communicate so the pass doesn't fail.
• Cooperate to improve the team's time.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pencil cases: 6

Teacher tip

If rows have different numbers of students, the shortest row does an extra lap. Use soft, zipped pencil cases so nothing spills.

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