Pyramids of Five and Six: Sharing the Load

Groups of five or six build two-level pyramids with a base of three and two flyers on top. The challenge is planning the build and teardown order so nobody carries too much.

How to play

1. Show two models on cards: "wall" (three bases in table position in a line, two flyers on all fours between them) and "fan" (center base kneeling, two side bases in table, two flyers standing on thighs) (5 min).
2. Each group decides who bases, flies and spots, and writes the climbing order on the card: bases first, then flyers one at a time (5 min).
3. Practice the wall: three full builds with a 5-second hold and teardown in reverse order (9 min).
4. Practice the fan with one spotter per flyer (9 min).
5. Each group shows its best pyramid and the class checks whether it came down in reverse order (7 min).

Rules

• Build from the bottom up and take it down from the top down, always.
• A flyer climbs only once the one before is steady and has said "Good."
• No base holds two flyers on their back at once.
• Max height: two levels, nobody standing on a back.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wrist injury: center base in the fan, kneeling with no hand support.
• Wheelchair user: directs the build, calls the climbing order and counts the holds; can be a hand-support base in the fan.
• Nervous students: the group keeps the spotter role for them until they ask to go up.

Learning goals

• Plan the build and teardown of a large pyramid.
• Share the weight evenly among the bases.
• Coordinate five or six people with a written plan.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym mats: 18
• figure cards: 6

Teacher tip

Check the order card before the first build: if the plan is off, the pyramid will be too. The usual mistake is both flyers going up at once to save time; ban it from the start.

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