Resource Market: Trade and Fill the Order

Four teams gather colored clothespins from mines around the schoolyard and trade them at a central market to complete order cards. It blends continuous running, negotiation and resource management.

How to play

1. Setup: four mines in the corners (a box of clothespins in a single color each), a central market of two hoops and each team's base in a hoop (4 min).
2. Explanation: each order card asks for a mix of colors; each mine trip lets you carry just one clothespin, and your corner mine's color isn't enough (3 min).
3. Round 1: teams collect and trade clothespins at the market, one runner at a time, at their own pace; a completed order is worth 3 points (8 min).
4. Round 2 with thieves: two students in pinnies (rotating) can tag anyone carrying a clothespin outside the bases; the tagged runner drops it at the market (8 min).
5. Round 3: the teacher announces a "crisis" and one mine closes; teams must renegotiate (5 min).
6. Count and reflect: which team cooperated most, and did it pay off? (2 min).

Rules

• One clothespin per trip, carried in the hand, never clipped to clothes.
• Trading is open, but it always happens at the market.
• Run around the hoops, and nobody camps at a mine.
• Thieves tag on the shoulder only and don't chase inside the market.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: is the team's trader at the market and handles the deals.
• Visual impairment: clothespins marked with tape or rubber bands for each color, and a closer mine.
• Students with less stamina: the team sets turns, and they can spend some time as the bookkeeper at the base.

Learning goals

• Sustain aerobic effort through short, repeated runs.
• Manage resources and negotiate with other teams.
• Reflect on cooperation and competition.

Equipment for a class of 25

• colored clothespins: 80
• hoops: 6
• boxes: 5
• order cards: 10
• pinnies: 6

Teacher tip

Make the order cards on cardstock with colored dots before class. Common mistake: one team hoards a color to drive up prices; let it happen in round 2 and talk about it at the end.

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