The Class Writes the Rubric: Criteria on the Move

At the end of an acrosport class, students walk around five poster boards, one for each criterion of the final routine, and write what doing it well looks like. It lowers the intensity and builds a rubric they feel is theirs.

How to play

1. Five poster boards on the walls: safety, figure variety, transitions, music and expression. Form five groups (1 min).
2. Each group walks slowly to a poster and writes one sentence on "what it looks like when it's done well" (2 min).
3. Walk to the next poster: read what's there and add something new or underline what they agree with (4 min).
4. Each group returns to its first poster, picks the two clearest sentences and reads them aloud (2 min).
5. The teacher collects the posters to write the final rubric (1 min).

Rules

• Walk, don't run, between posters.
• Sentences describe the routine, never specific people.
• Don't cross out another group's writing; add to it or underline it.
• Every group member writes at least once.

Variations

Adaptations

• Writing difficulties: can draw or dictate the sentence to a classmate.
• Visual impairment: a partner reads the posters aloud and writes down what they say.
• Limited mobility: posters placed at table height along an obstacle-free route.

Learning goals

• Understand the criteria the routine will be assessed on.
• Take part in building the rubric.
• Wind down with a calm, reflective task.

Equipment for a class of 25

• poster boards: 5
• markers: 10

Teacher tip

Do this the class before groups start their routine script. Put students' own sentences word for word in the final rubric: it makes a real difference to their buy-in.

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