Word Chain Pass and Follow
In groups of five, students pass a ball and follow their pass; the receiver has three seconds to say a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. Students practice passing, moving to open space, and quick thinking with language.
How to play
- Make 5 groups of 5. Each group sets 4 cones in a 20 x 20 ft square; four students stand at a cone and the fifth, holding the ball, stands next to one of them (2 min).
- Practice pass and follow: the student with the ball passes to a cone and runs to take that spot; the receiver does the same to another cone (2 min).
- Add words: the passer says a word, for example "apple," and the receiver must say a word starting with its last letter, like "eagle," before passing.
- If someone takes more than three seconds or repeats a word, the group counts the chain, does 5 jumps together, and starts a new chain (5 min).
- Each group remembers its longest chain. After 5 minutes groups share their records and try to beat them (1 min).
- Final part: themed chain, such as only animal words or food words, still using pass and follow (5 min).
Rules
- Use a two-hand chest pass and call the receiver's name.
- After you pass, move: nobody stays parked at a cone.
- No repeating a word already used in the chain.
Variations
Easier
Link words by the last letter with no time limit and allow any word.
Standard
Link by the last letter with three seconds to answer.
Harder
Play with two balls in the square at once, or have the group travel down the court while chaining words.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility: stay at one fixed cone and receive and return passes without traveling; the rest rotate around them.
- Shy students or students with autism: keep a card of backup words and start in a group of trusted classmates.
- Fitness level: enlarge the square to about 30 feet for students who need more running, or shrink it for students who tire.
Learning goals
- Pass and receive accurately while moving into open space.
- Come up with words quickly from a given letter.
- Encourage and support the group to build the longest chain together.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft balls: 5
- cones: 20
Teacher tip
Play the first round with one group yourself so students see the rhythm: pass, word, run.
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