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Collaborative games can be used throughout the year - a good way to 're-bond' your class and maintain a positive atmosphere.

We all sometimes need to remind children about how more effective it can be when you work collaboratively with others.

Pass the Hoop

Children are in a circle and two children opposite each other have a hoop on their arm. Pass it around the circle without it touching anyone’s hands.

Increase the challenge in different ways:

Pass it with feet only.

Make a rule that the hoop has to pass over everyone’s head

Have all the children hold hands with two children having the hoop already placed on their joined hands – then pass the hoop around the circle without hands being broken

Start another hoop going in the opposite direction around the circle.

Find my partner

Make some pairs of cards – they could be animals (i.e. two cards with a tiger, two with a dog etc.)

Give a card to each child but they mustn’t let anyone else see it.

On a given signal they have to mime something in order to find their partner. (you can introduce noises as well if you like)

Other sets of cards might have modes of transport – where children have to mime being a train or a car or a horse

Or household objects – miming ironing or doing the vacuuming etc.

Cross the Lava Pit

You might want to make it something else like a wide fast flowing river or a field of poisonous plants.

You need paper plates – about a third of the number of children.

Mark out two places that represent the edges of the lava/river.

Make up a story where children are being chased /have to get across this patch of land without being burnt / drowning etc.

They must get all their team across using the paper plates.  If you are touching a paper plate then you are safe.

The plates can be picked up and moved – so long as no-one is in the ‘pit of fire’ at any time.

You can set a time limit so give it a better sense of urgency for getting everyone across safely.

Leaves on the tree (or acorns - or flowers - or fruit - or conkers...)

Draw a tree but include its roots as well as its trunk and branches / leaves.  Of course if you can put a real tree ( or branches from one) in your room, then use that.

Each child is given a paper leaf which they will eventually place on the tree.

Spend some time talking about the term ahead - how you and they want things to be as you go forward this term – what went well last term and what we still need to work on. Celebrate the learning, good dispositions like 'effective listening' and persistence - and friendships of course.

Children then decorate their own leaf/flower with pictures and words that represent what they want to learn and get better at this coming term – how they are feeling – what they are a bit apprehensive of etc.

Then without any prompting ask children to quietly come forward and attach their leaf to the tree.

Tell them they can put it anywhere they like – including the roots and trunk –right at the top of the tree or not on the tree at all. They can choose to leave it to one side of the tree if they so choose.

As a teacher – think carefully about which children have placed their leaf in which position on the tree.  The symbolism of this will not be lost on you.

Here's wishing you a a positive class all year round

Sue Dixon

Founder of Thinking Child

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