Cooperation Today and Tomorrow
by Christina Chapan

My article is divided into three sections. My first games will be good openers for game sessions. My next section will consist of games that can be played anytime in a session. The last section will be appropriate games that incorporate cool down activities.

Beginning or Warm-up Activities

Silver and Gold Friends

Players quickly form small groups. The leader tells them to look at each other and find other team members wearing similar shoes, hair color, eye color, etc. The object of the game is to see who has the most similarities in any given small group. Students may want to write down the similarities on a sheet of paper and discuss the results with the whole group.

Webrings

Materials: Ball of yarn
Everyone is seated in a tight circle. The first person asks a question to another person in the group. They give the string to that person who in turn answers the question. The person with the string asks a question to ,another team member and tosses the string to that player. After everyone has had a turn asking and answering at least one question, wind up the string by problem-solving who will get the string next. Then roll up the ball. Continue to roll up the string until there is not any more loose string, and the ball is in its original position. This game teaches players to ask questions of others that they do not normally associate with. The goal is to find new friends.

Anytime games

Marvelous Multiples

Materials: Chairs, Music for musical chairs

This is just like musical chairs except more than one person may sit on a particular chair after the music has stopped. This game teaches community and creativity as the players learn how to sit on the same chair without squishing their partner (s).

Incredible Shrinking Island

Materials: Masking tape, chalk, or gym lines.

This game operates on the same premise as Cooperative Musical Chairs. Outline a large square on the floor with either masking tape or chalk. This area is the safe island and the area surrounding the square is the ocean. When the music begins children "swim" around the island. The stopping of the music indicates that sharks are coming and that all players must retreat to the safety of the island. With each round, the lines are altered making the island smaller and smaller. Players must work together to make sure everyone has a safe place to get away from the sharks and fit on the “island”. Chairs also serve well as boundaries for the island if there is space for the people to get into the area.

Up, Up and Away!

Materials: Balloons
Blow up one or more balloons depending on the number of players. The simple goal is to work together and keep the balloon in the air. You can add to the challenge for older children by restricting how they may elevate the balloon Do not allow them to use their hands, but restrict them to use only their feet.

Rollifric

Materials: Ball
Form a circle. Sit down on the floor with feet towards the center of the circle, bodies touching. Place a ball on someone's lap. The object of the game is to move the ball around the circle as quickly as possible without using hands. The ball moves from one person's lap to another. Variations: Add more balls, add different size balls, add signals such as "Stop" or "Go,” and reverse directions at the sound of a whistle.

Monarchy Madness

Materials: Foam or soft play ball
Play in a large area, with boundaries. One player starts with a lightweight ball. Anyone he hits joins the monarchy family. After one person is hit, the person with the ball cannot run, though those without the ball who are part of the monarchy can run. People in the monarchy must use teamwork and pass the ball to catch those who have not yet been hit by the ball.

Tail Tales or T.T.

Materials: Bright scarf
Players form one long line or train by holding onto the waist of the child in front of them. The child in the front becomes the head of the group. The child in the rear is the tail , and a colorful scarf is attached into his back or side pocket. A belt loop in the back of the child may also be used to hold the scarf. The "head” or first person in the group is to try to catch the scarf flapping behind the "tail.” The front person may use their hands to catch the scarf. All players must learn to work together to catch the tail without losing any of the players by running too fast or allowing players to accidentally break from the group.

Drive He Said

Players form pairs. One person in front is the car and the person in back is the driver. The car must put his arms up in front of himself in a relaxed fashion. The car closes his eyes and the driver then guides the car carefully around obstacles such as chairs, tables, or other “cars,” etc. After a few minutes, both players are asked to stop and the car and driver switch roles. The second player is the car and the first is the driver. This teaches trust as the car has no idea where his driver will take him.

Closing or ending games

Squeezies

The group stands in a circle, holding hands. The "squeezie" is passed around the circle with a hand squeeze. For a variation try two squeezes in opposite directions. Finally, try the latter with eyes closed. Another variation can consist of also putting a person in the middle (with his eyes open ) and have them try to find out who is passing the squeeze.

Copy Cat

Players sit in a circle. The leader starts by making a funny or unusual face and “passés” the goofy face to a person next to them who must copy the funny face. The second person makes a new silly face to pass to a third person, next to them. Everyone gets a turn making and passing the funny face.
 
Games can foster creativity while teaching students to work together. Cooperative games teach mutual acceptance, create encouragement, fun, sharing, kindness, consideration and respect for others. Studies show that children who regularly participate in cooperative games are three times as often more cooperative with others during free play. What a wonderful lesson to teach for life.

Further Reading

Cooperative Games at the University of Wisconsin
http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/news/

The Educational Value of Cooperative Games
http://www.usafa.af.mil/dfe/educ...

Fire Starter Activity Guide
http://www.freechild.org/Firestarter...

Christina Lee Steele Chapan is an ACE certified personal trainer, who is beginning a new group called Fitness for Fun; which teaches children and teens to incorporate fitness and nutrition into their daily lives. In addition to attaining her ACE certification, she is also an elementary school teacher with a B.S. in Elementary Education, a minor in Biblical Studies from North Central University, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Development from Governors State University. She has been married for six years and is hoping to start a family in the future.