Cooperative Activities
K - 1 Buggy Rides 3 - 6 The Bus
K - 1 Scooter-mania 3 - 6 The Glob
K - 2 I Want a Home 3 - 6 Minefield
K - 2 Hold that Floor 3 - 6 Kong Pong
K - 2 Copy Machine 3 - 6 Nerf-Ball Passover
K - 2 Traffic Tag 4 - 6 Sneak Attack
K - 2 Parachute Fun 4 - 6 Moving Islands
K - 2 Ring of Fun 4 - 6 Slalom Blindfold
1 - 2 Animals 4 - 6 Nine-person Skip
2 - 3 The Snake 4 - 6 Balloon Fooseball
2 - 5 Man From Mars 5 - 6 The Tadpole
2 - 6 Keepers of the Castle 5 - 6 Titanic Challenge
2 - 8 Cooperative Hoops 5 - 6 Human Knot
3 - 4 Cone Scramble 6 Cooperative Team Handball
3 - 5 Frogs and Ants 6 Cross-Over Blanket Volleyball
3 - 5 Loop Da Hoop

PPEP-PALS Lesson Sharing
Teacher & School: Zack Dee, Petaluma Junior High
Activity Grade Level
Nerf-ball Passover 3 - 6
Equipment Needs

For each group of 5 - 6 students:

  • Small nerf/foam balls and other small items of various sizes and shapes
  • One large coffee or other can (e.g. large emptied cans from the school cafeteria)
  • one hula-hoop (or optionally two)
Facility/Playground Needs : The blacktop is probably best, but the field would work if more space is needed.
Lesson Objective (Psychomotor and/or Cognitive): To encourage students to work together to accomplish a common goal and to work on communication.
Teaching Hints:
  • Use 5 or 6 students to demonstrate the general idea of this activity.
  • Check to see that all students are being successful with some item and that positive talk is taking place.
  • At the end, have groups share how they were able to be successful in accomplishing their goal and also what didn’t work well.
Description:

The students lay down head-to-toe in a line. At the foot of the first student is a hula-hoop with a number of various objects placed inside.

The object is for this first person to lift a nerf ball from the hoop using his or her feet and pass it over their head to the next person in line--all while still lying down. The next person must grasp the ball with his or her feet, and again pass it the next person down the line. Hands are not allowed to be used, except for balance.

When the object reaches the last person in line, that person attempts to drop the ball into the can while using only their feet. If he or she succeeds, they remove the ball with their hands and walk to the front of the line. Everyone scoots down one place, and the process is begun again.

When everyone has had the opportunity to put the ball in the can, the team may move on to a different item from the hoop.

Alternatives/Modifications
  • A hoop can be used at the end of the line, instead of a can, to give students a larger target in which to place items.
  • Children with disabilities can be positioned in the line so they can use their feet, if possible, or a combination of their hands and feet.
  • If two hoops are used, larger items of varying sizes and shapes can be used for students to pass along the line.
Reference