Low Ropes
Overall Goal
Through the use of a variety of group and individual initiatives and challenges, students will develop their team building skills through group and self reflection.
Grade 6 Curriculum Connections
Health and Physical Education
- demonstrate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others as they participate in physical activities
- perform movement skills, demonstrating an understanding of the basic requirements of the skills and applying movement concepts as appropriate, as they engage in a variety of physical activities
- apply movement strategies appropriately, demonstrating an understanding of the components of a variety of physical activities, in order to enhance their ability to participate successfully in those activities
Program Description
After completing initiatives or challenges in small groups on ground level, your students can take the next step up. Our low ropes course is just off the ground introducing an element of trust into the team building challenges.
A series of cables, ropes and obstacles are set 12-18 inches from the ground. This activity tests a person’s physical strength, stamina, balance, agility and flexibility. These activities are designed to make team members coach each other through their fears and work together to complete the tasks at hand.
Though these activities may be fun and exciting, the purpose of this course is to meet developmental and team building goals, exploring team interaction, problem solving and leadership, promoting individual growth.
Staff will choose a series of problems and activities that will work for your group and meet their specific needs. This could include; the whole group working together to balance a large scale seesaw; working in smaller groups to support one another traversing a wire; or getting your whole team across from one side of an imaginary river to the other, using islands and limited supply of bridges.
Success Criteria/Learning Goals
- Students will communicate effectively, using verbal and nonverbal means as they attempt a variety of group initiatives.
- Students demonstrate behaviours that maximize their safety and that of others.
- Students will evaluate and improve their skills of cooperation, team building, communication and leadership.
Pre-Trip Activity
Review with your class the 10 TDSB Character Traits and reflect on which they think will play a role in their trip to SOES.
Next Step Follow-up Action
Have students write a journal response to the following questions.
1. What surprised me most about how I worked as a group member?
2. What changes would I make if I were to do these activities again?
3. What are the three character traits I would like to further develop?
If you're interested in developing more trust in your class, here's an activity that focuses on that.
Resources
A YouTube video from a TDSB school to exemplify character traits. An idea your class or school might like to take on themselves.
Trust activities and/or Low Ropes initiatives are a prerequisite to the participation in the High Ropes Course