Cooperative Games
Overall Goal
The importance of a student’s development of strong positive, non-aggressive, collaborative ways with others, is one of the basic goals of development and provides a basis for their success in friendships, careers and life. Through cooperative games, students develop the skills they need to expand their physical, emotional, social and cognitive abilities.
Grade 6 Curriculum Connections
Physical and Health Education
- participate actively and regularly in a wide variety of physical activities, and demonstrate an understanding of factors that encourage lifelong participation in physical activity;
- demonstrate an understanding of the importance of being physically active, and apply physical fitness concepts and practices that contribute to healthy, active living;
- demonstrate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others as they participate in physical activities.
Program Description
An excellent program for the first evening of a group’s visit, cooperative games help to break the ice and set up a great dynamic for the rest of your trip. They typically include an outside and an indoor component.
Our well chosen cooperative games provide rich support for experiential learning. They teach a valuable, pro-social lesson about the benefits of collaboration and they do it in a fun and natural way through direct personal experience.
Staff at SOES facilitate a progression of games and activities that break down social barriers and get students comfortable with their new surroundings. Playing together helps create an interest in encouraging and assisting others. The games emphasize participation, challenge and fun rather than defeating someone. They foster cooperation, listening, inclusiveness and social skills building group cohesion. Although some competitiveness may occur, the final outcome allows all students to benefit, since no one is left out and the focus is on the success of the team as a whole.
The games may take on many themes and lead to a specific objective such as challenging your students awareness of themselves and each other, just having fun and being active, problem solving or thinking about biodiversity.
Success Criteria/Learning Goals
Students will demonstrate the four basic components of a successful co-operative game:
i) Cooperation; ii) Acceptance; iii) Involvement; iv) Fun
If you're looking for your class to develop a particular character trait or think about a specific theme then please let your SOES contact know.