Learning to cooperate with others towards a common goal is what builds character, friendship and important life skills. The friendships built within a team can last a lifetime for some!

For children to achieve a comprehensive, well-rounded education, integrated teamwork on several fronts is vital. Teamwork is necessary between students, between students and teachers, and among parents and educators. The more teamwork fundamentals exhibited, the more opportunity exists for students to learn the vital skills of compromise and collaboration.

Team or group work in a classroom teaches students the fundamental skills associated with working as a collective unit toward a common goal. This type of teamwork introduces a variety of skills that will be valuable for students later in the workforce, such as communication, compromise and collective effort. In any type of group work, students must agree about who will handle various components of a project and work in tandem using one another’s strengths to accomplish assigned tasks. This teaches time management, resource allocation and communication skills.

This activity encourages children to work together as a team and achieve a common goal.

Steps:

1. Use a stretch fabric to make a large loop (big enough to fit 3-4 children). Ask the children to step inside the loop so that it crosses across their chest/ waist

2. Encourage various motions in children based on your directions (look at following suggestions)

   Examples:

   1. SLOW DOWN! – One child is the “driver” and the other pretends to be a passenger that doesn’t want to go as fast as the driver. The kids have to coordinate getting on opposite sides of the band and then going in the same direction with one holding the other back slightly

   2. Shape Creation – While inside the stretchy band, give them a shape to make with the band. Square! The children have to figure out how to each get a corner made out of a foot on one side and an outstretched hand on the other to create a shape that resembles a square. It can be even more fun with extra people in the band

   3. Obstacle Course – Design a simple obstacle course around, over and under objects where the kids have to plan out how to remain together and inside the stretchy loop

   4. Impossible Pull – Adults can get in the loop and see if the kids can work together to budge them

Note:

1. The children get inside the stretchy loop and their first impulse is to run in opposite directions. You can let them do so until they are showing signs of needing direction. Then “coach” them into activities that require they work together

2. The stretchier the fabric, the closer adult supervision and soft surface playing surface will be needed!