Marco Polo - Outcome C (4-6)-1

Communication skills are important skills to develop in all areas of life, including physical activity. These activities may be best suited when you have lost gymnasium space. They can easily be adapted for a larger open space, hallway or classroom. Have the students select a partner. Each pair chooses a compound word or name (e.g., Marco Polo, Hugo Boss, Ice Cream). Each student in the pair picks one part of the word and that word becomes their new name. (For example, one partner is Marco and the other is Polo.)

• The newly named pairs separate and spread themselves throughout the play space. They close their eyes or are blindfolded.
• On the command "go" each student calls their partner's name. They move around calling out their partners' names while searching for their partners.
• Once they find one another, the students can open their eyes or remove the blindfolds and watch as the rest of the group finishes the activity.

When all the partners have found each other, have them begin a "forced communication" conversation, as outlined below.

"Yes, But..." - Non-blocking Exercise

The students are in pairs. One student says something. When this person stops speaking, the other student replies, starting with "yes, but". When the second person finishes speaking, the first replies without using any blocks in the conversation again beginning with "yes, but ...". A sample of a conversation opener could be "I really enjoyed the last school fun run because...".

Discuss with the students things they may do to encourage or discourage conversation, such as making or avoiding eye contact.

Change the names to fit with a theme. For example, use a space theme to generate names such as

• Star Trek,
• Space Balls,
• Meteor Shower,
• Star Wars.

These are clues that you have reached the outcomes ...

Students call the names loudly enough for their partners to hear, and are successful in finding their partners.

Students remain quiet while the others find their partners.

back to top