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...".
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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.
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