Carpet Swamp - Outcome C (7-9)-5+6

The purpose of this activity is for students to work together as a team to accomplish a goal while showing good communication skills and effort.

Define the shoreline of your "swamp" with a line of cones, or the sidelines of the gym. It is a misty, spooky day in the swamp. The captive groups' only hope of survival is to cross the swamp (gymnasium floor).

Divide the students into two to four teams and give each team a quoit or ringette ring and three or four carpet squares. The team mission is to get all of the students across the swamp at one time. If anyone falls in, they will be eaten by crocodiles. If anyone lets go of a teammate in need of help, they will catch some rare swamp disease. If any member touches the floor (falls into the swamp), the whole team must begin again.

There is no right or wrong way to get across the swamp. The goal is for the team to brainstorm and come up with strategies that will allow them to succeed in getting all the students across the swamp.

Use a scooter as part of the transport system, but only if the students have received instruction on proper use of this equipment. Standing on scooters is not allowed!

Blindfold some of the students.

Have students linked throughout the activity. They must remain in contact in some manner at all times.

Provide a skipping rope as a lifeline that can never be released. To let go is to perish in a deadly pool of swamp gas!

Create some swamp hazards which must be navigated, such as quicksand patches.

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

All students successfully get across the carpet swamp.

Students use positive and encouraging language with their teammates and fellow competitors.

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