Activity+Archive

== Zax Quandary— This game is from the Project Adventure Circle Up Web site [] You must join the web site, but it is free and doesn’t send you unwanted e-mails. The following lesson is taken from the web site and my modifications are at the end of this document. == || ** Entered by: ** || funnhog || || ** Type: ** || Game || If playing on a staircase you won't need anything at all but you can also set up a course with Markers, Cones, or old Climbing Rope. Excellent Compliment to Dr. Suess's story of a North Going Zax and South Going Zax found in his book The Sneeches and Other Stories. ** Overview: ** Used alone this is a great 15 min energizer, builder of team spirit, and, honestly, a gem filler for camp leaders and teachers who find themselves waiting with groups of kids in public places. Used in conjunction with Dr. Suess story of the Zaxes it brings to life the conflict experienced by the Zax and introduces one possible solution for resolving opposing interests. ** Setup: ** This game requires a common course to be used at the same time by two teams. One team starts at one end and the other team from the opposite side. In Japan it is often played on a large wide flight of stairs with one team beginning on the top step and the other team beginning at the bottom. It can also be played on a path designated by cones, spot markers, landmarks, or several hundred feet of old climbing rope that students follow during the game. ** Goals: ** Playful approach to Conflicting Interests Experientially Introduces One Conflict Resolution Strategy Energizer Generates a lot of Enthusiasm ** Briefing: ** If using this as a conflict resolution game, read the story of the Zax as a lead up to the activity. In the story, the North-going Zax and South going Zax remain deadlocked and life continues on around them. Spend some time, clarifying what the problem is. Why are the Zax in this situation? What emotions are they feeling? Does anyone have any suggestions for the Zax? ** Instruction: ** The group will be divided into two teams. The goal is to completely move your team into the other team's home territory. Each team will send one representative into the course from their end at the same time so two people will be moving in opposite directions. For this reason, it is probably best to limit the speed to a fast walk. If this game is to be played on a wide flight of stairs, one team's representative begins on the top step by moving all the way across the top step. After touching the railing on the far side, they descend one step and move all the way back across in the direction they came from and so on. The opposite team is completing the same zigzag course from the bottom of the stairs only they move up instead of down. When the two representatives meet somewhere in the middle they should show Rock, Paper, or Scissors. Whoever wins continues progressing on the path and whoever loses returns to their team's home base and a new representative is released to begin walking the course again. The new representative will meet the other team's person again and settle the issue the same way with Rock, Paper and Scissors. Again whoever wins continuing to make progress along the path. When a player reaches the end of the path their turn is finished and a new representative is sent from their team's side to get to the end. The game is over when one side has successfully moved all their team players from their side to the other. ** Debriefing: ** If played as a game only, debriefing may or may not be of interest. If conflict arises or unfair play occurred a debriefing could be valuable. If used as a conflict resolution piece along with the Zax story revisit the game and the story together. What enabled the game to be played without the same problems coming up? From the game are their any new suggestions for the Zax? What other conflicts could these ideas help resolve peacefully. ** Nancy **** ’s Modifications: ** Using the story as a basis, this is a great opportunity to talk about conflict resolution and introducing Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) to your students. It is a great activity to introduce early in the school year. RPS solves all kinds of problems and students accept the outcome. (Child empowerment vs. Teacher involvement?) You might want to set up some activities for the students to do who have moved on to the other team’s territory if you are in a gymnasium or large space. If you have a particular skill set you are working on I would set up 3 or 4 stations that space allows for the students to be involved in. This would be a great opening activity leading to a full class activity. I chose these activities to incorporate more literacy ideas. ** Alphabet Run ** - Partners begin in the middle of the play area. Do RPS to decide who goes first. Player 1 draws a letter from the bucket. This is the starting letter. He/She runs to the spot where that letter is and then back to tag Player 2 who was waiting at the starting spot. He/she then runs to the next letter in the alphabet. Example: **Player 1** drew an M. He runs to M and back then **Player 2** should run to letter N. When they get to Z, the next letter is A. When they finish with L and their next letter should be M again they are finished. You may want to have the player who is waiting do a specific activity, jump rope, jumping jacks, push ups, etc or they might roll a die or draw a card with specific exercises on it.
 * ||  ||   ||   || ||   || **Nancy's Handout Activities: Nancy Kelley-Cram, NBCT, Wakefield Elementary School, Raleigh, NC**
 * ||  ||   ||   || ||   || **Nancy's Handout Activities: Nancy Kelley-Cram, NBCT, Wakefield Elementary School, Raleigh, NC**
 * ||  ||   ||   || ||   || **Nancy's Handout Activities: Nancy Kelley-Cram, NBCT, Wakefield Elementary School, Raleigh, NC**
 * ||  ||   ||   || ||   || **Nancy's Handout Activities: Nancy Kelley-Cram, NBCT, Wakefield Elementary School, Raleigh, NC**
 * ||  ||   ||   || ||   || **Nancy's Handout Activities: Nancy Kelley-Cram, NBCT, Wakefield Elementary School, Raleigh, NC**
 * ** Special Purpose: ** || 12 Steps || || ** Target Group: ** || Elementary ||
 * ** Attributed to / Published in: ** || Asako Clark, Tamagawa Elementary School, Tokyo || || ** Group Size: ** || 10-20 ||
 * ** Space: ** || Staircases, Open Fields, Gymnasiums, almost anywhere || || ** Time needed: ** || 0:30 ||
 * ** Where can it be performed? ** || Indoor/Outdoor || || ** Activity Level: ** || Moderate ||
 * Materials Needed: **
 * Spell that Word- ** Use the printed cards with words on them- the ones I have today are the character traits, sports and PE vocabulary words. Run to each letter of the word you chose and do the exercise requested on the chart beside each letter.
 * Scrabble Scramble—from Howie Weiss [] ** Fun, Fitness, and Skills - [|The Powerful Original Games Approach] –Human Kinetics and available through Howie’s web site. A lot of his games are available on his website in the PE News section
 * Grade Level**: 2-12
 * Equipment Needed**: 30-50 tennis balls or other items you can letter (flash cards, index cards), 1 hula hoop or carpet square per team. Dome markers or other similar item to hide the letters.
 * Highlights:** Running, team strategy, spelling integration and teamwork
 * Instructions:** There are a couple of variations. I have each team at a base, set an equal distance from the center of the playing area. Each team uses a carpet square or hula hoop as a base. Place the letters (tennis balls or other items) under the dome markers in the center of the playing area. The object of the game is to be the first team to create a 5 letter word. On the signal, each team will send one player to the center hoop to retrieve a letter. That player then returns to the base and tags the next runner, who will go to the center area and retrieve another letter. This continues until the team has collected 5 letters. Once the team has the correct number of letters, they begin to create a word from those letters. The first team to create a 5 letter word from the letters yells stop and is declared the winner. If they need to exchange a letter to create the word they may do so continuing in the relay format they used to get the balls. If they exchange a letter, they must take the letter they uncover, like it or not! They may not retrieve more than one letter at a time. Players may never have more than the assigned number of letters at their base.
 * Nancy's Modifications:** I award points to the first team finished, redistribute the cards and play again. I would only do this 3 to 5 times. You may vary the points based on the number of letters in the word, bonus points if they pertain to a certain subject (like Physical Education)or topic (Heart Health). ||